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?

Games Cupboard Organization & Other Purge Piles is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

before:

after:

Since then I decided I just had to redo my master bedroom closet with these new hangers.  I purchased a variety of different types of thin hangers in a variety of materials (velour, velvet and felt) from a variety of different stores and I can honestly say that I didn’t really notice a difference amongst any of them.  They all worked well.  I just love how my closet looks and functions now.  Love, love, love!!

Here’s a video peek of my lovely hangers and such a dorky picture of me..blah!

My system for arranging the clothes in my closet is by type rather than color.  All my sweaters together, casual tops together and then dressy ones.  Works for me!!

Have you tried the thin material covered hangers in your closet?

Related post:

My Organized Closet (although it looks a little different now)

Thin hangers can double your closet space – video is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

Here is how it looked before:

(the bottom bag and box are thrift store donations)

Not too bad right?  But here’s the thing…I knew there were things in there that we haven’t used in the 9 months since we moved into this house.  Why was I taking up valuable storage space with items we no longer used or that we “might” use one day?  Because I had the room.  It’s as simple as that.  I could still find what I needed in there, it wasn’t too packed and it is a linen closet after all.  However just because a closet is called a “linen” closet doesn’t mean it has to be used for just linen.  Heck no!   Some of that space could be used for other things like craft storage, board games, puzzles, books, photo albums, panty overstock, etc.  I definitely knew I could use that space for something else.

It’s a matter of making a choice for the NOW rather than the ONE DAY!

I really don’t like the words “just in case”.   Just in case what?  I’d better have four sets of sheets for my bed just in case my washing machine breaks down for a month and I can no longer wash my bedding.  Seriously, a month?  In case of emergency, go to a friend’s house.  I’d better have 7 towels per person so they can change it out for a new one every day.  Umm, that’s a little much, after all we are clean when we dry ourselves off with them.  I’m just saying :)

If you have all the space in the world, then fly at it.  Have as many towels as your little heart desires.  BUT if you hear yourself complaining that your house is too small and you have no room for anything, take a look at not just a linen closet (as not every house has one) but any closet for that matter.  Walk yourself through this inner dialogue you have with yourself (we all do it!) and try to make some sense out of what you are justifying.  If the home you’ve got is it for awhile and upsizing just isn’t an option, then tough choices will probably need to be made.  Here’s the good news….once you feel the excitement of the purge and how creating some additional storage space frees up all sorts of frustration for you, you will be hooked.  Believe me, it’s an awesome feeling!  You’ll be absolutely itching to move on to something else!

So where was I?  (lol…got a little sidetracked there)

So I emptied my linen closet out and had a good ole purge fest.  It was FUN!!  Next I decided that I would use up the Spacemaker Storage Bags I purchased a couple of months ago to store some of my less frequently used items.   (psst: don’t miss my OpenSky deal of the week on these below!!)

I started with the special baby blankets that my kids each selected to keep.  In they went:

Now here’s where I decided to do something a little different.  Rather than stack my Spacemaker Bags one on top of the other (and have trouble accessing one without them all falling out on my head) I decided to line them straight up and down in order to make them super easy to pull out.

By this time I was getting real excited by the possibilities.  I could tell I was on to something…hahaha.

Someone asked about how to get these storage bags flat so they do stack.  Well I found the more flat they were going into the bag the more flat the bag would be with all the air sucked out.  Yet standing them up like this really eliminated the need for that to matter….yippee!

Check out how my top shelf turned out:

I used storage bags for guest pillows, out of season blankets, camping blankets and some extra curtains that I use to “create” a room for my daughter in the rec room when guests take over her room.  I was so so happy with the amount of space I saved.   Happy dance for sure!!

So if you remember here was my linen closet before:

And here it is after:

Whoot!  Two empty shelves!!   So excited about that although I’ve since added a proper donation station box to the bottom.  Everyone should have one!

A close up:

I”m still not sure how I’ll use all my new empty space but for now I’m just enjoying mulling over the possibilities :)

Here is my purge pile from the weekend (not just from my linen closet):

Got any questions about it, just let me know!

PS:  I love my Spacemaker Storage Bags and I’m so excited to offer them to you today as my OpenSky deal of the week.  This deal is available only for the next 24 hours (you’ll need to log in/sign up to see the deal)!!  Check it out! For more information about my OpenSky please see here.

My linen closet before and after is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

If you are new to 52 Weeks of Organizing, catch up here!

Week 20, whoot!  Are you hanging in there?

Today I decided I wanted to talk about the linen closet.  Whether your house has a big one or one that’s not so big, it’s often a neglected space.   Regardless of the size, is yours bursting at the seams?  This might be a good week to go through the PROCESS and tackle that area.

A couple of years ago I posted about how I organized my own linen closet and I encourage you to go on over and read how I followed the PROCESS myself.  I took my overstuffed closet from this:

to this:

Those pictures are from 2007 and in my old house.  Since then I have learned to downsize even more yet after looking at the state of my new linen closet I think it’s time for another overhaul.  I’ll have to do that this week also.

I think the majority of people have just way too many sets of sheets and towels.  The general rule I write about in my book, Clutter Rehab, is two sets of sheets and towels per person.  One set of sheets for the bed and one towel per person for the towel bar.  Then one for spare.  You may also want one set of each for guests along with a few blankets.  I find Space Bags to be especially convenient in the off season to help create additional space.

Remember to purge until it fits!

With some paring down and a little creativity perhaps you can use the extra storage space you uncover for other things looking for a home…craft supplies, a donation station, kid’s clothes to grow into, extra pantry space, etc.

I just have to show you what my sister did with her linen closet.  Since she lives in a small home with no garage or basement space she needed somewhere for her cat’s litter box where her girls couldn’t get into it.  So she moved her linen into her bedroom closet, added a animal door to the bottom of the closet and voila, problem solved.  Now that’s thinking outside the box!

Does your linen closet need an overhaul?

Note: most animal shelters would be more than happy to take your old linen off your hands to use for the animals :)

Please feel free to share your organizing journey and encourage one another in the comments. You are also invited to link up to the linky below with any posts related to your 52 weeks of organizing participation or to any post of an organizing nature that you feel will inspire and encourage others in their quest to get organized. Please remember to link back to here though so we can reach out to as many people as possible in need of some inspiration.

One other thing to consider: by including your link below you, you are giving me permission to use parts of your post including pictures as a spotlight in future 52 Weeks of Organizing posts. Proper credit and links will of course be provided. If you are not okay with this please do not link up. Thanks!

52 Weeks: #20 Take Back Your Linen Closet is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

Remember last week when I mentioned I organized my entryway closet? Here’s a refresher:

Before:

After:

In that post, I had mentioned a product that I used that has changed my life.  Only one of you guessed that it was my hangers!  Yep something as simple as a hanger has made life so much easier for me, believe it!

Now I must be a little isolated here where I live because seriously I’ve never heard of the Joy Mangano Huggable Hanger until I received them to review. Up until now I’ve never really found a hanger that I love.  I’ve never been a fan of wooden hangers and I know Professional Organizers are gasping at me everywhere but I’ve always felt they were ugly and because they bow out they take up way too much space in a closet.  So I’ve been using plastic hangers which are fine except for the annoying habit coats have of falling off them.  Drives me crazy!  These Huggable Hangers are made of velvet-flocked material which means my coats no longer slide off…yipee!  Not only that but because they are thinner they allow you to fit more into a space.  Oh and as a bonus they prevent those horrible shoulder bumps as well….blech.

These were my coats before.  Don’t even ask me how many times I’ve picked up that one there in the middle with the red trim off the floor.  Seriously, what a waste of time!

Now I don’t have that problem anymore and I’m a changed woman!!  Coats stay put!

Love, love, love!

Now some other things going on in my closet to keep me organized are my bins on top which hold my husband’s ball caps, summer hats, bags, etc.  I still need to label them.  I blogged about where I purchased them here.

And then tucked behind the coats on the back wall I’ve hung up a four pocket organizer using a command hook.  Here I’ve got some extra supplies for the vehicle (tissues, wipes, etc) that are quick and easy to grab and go.

And then beside that I’ve got my shoe organizer that holds quite a number of shoes.

Finally the basket on the cubby shelf is home for all my Bella’s dog supplies.

Ahh isn’t she sweet :)

So there you have it my small but organized entryway and front door closet.

Giveaway:

Would you like to win a 24 pack of Huggable Hangers for yourself?  Simply leave a comment on this post prior to Tuesday, May 10th at 2:00 pm EST.  That’s it!

Good luck!!

My entryway and a Huggable Hangers giveaway! is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

The great thing about a closet is that you can shut the door- so theoretically it’s the last place most people think to clean.  But, I’ve learned that an organized closet leads to a more organized home.  I NEED to have clean closets and here’s why.

1) A Centipede lives in my house

There is no other explanation for how 4 people can produce the pile of shoes that we produce near the front door if I do not have a readily available space in our front hall closet for shoe storage.  It only takes a few minutes to clear out a space for a cheap shoe organizer, and then the whole family can put their shoes AWAY.

2) I prefer laundry to be my part time job rather than my full time job

Crammed closets mean crinkly clothes, and a closet without spare hangers and a designated spot for “lightly worn” clothing means at the end of the day everything tends to end up in the laundry, even if it isn’t dirty.  I do enough laundry as it is- so I do everything in my power to ensure that the bedroom closets are organized enough to allow clean clothes to stay clean, and the laundry baskets to stay empty (at least for a minute)!

3) A clean floor = a clean room

As far as I’m concerned, if I can see the floor and it’s not covered in crumbs, the room is clean.  But with a young kids, the only way I can get all of the toys off of the floor, and the crumbs swept up is to have room to actually put things away. I’m a big fan of baskets, but I like baskets even more when I can fill them up and put them in the closet.  Out of sight, out of mind!

4) I HATE going to the store in the rain

It never fails, if I’m in a time crunch or it’s pouring rain, I run out of something that I need to make dinner that night.  Dragging 2 kids out into the rain just to get spaghetti sauce? Forget it!

We’ll have something else instead. But what if it’s the last ingredient for tonight’s birthday cupcakes? If the pantry is a mess, you have no idea what is or isn’t hiding on the top shelf, and you probably won’t realize you don’t have something until the clouds roll in and the sky opens up.

5) I do not live in a museum

I love a good organizing project, and I love to clean out closets, but I have a life too. Sometimes I’m just too tired at the end of the day to be in charge of clutter control.  So I am forever thankful for a closet with an empty shelf to stash stuff and then shut the door in a hurry if company is dropping by unexpectedly.

Clean closets won’t solve all of the world’s problems, but they’re a great place to start if you’re looking for a quick organizational fix in your home.

Alexis Anne is a busy wife and mother of two energetic little girls.  When she’s not cleaning closets, she’s blogging about organization and design inspiration for the home at her blog Clean, Smart, Simple Style.

How an Organized Closet Leads to an Organized Home is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

There are hundreds, possibly thousands of ways you can customize a closet for better organization and use of storage space. Closet accessories, closet organizers and custom closet systems are just a few, but what do you do about those tricky closet corners?  This is a problem for many households, so we’ve put together a list of easy do-it-yourself solutions to maximize space in closet corners.

Fix Overlapping Closet Rods

Overlapping hanging rods in closets create a square shaped space in the corner where nothing fits and it’s impossible to see or access your clothes.

For a quick fix, shorten one of the closet rods by at least 24” and then reinforce the hanging rod with a closet support bracket if needed.  One closet rod will stop short of the adjacent wall, creating not only more hanging space but also making it easier to see and access clothes on both sides.

Closet Rod Height Variation

For further closet corner accessibility, adjust the closet rod heights when shortening closet rods or fixing overlapping poles.  When closet rods of the same height meet in the corner of a closet, although functional from a storage standpoint, it’s challenging to access clothes or hangers that are located towards the far corner.

In this example, one wall has only a single long hanging closet rod at 70″ high; while the adjoining wall includes a double hanging section where the closet rods are 80-84” high and 38-42” high.

Add Corner Shelving

Much like kitchen cabinetry, some shelving units are made specifically for corner spaces.  They can be “L” shaped or angled; either configuration can maximize storage in closet corners by adding space for folded clothing, boxes, shoes and linens. This is a great solution for those who have more shelving items than hanging clothes or if the closet dimensions present design challenges to incorporate storage goals.

Proper Spacing of Closet Organizers

If you want to maximize space throughout your entire closet with closet organizers, proper closet section spacing should be utilized in all corners.

A general rule of thumb is to leave 12″ of empty wall space between closet sections in a corner. (24” from the adjacent wall to a closet section… assuming shelving is 12” deep.) This allows full access to clothing hung in the corner space.

In this example, the left wall includes a shelving section and stops short 24” from the corner.  The adjoining wall can then accommodate the hanging sections beginning from the corner.   Hanging clothes in the corner are accessible by the 12” spacing between the adjacent sections.

If possible, avoid placing hanging sections on both sides of the corner, but if you must, vary the heights of the adjacent closet rods; this will create a design that allows for better garment accessibility.

Whether you opt for simple closet rod adjustments or DIY closet organizers, either route you choose will result in added space and less clutter!

Tabitha Kokoska has years of experience in the closet organizer and design industries. As Creative Director for ClosetPages.com, she manages the website’s closet organizers blog and contributes to the monthly newsletter.

How to Maximize Storage Space in Closet Corners is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

Look at all this wasted space.  It’s wrong I tell you, just wrong!  I’ve since found out that this is a pretty common problem.  Closets everywhere are missing a shelf.  Poor naked closets.

One shelf added = happy happy storage and happy happy me!

I use those larger bags to store all of our travel bags and backpacks.

We choose to simply add a wire shelf even though as you know I’m not a huge fan of them.  In this case though I just needed a shelf and the wire ones were on sale.

In our old house we had one shelf above the rod in my husband’s closet and then my husband went and added a SECOND shelf for even more storage.  It melted my heart and made me love him even more :)

Found storage is such a beautiful thing!

Now go check your closets….anyone short a shelf?

Maximize your storage…add a shelf! is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

This time my sister needed help with her nursery.  My sister just had another sweet baby girl two months ago (I so enjoyed all the baby cuddles!).  Just before the baby arrived she moved her oldest daughter (2) out of the nursery and into her big girl room.   The baby has been sleeping in my sister’s room in the bassinet since she was born but was now ready to start transitioning to her own room.  The problem was the nursery wasn’t quite ready for permanent residency yet.  It needed a little TLC.

Now anyone who has had littles at one point or another knows how overwhelming this season of life can be.  Time is of a premium and some days just getting a shower in is quite the accomplishment.  There isn’t a lot of time left over at the end of the day for things like organizing rooms that is for sure.  I remember, boy do I remember.

credit: shutterstock

I want to encourage you that if you are in this particular season or any other that is equally draining, please please reach out to someone for help. Those of us no longer in the baby days vividly remember what it was like and are more than happy to help.  Eventually your babes will be older and you’ll be able to return the favor to someone else in a similar situation.  There is no shame in that, we need to stick together!

My sister just needed an extra set of hands and I was on it. The plan was to make room for the change table and a chair, find a home for the totes of clothing and make it a welcoming, restful place for my little ladybug to sleep.

With my plan in place, I was ready for the second step in the PROCESS which is to remove and remove I did.  Everything but the big furniture got pulled out into the hallway or another room.  Once I had the space opened up I could do a little space planning to see how I was going to fit everything back in.  Organize the big stuff first. Once the furniture was in place we could start organizing the clothes.  Since my sister had excellent cubbie storage that wasn’t being used to it’s full potential we decided to put some of the next size clothing in those and that helped free up a few totes.  The cubbies will be labeled soon when she finds some of those self laminating sheets.

We also brought in the change table and that has three big drawers underneath for diapers/wipes, sleepers, crib sheets, blankets, socks, etc….

We organized shoes, booties and hats using the Koala Baby Organizer behind the door.

Clothes a couple of sizes out were either hung up in the closet or added to cubbies in the closet.  Others were stored in totes under the crib.  Clothes that weren’t going to be needed for at least another year yet went up in the attic.  Sorry I neglected to take a picture of the closet, but here’s a picture of it from a couple of years ago when my sister added a closet organizer to it.

She’s since added a shelf to the top and each of the cubbies now has a fabric bin to keep things containerized and tidy.

Before:

After:

I’m really happy with the way it turned out especially since we only had a short window of time with which to do it and we also had a very cute 2 year old helper for part of the time that had different ideas of how things should be stored.  Mainly all over the floor of course! :)

Nursery Makeover is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie

You know organizing gets me excited but what gets me most excited is taking something intended for one purpose and turning it into a fabulous storage solution instead.  It’s even more exciting when that product would have just been given away or thrown out.  Re-purposing makes me GIDDY!   I get just as excited when I see other people doing it too which is why I have to share this awesome product re-do with you today (with permission of course).

Samara of Link Adventures took an old wine rack and turned it into PURSE STORAGE!  Goodness so clever!

It fit perfectly in her closet like it was always meant to be!

Go check out her post to get all the details (and more pictures) of how she took a stressful annoying problem and made it fabulous and functional for no cost at all.  Way to go Samara!!

Just for fun, how many other ways can we come up with to re-use an old wine rack?

I hope this gets your creative juices flowing.  As always send me your creative storage ideas and you too may see yourself featured here to help inspire others.

Storage Star ~ Purse Storage is a post from: I'm an Organizing Junkie