Ducks 'n a Row

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How To Make A Pretty Makeup Bag Without A Zipper

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Need a new makeup bag? Make a pretty makeup bag without a zipper. It is the easiest and so much fun to do you may just want more than one!  I purchased this double-sided quilted fabric to do mine. Elegant, huh?  I love it!

How to make a makeup bag or clutch purse #sewing #DIY

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How To Make A Makeup Bag or Clutch Purse From Quilted Fabric

 
Supplies
Scissors
Thread
Sewing needle
Button
How to make your own fabric makeup bag or clutch purse #sewing

1. Make a pattern. I used copier paper and taped it together – one sheet wasn’t quite big enough. This purse pattern is 11″ X 14 1/2″.

2. Place the pattern on the quilted fabric using weights to hold it still. If you do not own garment weights, use salt shakers or other objects to hold it in place. Note: be sure that you have positioned it so that the pattern will be square. You don’t want it to come out crooked unless that is the look you are aiming for.

Cut the fabric along the outside of your paper pattern.

3. Double-fold the edges of the fabric. Note: the side you are turning it in toward will be the lining of your purse. By double-folding it no rough edges will be exposed.

4. Pin the edges.

5 / 6 Sew all of the edges using your sewing machine.

7. Now fold the 14 1/2″ side of the fabric up 2/3 of the way to form the bottom of the purse. Pin and sew the sides on the outside of the fabric (no need to make a seam as the edges are already finished.)

8. Pin the location where you want to put a button hole. The pins will be a guide to keep your stitching straight. Sew the button hole – using a satin stitch on your sewing machine – and then cut the center open.

9. Hand sew the button on. Done!
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Elegant DIY makeup bag made from black and gold quilted fabric #sewing #crafts

 Enjoy!

 

 

 

Oil of Olay creams for moms #antiaging

5 Small Storage Tips That Will Inspire Your Decorating

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What is there about organizing small spaces that appeals to me? I just love maximizing space so that when you walk into the room you say “wow!”   Yes, it is the “wow factor” that tickles me.

Storage solutions for small spaces #homedecor #storage #tips

So, here are 5 small storage tips I found that will allow you to rearrange a room to make it feel larger but with simple changes.

I had so much fun searching out ideas.  See what I found and tell me what you like best.

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥


 

Small Storage Space Tips

Floating Storage – if you have limited surface space, put your walls to work for you and hang “floating” shelves. They keep your floor space free and direct the eye upward. Those blessed with high ceilings will have lots of fun with this!


Now this is the greatest discovery I made in the “shelving” category:  a HIDDEN DESK! There are desks that fold up against the wall when you are not using them and “voila!” fold them down and you have a desk with shelving and storage space, too. One even doubles as a mirror!

I do not want to recommend a specific one, since currently I do not own one yet [I want one, though!] so let me give you the link to a page with many highly recommended folding desks => FOLDING DESKS

Saving Space In Your Kids’ Rooms: ☑️ I can imagine this floating wall desk in a child’s room, can you? 

Mirrors – properly placed mirrors can optically “enlarge” your space. Bring the outdoors inside.

My mom made great use of this technique. We had a small family room with sliding glass doors going out into a lovely landscaped yard. She mounted two simple but very large mirrors on the wall across from those windows to “bring the outdoors, inside.” It was as if we had that lovely foliage throughout whole room. Just perfect!


Area Rugs – add brightness and definition to spaces with a new rug …. or two! This is a great technique for rooms where you do not want to clutter them up with a lot of furniture. Are you a floor-sitter? Cushy shag rugs make it so comfy! 


 

Hard Working Furniture – use furniture that comes with hidden storage spaces. I love this idea. There are lots of ways that furniture can serve as storage, too. Tables with shelving underneath. Ottomans that double as storage boxes for toys, afghans or whatever. Stylish cabinets with hooks to hang things. Bookcases with removable decorative baskets are trendy.


Wall and Hanging Planters – adding live foliage to a room is invigorating. Rather than taking up counter top or table top space, mount or hang your planters. 


 

Fold down wall mounted shelf doubles as a desk! #storage #tips

Enjoy!

10 Awesome Organizers That Make Organizing So Much Fun

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You just love organizing, don’t you.  If you do,  I will bet that you also love the organizers that help you to keep things organized. Am I right? Well, here are 10 organizers and organizing ideas for home and office that you will absolutely adore!

The organizers that make organizing FUN! #tips

I have come to realize that, for me,  the real satisfying in organizing my home is having those special little places to keep things. Whether it is dividers, baskets, bins, hangers or shelving, I just LOVE organizers! Here are 10 organizing posts that have the best tools for keeping your stuff organized.

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DIY under bed shoe organizer

Too many pairs of shoes to keep neatly? This DIY Under Bed Shoe Organizer from  Anika’s DIY Life   is inspiring; it looks pretty and, yet, can be rolled away out of sight!   

 

Wall organizer made out of an embroidery hoop #organizing #DIY

Are you crafty?  I just love craft projects that are practical, too. This DIY Embroidery Hoop Wall Organizers from The Scrap Shoppe Blog   would look great in my office!   

 

Thread rack becomes jewelry organizer #organizing

Do you have a way to store your jewelry that you like?  Mine has not been great. As soon as I saw this thread rack jewelry organizer, I knew it was for me!  Take a look and see if you agree:  From Thread Rack To Jewelry Organizer By One Good Thing  


How to make your own fabric storage bins

DIY Fabric Storage Bins – the Scrap Shoppe Blog

I can tell you for a fact that homemade fabric storage bins are VERY popular. One of the most visited posts on this blog, week after week, is 16 Fabulous FUN DIY Fabric Baskets For You To Make!   Now, not everyone wants to make their own but we all love to LOOK at them. If you are not motivated to make your own, buy some! There are lots of styles available to choose from.


Ways to use a 3 tier cart

Using carts for storage can be challenging. They are handy and easy to move from place to place but they can get cluttered, if you are not careful. These 6 Ways To Use A 3-Tier Cart from The Snyder Family will help you navigate the organization part so you will love it!


 

Wooden drawer organizers for the kitchen #DIY

These wooden organizers are CUSTOMIZED to fit your own drawers and your particular stuff!  See how she planned it out and, with a little help, got them made perfectly. DIY Custom Wooden Kitchen Drawer Organizers by Keys to Inspiration

 

Baby's closet organizers and organizing tips

This nursery organization post will inspire your organizing imagination even if you don’t have a baby at home.  Take her ideas and run with them. And, you  may just get some baby GIFT ideas for a mom-to-be  friend. Organizers for The Baby’s Room – [Nursery Organization 101] – Room For Tuesday

 

This dresser is so perfect, she has all of the babies supplies orderly in each drawer. Take a look! Nursery Dresser Organization – Two Twenty One


 

Wouldn't you love to have this closet, turned into a pantry? #organizing #homedecor

Now, how many of us would LOVE to take a closet and make a pantry out of it?  I thought so…. all of us!  You are going to want this pantry for your very own! Shawna’s Closet Turned Into A Pantry found on The Kitchen

 

Using bags to sort laundry when you lack storage space #organizing #Tips

This laundry room solution from Pin Junkie is stellar. She didn’t have storage space so she improvised with hanging bags! Laundry Room Organizer When You Have NO Storage – The Pin Junkie

Do you have any organizers that are your faves? Tell us about them!

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Great gifts from Amazon #ad

How To Clean And Store Dusty Baseball Caps

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Today I finally had it with the mess on the shelf in my hall closet. Gloves, scarves and hats were tossed here and there. Boots were stored in some baskets but they weren’t laying flat because some old dog leashes were caught underneath.  It was just time to get it all straightened out.

How to dust old baseball caps #tips

As I started, I discovered so many old baseball caps stashed there that we could stock a baseball cap shop with them! There were so many caps because each one held a special memory for the wearers. I couldn’t talk them into giving any away.  The New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox and several little league teams were represented in that group of hats. There was even an NFL Cleveland BROWNS hat that I have no explanation for. We are Buffalo Bills fans so its presence in the cap collection is a mystery to me.

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As I sorted through the jumble of the cotton twill baseball caps, I held my breath, there was so much dust. They were coated with it! Brushing them off was not working, so here is what I did to get them clean:

In a hurry and just want a GREAT affordable way to store your baseball caps?
Here it is=> ☑️  the DUST FREE, MOISTURE FREE BASEBALL CAP STORAGE BAG!


How To Dust Off Cotton Twill Baseball Caps And Store Them

  1. Select the baseball caps that you want to keep.
  2. Place them in your clothes dryer with a full fabric softener dryer sheet.
  3. Dry them on the lowest heat for 10-15 minutes.
  4. Remove them from the dryer. You should find that most, probably all, are dust-free and ready to wear or put away.
  5. Store them on a hat rack, in a baseball cap storage bag or in a storage basket. They will be in one place and easy to find in the future.

Dust may not be the only problem with your dirty baseball caps. Some may have stains or have discolored with age. If so, after you have dusted them, try washing them.  Caps can be washed in the washing machine, dishwasher or in a bucket or sink.  I prefer the sink method:

How To Wash A Baseball Cap

  1. Fill a sink with warm water.
  2. Add 1 T. laundry detergent.
  3. Dunk the baseball cap in the water and gently rub the spots using a rough wash cloth or sponge.
  4. Swish it, now, around in the water.
  5. Rinse it in cool water.
  6. Lay the baseball cap out on a clean dry towel or clothes drying rack till it is dry.

How to dust off old baseball caps and store them #organizing #cleaningtips Click To Tweet


Storage basket of baseball caps #affiliate

How To Store Baseball Caps

There are 5 GREAT WAYS that I have found for storing baseball caps:

  1. Put them in a storage basket. I use a nice size plastic storage bin or you could pick a nice decorative wicker basket on a shelf.
  2. Hang them from a cap rack on the back of a door. Perfect for the baseball player’s bedroom!
  3. Use a plastic storage bag that is designed specifically for caps.
  4. Hang them from a baseball cap hanger in the closet.
  5. Get a nice wooden baseball cap rack! 

Enjoy!

 

 


Crafts For Denim Lovers by Pillar Box Blue

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Do you love DIY? How about organizers and storage? If you said “yes” to any of those, then you are going to LOVE this upcycled, DIY denim pocket wall organizer! It has been pinned a zillion times, proving that I am not alone in loving this project from Pillar Box Blue!

Upcycled blue jeans

Denim Pocket Organizer – Pillar Box Blue

The first time I saw a Claire Armstrong project, it was her ultra-popular denim pocket wall organizer made from blue jeans.  Soon as it caught my eye, I couldn’t get away from it. It was just so cute. Such a brilliant idea. I must have pinned it at least 5 times -maybe more- because I didn’t want to lose track of it. I think everybody did!

Next, I was browsing through the entries at our weekly blog hop and came across an awesome project. It was a “how-to on making burlap luggage bag-tag PILLOWS from a map” tutorial. The pillows have that vintage flavor to them, like you’d just found them in grandpa’s attic. But they aren’t old. Claire made them!
As a blog hop host, I see so many creative projects shared with us every week. Guess who consistently is highly viewed and, therefore, becomes the feature pick from the party? Claire! So, today I want to share some of her many amazing creations  with you …

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Check out just some of her marvelously crafty ideas:
DIY, craft projects, sewing

About the Artist: Claire is a resident of Bedford, England.  She is married, has three boys and a cute little dog named Toby. Her passion is to create upcycled DIY projects and show us how to do it. When you see what she does, I just know you will be visiting her site often to see what her next weekly craft tutorial will be.
Planters made out of denim recycled jeans #DIY
How to make denim rugs in 9 unique ways
Map Mason Jar Bank DIY by Pillar Box Blue
Find all of Claire’s amazing projects at>>> Pillar Box Blue! 

 

Enjoy!

writer, lifestyle blogger, preschool teacher



12 Super Organizing Tips From The Best Organizing Blogs

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I love organizing. It inspires me!  I can look at images and read posts about organizing and storage tips for hours on end.  Of course, I like actually organizing things, too. LOL! Visiting my favorite organizing blogs inspired me to start blogging about the topic 8 years ago and many of those blogs are still going strong!

12 super organizing tips

These 12 super organizing tips come from some of the most popular organizing blogs I have found on the internet.  Enjoy them. Get busy trying them right away or pin them for later!

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥


Spice Container Organization – The Crazy Organized Blog

Pin It!

Laundry Piling Up? How To Conquer It – Ducks ‘n a Row

Pin It!


Habit of the Month – The FlyLady

Pin It!

Conquering Clothing Clutter – Kids Closet – I Heart Organizing

Pin It!

Lego Organizing Strategies – Just a Girl and Her Blog

Pin It!


Small Organized Spaces – Purging Books – The Organizing Junkie

Pin It!

office organizing tips

Office Supply Organization – The Organized Mama

Pin It!


Getting started with Flylady

Getting Started with The Flylady – Organizing Moms

Pin It!


Client Spaces – An Amazing Closet Makeover – Organized Simplicity

Pin It!

How Decluttering Can Pay Off- Literally – Organizing Made Fun

Pin It!

Clever ideas for keeping your car organized

Clever Ideas and Tips for Car Organization – Tidy Mom

Pin It!

If you like these blogs as much as I do, take a minute to subscribe to them so that you don’t miss any of their great organizing strategies and inventions!

12 super organizing #tips from some of the best #organizing blogs! >> Click To Tweet

Enjoy!

50 Strategic Ideas to Organize Your Home

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50 strategic ideas to organize your home
Organize” is a familiar word heard on many of today’s popular decorating shows. Every family has its struggles with some type of clutter whether it is stacks of papers or a cluttered and cramped bathroom. In fact, the National Association of Professional Organizers reports that 80% of what we keep we never use, we wear 20% of the clothes we own while the other 80% hangs there just in case, and 25% of adults say they pay bills late because they lost them.
If you have stacks of papers, frazzled mornings, or lost car keys, use the following ideas to help you organize your family and home.

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Evenings/Mornings: If you have rushed mornings, make lunches, set out clothes, and put everything you need for the next day in a designated area the night before.
1.Have kids pack homework and books in their backpack so they will be ready for the next day.

2. Place your purse, briefcase and keys in a designated area every day so you always know where they are.
3. Decide the night before what is on the menu for breakfast the next morning. If the family is to have cereal, set out the cereal boxes, bowls, and spoons.
4. Make a “to do” list for the next day and organize it according to what task needs to be completed first.
5. Fill the gas tank the day before so you won’t have to worry about getting gas if you are running late the next morning.
Bathrooms:
6. To organize counter-top clutter, purchase a plastic tub with a handle on top. Place all of your accessories such as hair spray and lotion, in the tub and place under the counter. Take the tub out when you are ready to use it and then put it back under the counter when you are finished with it.
7. To organize your shower, buy shower caddies to place your soaps and shampoos in. There are numerous styles available in many discount and fine department stores.
8. To help keep your shower doors clean, buy a water squeegee (like you use on your windows) and place it in the shower. When you are done taking a shower just wipe down the doors with the squeegee and you’ll have a clean and dry shower door. Many of the squeegees come with a whole in the handle, which is convenient for hanging it up in the shower with a suction cup.
9. Install a straight magnet in your medicine cabinet for tweezers, nail clippers, and scissors.
10. Store reading material in a decorative magazine rack. As you add new magazines, throw away the older ones to keep the magazine rack from overflowing.
11. Throw away items in your bathroom that are old or you don’t use anymore, such as make-up, lotions, prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, old razors, sunscreen, and perfume.
12. If you are out of space in your bathroom cabinets for towels, roll them up and display them in a decorative basket next to the shower or bath tub.
13. Install hooks on the back of your bathroom door or wall space for towels and robes.
14. Use drawer organizers for makeup, jewelry, ponytail holders, and other loose items.
15. Place a shelving unit above the toilet for storing extra towels, washcloths, and other accessories.
16. Put a clock in each bathroom so everyone can be on time.
Closet:
17. Place baskets in your closet for laundry and dry cleaning.
18. Sort through your clothes and anything you don’t wear anymore, bag and donate to a local charity. This includes clothes that are no longer in fashion, no longer fit, or clothes you haven’t worn in a year. Also, get rid of those worn out and/or uncomfortable shoes you no longer wear.
19. Separate your clothes by season. If you have a tall closet with several rows of rods, place current seasons clothes on the lowest level and move out of season clothes on the tallest rods.
20. Categorize your clothes by purpose, such as work, casual, and formal.
21. Gather all unused wire hangers and take them to the dry cleaners to recycle.
22. Hang scarves on a hanger or scarf rack. Also, hang belts and ties on hangers or racks.
23. Use a shoe rack to keep shoes organized and throw out shoe boxes that clutter the floor.
24. Install hooks on the closet wall to hang up hats and purses.

25. Store clothes that you want to save in a vacuum sealed plastic bag. These bags pack down for storing under the bed or in a closet. Remember to save only the clothes that you think will be worn!

Kitchen:
26. Organize your cabinets into several categories such as plates, glasses, Tupperware, kid’s plates and sippy cups. Place the plates on one shelf, the glasses on another shelf, and so on. This way when you empty the dishwasher, you or other family members will always know where everything goes.
27. Group your foods together in the pantry for easy access and to help you identify when inventory is getting low. For example, group together your canned goods, cereals, pasta, etc.
28. Place all packets (gravy, Jell-O, sauces) in a basket and place on shelf.
29. Purchase a spice rack that works best for your cabinet. Alphabetize your spices and place frequently used spices on the front of the rack and all others towards the back of the rack.
30. For all of those plastic containers and Tupperware items, dedicate one cabinet or drawer for those items and try to purchase stackable containers to maximize your space.
31. Save your countertop space for items you use daily. Only display cookbooks that you really use and if possible store your canister set in your pantry instead of on the counter.
32. If you have a collection of clipped recipes that are filling drawers and countertop space, purchase a three-ring binder in a color that matches your decor, a box of plastic sheet protectors (to protect your recipes), paper, and a set of dividers with tabs. Glue each recipe onto a piece of paper (use front and back of each piece of paper) and then place into a sheet protector. Categorize recipes (breakfast, desert, etc.), label the tabs, and place recipes in binder.
Additional tip, if you purchase a binder that has pockets, store clipped recipes that you want to try in the pockets before adding them to your collection.
33. Do you have mounds of plastic bags from the grocery store? Place about 10 bags inside of 1 bag and throw the rest away. You can always get more the next time you go to the grocery store.

34. Get in a habit of cleaning out your refrigerator every time you bring home groceries. Dispose of any food that is no longer edible or your family is not going to eat.

Kid’s Room:
35. In a boy’s room, put a basketball hoop over a laundry basket for slam-dunking dirty clothes.
36. Place a two-compartment hamper in your kid’s room so he or she can sort light clothes from dark clothes as they undress.
37. String a clothesline in your child’s room and have your child clothespin his or her favorite artwork.
38. Hang a fish net from the ceiling to store stuffed animals, dolls, or action figures.
39. Add a bookshelf and help your child organize their books.

40. Buy the kids their own alarm clocks and teach them how to get up on time.

Misc.
41. Make sure everything in your house has a home. Teach all family members to mind their own messes. For example, if you take it out, put it back; if you open it, close it; if you throw it down, pick it up; if you make a mess, clean it up; and so on.
42. Put wastebaskets in every room and place several unused trash bags in the bottom of each one. This will eliminate countless trips to retrieve new trash bags and give all family members a place to throw away their trash.
43. Place a decorative basket on the coffee table to keep remote controls in.
44. Use a plastic caddy (instead of shelf space) to store cleaning supplies in and tote it from room to room.
45. Keep baskets or tubs for toys in every room for fast pickup and play time.
46. For kids’ outdoor toys, purchase a weatherproof, bench-style storage box and store toys inside. Also, gather all outdoor balls and place into a large, mesh drawstring bag and store in garage.
47. Each night before bedtime, have all family members pick up clutter for 15 minutes. Make a game out of it and see who can pick up the most things in the shortest amount of time.
48. Create a family message center on the refrigerator or other prominent place and use it for shopping lists, reminders, calendars, and phone messages.
49. Make a master grocery list on your computer from a spreadsheet or Word document. Categorize the groceries into sections such as frozen, dairy, and so on. In each category, list the most frequent items that you buy. Organize the grocery list according to the way your favorite grocery store’s isles are set up.
Print copies and keep one copy handy for the current week. When you see you are low on a product or you’re preparing your grocery list for the week, simply highlight whatever items you need. Keep the document current by adding new items and/or deleting items you no longer buy. Also, create a space on the document for Misc. items where your family members can write down what they need that is not on your list.

50. Create an in box on your desk for papers (bills, permission slips, etc.) that need your attention.

The goal of organizing isn’t to make your home pristine but rather to make your life more calm and functional. Work with these ideas and you will end up having less clutter, a simplified home, more quality time for yourself and your family and improved productivity.

Lesley Dietschy is a freelance writer and the founder of The Home Decor Exchange. In addition Lesley is a crochet pattern designer and needle fiber artist.   

Enjoy!

 

 



Never Lose A Lid Again – Organize Your Plastic Containers For Good

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Tonight was the last straw! We were having a lovely family get together and there were lots of leftovers to send home with my guests. Do you think I could find containers with lids? Nope. Lots of bottoms and all the wrong tops. It was crazy! And I blog about organizing?  I should be ashamed of myself.

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Never lose another lid #tips

As I was rifling through my cupboards, my lovely daughter-in-law said that she got fed up and replaced all of her mismatched plastic containers with a new style that attaches to the bottom of the container for storage. They call them “easy find lids” and they are designed for nesting, too. She is one smart cookie and I catch on quick. Soon as I learned of her discovery, I made a quality decision…I am going for it!

Does this scene look familiar? Me, last night, looking for lids! LOL

I searched Amazon (shopping is so easy and quick, especially when you have prime*) and found that Rubbermaid makes them. I love their products so this took no thought at all …  I ordered this set. It will be here in 2 days. I can hardly wait to pitch all the old ones and start new. How about you?

 

Enjoy!



10 essentials for the kitchen #ad

Drop It! Create a Family Drop Zone and Stop Clutter In Its Tracks

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By Sinea Pies

drop zone; command center; organizing; decluttering

 

“Stuff” taking over? Where does clutter just overrun you? In most cases, it is where people (or dogs) first enter your home. The foyer. The kitchen. The hallway. The nearest table. Where is your “hot spot?”

And, what kind of stuff are you dealing with? Gloves, hats, sunglasses, keys, the mail, leashes, toys, school books, the newspaper, loose change, toys? Best clutter-busting practice is to corral the clutter as it first invades your territory. Confine it to small, usable space.  Create a “drop zone.” Here are three types that work great.

drop zone, organizing, command center, Ducks n a Row

1. The Quick Drop
Place a tray, decorative plate or shallow basket on the table or counter-top nearest that entry. It will be the drop zone for small items. It is movable, so cleaning is a breeze. It looks nice (if not piled high) so things can remain in it till they go out the door again.

organizing plan; baskets, shelving, declutter

2. The Sweep

Baskets with purpose can be attractive containers to “sweep” stuff into when it is too much for a little tray. If you have a table that allows enough space underneath, you can free up the table top by stashing your clutter below. Now,the storage unit above utilizes an entire wall but you can put the principal into action using the space underneath a bench or hallway table. If you have toddlers or puppies, this will be tempting for mischief. You will be re-sweeping regularly….counter productive. If you can find baskets with lids that seal shut? Then you have a perfect solution.
organizing, command center, drop zone

3. The Hang Up

Hooks are a wonderful thing. My favorite use is as a replacement for a mudroom. You can label each hook for the family member to which it belongs and they will hang up their jackets, scarves and/or bags.  

Clutter hot spots? No more! Yipee!

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Where is YOUR clutter hot-spot?
Tell us about it!!!


 
        


Photo Credits:

  • Frustrated by noego on Flickr Creative Commons
  • Drop basket by Sinea Pies on Ducks ‘n a Row
  • Wall Organizer with baskets by Josh & Melanie Rosenthal on Flickr Creative Commons
  • Hallway Command Center from It’s For The Home blog
Note: this author is an Amazon affiliate. Anything you purchase from Amazon through Ducks n a Row may result in a small commission for me. In advance, “thank you.” .. Sinea