Organizing the House
Here are some of the organizing ideas that I use in my house
This chalkboard is painted on the kitchen wall. We write the weekly calendar, including the weather forecast. I also use it to write occasional to-do lists and menus for special dinners. My husband built the chalk holder so that the chalk and eraser are in easy reach.
I have so many rolls of ribbon that we designed and built a rack that would hold them. The ribbon rolls are threaded on copper pipes and the pipes are laid in the grooves on the sides of the rack. The pipes are easy to remove if I use a whole roll of ribbon and need to take out the empty cardboard holder.
Here’s a close up of the ribbons and the grooves on the side of the rack. In addition to being functional, the rack is really pretty and colorful.
Sometimes I have more ribbon than the rack will hold, and sometimes the ribbon has no holder, so I roll the ribbon around a clothespin to secure it. These clothespins are displayed on a small metal vase.
Vases are great for holding and displaying things like these scissors
I’ve taken an old wine rack and used it as a towel holder in the bathroom.
The postman’s box works really well to separate crafting supplies, school supplies, art stuff, or kids’ stuff. I love all those little cubbies
I like to take old shoe boxes and cover them with fabric. They make for pretty storage. The blue one has a handle made of copper colored ribbon.
Here’s another way to store things like paint brushes, put them in the opening of a small vase or ceramic holder
jars with lids make great storage areas for things like binder clips. Binder clips can be used for all kinds of things, papers, chip clips, wrangling electric cords, etc…
I keep those pretty colorful handmade soaps that I can’t bear to use in this old candy shoppe jar. The lid keeps them dust free too.
In many houses, the corners have a metal support. This metal support is magnetic, and it’s a great way to post reminders near the phone. Or coupons that you really want to remember. Or, love notes to your husband.
Take a look around your house and see what you have that might help you reorganize and tidy up. I bet you have lots of great stuff that can be repurposed into something fun and useful.
Find some of my other great Project, Crafts, Organizing, and fun stuff here.
Are you on Pinterest? I have tons of great boards for getting more inspiration in life. Follow all my non food projects here. Great Household and Cleaning ideas here. And, loads of Organizing help here.
Jeanette says
September 15, 2011 at 11:03 pmI loved all the pictures! You are so organized. I especially love the clothes pin to keep the ribbon in a roll. GREAT IDEA. (This is the first time I made a comment on your blog! I LOVE IT!)
Take care, hope to see you soon.
Jeanette
mommahen says
September 21, 2011 at 3:16 pmCan you come to my house next? Everything has it’s place, great work.
Debi says
September 21, 2011 at 3:18 pmHa Ha! Thanks for the comment and the laugh. 🙂
Sarah says
September 22, 2011 at 8:21 amThese are great ideas! I love the chalkboard wall…I sooo need one of those!!
Elisa says
September 22, 2011 at 1:45 pmWho knew about the magnetic strips in the corners! Will see if my house has those. I love that brown shelf..I’m just obsessed with shelves…they’re just so great for displaying and organizing.
Debi says
September 22, 2011 at 1:56 pmThanks for the comment! And, I agree about the shelves – I think I have some in every room!
Debi says
September 22, 2011 at 1:57 pmThe chalkboard is one of my favorite things in the house. So useful. And, so easy to do. A friend of mine decided to paint on old desk top with chalkboard paint for her kid’s room. Chalkboard paint is good for so many things!
Nic @ Yardage Design says
September 28, 2011 at 9:19 pmLove these ideas, but the ribbon looks amazing!
Diane@InMyOwnStyle says
October 31, 2011 at 9:22 amThanks for linking up your tips and tricks to the link party. I love your ideas and am going to feature the ribbon on the clothespin trick. I think it is just what I need as I have a whole drawer full of ribbon scraps that are all tangles up.
My best- Diane
Jacinda @ Growing Home says
November 2, 2011 at 5:02 pmI LOVE the postman’s box! Where did you find such a thing? And the wine rack/towel holder is such a clever idea. I may be copying that one! Thanks for the inspiration.
Debi says
November 2, 2011 at 5:20 pmThanks! I’ve had that postman’s box for years, I don’t even remember where it came from. When I see cool little organizing things I snap them up. 🙂 And, thank you for the comment! I’m off to go check out your blog right now. 🙂
Feeding Nine on a Dime says
November 3, 2011 at 8:41 amThese are great ideas I really like how the chalkboard came out. Please join my daughter for her first ever linky party. http://www.ladybugswithzoi.blogspot.com
Debi says
November 3, 2011 at 5:40 pmThanks! I’m off to link up. Have a great day!
Small Mom Big City says
January 11, 2012 at 4:33 pmHello! I am visiting from the Nester, don’t you just love link parties? 🙂 I LOVE your chalk board and the little ledge. I was considering painting chalkboards in my kid’s bedroom, one for each kid (they share)..I worry about the dust though! Do you find it to be extra dusty in that area of your kitchen? Just curious before I go through with it. Thanks!
Sarah from Smallmombigcity.com
Debi says
January 11, 2012 at 4:40 pmIt is a little extra dusty, but only right on the ledge and under the chalkboard on the floor. I vacuum that spot of the floor regularly. I also wipe the ledge with a damp cloth about once a week. It’s never bothered me. I find the usefulness of it outweighs the problem of the dust. If your kids have bad asthma or respiratory problems, that would be about the only time I’d say avoid it. I love having it. And, you can get cool colored chalks that they can play with. I draw on it all the time. and, I find that our friends draw on it when they come over. I’d love to see a picture if you decide to do it!
Debi says
January 16, 2012 at 7:37 pmI saw this and thought of you… Chalk Ink Pens. I don’t know, but it looks pretty cool. You could give them a try. http://www.chalkink.com/ChalkInk.com/Homepage.html
Cindy says
January 21, 2012 at 9:44 amMy husband remodeled the bathroom. We got a new medicine cabinet. The old one I set upright and use it to hold my makeup and hba things.
I also use the hangers that pinch on each end to hold calendars and hang them on a thumbtack or the hercules hooks (which I found at a dollar store).
amy says
January 22, 2012 at 5:57 pmGreat tips!! I definitely need to employ some of these; my craft room in particular is a mess right now! Thanks for sharing at Shine on Fridays!
susieqtpies says
January 27, 2012 at 11:10 amGiving you a pin!!