I’ve often heard the phrase “things are as easy or as hard as you make them” and if you stop and think about it, it really makes sense. So as I go about my day I often think “am I making this harder than it needs to be?” or “is there anything I can do to make this easier/faster/more automatic/less annoying?” Thinking like this over time has actually helped us to develop a few systems and habits that help our house feel a bit more like it’s working for us. As most people know, I’m sort of a freak about organization, but I just find that it’s often the key to being efficient, knowing where everything is on a moment’s notice, and having a place for everything (when you know where to put things, it really makes cleaning an auto-pilot job). Sure it might seem like more work up front to create the systems and practices that help your house run like a well oiled machine, but it’s really something that pays off almost immediately. And after about a week you’ll wonder how you ever lived without ’em! So without further ado, seven things that make our lives easier:
1. We have a woven tray near the back door in the sunroom where we stash our shoes before coming into the house. It’s super easy and it looks a lot better than a pile of shoes on the floor, even though it’s just a pile of shoes in a basket. It also keeps the house cleaner since we’re not tracking in any bottom-of-the-shoe dirt or leaves (and really helps during allergy season).
2. We have a bowl on our rolling laundry caddy just beyond the back door where John drops his keys and his wallet. Actually it’s a white planter from Ikea, but it was $1 and it serves the same purpose as a key bowl. My keys and wallet are always in my purse which I hang in our mini-mudroom, but John used to have those “where the heck are my keys” moments, so we implemented the bowl technique and have never looked back. This quick “drop spot” really gets us out the door faster and keeps me from having to complain when I find John’s little pile of pocket-stuff on my desk or on the kitchen counter.
3. We whipped up a little in-cabinet cork board (here’s how) for easy recipe storage. It’s great to have a place for all the cooking ideas that I tear out of magazines (which would otherwise pile up on the counter or get lost before I get a chance to beg John to make ’em for me). And I can even pin up my shopping list and add to it throughout the week. Oh yeah and it was less than $5 to make.
4. Matching wooden hangers are the best. Your closet instantly feels more boutique-y and organized. And they’re much kinder to clothing than those sad mismatched wire ones (no more weird shoulder bumps). Oh and if you’ve missed our how-to-add-two-extra-closets-to-your-tiny-bedroom tutorial, check that out here.
5. Being a list maker, I used to tear off sheets from a pad and leave them all over the house with things to do and items to get and people to call. Now I have one notebook (which I affectionately call the Holy Grail) that I just flip open and write in. Putting the date on the top of the page and jotting down all the things I want to do, people I have to call, and other important details is second nature to me now. And it means there’s no more missing list, no more forgetting where I stashed someone’s phone number, and no more missing appointments. There’s peace of mind knowing that everything’s all in one place, and there’s something so cathartic about turning a new page and starting fresh every day or two (and dropping it into my purse for on-the-go access).
6. Of course I used to have piles and piles of torn out pages from glossy shelter magazines sitting around waiting to be filed or flipped through. But a few years ago I grabbed a 3-inch binder and some clear sleeves and literally created “the ultimate magazine” by adding all of my favorite inspiration pictures. It’s super easy to flip through (a lot less cumbersome than a folder of loose tear-sheets), and I even organized it by category (interior inspiration, curb appeal ideas, etc). Life changing, I tell ya.
7. And although this is a system that my lovely cable provider offers, I can’t end without saying how much we love our DVR. Talk about making our lives easier! We’re no longer a slave to the clock (so we’re free to get more done and we have more fun too). Of course if we ever need to tighten our belts it’s certainly an “extra” that we would forgo, but it just feels so decadent to fast-forward through the commercials and watch everything that we want, when we want. Talk about time management!
So there you have it. Our roundup of a few of the things that make life easier here at Casa Petersik. There seems to be this stigma about organized people that suggests that all they do is spend time alphabetizing their spices and folding their underwear (I do neither of those things by the way), but my theory is that the organized people spend way less time trying to keep their home tidy and find things that they need because they have drop zones and folders and baskets for everything (so it’s easy to put stuff where it actually goes and go about your day).What about you guys? Do you have any organizational ideas or habits that make things go smoother around your house? Do tell.
In the mood for more organization ideas? Check out how we made jewelry storage and even cereal storage super easy.
misty says
sam and jaci
walmart sells magnetic plastic sleeve picture frames. they come in dif sizes and you could use a thumb tack to tack them to the corkboard.
or you could paint the inside of your cabinets with magnetic paint and then just stick the picture frame pockets to the back of the door.
perfect pockets for recipes.
Denise T. says
I’m a huge fan of small, designated storage spaces such as cubby cabinets and drawers. Our previous house had a row of cubby drawers in the kitchen that helped me stay super organized. Those compact cubbies never went the route of the all too familiar “junk” drawer.
Sam & Jacci says
Hmmm… I think I’m making it too hard. I could just thumbtack the dumb recipe card up on the corkboard, couldn’t I. I’ve been considering making a 3-ring binder for recipes like you have for your inspiration book. Then, I could just pin the plastic cover up. Things to think about!! :) Thanks, guys!
Amy says
I would love to see how you all organize paperwork!
I have 1 file cabinet drawer that I find holds all important paperwork (my paystubs, husband’s paystubs, electric bill, rent receipts, etc etc etc, and so on). At the end of each year, I take out all the papers from each category, rubber band each category and put in a shoe box labelled “2008” (or whatever year). I can store this box away in a cabinet, or my parent’s basement or whatever. I’m kind of OCD and probably hang onto papers I don’t need like 5 year old utility bills – but my parents do this and hold boxes back 10 years. So in 2008, they shred the 1998 box. (this might seem extreme, but my Dad’s a little nuts about that type of thing and I like to play it safe and follow what he does!)
Of course, I also have categories in the file cabinet that I leave alone – folders labelled “my resume” or “birth certificates” stay put in the drawer year to year.
As far as mail, I usually throw out junk mail and catalogs the second I walk in the door. The rest I pile and go through once every week. If there are papers I need that week, I put it in my purse to take care of, then file it away.
Sorry to be so wordy but organization makes me excited! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
Your wish is our command. We’re planning a HUGE organization post full of pictures and details about where we keep receipts, records, pictures, and everything else that tends to pile up if it doesn’t have a designated place to go. Who knew our nerdy storage systems would be so popular with you guys (and my little Target shoes hahah). Stay tuned…
xoxo,
Sherry
Kristi says
As simple of a solution this is, it is my favorite. Nothing grosses me out more than toothpast that gets messy around the tip and leaves stickyness around the bathroom cabinet. Once I am halfway done with the tube, I flatten, rool, and clip a binder clip on the end of the tube. A simple nail or tack inside the cabinet make a great hook for the clip. Voila! Saved space and no messy mess.
Meghan says
What fantastic ideas!! I especially love the idea of putting cork board on the kitchen cabinets, its something I’m definitely going to do. I also cut up inspirations from magazines on a regular basis and put them in a 3 ring photo album that has the clear sheet cover and sticky background so everything stays in place. Thanks for having such an amazing blog with so much inspiration and ideas!
Nikki's Nacs says
I’m a notebook girl. This has saved me so many times. Looking forward to the detailed organization post.
Amy says
You guys are so cute. Thanks for all the inspiration!
Rachel says
I love this post! I am an organization nerd too!
Averill says
Y’all put us all to shame. I really need to do #6…I’ve got a ton of magazines (that are at least in magazine holders in the closet), but since we’re moving I can’t justify packing them all up when there’s only a few pages per issue that I’m saving them all for anyway.
Gina says
i love the fact that you shop for shoes from target!!! or at least i think your silver flat are from. :o) i noticed the “mossimo” :):):) i love the idea of keeping keys in a neat crispy white planter and keep shoes in one place near doorway. Thats what I am trying to do with my little family’s shoe collection. Sigh.. :)
elaine says
Thanks for the great tips. I also have the $1 white pots from Ikea, which I use during BBQs and buffets to keep utensils in. I have three of them, obviously for forks, knives and spoons. It’s nice that the utensils stand up because people can see what kind they’re grabbing.
Jacinta says
Cool ideas. It is a bit trickier if your hubby isn’t as organised as yourself, but usually they are trainable!
I have a small fabric bucket for hubby to put his keys/wallet etc in, but his “important” mail just gets piled up on the dresser…ho hum.
Jen says
See, that’s my problem…I take the time to fold my underwear, but I’m still totally unorganized! Now I know that folding underwear is a total time-waster. I can now move forward in my home-organization with all my new free time.
amy says
Two organizational “tips” of my own:
1. For junk mail/random paper, my husband and I each have a wicker basket (8.5×11 size) in our pantry where we throw items that we don’t want to throw away but aren’t ready to deal with yet…this keeps things off the kitchen counters/table, and every week or so, we just go through our basket when we have time and pay bills, file things away, recycle, etc.
2. Since we bought our house <1 year ago, we are always looking for furniture, accessories, etc. I keep a small (4x6x1) expanding file folder with all our paint chips, upholstery swatches, fabric swatches from pillows, curtains, etc. organized by room. That way when I’m going shopping, I can throw it in my purse. I also keep a small tape measure in there, in case I’m at an antique store/thrift store and have to make sure something will fit!
Arlee Leo says
This is a small thing, but on the inside door of the cabinet that houses our spices, I taped a list of all the spices in that cabinet. That way, I can check the list to see if we even have (insert random spice name here), before I start rooting around for it. When I buy a new spice (or use up an old one), I make sure to update the list. Usually.
aldo says
I love your site, but hehe even though it does not have to do with house fixing or anything, I have often wondered how you manage to keep such tiny closet spaces? me and my bf have loooooots of clothes, and while we wonder how to use some of your great ideas around our… the closet space is unmanageable for us!!!!! well for now, we haven’t figured it out :( I would love to have one like yours, but it would look like XXXL and overstepping the bed…anyhoo, firstimer writing :P keep it up!
Gràcia says
@Jacci
Stick/mount/… a plastic clear sleeve. You can put your recipe in there and keep it stain-free. You can even use a dry-erase marker to cross the ingredients you’ve already added, etc.
We use one for weekly cleaning, where we put our master list and cross as we go.
Rachel says
What about files and bills? I’m dying for a great organizational system for that! Love this post and your blog!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Rachel,
This post made us realize that we’re just scratching the surface so stay tuned for info (and pictures!) about how we organize everything from medical records to bills and receipts. Fun, fun, fun!
xo,
Sherry
pearls and green tea says
my husband’s pocket stuff drives me insane too!! and he can never find his keys! i’m designating a key drop from him today!! thanks. :)
http://pearlsandgreentea.blogspot.com/
Shannon Mignone says
Hey Sherry & John…
Thanks for your tips! My husband says I’m a little OCD, but some of these tips may come in handy for others. I created a binder with all of my appliance manuals. I put the manuals in those heavy duty clear pockets with purchase receipts (especially for extended warranties). I also keep an expand-a-file for each year for all of my bills, medical receipts, etc so everything is in one location for tax time (which makes filing that much less stressful). One of my favorite things that I have adapted this year is my weekly dinner menu – I created an excel sheet and laminated it and use it for our dinner menu (and it also helps when I create the dreaded grocery list). Oh, and the mail gets sorted as soon as I get home (bills, shred, recycle, etc).
Keep up the great work with the blog!
mribaro says
Re: things-to-buy list
We stuck a thin block of post-its onto our fridge. As soon as we notice we are running out of something, we jot it down on the post-it (with a pencil that is for that purpose only on the top of the fridge). On a shopping day, we simply peel off the post-it note and take it with us, and the blank post-it is already in place for further notes…
JM says
Where did you guys get the bin that your shoes are kept in? It looks like your pairs of shoes fit perfectly in there!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey JM,
It’s a super old basket but if we remember correctly it’s from Target. Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
Laura says
Sherry, I did the exact thing with all my decorating magazines two years ago when I was moving and didn’t want to move 50-100 lbs of magazines! I also plastic-sleeved them and used tabs to label categories! My sister thought I was nuts! And on the organizing funny side, I quickly realized when I got married that my husband needed a “special place” to put all his stuff – Army uniform = lots of pockets = tons of STUFF! So I gave him a nice, neat, sturdy basket on our dresser to empty his pockets out into every night. So he would come home and empty his pockets and set everything down – right on the dresser BESIDE the basket!!!! I too, had to learn to laugh. He’s a sweetie, though, and I don’t want to change him.
Marelis says
This is a “neat” (no pun intended) idea! So simple why didn’t I think of it!! LOL :) We are known for always having a stack of shoes by the front and back door of our home. I’m DEFINITELY going to give this a try!!! THANKS :)
nana says
de-cluttering my bedside area of the excess magazines that I have! It’s so hard when you literally want to eat the designs in the magazines. But, thanks for the tip!
Erin J says
This is a great post, and I can’t wait to hear more about how you organize bills etc!!
xoxo
Sam & Jacci says
Hey, guys :) I’m a little late with this, but I wanted to share some super cute push pins that I’ve been planning on from Etsy – http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5651331§ion_id=5447006
Just to make the cork board extra stylish :)
Jacci
Cindy says
Well I like to think I’m pretty resourceful in keeping things organized around here (as the bf needs a lot of help with it!). We do a lot of the same things as you, but here are a few more:
~ I keep a woven basket on the shelf under our coffee table for each of us to store our magazines. He doesnt’t even need to ask where his latest issues are.
~ An old cutlery tray keeps the “junk” drawer in our kitchen organized
~ Until our house is finished, we rent and only have a balcony for our “outdoor” entertaining. Huge Rubbermaid totes, keep gardening & bbq tools hidden, and double as extra seating.
~ There are baskets/bowls everywhere in our place. One for keys/wallets/poket emptying; one for stuff that needs to go upstairs; one for stuff heading to the basement; etc. When I clean or head to a different level in the house, I just grab the appropraite basket and put away anything that needs to find it’s home.
Stephanie B says
Last summer I bought a cheapo griddle (with a one inch lip around the edge) to use on camping trips. When we aren’t using it to cook on, we use it to corral our pots’ and pans’ lids. It keeps them from sliding around under the counter.
In another moment of genius, I attached a picture hanger on the inside of one of our cabinet doors to hang our splatter guards. No more awkward giant mesh guards to get tangled in with the pots and pans.
Little things like these make me happy.
Cathy says
I am enjoying reading these organization tips.. I could really use all the help I can get.. lol
I’m seeing from older comments that John & Sherry were working on posting a bigger update about organizing mail, bills, photos, etc.. Did I miss it?
This is my first post comment but I love your site! I hope to comment more!
YoungHouseLove says
Here’s that big organization post for you: https://www.younghouselove.com/2009/04/how-ya-bin/
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Cathy says
Thanks Sherry! I’m so late in the game that I was sure I missed it! :) I’m going to mozy on over to that post for some of your great tips!
Naomi says
This is an old post so I don’t know if you will get this but to comment on the DVR thing…
Great idea! We do it too but here is a tip for you if you don’t know already: Hulu.com. That is where we watch most of our TV shows and even movies for free with only a few 10 second commercials. We even plug the laptop into the TV so we can watch it like normal. We can catch up when we have time so we don’t miss a thing!
LOVE your site! Just discovered it a few weeks ago. I have been a busy bee at my house now and I have some yummy pics and little stories to send your way soon. =) Thanks!!!
Lisa@life4you says
Great tips – it really is the little extra touches that make the difference. I’ll definatly be coming back to steal some of you ideas!!
Michele Daggar says
Where do you get those plastic sleeve protectors for your magazine tear sheets? I’ve checked at Michael’s craft store and Target, no luck!
I found a pretty binder for mine at a store called Tuesday Morning. Do you have them in Virginia? You guys would love it. It’s kind of like HomeGoods. Very inexpensive home decor.
YoungHouseLove says
We do have Tuesday Mornings here- which reminds us we should check them out more often! As for those clear plastic sleeves, we actually just picked up two more packs at Target this very weekend for the office makeover. They’re in the aisle with the binders and the shipping envelopes and other “office supplies.” Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Michele Daggar says
Thanks for the quick response Sherry. I found them in the office supply aisle at Wal Mart. I paid $3.47 for a pack of 50. I have so many pictures for my binder I had to get 3 packs!
Thanks again!
Shipra says
I noticed in the first picture that you make use of a woven tray as shoe storage for the back entrance, but do you have ideas for something perhaps a little more covered for a front entrance?
YoungHouseLove says
Ikea offers a ton of shoe racks and concealed storage containers that would look sleek in a front entrance. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
kelsbeth says
I love the corkboard idea for recipes, but if you are like me and rip out TONS of recipes from magazines, you’ll need more storage! I keep a 3 ring binder filled with empty plastic sleeves and organized by dividers with labels like, “seafood”, “pasta”, “dessert”, “appetizers” and so on. Whenever I find a recipe in a magazine that I like, I simply tear it out and pop it right into the binder! The plastic sleeves also serve as protection against spills when cooking :)