Utility closets ~ Like with Like

Before and after photo of a utility closet. A few tips:

1. Place extra large bins on the floor. Gretchen and I call these bins coffins because you feel like you are gonna die if one ever falls on you. Stay safe. Keep them on the floor. This client is storing dog bedding in this one. Notice we kept the lid with the bin. Tuck it under or behind. 

2. We advocate that all furniture polish be stored in 1 area. All pet supplies in 1 area. No matter what the items are, keep like with like folks and keep them together so you know what you have. 

3. Store items that don't stack in a bin. Cleaning rags are in a bin on the floor. Gloves are in a small bin on the shelf. Cleaning brushes are in a small bin on the shelf.

~Amy 

Desk area

Before and after photo of a Bonus Room - ping pong moved and sewing nook established.
See that desk over to the right and in front of a window? You may think that's the best place to have a desk, in front of the window, right? Wrong! 

If you need to look at your computer screen, the glare from the window will be a nuisance. Instead, choose an area that has a view of the window but does not compete with the lighting from it. 
Also consider proximity to electrical outlets. A desk area usually requires access to multiple power sources for multiple need such as task lighting, printing and charging. ~ Amy 

Grocery Long-term Storage

Before and after picture in part of a bonus room of the sewing nook. After establishing priorities in this room, we determined that grocery storage was not on the list. So, we relocated long-term grocery items to the kitchen. 

We do not recommend shopping in bulk. We know the benefits but Gretchen and I have also seen the side effects. For example, If you insist on purchasing 48 granola bars, then when you get home open the box and take all of them out and store them in your pantry. If they are out of sight, then they will be out of mind. You may end up accumulating grocery items that expire and actually lose the money that you saved at the store. ~ Amy 

Establish Priorities

Bonus rooms are hard to capture in photos but here is a shot of part of a bonus room we worked on lately. 

One of our first questions to a new client is "What is the top priority of this room?"  Top priority here - ping pong! Next, sewing, desk/office, wrapping center, photo/scrapbook, and art supplies.

In order to better utilize the space, we relocated the ping pong table and moved the sewing area to another location in the room nearer to built-in storage cabinets. Talk about storage...this room had built-in storage, 3 small closets, and a bathroom with built in cabinets. 

Laundry Organization Tip

Keep a "Rub-a-Dub" Sharpie in my cabinet above your washer. I use it often to label the toes of socks, underwear and t-shirts. No excuses knowing which family member all of these clean articles of clothing belong to! 

~Amy 

How I process paper

A friend just asked me so I thought I'd share my process:

• I sort junk mail over the recycle bin. 
• I place my kids important papers in a folder with their name on it in the kitchen drawer with pencils, grocery list, keys, take menus and such. 
• For Coupons, I have a small accordion file that I keep in the car. I place the coupons in the car and ask the front seat car rider to file for me.This is where I keep ulta and Dicks rewards money.  
• I go paperless for Kroger and publix coupons and use the app/phone #. Recently I save over $20 with ecoupons on a visit at Kroger using the app. While I wait in the car once a week, I add coupons to my account via my smartphone. 
• I subscribe to coupons/websites and have them sorted into a folder automatically in my email so I never see them until I look in that folder. I use the Hobby Lobby & Michaels App. 
• For bills, I am paperless but if I receive something that needs my attention, I place it in a To Do File folder on my desk. Once and sometimes twice a week, I empty the folder. If it needs long term storage, I move to separate file folders in a desk drawer. 
• Once a month, I reconcile my budget. I am able to archive all of my banking on my bank's website. USAA is awesome. I have separate accounts for business. 
• If you need to store paper long term, you should divide in bankers box by year. And, never have more than 7 years/boxes. When you go to put in the attic, remove the oldest. Some papers you need to keep forever (car title) should be stored in a safe either in your home or off property. 

~Amy