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I’m one of those people that actually enjoy organizing closets and drawers. Still, as we’ve lived in our house for 34 years in April. {I’d love to say I was 10 years old when we moved in, but I’d be lying} We raised our kids here and we’ve handed off most personal belongings to our California son; Our Texas son still has items in “family storage” [read: our attic space in the garage].
As I reported early last year, the Mr. B. and I have been paring down, analyzing each box with the understanding that we’re not getting younger, and our married sons have little interest in lots of the things we’ve amassed. We’ve made inroads but it’s amazing how you can pare down so much and still find more!
So, I’m going to share some pretty organized spaces in pictures…it’s what I do to keep me going on projects as large as this. 🙂
I’d like to start with the pantry. I think that’s an easy one for me…I check dates on foods (no, I won’t use the Jello pudding mix which has a ‘best by’ date of June 2012). I chuck or give away foods that were gifted to us if I know we’ll never eat them. I’d like to say I only need this much pantry space, but that wouldn’t work. Still, I like to keep like items in close proximity to make my pantry look organized. I use baskets for certain foods, like you see here.
{source unknown}
The use of this typically dead space is so clever. It appears that it serves to store more than just pantry items. Do you see the little etched glass letter on the door…too cute.
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This is the exterior of my pantry. When we remodeled the kitchen our designer friend recommended that we build something that looks more like a piece of furniture. I’ve not been disappointed, but certain times of the year I could use a little more space.
Since we’re in the kitchen anyway, take a look at the drawer organizers the talented Joan, for the love of a house uses. This makes the kitchen drawers look pretty as well as organized. {if you’ve never visited Joan’s site I urge you to stop by, you won’t be disappointed}.
While we’re still in the kitchen, I think cupboards that hold glasses, plates, etc. are important, especially since Mr. B. likes to remind me of the number of sets of dishes we own!
This hutch installed in an Atlanta Home by the talented Carter Kay Interiors is a dream of mine. It has appeal for the styling of the items, while having a lot of room for stacks of plates. My good friend, Gretchen, has a cupboard similar and I’ve always admired it for its style as well as functionality.
This is a nice piece as well…I could definitely organize my collection of plates in one of these.
So next on my list is the clothes closet. This is an ongoing battle. I should get rid of more of the items that I don’t wear as often as the “organizing gurus” recommend. I often worry that if I get rid of something I’ll need it for the next outing. Does this happen to you?
Wouldn’t you love it if your closet held just the things you wear often and love?! Oh well, it’s a work in progress, I’ll keep trying for a capsule wardrobe.
Leave it to real simple to come up with some handy tips on organizing drawers. I loved this idea.
Stores, like Pottery Barn, have components you can purchase to help with organizing your closet. Container Store as well. This example is nice but I don’t have a spare room to convert into a closet. I always imagine that if you have lots of space it’s easier to stay organized…is this true? 🙂
The final space I have to share is something I’ve always thought would be wonderful. A room of my own where you could craft (not that I do much of that), wrap presents, store things that you know you’ll need for that next project and a desk space to type your blog posts. 🙂 How cool is this…
The biggest obstacle I’ve encountered are the heavy photo albums and photo boxes of photographs. To scan and save them will take me forever, yet I know I need to do something…any handy tips on organizing and possibly paring down this part of our lives?
anitapelayorivera said:
Oh Karen, how I love an organized home! All of your photo shares show such class and beauty, and even though I have a relatively small home, I do find much joy in organizing as much as I can!!! LOVE that ironstone collection and the beautiful hutch to showcase it in! ENJOY! Anita Castles Crowns and Cottages
Karen B. said:
Hi Anita,
I often think I am a habitual organizer because of the small size of our home! I’m always thinking I can find more room somewhere. 🙂
xo,
Karen
Libby Jo said:
Downsizing is good therapy! My mother-in-law was the best and I TRY to follow her legacy. She gave away her “treasures” to her family while she was still alive, downsized to the basics, but labeled and organized the rest. She was unable to do very much as she aged but enjoyed her surroundings, knowing it would be no burden to anyone. That’s therapy!
Karen B. said:
Libby Jo,
What you’ve described is exactly my goal. That’s great. After seeing to my parent’s and my husband’s parents belongings once they passed, it convinced me I wanted to be proactive on this topic. My in-laws did as your mother-in-law, my parents were close to that goal but not quite there and it took a very long time to sort things out.
Thank you so much for stopping by.
Karen
debra @ 5th and state said:
oh girlfriend, this is the proof that we are not identical twins 😦
i am a hot mess, not an organizational bone in my body but surely admire it. IF i get to my annual deep clean, yes, the pantry, then closet, then……?
xx
debra
Karen B. said:
Debra, That is so true…wouldn’t we have fun trying to organize! I’ve discovered it’s a layered process. I get rid of quite a lot then realize I was saving several things I’ll never use or want. Time and patience…both of which I’m short on…are essential. 🙂 xo, Karen
On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 6:54 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Taylor Greenwalt said:
Hi Karen…I’ve been slowly going through things getting ready to put my house up for sale…but organization doesn’t come natural to me..I wish I had your talent to organize!
Karen B. said:
Julie, I think it’s sometimes a little ocd coming into play—maybe it’s better to be a little more relaxed on this. Good luck with the sale of your house, it’s lovely so I’m sure there’ll be competing bids! xo, Karen
On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 7:24 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Vicki said:
Hi Karen, Cute title! My answer is sort of. Yes, photos are an issue for me as well. I know there are companies that will scan them for you, but first you’d have to organize what you want organized, which makes me tired just thinking of it. I love having a clean & organized pantry and closet, though. Just starts the day off right when they look so nice. Have a lovely week!
Karen B. said:
Vicki, I’m wondering if I should go through them and if I don’t know the people (Dad’s Ohio relatives that I met maybe twice before I was 5 years old and never again) toss the photos. That might slim down the numbers a little bit. I’m with you, an organized closet and pantry make me happy. Imagine how joyous having the whole house that way would be?! 🙂 xo, Karen
On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 11:17 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Linda Coble said:
Hi Karen,
When we moved into our home, I had so much storage space I thought I’d never fill it up. It only took me a couple of years to max out the space and now I’m trying to pare down and get better organized. Your post couldn’t have come at a better time! I’ve always loved your pantry cabinet in the kitchen — beautiful and functional. Joan at For the Love of a House has always been an inspiration for organizing so it was nice to see pics from her posts too. Thanks for the inspiration and encouragement. I now that I can do this if I just keep plugging away.
Karen B. said:
Linda, I loved the baskets Joan found for her kitchen drawers. I do feel like it’s a constant battle to keep things in the pantry organized, but I’ve gotten better with buying what I need and not “just in case” items. xo, Karen
On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 1:25 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Leslie @Pretty Petals said:
Karen, I like your pantry! I smiled when you said “check labels” as things are frequently purchased and get pushed to the back and forgotten about (for years!) We too have been down-sizing (for the past two years) and although I feel I’m yet to be fully organized I think I’ve come a long way. The kids don’t have room for things in their apartments so we are storing things in bedrooms and storage outside. It’s just the way it is and I’ve learned to just go with it. Baskets and containers are really helpful although in my vanity area I just can’t keep things in their proper spot;)
Karen B. said:
Leslie, Me too. I’m resigned that until we move to a smaller place, we’ll have 2 snowboards and a surfboard hanging in our garage. Makes us look athletic! 🙂 xo, Karen
On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 1:36 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Leslie @Pretty Petals said:
Karen, I like your pantry! I smiled when you said “check labels” as things are frequently purchased and get pushed to the back and forgotten about (for years!) We too have been down-sizing (for the past two years) and although I feel I’m yet to be fully organized I think I’ve come a long way. The kids don’t have room for things in their apartments so we are storing things in bedrooms and storage outside. It’s just the way it is and I’ve learned to just go with it. Baskets and containers are really helpful although in my vanity area I just can’t keep things in their proper spot;)
D'Arcy H said:
Oh, Karen, I wish I were better at organizing. We have SO much to sort and toss before we move (in a couple years?). Much of it is stuff from our parents, who did not purge before they passed. Hey–a new motto? “Purge before you pass!” 🙂
Unfortunately I inherited my mom’s “throw nothing away” gene.
Karen B. said:
D’Arcy, I hear you. It’s a challenge and there have been a few things I’ve been kind of sorry I don’t have anymore. If I didn’t think “purge before you pass” could be mistaken for some kind of restorative cleanse, I’d print t-shirts with the slogan. 🙂 Actually, maybe it can be a dual meaning phrase. xo, Karen
On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 5:27 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Gretchen Gibson said:
Karen, this subject is so close to my heart. Having just downsized to a rental house half the size of our home of 35 years, I have had to make the difficult decisions about what to keep. The next challenge is to find a way to organize everything else! Luckily my sister and I inherited our German father’s sense of order. (Although I’m not as talented with this as you and Linda 😀) It’s still a daily issue to try to maintain order, especially in a rental house. I keep using the excuse that I will deal with this in our future, permanent home. I hope it will look like many of the pictures in this post!
Karen B. said:
Gretchen, The hutch pieces in my post were inspired by your incredible dining room cupboard. I love having all of my dishes in one piece such as that. xo, Karen
On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 8:02 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Victoria • Restoring our Victorian said:
I’ll make a huge start on getting organized– creating a disaster area of whatever space is the focus of my good intentions… and then it never fails that after it looks like a bomb went off, I lose steam. Then it stays a mess for days (no, weeks.)
I love all these photos though!! Maybe in my next life I’ll life such a charmingly-organized life!!
Karen B. said:
No doubt (next life comment), besides, all we need to do is make sure the photograph for the blog post shows only the beautifully styled stuff…not the surrounding area. Karen
On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 6:31 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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for the love of a house said:
hi Karen! Thank you for including my kitchen drawers in this post! I love the sense of calm that being organized brings. That being said, now if only I could get Dan to organize the basement:) The tubs were purchased 2 years ago, but that’s as far as we got:):)
xxojoan
Karen B. said:
Thank you for always inspiring your readers! Yes, getting the family to comply with our standards can be a challenge at time. 🙂
xo,
Karen
Chronica Domus said:
Hello Karen,
What is it about this time of year that makes one want to organize one’s home? I am hankering to get going now that spring is almost upon us. Paring down is difficult but necessary. I need to follow my own advice as our basement is becoming a little too cluttered for comfort nowadays. I see weekends of work ahead of me there.
The photo albums are a difficult one to be certain. Everyone wants to hold onto them, but scanning for posterity is always a good idea too. Good luck with that Herculean project.
Karen B. said:
CD, I agree, spring and fall is always the time when I’m most motivated to get organized. The new year can do that too, but I sometimes loose steam once the weather warms. I want to be outdoors working in the garden as opposed to being knee deep in things that I’m on the fence about. 🙂 Karen
On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 10:46 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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cindy hattersley said:
Oh boy could I use these tips. I like Julie am not naturally organized and I want to downsize! I keep thinking one closet at a time…You have inspired me!
Karen B. said:
Cindy, I’ve made inroads but there is still a lot of stuff to go through. I have to divide and conquer, if I think of the project as a whole I feel overwhelmed. 😊 Good luck. xo, Karen
On Thu, Feb 18, 2016 at 9:55 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Dawn said:
Working on it, dear Karen! After an extra-long ‘holiday break,’ I’m determined to finish the KonMari Tidying Up celebration here, before the garden wakes up.:) I’m halfway through Marie Kondo’s newest book, Spark Joy, and looking forward to keeping only the things that spark joy in our home! Wouldn’t it be fun to have that amazing craft space, just flooded with natural light? Thank you for sharing so much beautiful inspiration, Karen! ♡
Karen B. said:
Dawn, I believe it’s an ongoing process. After a full year of paring down, I’ve discovered I’m ready for the next layer. I’m happy to know you’re going through this process as well. How is Marie Kondo’s new book? xo, Karen
On Fri, Feb 19, 2016 at 7:52 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Dawn said:
Marie Kondo’s first book was filled with her wonderful philosophy of Tidying Up. So, I highly recommend reading that one first! The second book has lots of detailed tips for storage of those things that ‘spark joy’ in our lives. I’m reading as fast as I can… so I can get started again! ♡
Karen B. said:
That’s great to know. I read so much of what quite a few bloggers reported that I didn’t feel the need to read it. I got the jest of it from several detailed accounts. I’ll check out her second book to see if there’s some great tips on organizing. I can always use more information on that. Karen
On Fri, Feb 19, 2016 at 10:32 AM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Sharon said:
I think you and I are on the same mission! Such great ideas here – I’m feeling very inspired to go and tackle some more organising and purging projects now! xx Sharon
Karen B. said:
Sharon, It’s been such a process, but we might be making progress. I think it’s interesting how much one family can accumulate over time! 🙂 xo, Karen
On Sun, Feb 21, 2016 at 9:44 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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Sheila Irwin said:
I’ve been saving this post for awhile Karen as I really wanted to read it, and tonight I finally got a chance. Love that you posted about organizing! You know we’re a country that has way too much “stuff” when we have blogs, and articles, and books all dedicated to how to get organized! I think I shared on IG that I purchased the best seller “The Art of Tidying Up” and it literally changed my life. It’s all about only keeping the items that bring you “joy” – and boy, there aren’t many things that withstand that criteria! I have downsized and purged a ton since January, and it really felt good to lighten up. Having said that, my garage still has a ways to go!!
On another note, I love the photo of the pantry that’s under the stairs. I have that! But I do NOT have that adorable door and now I’m thinking I should do it! It’s so cute! I have to go and try to find the original source.
Thanks for such a fun post!
Sheila
xo
http://www.maisondecinq.blogspot.com
Karen B. said:
Sheila, Thank you for weighing in. I thought that I’d continue with my paring down by not buying *the* book and would borrow it from the library…well, the waiting list is about a year and a half long even with 10 copies in the library’s inventory. So, I’ve been operating from details that fellow bloggers have written about the book and how it works, but I read a review on her second book and think I have to make the purchase of both. I believe this process is going to be ongoing. I’m older than you, and we’ve found that there are layers of stuff. After a year of diligently paring down, the new year brought a revelation to me that I still need to part with more. As you can probably surmise from my pics of our home, I’m far from a minimalist. I have a particular weakness for accessories, which I trade out with regularity. I hear the second book gives you additional and useful details. I really love the clean lines, but welcoming feel to your family room! xo, Karen
On Sun, Mar 6, 2016 at 8:23 PM, Garden, Home & Party wrote:
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