As a homeowner projects are always in process or pending. You may not have any improvements or renovations going on, but maintenance items are a given. They are also much more manageable if one can stay on top of them. We attempt to help in that process. One area each month etc.
Our November focus is on storage areas in your home. Why storage… because storage, or the lack of it, is a big deal in terms of how well a home functions.
For the sake of keeping this manageable we are not including the garage. I can hear many sides of relief on that one!
Storage becomes much more manageable when you have a place for everything. I’m not espousing being a neat freak. I am saying that organizing is much easier when everything has its place… I’m not talking crammed in… sorry that doesn’t qualify.
In a home there are two elements that require a balancing act; our stuff and a place for that stuff. This is compounded when growing kids are involved. In many cases the issue is simply getting rid of that which is not being used.
November is a great time to address those items needing attention. Passing along clothes, toys, unused recreational equipment, etc. that are no longer being used and is sitting around can provide an early Christmas for someone and free up some space… A win-win!
Maybe you need to simply organize and jot down some options to help things flow a little better. Taking an hour or two and going around your home is a good starting point. Our checklist will help track the process and highlight items that can make the day-to-day life flow a bit smoother. For some of you this will be a piece of cake!
Let us begin:
- Since many have been put into a work from home situation, we’re going to start there. This is primarily geared to those who did not have a predesignated office area. Is there a need for shelves, drawers, or containers to keep your space in order? Take time to explore some options. Pintrest is a good place to gather ideas… simply go there & type in Home Office Ideas. The same can be true for kids who have to be schooled from home. If this applies and as you are exploring options remember lighting and outlet options can be explored.
- Next let’s tackle the kitchen. Yes, cupboards, drawers and counters are storage spaces. There are many creative ways to make kitchens much more functional. Creating pull out shelving in the bottom cabinets is a game changer, especially as folks age. (I heard that rumor…) I will be adding a specific post in the kitchen cabinet section with this project, as it is very well received whenever I have created this upgrade.
- Next are the bedrooms. Closets often become a nightmare. Shelving, books, and rack options abound to help manage these areas. Don’t forget the lighting considerations.
- Next our main level closets and specific storage areas. The right kind of shelving and or storage containers is huge. A practice that can help is to transfer out seasonal items… of course you need a place for them to go… it’s all part of the bigger picture.
- The bathrooms. Typically, these are not huge spaces but often have lots of items. An investment of time simply noting what tends to get left laying around and coming up with options for those items…
- The basement: lots of these spaces become storage by default. Creating closets, shelving or specific storage areas can be very helpful.
- Let’s not forget the laundry room or laundry area.
- Specific miscellaneous storage areas, whether in the basement or attic, etc. can grow like a baby elephant if not managed on a routine basis.
- The porch and or entry areas. Good organization in these areas will pay huge dividends.
- Mechanical areas: I suggest having only what’s needed here.
- Need some guidance for getting rid of things… this is a great little read.
Remember our objective is to simply check things over and make a note those areas that may really need to be addressed.
