So I’ve been a busy girl these last two weeks. Last week I noticed that our games had somehow started breeding in the night. I was finding them stashed all over the house and then I figured out why. Our games closet was full…as in we were fitting nothing else in there. So the kids had taken to just leaving them wherever they were playing. That doesn’t make this mamma very happy and so it was time for a grand purge of the games. Now we love playing board games in this house so I knew this PROCESS wasn’t going to be an easy one. Necessary but not easy.
Here is the before picture:
I’m not too concerned about the organization of it inside because these games get pulled in and out all the time. My main concern was making room for all the games so they were all housed in ONE spot. So out everything came and with the kids help we were able to create a donation pile that looked like this.
Not bad at all, I was very impressed with the kids. We went through each game one by one and they provided me with a yes or a no. Some decisions were easy since my youngest who is now 6 had outgrown many of them. Others hadn’t been played with in a long while.
Finally everything fit back into this one space:
The two yellow bins hold smaller games and decks of cards to make them easier to find.
Last week I also had a chance to change out the clothes for the seasons and so my purge pile last week ended up being three big boxes that I dropped off at our local thrift store!
This week was all about going through the seasonal outerwear and Halloween costumes. Anything outgrown or not worn during the past season went into the donation bag. Only one bag but still happy to pass these things along to someone else.
What was in your purge pile this week?
Catherine says
I just did our games cupboard a couple of weeks ago too (and even managed to purge some). We were so worried about lasting through our first long, snowy winter last year we went a bit crazy buying up games! ha ha. I used little baskets for all the playing cards and memory game cards and so on too. It works much better now.
Laura says
Great minds think alike!!
Ban Clohting says
Games seem to take up SO much space… so I try not to buy them. Kind of shallow but it’s for the better.
TyKes Mom says
I have been on quite a purging rampage lately. We have a new baby on the way so I’ve been nesting like crazy. I’ve tossed, donated and sold toys, clothes, shoes, old decorations, some pictures and even some furniture. I have also convinced my husband to get rid of our old desktop computer and the desk on which in resides. It feels so good to clean house! 🙂
Laura says
Woohoo, way to go!! All the best with your upcoming arrival 🙂
Nikki says
Off to find something to hold the decks of Uno,Slamwich etc…….
Becky@OrganizingMadeFun says
Laura…we are SO alike! I did this same thing a few months ago! Have a look:
http://organizingmadefun.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-i-organize-game-cupboard.html
It’s funny because you set your stuff up similarly to mine! Since we have so many visitors in our home, I add a picture of where each game went because you can’t fit them in if they aren’t put away the same and get the doors closed. Oh, and my cupboard is a bit smaller than yours 🙂
Becky B.
Organizing Made Fun
Erin says
Quick question on kids clothes purging. Do you save any clothes for hand me downs for your younger children. I have a hard time setting limits on this. How much to keep. Just keep the special – handmade stuff to use as hand -me -downs, etc… Readers comments welcome as well.
Laura says
Here are a couple of posts that might help:
https://orgjunkie.com/2011/03/how-to-organize-kids-clothing.html
https://orgjunkie.com/2010/07/taking-inventory-of-your-childrens-clothes.html
https://orgjunkie.com/2011/06/52-weeks-26-how-much-is-enough.html
Melinda says
We have a game closet and I’m having the same problem. There is no rhyme or reason to any of it. It also holds crafts. That’s next to do here as well. Thanks for the inspiration!
Creative Triplet Mom says
It’s been a while since I have read your blog. Life has just gotten in the way. Anyway, after seeing your game post I actually did some purging. Thank you for the motivation. Here is my blog post
http://creativetripletmomflies.blogspot.com/2011/10/purging-games.html
Livin In Duckville says
Saw the hint someplace….. that you can use plastic soap containers (3/$1 at the local Dollar Tree) to hold decks of cards. I found small clear cosmetic bags in free boxes at yard sales & grabbed those up for cards & small games that aren’t in boxes.
Food on the Table says
Too many board games, what a great problem! Genius to keep them in a tall cupboard so every box can be seen….especially my favorite, Yahtzee!
raven says
I took a ton of the Container Store accessory boxes (about 5x5x3.5″ I think??) and store all game pieces in there, with the name of the game cut off the box and clear taped to the front of the container. Then we store all the boards on a different shelf. We have over 50 games and our very small upstairs closet holds them all neatly this way and there are no boxes to get smashed or trashed, and nothing oddly sized to deal with. The boxes also work great for storing card games and memory game pieces.