Winter Organizing: A Summary

I was on an organizing binge all winter. One room at a time, one section at a time. Nowhere was safe. I've been hoarding the most inexpensive baskets, bins and crates I could find from Ikea, Target, etc. I was determined to get things to a place that suits our lifestyle and our needs. Homework materials are now easily accessed, along with art supplies. Everything has a home. And letting go of the things we don't use or need anymore. I've been telling Mike it's because of Marie Kondo's Netflix show, but that's a half truth because while I am motivated/inspired/horrified by her, I also had been avoiding the basement. As long as I was organizing every inch of the rest of the house, I could avoid everything that needs to be done in the basement. Because the basement is a black hole.

(I did make SOME progress on the basement before the weather warmed up.)

In the living room we made everything more kid friendly. I recycled magazines and used the magazine baskets for their books and magazines instead - easily within reach for reading. Games were sorted into the bookcase cabinet. Accessories rearranged. We added baskets for coloring supplies, homework, paper, coloring books. The TV stand was redone with new Pudda IKEA baskets for video games and all DVDs went to basement because the kids stream everything now.

In the playroom, right after Christmas I went through every inch and toy. It's not perfect and the kids messed it up 5 minutes later, but for those 5 minutes it was beautifully organized. We have a million bins, everything technically has a home and all the outgrown toys have "mysteriously" disappeared.

In the dining room I reorganized our dining room office cabinet with lots of baskets and cup holders for all our office supplies. It was out of control before, just piles of papers and bills and things stacked all over the place. By the back door I'm struggling - we have a stack of crates and bins for outdoor stuff, sports gear, seasonal stuff... and it's ugly. It's also hard to keep everything organized. I am trying to come with a good solution here... but I haven't figured it out yet. It's functional but ugly:

In the kitchen I hit every drawer and cabinet.  While we use everything in the kitchen (all the occasional appliances are in the basement because the kitchen is so small), it felt really good to get some baskets and small stacking crates in to organize things better. Especially in the pantry. In the fridge I have healthy snacks within reach for the kids organized for easy access with bins.

Upstairs I hit every closet (including the much dreaded linen closet) and cabinet and piece of storage furniture. The boys clothes are already well organized in a system for sizing (next size up or off-season stuff that should fit again is in the mini dresser in closet, outgrown stuff in trovast Ikea tubs above the dresser), but I did scour my closet, getting rid of half my shoes and freed up over a foot of hanging space in the closet for Mike. I added more hooks on all the closet walls to take advantage of vertical/side space. I added valet hooks to doors, stacking crates and baskets.

So I have to admit, it feels pretty good to have things organized in all our closets and cabinets. We know where things are, we know where things go, I no longer avoid certain spots so I don't have to deal with the mess. We have a million inexpensive baskets/containers/crates/bins now but they were so necessary to do this right. I did a lot of shopping around to find inexpensive options that would work in a variety of places. 

Here's a list of my favorites baskets/containers/crates/bins:

Y-Weave Large Basket - Target 

I use these for shoes by every door - they hold a ton of pairs and are easy for the kids to throw theirs in. They are a great size - not too big but very roomy - these would also be good for toys.

Y-Weave Multi-pack 1 - Target 

Y-Weave Multi-pack 2 - Target

I use these for EVERYTHING. You can buy them all separately but the multi-pack is a better deal. We use the big ones for paper, coloring books, homework organizing, office supplies, art supplies, in the linen closet, toiletries in the bathroom, corralling stuff by the backdoor, plastic cups/plates/bowls in the kitchen island at the kids height so they can help themselves. I use the long narrow ones for art supplies, homework supplies (it's great they can pull out the whole basket and bring it to the table for coloring or homework, then put it away), cards for card games, batteries, random stuff kept in the bookcase, snacks in the pantry, small toys. The cups organize pens, markers, crayons, pencils. They hold kid silverware and dog treat bags in the kitchen. They corral bandaids, makeup, hair ties in the bathroom. In the kids rooms they hold tiny toys, pokemon cards, medicines in their dresser drawers. We have so many and yet I never feel like we have enough.

Y-Weave Multi-pack 3 - Target
These baskets are shallower than the first two packs. You can buy them separately but the multi-pack is a way better deal. I use these in the pantry for vitamins, spices, medicines, baking ingredients. On my nightstand, on my dresser, on the kitchen counter to corral stuff. In the cabinets to hold kitchen stuff sets together. Tools in the drawers. They make great trays in the fridge to hold healthy snacks easily within the kids reach.

Storex Stacking Mini Crates - Target
We have a ton of these and I keep ordering more. They are the perfect size for organizing kitchen stuff, the pantry, under the sinks, toiletries, cleaning supplies, bath toys, toy kitchen set food and plates, art supplies, tools, crafting supplies, chalk, tealights, gardening stuff... we have them everywhere because they are so handy and inexpensive (though be careful - on the Target website some 3pks are $3 and some are $15 so watch what color you pick). I love that they stack so the storage goes vertical as well. We even turn them on their sides and use them to stack glasses in the kitchen cabinets. They are kind of ugly, but they are a workhorse behind closed doors.

Torkis Laundry Tub - IKEA
These hold anything and everything, indoors or outdoors. We use these to hold balls, stuffed animals, outdoor toys. And when we entertain, we fill them with ice as drink tubs at parties.

Gles Boxes - IKEA
Playroom toys, outdoor toys, gear by the backdoor. In the basement we have a ton of these to organize our shelves and supplies. They are so inexpensive it's easy to stock up and just have them handy for whatever. I have these in green and black.

Dronas Boxes - IKEA
The collapsible canvas box universally sized for all the cube shelves, they come in lots of colors and these are the cheapest option and very durable. I like that they are canvas so they don't scratch the furniture. And they hold A TON.

Sockerbit Bin - IKEA
These hold toys in the playroom. Small tools in the basement. Tubs of kid paint. In the kitchen I use them to hold bags of onions and potatoes in the pantry. In the fridge these hold apples and oranges beautifully within the kids reach.

SKUBB Organizer - IKEA
I have these in all our dressers - perfect for adult sock drawers and organizing scarves/accessories. And they are perfectly sized for baby/kid's clothing when folding Marie Kondo style (which I was already doing! So they can see what they have!). All of mine are aqua.

Skubb Boxes - IKEA
I use these all over the house - the linen closet, bookcase cabinets, closet, dresser - even in our coffee table currently. They are a great size and because they are canvas, they don't scratch furniture. They are very lightweight and when you don't need them, they fold up.