Organizing the Playroom...

So one of the first projects that we did in our new home was to get the playroom somewhat organized; which, understand, is a constant work in progress...We pulled this room together with things we already had, which made it pretty easy to do, and inexpensive.  It all started with our old media cabinet.  It was to big for our new space so we figured it would make a great toy cabinet.  It is still going to be painted white, but that will come with time.  For now it is housing a lot of toys large and small.  I will show pictures of the inside of the cabinet in a future post as it is also still a work in progress.  I find we have to live with things a while to see how to best organize them rather than do and redoing over and over.  We also re-purposed the white shelves.  They were left in the boys room when we moved and we didn't really care for their placement, so we thought they would be perfect for more storage and it makes the toys look a bit like art, if that is possible for toys.   I also had to put a sitting area in the room.  I had these wing chairs and thought they would work well.  I love it for reading and it is a great place to sit and just watch the boys play.  I also think it helps the room not just look like a big toy room.  
This shelf is one that was used in our old playroom along with the baskets.  I also will be painting this shelf white, but it works for now.  I tried to keep this room bright, colorful and fun.  It was an adjustment having the play room on the main floor.  In our old home it was in the basement.  But it has been nice as they enjoy going in there and playing and having it set up this way it is also easy for them to clean up, which is nice for me...

Here is the way the room looked before we moved in.  I think with the new paint color, white curtains and other changes we have made, it has really brightened up the room and it is working for our family and making it feel like our home.

It is a stormy day today so it sounds good to curl up right here with a good book and listen to the rain...well, maybe I'll curl up with 3 boys and a good book instead...

Linen Closets...

So as I had said, I'm starting my spring cleaning...yeah!  I love this time of year!  This year I have taken a room a day.  At least for the easy ones (bedrooms).  Now this does not include the closets other than vacuuming and dusting.  But I made it to the linen closet on Wednesday and got it all sorted, pitched old meds, etc.  But I still can't help but think it looks cluttered.  I'm thinking I need to find or make some nicer (more camouflaging) storage  Here are some closets I found that are giving me some inspiration...

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See, it needs help.  It is organized, but ugly not to mention the wash cloths.  I let my 3 year old fold them and I don't have the heart to refold them, they are after all just wash cloths, but it does drive me crazy.  I get a bit of a perfectionist streak from a certain side of the family, not naming any names or anything.  Anyhow, I'll see what I can come up with.  Hopefully something that looks more like the above!

Random Organization

I enjoy organizing pretty much anything I can.  Lets face it. It usually makes things so much easier...like trying to figure out just what kind of treat you really want!!!.  In my attempts at organization, I try to do it as inexpensively as possible, so I try to use things I already have.  If the need arises, I will go out and buy something...if I really have to. 

Here you can see, first, we have WAY to much candy in our home. This is after Christmas and we still had some Halloween suckers hanging around, as well as a mighty fine PEZ collection. So, I found a tub that we weren't using and added some plastic cottage cheese and sour cream containers to hold the loot.  Now it is much easier to see what we have and easier to pitch what we don't need...well, you know what I mean.

I also have a very very small cutlery drawer.  With all the kids stuff as well as everything else that belonged in there I had a mess most of the time and it drove me crazy.  I have had these lovely green baskets in there for quite a while (I believe I acquired them when I was in high school...I'm telling you, I use what I have).  They work out great to hold knives measuring spoons, can opener, etc. and they fit perfectly.  But the kiddo's plastic-ware was always floating all over the drawer.  I finally came up with using Velveeta cheese boxes to hold them.  It has worked perfectly and keep my drawer much neater and it is easy for my 3 year old to help me put away the silverware.                                                                
Gotta love FREE organizing. Now...what else can I use Velveeta Cheese Boxes for...

Laundry...You've gotta do it!

I do not enjoy doing laundry, but I realize I don't really have a choice in the matter...it has to be done.  After many years of getting very behind on laundry week after week I came up with something that works for me.  Not promising that it will work for everyone, and I'm sure some will think, DUH!!! I've always done that, it just makes sense, but I guess I'm slow learning sometime.  Anyhow, I made up a laundry schedule.  Here is how it works...

• Monday........Boys Clothes
• Tuesday........Our Darks
• Wednesday...Towels
• Thursday.......Boys Clothes
• Friday...........Our Whites, 
• Saturday.......Sheets

Then I have a Misc. that I do when I can or need to: Coats, Blankets, Slip Covers, Bedding etc...

I have found that if I stick to this, it make the task of laundry much less overwhelming.  Even if I get a day behind, I just start where I left off.  Sometime, I have to do two loads a day if I get behind, but that's better than when I would be a week behind and not know where to start.

I like doing my towels on Wednesdays.  They are the quickest and easiest to fold, so if I am behind the towels are a good thing to have in the middle  I will also throw my towels in other time of the week if I have a light load.

As far as the boys clothes, I don't separate the lights and darks unless it's something that I am concerned about.  If that is the case, I put it in with our stuff or use a color catcher.    

Folding is my weak point.  I have found that when my closets and dressers are more organized, then folding and putting away clothes is so much less daunting.

I don't have the most glamours laundry room, but it works.  I don't have a picture of it, but I do have an idea of what I would like it to look like some day, or at least similar.

Source: 

http://designbuildlove.co/pinterest-partayy-entire-room-makeover/