Are Home Organization Products A Miracle Cure For Organizing Your Home?

The market for home organization products is on the rise despite the recession. Both Peachtree Consulting and The Freedonia Group predict annual growth in this market over the next few years, resulting in consumers spending a predicted $8.6 billion in 2015.

Some studies suggest that this increase is in fact due to the recession. Packaged Facts state that:

“Consumers are opting to funnel their strained funds into home organization products designed to make their homes more comfortable, less cluttered, and ultimately less stressful.”

As householders are struggling to afford big ticket items, they are opting for more affordable home organizing products to make them feel better about their home and life.

However, are these purchases having the desired effect?

Apparently NOT for the 71% of consumers surveyed by NAPO, who said that their:

“Quality of life would improve if they were better organized”.

So what is going wrong?

Consumers are buying more home organizers but are still not better organized. Why? Because they are NOT a miracle cure.

 

Why should you care?

If you are one of the many wannabe organizers who are thinking of buying some products to help you get organized, STOP.

As OrganizedHome.com explain in their Tightwad’s Guide To Getting Organized, thanks to savvy retailers, the phrase ‘Getting organized’ is synonymous with ‘Buy Me’. But you shouldn’t confuse the two as getting organized doesn’t necessarily require spending money.

You cannot buy an organized home (unless you hire a professional organizer to do it for you). You need to spend time and effort, and only sometimes money, to achieve your goal.

If you are a wannabe organizer, who is currently using the cost of organizers as an excuse to stay disorganized, TIME’S UP. I’m calling you out, stop hiding, get off your butt and get started. You don’t need to spend much, if anything at all.

Housekeeping at About.com report that “I can’t afford to get organized” is one of the top 3 excuses people give for not being organized. Well now YOU can’t use that excuse anymore!

 

Some say home organization products are a necessity

MarketResearch.com confirms that consumers believe they can buy a more organized life. They state that:

“US consumers, particularly middle- and upper-class households, are willing to pay more for items that will make their lives easier and more organized.”

Is it any wonder that this is the belief held by many? Just walking round a home store or flicking through a home magazine can make you feel as though you can’t get organized without the latest spice rack, knife block, or decorative storage box.

And then you go online and read things like:

“Organizing tools are not luxuries, they are necessities.”

from a forum thread at FrugalVillage.com. So you can be forgiven for thinking that the first thing you need to do to get organized is to buy a load of organizers.

(NB: The rest of that forum post is actually useful in giving ideas of where to find organizers without spending a lot.)

But let me remind you that shopping for organizers is in fact one of the last things you need to do, if you need to do it at all. Remember:

Declutter_Measure_Buy

The trouble is shopping for organizers is fun. Using them on the other hand is less so, unless they are the decorative kind. This is perhaps the only time that buying an organizer first will actually get you started as you’ll be so excited to get it on display.

But for the most part, if you can afford to buy organizers, you should use their purchase as a motivational tool. Declutter first and THEN treat yourself to an organizer if needed.

 

I say home organization products are not a miracle cure

Organizers are not the answer to your home organization problems. You could have a truck load of storage boxes, bins, racks and holders delivered and STILL not be organized. You could also have none of the above and be super-organized.

This quote from Alejandra Costello, a Certified Professional Organizer, is typical of what can happen when householders fall into this trap:

“We find abandoned organizing products all over the house, all of which means, they bought a bin, it didn’t fit or solve their issue and now it’s in storage in their basement or garage. Sound familiar?”

And here’s another great one from OrganizedHome.com:

“Nobody ever got organized by buying stuff. Instead, they ended up holding a yard sale.”

So what is the answer?

In a word – Decluttering. Sorry to disappoint you but organizing is not a problem that you can throw money at and it will go away. You will have to set aside some time (I recommend regularly every day) to go through your things and toss or donate everything you don’t NEED or in some cases WANT.

Here are some tips from Oprah’s organizing guru:

 

So are home organization products a waste of money?

No, that is not what I’m saying. Organizers can be bought for just about any purpose in the home, from kitchen drawers and cabinets to closets, garages and home offices. Most are affordable and functional and they have a place in getting you organized, IF you have already decluttered.

BUT:

They are not a necessity, like say your trash bin. Many times, after you have decluttered, you have the available storage space to store all of your items without them.

They do not need to cost a lot of money. There are plenty of ways to find organizers cheaply, perhaps at yard sales or by using cheaper boxes meant for something else. You can also get organizers for free. Think of things you already own to repurpose or things you can make, such as this cereal box desk organizer from MarthaStewart.com.

Cereal Box Organizer

 

Don’t add organizers to your pile of clutter

For years, I thought that buying organizers would make me organized. Now my home is cluttered with empty plastic storage bins, flat packed cardboard boxes that have never been opened, shelves that are not put up etc.

Why? (1) Because I haven’t finished decluttering yet and (2) because I now realize they are too big. I prefer smaller organizers, like old margarine tubs in my kitchen drawers, rather than huge ones that just allow the contents within to become cluttered.

I grew up in a super-organized home and it was only when I had my own house that I realized what a full time job it could be to get organized. I thought organizers were the answer but they’re not.

Researching for this website taught me that time and effort are what are needed to get organized – not organizers. As I begin to implement my 5 minute clutter crack down routines, my cabinets, closets and rooms are slowly becoming organized. I have not bought an organizer yet (but will do soon as a treat!).

It’s true that there are no immediate shopping highs from walking out of the shop with your organizer. It’s not like New Years Day when you’re still optimistic about sticking to your resolutions. But then there is also no guilt when a few days or weeks later, you stumble across the un-used organizer. Don’t buy organizers until you have decluttered and you will avoid the yo-yoing of emotions that you may already be used to.

Buying an organizer is not the time to think ‘job done’. Learn to see regular decluttering as success and shopping as your reward and you will soon achieve positive results.

 

Practical ways to give up your organizer obsession

I want you to practice organizing without purchasing an organizer so you can prove to yourself that it can be done.

So here are 5 ideas of things to do – try a few:

  • Start keeping cardboard boxes or empty margarine tubs or even egg cartons so you have some free organizers in stock for when you need them.
  • Choose a kitchen drawer, empty it and be ruthless with your decluttering. If you don’t use the utensil or whatever it is in there daily or at least weekly, either toss it, donate it or if you can’t bear to part with it, put it in one of your cardboard boxes, neatly labelled with kitchen goods, and store it in your basement or garage. Organize the remaining things into groups of like items. If they really all should go in the same drawer, either cut up some of your cardboard boxes to make drawer dividers or play Tetris and arrange smaller boxes or margarine tubs so that they fit perfectly. If you don’t like the cereal box décor – cover it with contact paper or gift wrap.
  • Instead of focusing on the products you’re feeling deprived of buying, look for online resources that show you how to make them and spend that shopping time, crafting. You could even get your kids involved.
  • Check out these great ideas for “How to get organised with non-traditional items” from Home Life Simplified.

  • Instead of rushing to order the latest organizer that you see in your magazines, clip out the details and start a scrapbook. Think about where you would use it and make a plan to declutter that drawer, cabinet or closet before you buy it. You will probably find you no longer need it when you’ve finished.
  • Find out when the next yard sale is on in your area. Make sure you declutter a drawer, cabinet or closet before you go. Measure the space and see if there are any bargain organizers on offer that would suit your needs.

I’m sure that once you move past the idea that storage and organization products are the answer to your organization problems, you will feel liberated. You will be able to grab 5 minutes here and there to declutter without having to have gone shopping for an organizer first and you will not feel guilty for buying organizers that you either don’t need or use.

Nursery Storage Ideas: Make Your Own Baby Room Storage Buckets

Pottery Barn Kids Enamel Nursery Wall BucketsI just love how cute these baby storage bins from Pottery Barn Kids look.

But I was less keen on their $99 price tag for a set of three. Yes they’re made of iron with an enamel finish, have a wooden grip and come with wall mounts, but really – $99 for three buckets?

Having said that, getting organized is a must when it comes to getting ready for your family’s new addition. Finding a proper place for things and getting them in order can be fun. And when you repurpose items from another part of your home in an unexpected yet imaginative way, it can be decorative too.

So how about making some of these buckets yourself?

When labeled and hung on a nursery wall what is usually thought of as a household cleaning supply becomes handy storage for those everyday items at just an arm’s length away from your changing table.

To make these handy nursery storage bins to hold changing table accessories you don’t have to spend $99. Try $30 instead. Doesn’t that sound better? Yes, you can make your own trio of trendy baby storage solutions for $30.

 

 

All you need to create this look is three milk pail type buckets made of either papier-mâché or galvanized steel, spray paint, acrylic paint and a stencil.

Before you begin you will need to decide which type of milk pail you wish to use. Papier-mâché is a more light weight option that will end up looking just like the heavier galvanized metal option.

Galvanized Bucket

==> Click HERE to see the full range <==

The only difference the weight will make is in how it will be mounted on the wall, if it will be mounted that is. A wall bracket can be used for either the papier-mâché or the metal bucket while a hook and wire hanger will only be a viable option for the much lighter papier-mâché version.

Now that you have chosen the bucket style of your dreams it’s time to get to work with the paint.

Choose a semi-gloss multi-purpose spray paint in the color of your choice.

Spray Paint

==> Click HERE to see the full range <==

When applying the base color to the buckets be sure to only use the spray paint outside or in a well ventilated area. Laying down a layer of newsprint or craft paper is also a good idea for providing a clean, dry work surface. Follow the application instructions on the label of the spray paint product you have purchased to ensure optimal coverage.

Once the base coat layer, or layers as the case may be, is dry the next step is the labeling. The most simple or basic method would be to use a permanent marker or paint pen to free-hand the words or letters onto the front of the bucket or pail, however, unless your hand is steady and your penmenship impeccable, it might not be the most attractive method to use.

For the best lettering results alphabet stencils are the way to go. To hold the stencil in place, painter’s tape is excellent, that is unless you have an extra pair of hands to help with this step.

Alphabet Stencil

==> Click HERE to see the full range <==

Choose some acrylic paints in colors that coordinate with your baby’s room to be used for the lettering and the bucket’s trim. Remember a little acrylic paint will go a long way so only small tubes are needed.

Acrylic Paint

==> Click HERE to see the full range <==

Place a small amount of paint onto a plastic or ceramic plate. When using stencils it is best to dip the sponge-tipped dauber into the puddle of paint so that only the flat tip of the sponge is saturated with paint. Before applying the paint to the stencil area be sure to remove excess paint from the sponge tip by dabbing the sponge on a clean paper towel. This will prevent paint from bleeding under the stencil and ruining the while thing.

Let the stencil paint dry for 10 to 15 minutes before removing the stencils as this will help prevent the paint from smudging. Once the base coat and lettering are completed the only thing left to do is the accent paint around the rim of the bucket. Just paint the top edge with some dark acrylic paint and leave to dry.

A wall bracket as previously mentioned can be used to mount the buckets on the wall. For a more versatile variation try placing buckets on floating shelves or across the top of a dresser or book shelf.

This project is very easy and inexpensive and the truly wonderful part of it is that no one will ever know just how easy and affordable it was unless you tell them!

Shopping List

Galvanized bucket 6qt x 3 = $19
Semi-gloss multi-purpose spray paint = $7
75ml tubes of acrylic paint = $1
Alphabet stencil = $2
Sponge-tip stencil tool = $1

Total = $30

The total cost with papier-mâché buckets would be much less.

I’m linking up to these blog parties:
The Shabby Nest
Chic On A Shoestring Decorating

Double Your Hanging Space: Learn How To Make A Closet Doubler

Closet DoublerA closet doubler is a key closet organizer to own if you want to make use of all the available space in your closet.

Having multiple hanging spaces in a closet is like having two closets in one and a doubler can really help create extra hanging space in a small closet.

The good news is they are cheap (costing only around $12) as you can see in our $50 closet organizing project.

But if the standard sized ones won’t fit your closet or you want a bigger one or you just fancy a bit of DIY, why not make your own closet doubler.

This way it will be custom designed to your closet and your exact needs. You won’t save any money thanks to the great value for money products already out there but you will end up with something perfect for you.

 

 

Here’s how!

All you need to create your own multi-level clothes rod with storage for hanging purses and belts and scarves is a dowel rod and some basic steel chain. Both of these can be found at your local hardware store for a few dollars each.

Dowel rods can be found in beautiful walnut, birch, cherry and oak wood in different lengths and diameters so you can get the perfect look and the perfect fit for your closet. They cost from a few dollars upwards.

Dowel Rods

==> Click HERE for the full range <==

Steel chain can be found in various designs and lengths. Look for medium duty options rather than light duty. Ideally measure the exact length you want the chain on each side to be (remembering to allow for a loop at the bottom) and get the hardware store to cut it for you. A lower rod would typically hang about 34″ below the top one but you can customize this to suit your exact requirements. Also pick up two chain quick links or connectors so you can create a loop at the bottom.

Steel Chain

Simply hang the chain from the top clothes rod using a couple of heavy duty shower curtain rings. They are easy to find and come in fun decorative styles that will help spice up your closet storage space.

Heavy Duty Shower Curtain RingsShower Curtain Hooks

==> Click HERE for the full range <==

Once you have hung the chain from the upper rod all you have to do is make a loop (about the same size as your dowel rod) at the lower end of the chain at the height the lower rod will be suspended and secure it with a quick link connector. Then slip the dowel rod through each of the chain loops. To make it secure, fix a finial dowel cap to each end.

Finial Dowel Cap

==> Click HERE for the full range <==

You now have a double hanging clothes rod.

But wait. There’s more!

You can use those extra shower curtain hooks (most come in packs of 12 and you’ll only have used 2) to hang your purses, scarves, belts and ties, or anything you want really, on the chain supporting the lower rod. Just slip the shower curtain hooks through a link in the chain every few inches.

And there you have it customized storage space for clothes and a whole lot more with double the style and personality!

But if this all seems like too much hassle for you …

==> Click HERE for the range of ready to use closet doublers <==

… or check out our other closet organization ideas.

Want A Custom Baby Closet Organizer Without The Custom Price?

Baby Closet OrganizerNursery Closet Organizer

When designing your baby’s nursery there are certain items that you will find are necessary to prevent chaos from reigning supreme during a midnight feed or emergency diaper change.

Having a baby closet system that is organized and orderly will go a long way to keeping the chaos at bay. It will also keep you calm and relaxed, which means that your baby will be calm and relaxed, giving you a better chance at getting back to sleep at a reasonable hour.

There are companies who specialize in nursery closet make-overs, whose costs can run upwards of $400, but why go to the expense and indiginity of having strangers rifling through your personal closet space and belongings, when you can achieve the same results at a fraction of the cost?

Creating the perfect closet space filled with storage for your baby’s clothing is great, but don’t stop there. Check out our baby closet organization ideas and create adequate space to store not only clothing, but diapers, blankets and sheets, along with those little things like baby wipes and diaper cream as well as bath time supplies and toys.

This can be done simply and economically and here’s how:

The key is to AVOID organizers specifically designed
for BABY closets as they are way more expensive.

 

 

Start with a dresser makeover

Many baby closet organization systems have open shelving or open faced storage. These are attractive, yes, but they can be rather expensive, and they tend to take up linear space within the closet that may be better put to use in some other fashion.

Instead, why not go ahead and place a small chest of drawers, 3 or 4 drawers tall, in the center of the closet. If you do not already have one handy, check out the local thrift store. As long as it is in good condition and made of real wood, the color does not matter. With a light sanding and a coat or two of bright white paint the dresser will look brand new!

To dress it up even more try replacing the old drawer pulls or knobs with acrylic or ceramic ones or even some alphabet blocks. For a little girl get creative with some swirly ribbons in pink and silver and gold. Or for a boy, try your hand at stenciling trains or cars or teddy bears on the drawer fronts. You could also go for the easier option of using decals.

Animal Decals

==> Click HERE to see the full range <==

Another baby closet organizer idea in lieu of the dresser is a bookcase. The height and number of shelves as well as the width of the bookcases available make it easy to find the right fit for your closet space and your storage needs.

 

Add in some hanging sweater holders

Once you have the dresser in place, depending upon how wide your closet is, you can utilize the spaces to either side by installing hanging closet organizers. These are made of heavy canvas for about $10.00 and consist of a series of cubes running vertically from the clothes rod to the floor. Most are 5 or 6 cubes in length, but are available in shorter versions as well.

Hanging Closet Organizer

==> Click HERE to see the full range <==

 

Utilize the space above the dresser

For the baby closet hang space over the dresser, use a double hanging rod. This is a rod system that has a telescoping mechanism that allows you to drop a second rod from the first that can be extended from 1 inch to 30 inches from the the top rod. The secondary rod is also capable of extending from 20 to 36 inches across making this a very good way to gain more hanger space for baby’s clothes.

Baby Closet Doubler

==> Click HERE to see the full range <==

 

Find some shelf organizers

Canvas BinPink Gingham Wicker BasketsPlastic Storage Containers

Most closets have a long shelf above the closet rod. For storing items there, you can make use of several different types of organizer which are basically open or closed storage containers.

For open storage containers, canvas bins are very easy to obtain, very reasonably priced at $20.00 for 4, and very easy to personalize. Remember those stencils from the dresser? Well, use them to jazz up those plain white or blue or pink bins to create a range of matching, cute nursery organization options. Just don’t forget a fabric marker.

StencilsStencilsStencils

==> Click HERE to see the full range <==

Another type of open storage containers are wicker baskets, available in a set of 2 small lined baskets for $22.00 or 2 large ones for $24.00. Although a bit more expensive than the plain canvas bins, these nursery organization baskets are quite spacious and attractive which makes strategically placing one or two on the shelves alongside the canvas bins worth the extra expense.

For closed storage try using clear plastic containers. Available in shoe box and photo box sizes for about $1.00 each, these are perfect for keeping items neatly tucked away, but easily visible and accessible while at the same time being an attractive storage option.

Lidded canvas storage boxes are another great, affordable closed storage option at $5.00 to $7.00 each.

For larger see-through storage options the 15 qt. box, about twice the size of the clear plastic shoe box, is perfect for keeping linens and bath towels and other larger accessories easily accessible and readily identifiable while at the same time being neat and orderly.

 

Don’t forget the back of the closet door

Let us not forget about the closet door itself. This is a flat, vertical space that you can use to gain even more usable storage space. An over the door shoe holder or jewelry organizer, $9.99 each, of the fabric kind with lots of pockets, is perfect for storing diapers, cloth and disposable, as well as baby t-shirts and onesies, socks and booties, bibs, receiving blankets and all the little odds and ends that you never quite seem to have a place for to keep them at hand without getting lost.

Baby Over The Door Organizer

==> Click HERE to see the full range <==

 

So you should end up with something like this:

Baby Closet Organizer System

 

Close off the closet

If you find the overall look just too plain and dreary for a child’s room a quick fix to add charm with ease is to simply run a tension cable through the top of a pretty decorative curtain panel or two (cloth shower curtains are a perfect solution as they will already have the holes with grommets in place) and secure them to inside of the closet doors. Now you have a sliding curtain that can be used to hide the contents of the closet while it softens the look of the room and adds a touch of whimsy and personality.

 

Costings

Saving money and getting what you want can be done with a little ingenuity and a lot of patience, but in the end savings of over $200 on this stylish, yet practical, nursery closet with a total cost under $200 is an accomplishment to be proud of.

Being innovative, thinking outside the box, doing what you want to do in a way that makes sense to you will help you to make the space inside your baby’s closet be not only productive, but attractive and a space that you will be able to customize and expand to fit the needs of your child as he/she grows.

 

Shopping List

Closet rod doubler = $15
Dresser/Bookcase = $75
Hanging organizers x 2 = $24
Canvas bins x 4 = $20
Wicker baskets x 2 = $24
Clear sweater boxes x 2 = $7
Over the door organizer = $15

Total = $180

 

I’m linking up to these blog parties:
SomewhatSimple.com

How To Organize Kitchen Lids

Are you like the 39% of TheKitchn.com survey respondents
who say their pot lids are “in a jumble somewhere“?

If so then here is a bit of help.

It’s no surprise that lids are the nemesis of an organized kitchen. They are often one of the trickiest items to arrange due to the mixture of shapes and sizes that you collect over time.

 

 

But here are 3 easy steps to follow to get them under control:

Step 1

Most people have far too many lids so let’s recycle some:

  • Match up each lid with its mate (pot, pan or plastic container). Recycle any singles that are left over.
  • Recycle any that are broken, warped, stained or smelly.
  • Recycle those that you don’t use or don’t really need. Come on – do you really need them all?

Step 2

Dedicate an area that is big enough to hold the lids and their mates and then store the lids vertically in size order.

For plastic container lids, consider keeping them in Ziploc bags or even rectangular baskets fixed to the back of your cabinet door. You can also store plastic containers with their lids on them so that they stack nicely but they’ll take up more room this way. So nest your containers inside one another and keep the lids all together off to the side but close by.

Here are mine – just filed away in a plastic container. They are grouped with the same size lids together, stood vertically with the bigger ones at the back.

My Organized Lids

When I started there were twice as many as most had no mate. Now they are so easy to keep organized as I know where to put them away and there’s room in the cabinet.

For the lids of pots and pans, check out the kitchen lid organizer range where there are products available that cost between $10-$50. They are generally either:

  • vertical holders for cabinet shelves,
  • back of cabinet door organizers, or
  • slide out cabinet organizers.

Pot Lid OrganizerCabinet Door Lid RackSlide Out Pan Lid Organizer

==> Click HERE to see my favorite kitchen lid storage ideas <==

You can also use items you already own to save a bit of money on these kitchen organization ideas.

Think about the dish rack you no longer use for drying dishes, a napkin holder, plate rack or toast rack. You could also slide them on top of a hanging pot rack if you own one.

Or why not spend a bit of time making your own kitchen lid holder such as the one we feature as part of these 15 Inspiring DIY Kitchen Organizers.

Step 3 – Optional

Rather than try and mess with the assortment of lids you currently own, why not start from scratch and treat yourself to a new matching set!!

If your lids are waiting to come crashing down on you the next time you open the cabinet, now is the time for action.

I’d love to hear how your organize YOUR lids. Please leave me a comment.