Organizing 101

Ok I’ll admit it, I LOVE organizing! Organizing is something that’s so easy but many people feel overwhelmed on how to start or where to begin. I like to choose places that I use everyday so that I don’t feel so overwhelmed by clutter.  Today I'll be organizing my linen closet. This is a closet that gets a lot of use so having it organized is important and making it pretty helps me keep it organized. Here’s a crash course into my style of organizing:

 

Step one: Choose a starting place.

I chose my linen closet (obviously) Here it is before I got started

Step two: Assess your problem areas

I have way too many linens! And candles and wallflowers, seriously…I might have a problem! These were only the ones that aren't in season!

 

Step three: Empty the WHOLE area. I know is sounds contrary but this gives you a way to see all of the things you have and it also gives you a fresh start. You know the saying; it gets worse before it gets better? Yeah…it’s gonna look WAY worse! But I promise it’ll look great when you’re done!

 

^ fresh start ^

Step four: Group like things together. For this project I group similar linens; like hand towels and wash cloths; pillow covers and curtains; etc.

 

Step five: Get rid of things you no longer need. I forgot to take a picture of what I got rid of but it was a pretty big bag. Two pairs of curtains, table cloths, old washcloths, just things that I didn’t really need. I also relocated some items that get very infrequent use (like the humidifier) to my garage storage to free up space for more necessary items.

Step six:  Put your grouped items in containers! I put all my miscellaneous beauty products in one big bin and other house hold items in a smaller bin. I also put all my washcloths grouped in separate bins. The smaller bins are clear and a little hard to see in the photos. I chose clear ones instead of printed ones because I wanted to be able to see what was in each bin.

Step seven: Start filling the shelves up with things you use most. For me it was hand towels, washcloths, and bath towels. Then add in the less used items on less central shelves, like the top or the bottom. I put the rugs back at the top since I won’t need them until the rainy season starts. And I put beach towels on the bottom shelf because they’re not used as frequently.

 

 

Step eight: Now your space should be looking pretty darn organized! I like to add a little prettiness into the mix as well. So I used some bright colored chalk to re label my chalkboard door organizer. I love this system because when guests come over they can use the guide to find what they need! Unfortunately last time I labeled it I used a chalk pen and I can’t get the old writing off! So it’s a little hard to read, but it gets the job done and it adds some fun into an otherwise boring place!

 

 I feel so much better when my house is organized! Anyone else tackling any organization projects?