getting organized Archives - Lumber in My Minivan

2021, 21-day organizing challenge, organize, organizing, organizing tips

Getting organized: how to organize your closets and keep them that way! (Part One)

February 17, 2021February 15, 2021by LumberInMyMiniVan4 Comments

There are two types of people in the world: those who are naturally organized and those who must work to be organized. Maybe you fall into that second category- you really want to be organized, but you’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to start.

And as some of us are beginning to think about spring cleaning, closet spaces are a good starting point.

My once well-organized closet now looks like this. I;’m struggling to find what I need and I’m tired of it. Maybe you feel the same way.

Getting organized is possible, but it doesn’t happen overnight. With the following tips, you too can have an organized closet.

1. Think about your family and your needs.

Who lives in your home? What rooms do you use daily in your home? What spaces are currently giving you the biggest headache? When you consider your family’s needs, and organize accordingly, you’re more likely to stay organized. Apply this to closets, too. Who uses that closet? What do they use the most? What don’t you need in that space that could go somewhere else?

2. Simplify, declutter and purge!

When you’re organizing, remove everything you don’t need or don’t use. Keep only what you use and trash or donate everything else. Clutter doesn’t help you in any way and it only stresses you out.

man faceless mail business — Photo by C Technical on Pexels.com

3. Sort and purge all rooms at least twice a year to keep things organized and decluttered.

We like to declutter once around Christmas time and once again in the summer. We usually donate or repurpose what we no longer use. This cuts down on toy clutter and helps us to rid ourselves of the things we no longer need.

4. Start small

Don’t try to tackle your whole house in a day. Start with a closet first, or even a drawer. Organize all cabinets and drawers and then move on to closets and rooms. Before you know it, your whole house will be organized!

5. Have specific places for everything and put things away when you are finished with them.

Sometimes we get lazy and we don’t always put things away when we are done. We then forget where we put them and misplace them! It’s better to put away the items and be done with it.

Getting organized may seem overwhelming, but it’s easier than you think. All it takes is dedication and a little effort…and the patience to start small.

Happy organizing!

2021, command center, getting organized, home maintenance, organize, time management

Get Organized: 10 Command Center Ideas for the New Year

January 15, 2021January 10, 2021by LumberInMyMiniVanLeave a Comment

We used to have a killer command center. It was amazing.

And that’s not even a GOOD picture of it.

At the current moment, and I’m almost ashamed to admit this, but we don’t even have a command center. I have all the components for it but I haven’t found a great place to house it yet. I’m thinking somewhere in the mudroom when we get it finished. I promise to stop being a disappointment and get on that…someday.

I wanted to use today’s round-up as a way to gain inspiration for my own to-be command center, as well as inspire you all. If you haven’t used a command center to organize your family’s time, you really should try it. It’s very helpful. If you’re a visual person, it will be extremely valuable to you. Typically, I’d write a short description of each one, but today, I’m just going to share links and pictures.

You will notice a common theme amongst all of these command centers. It’s a way to keep up with your schedule, but also a way to cut down on paper clutter and filing. Think of it as the busy mom’s assistant. Every single one of these pictures is different, but they’re all useful and they’re all pretty. Which one is your favorite? Comment below and let me know 🙂

Have a wonderful weekend.

2020, Bathrooms, budget decorating, decorating kid spaces, DIY, farmhouse, farmhouse decor, farmhouse style, getting organized, Hobby Lobby, kid spaces, kids rooms, repurpose, rustic DIY, Wood crafts

DIY Reclaimed Wood Coatrack

February 26, 2020by LumberInMyMiniVan6 Comments

I needed a spot to hang towels and robes in my children’s bathroom. I had a perfectly good blank wall, but I knew I wanted to do something prettier than just install hooks on the wall.

I already had some adorable shabby chic hooks from a recent Hobby Lobby sale.

And I found a piece of wood that was the perfect size for the space. It had a beautiful patina but my daughter requested I paint it.

I tried so hard to get her to change her mind but she just wouldn’t budge. I consulted my craft cabinet and found my green chalk paint.

I then slathered my reclaimed wood plank with two coats of green chalk paint.

Until I ended up with this:

I then screwed my hooks into the now painted plank. I tried to space them equally.

I then attached wall hangers to the back of it and hung it on the wall.

And here it is, holding up those robes just like I wanted it to.

What shabby chic project have you done lately?

2018, closet organization, closets, closet organization, kids rooms, DIY, getting organized, organize, organizing, organizing tips, simplify, simplifying life

The Benefits of Living with Less…and why you should purge your house right now!

September 25, 2019September 25, 2019by LumberInMyMiniVanLeave a Comment

RIGHT Now. Drop everything and PURGE YOUR HOME NOW! No, I’m kidding. Sort of.

I know you read a lot about purging your home on my blog. Some of you are probably fans of living with less already, while others of you are scratching your heads and wondering how much more stuff I can get rid of and blog about it. #istillhavetoomuchstuff

I am currently in the midst of a whole house purge, but we will talk more about that later.

The truth is, living with less has a lot of benefits. Some are health benefits, some are financial benefits, and some are so good they don’t fit into any category. I’d like to share a few of those with you today, as well as some great advice for purging your home that I’ve collected over the years.

1. Living with less can be beneficial to your mental and physical health

Living with too much causes your house to feel cluttered. A cluttered house feels chaotic, and makes it hard for you to relax and destress. Continued stress affects your mental state, as well as your physical health. An organized and clean home evokes a peaceful feeling, and who doesn’t want to feel at peace in their own home?
This one is especially true if you have kids. More stuff=fewer places to put things away. Stuff that is left out in the floor becomes a trip hazard. Show of hands: who else has fallen over items left in the floor, or stepped on some hard plastic toy with your bare feet? (Lego moms, can I get an “amen?” )

2. Living with less makes your home feel and appear cleaner

Living with too much makes it harder to find places to put things away. Having nowhere to put things causes your home to look and feel cluttered (see above).
A cluttered house also seems dirty even if it really isn’t. Having less stuff and less clutter makes your house look and feel cleaner.

3. Living with less saves time

How does living with less save time? It means that you spend less time looking for things. It’s been said that the average person spends four years of their life looking for things that they are missing. Not being able to find your missing items makes you stressed. Having less stuff means that you don’t have to sort through so much when you need something.

5. Living with less saves you money

How is this? Well, when you make a conscious effort to live with less, you are much more intentional with your spending. Additionally, who here has ever bought something, only to realize you already had that same item at home? Living with less makes it easier to distinguish what you need- therefore keeping you from spending money on something you already have.

There are many benefits to having an organized and simplified home, with less stuff. Start with one room at a time and keep only what you need- donate, recycle or throw away the rest. I know many people who wish their home was less cluttered, but I don’t know anyone who wishes their home was MORE cluttered. Start today and you’ll soon see the benefits.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Coming soon: Characteristics of an organized home

2018, budget decorating, getting organized, organize, organizing, organizing tips

How to get organized without breaking the bank

June 4, 2019June 3, 2019by LumberInMyMiniVan4 Comments

Getting organized can be costly, but it doesn’t have to be. You certainly can spend a lot of money on organization if you want, but if you’re budget conscious like me, you don’t want to do that. Luckily, there are many ways to get organized without overspending.

1. Shop discount home stores like TJ Maxx or Home Goods, or use sales coupons.

I love the basket selections at my local big box craft store, but I don’t love the price. TJ Maxx and Homegoods have tons of cute baskets in a number of colors and materials, and they aren’t expensive.

2. Don’t forget the dollar stores

Dollar store bins and baskets aren’t the most durable, so they aren’t appropriate for organizing everything. They’ll do for organizing cabinets, holding bathroom toiletries and organizing your kids’ books,though.

3. Target has awesome baskets, and they’re frequently on sale

I have bought so many cute, durable baskets at Target over the years. They have so many different sizes and styles to choose from.

4. See if you can repurpose or DIY something

I have covered diaper boxes with fabric and used them for bins. I’ve wrapped old mailing boxes with twine so they’d look like a basket. I’ve used tin cans wrapped in scrapbook paper to store things. Before you buy, Look around to see what you already have that can be repurposed.

5. Shop your house

See that basket on my china hutch? It’s been everywhere. It’s been in my bathroom, my kitchen, my office, and now it landed in the dining room. Shop your house to see if you may already have something you can use before you buy anything new.

There are so many ways you can get organized by spending little to no money. All it takes is a little creativity. You’ll be glad you did it later.

Have a wonderful weekend.