Home Interior Decorating Are you organized or free spirited?

Are you organized or free spirited?

by Debbie Correale

I unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, am very organized.  If I have too much “eye noise” coming at me, I cannot concentrate on the task at hand or have a complete thought!

I have found a few inexpensive but effective organizing tips that may help you get started: 
Use Decorative storage boxes to store your regularly used belongings and get them out of sight. Have fun with this!  Use attractive boxes, of different shapes, sizes and fun colors of the season.

  • Use them in your closets for storing bulky sweaters, blankets, and other lightweight items.
  • Use them in your office on shelves to add not only order but color!
  • Use large colorful boxes without lids in a playroom to store/organize children’s toys.
  • Use plastic boxes with a picture of the item on the front for easy recognition.  I love to do this with shoes and handbags!

I love Hooks around the home for storing items used regularly.

  • Hooks on the backs of bedroom doors can organize jackets, bags, and hats.
  • Hooks in a mudroom can hang wet clothing items.
  • Hooks in a kitchen cupboard to hold all the important keys.
  • Hooks to hold all your long necklaces that get tangled in drawers.  You can color coordinate them too! Thank you Container Store!
  •  Decorative hooks on the walls of children’s rooms are ideal for schoolbags and other belongings.
  • Hooks in the bathroom will conserve wall space for hanging towels.
  • In addition, hanging shoe organizers on the backs of bedroom doors using hooks can not only hold up to twelve pairs of shoes but other items too. These holders are great for organizing scarves and small toys.  I also used them to organize my college students in their dorm rooms.  These pockets held face cloths, umbrellas, iPods anything that was small and had no home!  It works great if the pockets are clear.
  • Ikea has a great organizer for scarves and pashminas!  Love this item!

Use file cabinets as a way to keep papers tidy. I know this sounds silly but it is amazing how easy you can become buried in paper. Paperwork lying around in various locations creates clutter and leaves you disorganized.  I try only to touch paper once, especially the mail.  I try to “trash” or “file it” somewhere other than my desk or counter top.  If space is limited, I suggest using a compact accordion-style file organizer.

Start being better organized by trying the 3 inexpensive ideas above. They are simple things to do but you will feel better organized, more satisfied with your life and find you may have a little more time on your hands because you weren’t searching for things!

I love to organize and simplify my life.  I find the magazine Real Simple is a great read!  Check it out.

You may also like