We are a family of five living in under 1,000 sq ft. If we don’t at least attempt to be organized, we might misplace a kid.

Sometimes the stuff just seems to multiply and Mommy starts to twitch. Have I mentioned that clutter makes me crazy?

The beginning of the year prompts me and many others into purging and revamping all our stuff wherever possible.  Have you been struck?

On the list right now?

1. Set up file system in the house.  I emphasize in the house since we’ve got a big metal file cabinet in our building that supposedly is for our files, but who are we kidding?  The chances of me or anyone else in the fam actually taking something out to the building for the sole purpose of filing it are {let’s face it} not good!

I’ve actually already ordered a wooden file cabinet that will replace one of our end tables in the living room. 

 

It will have to double as a place to set my drink as well as keep our files nice and neat.  I’ve got my “command center” files on our counter that help to manage the paper and mail and various other things that find their way to the pile of papers that is ever accumulating. 

 

It has worked well, and will be something that I can periodically {even if only once a year, ha!} clean out and move to the bigger cabinet.

2. Bookshelf for living room for scrapbooks, homeschool books, and overflow from hallway bookshelf.  I’ve already ordered one of these too and am very excited about another place to put display my books. 

 

Shhh, don’t tell my hubby, but it’s also another flat surface to decorate! And, bonus! It will be out of reach of children TorWado! Wahoo!

3. Clean out and organize junk cabinet with bins.  Don’t judge.  Yes, I have a junk cabinet.   I know most people get by with a junk drawer only, but I am hard core. This cabinet {behind it’s blessed door} was a huge eyesore and heaven forbid Chris had to get anything out of it, or I would be hearing the grumbling of how aggravating the junk was. 

This one is partly done. Chris measured the cabinet, and I shopped online for the right sized bins to maximize the space.  We found fabric bins that are usually used to slide into cubbies at Lowes for around $7. 

 

We got 6 with the goal that everything goes in a bin, and everything is extremely easily attainable. {Did you know that you can go on Lowes.com and buy what you want and select pick up in store?  Unlike Walmart’s site to store, with Lowes, you can pick it up in TWENTY MINUTES! Plus with Lowes you got to the Customer Service desk in the front of the store, and with Walmart you have to go all the way to the back of the store and hope and pray someone will come eventually to help you. I was very impressed with Lowes.}

One of the problems with our previous trash pile system was that trying to find something in there, meant having to pull half of Africa out in attempt to find it. Hopefully we’ll find much joy and success with the bins!

Here’s a new, fun organization blog I came across called A Bowl Full of Lemons.  She’s got some great posts on organizing different rooms and areas of the house I found inspiring.

Go over and read a few.  Maybe you’ll be inspired too.

Here’s to a new year filled with organized bins and clutter free corners!