Monday

6 Tips on Making the Best Use of Your Shelves with Safety Reminder

Ever watch a television program and notice the bookshelves in the background?  They usually have a few decorations, some books neatly arranged, a few framed pictures, and a bowl, trinket, or vase taking up room on each shelf.  We know the average home has a lot more stuff in it then what is presented on television, so what to do?  Well if money is an issue, you are going to take what you have and maximize those empty areas on those shelves and don't worry so much about that clutter free look you see on TV.  You have a lot of stuff and you want to keep it all--I get it!

1.  Let's take a look at any shelf in your home.  Is it scaling up the wall?  If not, you could use some taller shelves or built-in units--they are great to view, spacious and easy to store items.  Get those that run up to the ceiling if you can.  But once again, if money is an issue, uh?  Well, let's start taking items off the pre-existing shelves and rearranging.

2.  Bowls, bins, baskets, boxes and more sitting on those shelves should be filled with your treasures.  No ifs, ands, or buts.  You want to keep your little items--you believe you will one day use them, so let's get creative.  Make those useless items already sitting on your shelves, useful.  Something should be in each and every one.  But be sure that like items are placed with like items.  So if I have some cool stuff I rarely use then there is no reason to leave them out on display.  I would tuck them away and label the top of the boxes if necessary, rather than the sides so that everyone who walks into the room isn't reading every name on the shelf.

3.  Check out your books.  Do they have to be arranged like the local library shelves?  Let's get creative with those good reads and make them lay flat, to the back, or used as a stackable art piece that we can put something on top of.

4.  Now what about those obscure things?  Can we hang something on them or in them?  Do they need to take up room on a shelf?  Is there another home for them, maybe on a small table near the shelves?  Maximizing space is getting rid of bulky items in places where you could add 10 little things as opposed to just one.

5.  So you are on a roll?  What are you going to do with some of those items you use all the time?  I say leave them out and make them easy to obtain.  If children use some of those things, then they need to be within reach.  Items that are forbidden to touch, store them up on higher shelves.

6.  Be sure to utilize safety cords that might be strapped to the back of tall book shelf units or you can make your own.  You wouldn't want them to tip and drop on your child or pet.  (Note: this happened to one of my kids who liked to climb on the shelves.  We put a security gate in the front of it to prevent that from happening again. Shelves are suspended to the wall.)

So your bookshelf project should be coming along.  Check out this site on organizing any shelves or drawers in your home--enjoy!

Nicholl McGuire also maintains When Mothers Cry and other blogs.

Saturday

On Organizing Office Space - Too Much Paper, Stuff

Have you ever gone into an office space that was just riddled with paper, supplies, and things you didn't even know what they were?  One of the first things you might have done was look from left to right, lifting up a few things, and making negative comments or deep sighing.  If you are responsible for tackling the space, you might want to do the following to get the job done sooner rather than later.

1.  Organize items based on the following:  what you will be keeping, donating, and throwing away.

2.  Big items need to be either moved out of the office space or off to one side.  This way you can have a space to separate items.

3.  Box items up that will be going elsewhere.

4.  Take all paper and arrange in piles based on need.

5.  Every drawer, shelf, and closet should be cleaned out.

6.  Wipe furniture, clean unsightly markings, and do away with items that you won't be using.

7.  Be sure that every item you are keeping has a place.  Review the things you already have to help with organizing and only get additional items if there is a need for them.

Although this simplified way of organizing might help those of you who can visualize how you plan to organize your space.  However, if you need some visuals for inspiration, check out videos on this site on organizing an office space.

To your success!

Nicholl McGuire author of When Mothers Cry 

How to Organize with bins from the Dollar Store


What's In My School Bag 2015-16!


Blogs Worth Mentioning

Organizer Blog Topics for Home, Office & Beyond

how to get organized organize home apartment garage closet kitchen organizing for the holidays organize bedroom organize bathroom decluttering organization organize office how to organize an event how to organize shoes organize basement organizing spring cleaning advice on keeping home clean desk home decoration how to organize coupons how to organize tools moving organize attic organize children persuasion storage containers to do list about us childrens closet and room home organization how to clean how to organize clothes how to organize freezer how to organize garden how to organize home how to organize life how to organize makeup how to organize papers new year tips organize kitchen save money arts and crafts back to school shopping cardboard boxes and bins closet organizer family fast organization helping someone get organized hoarders holiday decorations packing and storing home organization stores hotel bed how to decorate bookshelves how to organize backpack how to organize car how to organize closet how to organize clutter how to organize college how to organize cords how to organize craft room how to organize dvds how to organize mail how to organize medicine cabinet how to organize money how to organize music how to organize pantry how to organize photos how to organize plastic food containers how to organize purse how to organize refrigerator how to organize room how to organize shed how to set table laundry room motivation organize home office organize narrow kitchen cabinet organized moms organizer tools organizing home for make-over shoes tips for organizers toys tv shows 1980s inspired organizers Christmas gift wrap Christmas storage tips Thanksgiving organizing apple reminders appliances art gallery art ideas art work blog owner bra organizer cables car organization carpet shampoo chargers cheap organizing childrens cabinet coats coin collection collectibles covid work space creative tips drawer dividers food storage furniture shopping gamer organizers gifts good housekeeping hobbies holiday gift wrap holiday giving guide holiday meal clean up holiday meal planning holiday prep holiday shopping home business home buying home care home decoration apps home design home organizers how artists get organized how to arrange livingroom how to clean your bedroom how to eliminate stress and worry how to get organized for the holidays how to get your link on this site how to make book jar how to make small room bigger how to organize Internet tasks how to organize a desk how to organize a small linen closet how to organize any room fast how to organize anything how to organize apps how to organize baby bottles how to organize baby changing table how to organize beauty samples how to organize bedroom closets how to organize bikes how to organize binder how to organize cell phone numbers how to organize chest drawers how to organize childrens dishes how to organize childrens files how to organize childrens rooms how to organize closet by color how to organize coat closet how to organize coffee table how to organize computer documents how to organize craft supplies how to organize crayons and coloring books how to organize cube shelves how to organize digital photos how to organize dishes how to organize dolls clothes how to organize email inbox how to organize entryway how to organize garden tools how to organize grocery list how to organize home filing cabinet how to organize hotel stay how to organize ideas how to organize jewelry how to organize kitchen how to organize kitchen cabinets how to organize kitchen drawers how to organize magazines how to organize nightstand how to organize notebook planner how to organize notes how to organize paper how to organize paperwork how to organize party how to organize party beverages how to organize perfumes how to organize phone how to organize playroom how to organize pots how to organize receipts how to organize recipes how to organize scrapbook supplies how to organize sewing room how to organize small kitchen how to organize spices how to organize stuff how to organize suitcase how to organize table top how to organize teen closet how to organize the coat closet how to organize time how to organize under bathroom sink how to organize under kitchen sink how to organize underwear how to organize wallet how to organize wardrobe how to organize workout how to organize your home how to organize your mind how to organize youtube channel how to paint kitchen cabinets how to paint walls how to plan your day how to prepare items for uploading how to set a buffet party table iPhone home screen kids art kitchen organization ideas labelmaker laziness lazy susan legal documents lux look minimalism neat freak need web content no money make-over nursery open shelf oragnizing organize briefcase organize files organize for freedom organize garage organize information organize instructions organize kitchen utensils organize life organize mind organize trip organize your child organized people organizing around unsightly appliances organizing bedsheets organizing people organizing protest organizing resources outdoor space pans and lids party invite professional organizers rearranging furniture for the holidays redecorating for the holidays reorganization roommates sanitary napkins social feed reader st. patricks day storing clothes super bowl party ideas tampons teen bedroom tips on organizing children tool cabinet organization trading rooms in house wall art wall decorating wall hangings wedding why organize workshop
Custom Search