An overwhelming closet?

Do you long (unrealistically of course) to wake up to something like this?

This article over at Apartment Therapy gives some good ideas. I found this advice particularly interesting and useful:

• Put items used regularly at eye level, items used less at lower levels and items used rarely at high levels.
  
• Make sure that the space is well lit


• Color coding can make things easier to find


• Consider good looking and coordinated storage boxes


• Use coordinated hangers for a clean look

When we moved into the house, we ditched the 10+ different types of plastic and wire hangers. Through an ebay seller, I was able to get a great deal on loads (and I mean loads) of hangers. It's sort of a silly little thing, but the fact that everything hangs at the same level in the same fashion just makes my closet feel more coordinated. Perhaps it reminds me of a shop...who knows. I've also gone the color coordination route and find it easy to manage.

Organizationquest.com is another great resource as it's author, Anne-Marie works through organizing her home and life. The best part is that she's a normal gal just like most of us, as opposed to a professional. That makes her posts just that much more realistic. And if for nothing else, you should pop over there to take a peek at her craft closet.

While our closet is in fairly decent shape, I have a particularly poor habit of discarding my worn outfits daily on our closet countertop. Who am I kidding? Sometimes I'll go 2-3 days (wink wink). I think this will be my New Year's resolution...to have everything put away by the time I go to bed each night.

Does anyone else out there have organization-related resolutions?

Great docking station

A real cedar solution from etsy seller woodtec

Obsessive compulsive at all?

Owning our own house/condo/apartment has been a long time coming. Now that we're settled in, we've started setting up the house exactly how we want it (it was pretty much in shambles for the first year). My lovely husband started to get a bit concerned when I purchased a label maker. "What are you going to with with that?" Ummm...


Not only do we finally have an organized kitchen gadget drawer, it's also been labeled. Yes, a bit over the top, but hey, I love it. :) No trying to remember where "that thingy" is. No frustrations sifting through various items for "the one tool that I need". And in a really silly way, it makes me feel like I live in a Williams Sonoma store. Yes, it might be slightly disturbing, but I've waited a long time to finally have a home of my own...and I'm going all out.

Don't feel too bad for Mr. Big. He's sorted out a few critical drawers as well....atta boy!

Keeping the clutter at a minimum

We recently purchased a new iMac (through the local classifieds of all places). I love it because it's so simple and clean looking; Mr. Big loves it because it's just cool. Now that the desk is free of separate hard drives, etc., we can focus on getting (lots of) other areas tidy. But leave it to mac enthusiasts to take the next step and unplggd.com to bring it to our attention.

LowKey Stand

It's a good thing that we can't get these types of items on the island. I could easily find my pocket lighter by $59. And yes Mr. Big, I promise to clear through the other areas before considering this further (hand over heart).

The same useful site led me to the first recharging station that I have found attractive. This would be great in our mudroom...and is definitely needed!

Kangroom Bamboo 3 Pod

Any other good organization gadgets that anyone else has seen recently to help with clutter?

Talk about inspiration...

...apparently The Container Store is having their annual shelving sale just in time for our project. You can enter the dimensions of your space and then call their service center to have them custom design a solution for you. But to be honest, the standard sets that they have are far beyond what we have now. My favorite has to be the garage recreation center.

Garage Recreation Center

Reach in closet in birch and white

Garage Gardening Center

Okay mom, you can stopping laughing at the gardening center now. We do fully intend to have a nice fruit garden, herb garden and overall lush Caribbean space...all cultivated in the many leisurely hours that we will have once the house is done.

Oh any by the way, how many people now want to paint their garage because of that last photo? My hand is up!