I’ll be the first to admit that although I really like to be organized, I’m not always the best at finding the perfect ways to stay organized. I know a lot of you are probably like that too – the desire to find the perfect organization tactics are there, but getting them from thought to practice can be a wee bit frustrating.
My creative side goes to war with my practical side and clutter gets in between them. So, instead of fighting it, I’ve learned that having the two sides work together actually goes better. In fact, creative organizing has actually become an outlet for the creative side of me.
Go figure!
Here are some of my favorite ways to combine the creativity with the practical needs of organization.
I hope it helps you too!
Organizing Tips for the Home
1. Decorate, Decorate, Decorate!
Is your living space full of little things that don’t seem to have a place like mine is? Maybe you’ve thought about putting them in some kind of container, but nothing looks good with your decor. Here’s an idea: make decorative boxes. You can use ordinary shoe boxes, wooden boxes, plastic bins – whatever you have on hand. Then decorate them to match your room. Here are some ideas:
* Cover boxes with material left over from upholstering the furniture, or an old article of clothing. Hello, old college t-shirts! You can use fabric you find on sale, too.
* Glue mini-mirrors, buttons, or beads to the outside of the boxes. Ribbons work really well too!
* Paint boxes with primer and then whatever color and design you like – solid, patterns, whatever fits with your room’s decor. Use leftover paint that you used on the walls of the room or even the little bottles of sample paint from the hardware store.
* Decoupage works on wood or cardboard, so it could create a whole new look for your containers.
* Wallpaper and contact paper make an easy and fun covering for boxes too.
* Dried, pressed leaves and flowers can be glued on with decoupage glue, or just glued onto the box and covered with clear contact paper.
Once you have your boxes decorated, you can put them around the room however you see fit. They can go into corners, onto tables, or into shelves and bookcases. If you like, your decorations can denote what’s in the box – a TV design for remotes, for instance. You might even want to add some DIY labels!
2. Creative Containers
Think outside the box when it comes to creative organizing! You can use egg cartons, tackle boxes, and pretty much any segmented box to store whatever you like, from earrings to safety pins to collectible rocks. Segmented boxes are my absolute favorite way to organize the “junk drawer” in the kitchen!
3. Fun Games
Get your kids and spouse to help out by making organizing a fun family activity. (Yes, it can be fun!) Make it into a game, or sing songs while you do it, or give everyone a pile of laundry to fold and see who’s finished the fastest. You can also dole out sit-down chores to family members as they watch TV or during family movie time. Folding towels is a great one for this!
You’re more likely to get and
stay organized if your methods fit your personality and your family dynamic. So, don’t be afraid to go with your own ideas and creativity! You may even find that organizing becomes, dare I say it, fun?! Happy organizing!
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