taming paper clutter

What to keep, what to toss.....I'm drowning in paper clutter!! I save EVERYTHING!! It's this time of year, after all the holiday shopping, and all those receipts, that I feel the need to really sort through all the paperwork that has piled up and hasn't found a home.

A few years ago, I actually finally found the solution for filing all those receipts and important papers in one spot. Remember this......

This old bench is the forever home for all that pesky paperwork...plus, it's pretty and functional.

I found a drop-in filing system that fit inside perfectly........

There is even room to hold the paper shredder. I love, love, love that everything is now in one spot, no scouring the house looking for a receipt and no cluttered drawers and baskets full of unorganized papers.

But, while I had my long-term filing system in place, I needed something to keep my bill paying stuff, current receipts, and monthly budget in. I've been wanting a "command center" or mobile "bill paying station", something similar to ideas I had pinned. (picture sources for the following pics: Pinterest)










Seems simple enough, a basket or bin and some folders. So, last fall, I found the perfect holder at Target online for like $20 and bought some pretty Sugar Paper folders too, now I just needed to start sorting and filing.....fast forward 3 months later...and ta-da......my new bill paying/filing command center.......

I keep current paperwork, bills to-pay, and receipts from the past 1-2 months, which I'll later add to my filing bench. It also holds my planner (Sugar Paper) and calculator, pens, etc. I picked up those fun polka-dotted clothespins in the Target $$ spot. :O)

Paper clutter challenge ---- check!

My goal is to keep on top of my filing and only store receipts here or in the bench....you won't find a receipt anywhere else in my house (now maybe I'll be able to put my hands on them when I need something!!!).

14 Week Organization Challenge: The Master Bedroom

 

14 Week Organization Challenge:

The Master Bedroom

 

 

 

2016 Home Organization 101:
Weeks 6 & 7 - The Master Bedroom + Closet

 

 

I skipped Week 5: The Living Room for now. I want to start spring cleaning when we get back from vacation, and really, this room has little organizing / more cleaning to be done. So, on to the master bedroom.....

I'm combining weeks 6 and 7 since they are in the same room and I am working on organizing clothes anyway. This came just in time since (a) I just cleaned out the attic, (b) I'm packing for vacation, (c) it's almost time to change out seasonal clothing, and (d) I still have scaling down my wardrobe on my mind!

 

 

I started with the closet: It's recommended to take everything out....oh.my.goodness.

 

 

 

Trust me, this picture does not do this "mess" justice!!

 

 

Next, make piles and before putting an item back in, ask a few questions...

 

 

 

Have I worn this in the past 6-12 months - if not....out.

 

Does it fit - if not....out.

(I struggled with this, because I always think I'll lose those pounds and wear it next season..NOT).

 

Do I love it? - if not....out.

 

Is it dated? - if so....out

 

Is it stained or does it need mending? - if so...pull and clean/mend.

 

Do I have more than one of this item? - if so....out

 

So, I actually did purge the closet this time. I have a large and small tote to donate, I threw away a small bag of stuff, I gave a few things to sister, and I listed a few things on EBay (if they don't sell- I'm donating them as well). I actually had 4 large totes full of "stuff" in the attic that I've been meaning to list on EBay, so after Mom and I organized it last week, I was determined to get it out of there! Again, if it doesn't sell, it's finding a new home. I still have lots more to sell, and hope to get everything listed once we get back from vacation.

 

 

Back to closet purging....I keep all of my clothes in the closet. I do not have (or want) a dresser. Peter has one for all of his clothes (except a few dress shirts/pants that hang in my closet). I use bins/baskets for underware/socks/pjs/etc. I stack folded t-shirts and jeans on the shelves.

 

I hang purses on binder rings, keep hoodies rolled up in a basket, and hang scarves on scarf hangers. Here are a few after pics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I keep all of my coats/jackets in this closet, Peter's go in the den closet. I keep most of my shoes/boots in the bottom of this closet, but keep my most used shoes on a shoe rack in the den closet for easier access.

 

I actually had a little left-over space once I put everything I was keeping back in. A few things are missing, since I already started packing, but the closet still won't be overflowing with the extra items.:O)

I have several different bins/baskets in my closet but I want to replace them with matching bins asap.

 

I had really wanted to keep my year-round warbdrobe in the closet and not store any clothes in the attic, but I had too many bulky sweaters that I couldn't stand to look at all summer. I managed to scale down to ONE bin of seasonal clothes that needs to be stored. I'll do the same when I rotate summer clothing.

 

While I made things look much better and less cluttered, there is still room for improvement. My goal is to scale down to a capsule wardrobe that overlaps each season.

 

Here are a few inspirations:

 

link

 

 

link

 

 

link

 

link

 

link

 

 

 

 I still need to organize Peter's dresser and the corner armoire', but I plan to finish up the bedroom by the weekend.

14 Week Organization Challenge: The Launch Pad

 

2016 Home Organization 101:
Week #4 - The Launch Pad

LINK: A Bowl Full Of Lemons

Right now, my launch pad (or command center) is the kitchen island. I try to keep it clear (except for my to-do list and maybe a candle), but on most days it looks like this....

but I try to keep it looking like this.......

I keep frequently used office supplies, check book/cash, etc., in the top kitchen drawer nearby, and the bottom drawer holds my binder/planner, envelopes, savings jars, keys, etc. I try not keep too much "stuff" on the launch pad, since I need it for work space (and it looks very messy!!).

On the wish-list: hopefully, in the near future, we will do a little kitchen update (paint cabinets + add new countertops), as well as have a new breakfast bar built.

Something like this....

I can then do away with my small island, and use the breakfast bar for an extra work/eating space. I'd like to make this my new launch pad area, with a basket for daily stuff.

Something like this:

 

or this....

 

 

 

 

 

This week's challenge was an easy one, but next week....Master Bedroom Organizing!!

 

14 Week Organization Challenge

 

Week #1 - Kitchen

Week #2 - Pantry

Week #3 - Dining Room

Week #4 - Launch Pad

 

 

14 Week Organization Challenge: The Dining Room

 

2016 Home Organization 101:
Week 3 - The Dining Room

 

 

I am following along with A Bowl Full of Lemons for week three of the organizing challenge. Last week, we focused on the pantry. Since I don't have a designated pantry, last week's challenge took very little time to complete, so I went back to week one (the kitchen) and finished the checklist.

 

Week #3 focused on the dining room. Since we have an eat-in kitchen, the dining room was easy to get organized.

 

I washed the placemats, wiped down the chairs and table, and scrubbed the floor. I did buy a new boxwood at Marshall's for the centerpice. :O)

 

I need to try to get a clearer picture,

this one taken with iPad...not the best!

 

 

On to week #4....The Launch Pad

14 Week Organization Challenge: The Pantry

 

2016 Home Organization 101:
Week 2 - The Pantry

 

 

I am following along with A Bowl Full of Lemons for week two of the organizing challenge. Last week, we started in the kitchen and I did most of the to-do list. I finished the cabinets and countertop, and cleaned out and organized the fridge/freezer. I didn't clean the stove, as I just ran the self-clean in the oven right after the holidays. I still need to clean the dishwasher. I don't have a pantry, only a pantry cabinet and a cabinet that holds all canned/packaged foods. As part of the kitchen challenge, I did the pantry cabinet, so I only had this cabinet to organize. I also cleaned out and organized the cabinet that holds spices/baking products/etc. Bins, baskets, and jars were recommended for keeping the pantry neat and organized, so I added some labeled bins here.

 

before

 

 

 

 

after

 

 

Much better!!

 

14 Week Organizing Challenge: The Kitchen

2016 Home Organization 101: Week 1 - The Kitchen

 

I am following along with A Bowl Full of Lemons for a 14 Week Organizing Challenge.

 

Week #1 starts in the kitchen and here is the checklist: 

 

Today, I did half of the cabinets and drawers, taking everything out, culling over, grouping like things together, and putting back. Clean and organized! 

I love my label maker for organizing projects.

 

Here are a few before/after pictures.

There was way too much junk in this cabinet (and pretty much all the cabinets/drawers)....

after....

 

Drawer #1

 

and now, organized....

 

 

I keep most of my office supplies in my desk drawer, but keep these things handy in a kitchen drawer, since I use most every day.

 

Drawer # 2 - holds foil, ziploc bags, etc., tea towels, dish rags, pot holders & trivets. This drawer just needed to be tidied up and I made a list of things I need/low on.

 

Drawer #3 - this drawer holds everything I need for the budget/bill paying.

 

It also holds my savings jars. Remember the money challenges I started last January???

 

I'm almost halfway with the dime challenge (1 full water bottle=$100)

 

I failed again at the 52 Week Money Challenge. I get about half way, then end up taking the cash for something! We are trying it again, but this time, I put Peter in charge and we are doing it this way....

 

 

I did finish this one though....

 

 

and have started again this year!

 

Tomorrow, I will hopefully finish the rest of the cabinets/drawers, and move on to the countertops.

 

It seems like a lot to do in just one week, but even if I don't complete the entire list, at least I am on the right track to getting organized!!