Reclaiming Our Spaces: Hall Closet

OK, here is my belated post!  Finally tackled my beast of a hall closet; home to all sorts of crafts & toys for the kids.  I also have some extra items in there as well.  Here is what it looked like when I got started:

Ahhh!  Craziness.  There really was somewhat of a method to that madness, but it wasn't well
executed.  Since everything didn't have an exact home, things got put somewhere in the closet.

Here's the breakdown:

I went to the Dollar Tree & got a gazillion navy blue containers, so I knew I'd have enough to organize everything (on top of what I already had to work with).  I worked on this project over 2 days & it really wasn't too bad.  I had put it off for almost 2 years!  Most of the things in the closet were staying in there, they just needed homes!!

So, I had:
1) a box for items to re-sell in my flea market booth
2) a bag for things I was going to throw away
3) A pile of things to go through that didn't belong in that closet (still working on that)

I had to group everything in to categories & consider what bins/containers I had to put that amount of items in.  I moved very slowly, so it didn't feel stressful, but actually enjoyable.  Really!

I'm so happy for the result, but it makes things so much easier & the visual (& actual) clutter is gone.  Now it feels like a fun place to shop for ideas to entertain the kiddos.  They are excited seeing everything so easily too.  You now see most everything in there easily without having to dig around & knock things over.  Yay!  Winning!!!

This week Holly worked on her laundry room.  Here's one pic from her post:

Aren't those chalk board labels super cute?

Hope you had a lovely 4th!  We sure did:

I linked up!

Reclaiming Our Spaces: How 2 Organizers Start at Home

I'm excited to announce a new series which will post each Thursday.  

I've worked off & on as a professional organizer, but, since having my second child, I have found it really challenging to make the time to organize my own home.  I have lots of little clutter traps in corners of my home & they are making me crazy!!!  Can you relate?

So, I talked to a friend of mine who also works as a professional organizer about doing a series together tackling those areas of our homes each week.  Not only will it give us some motivation to focus on these areas on a regular basis, but we also plan to share tips, products & how-tos along the way.

Meet Holly:

 Holly & her friend Janet formed Simply Organized of NWA in 2007.  They started Simply Organized of NWA because they both LOVED organizing. She is also a representative for Clever Container organizing products.  You can view their products here.  Holly is the mother of 2 girls; ages 6 and 2.  She gets a little giddy at the completion of an organizing project because she simply loves it.  

I look forward to doing this series together!!

After we talked, I got real excited about it & started working on some things.  I organized my desk:

Drastically improved from before (I can assure you), but you can definitely still see my clutter ALL AROUND my desk/craft/sewing area!  

 After looking up online how you're supposed to organize fabric, I did this:

Yay!  So much more functional & pretty too.  Makes me want to sew something!!!!

Check back on Thursday when we tackle our first cluttered area.