Several of you mentioned that craft supply storage was a big struggle. I think you somehow knew that was currently the messiest room in the house.
In our home, we have one room that serves as the office, guest room, craft room, and our daughter's bedroom. We're very multi-purpose.
Because I work from home, there is a tendency for things to get piled in here.
Real life, I'm tellin' you.
So here is my approach:
1. Start with two garbage bags (this is how I start cleaning any room). One is for garbage, and one is for donation to Goodwill
2. Start picking up. Put garbage in the garbage bag, put things that don't belong in that room away where they do go, and out things you've been meaning to get rid of in the donation bag
3. Once the floor is clean, I start going through the plastic bins I keep all my supplies in. If I don't use it anymore, get rid of it. If it was part of a project that I've finished, get rid of it. I only keep very general craft items on hand (glue gun sticks, water colors, hole punches) because I tend to go out and get the specific things I need for a project anyways. I try really hard to only buy what I'll need for the one project, and always use coupons!
4. Label! And you're done!
You can do it, I know you can!
What other ares in your home are problem areas?
I love this! I'm working on getting my room a lot more simplified than it is.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anastasia! When it's picked up, it's my favorite room in the house!
DeleteThis is beautiful and gives me inspiration. Since our daughter moved out, we have a "catch-all" room that scares me to enter it sometimes! I love your tubs and labeling.
ReplyDeleteIt's that "catch-all" part - it just gets overwhelming so quickly!
DeleteYou clean like I clean! But usually I just end up throwing most of it away or donating it. I come to the conclusion that if they don't wanna put it away, they don't really want it. LOL Maybe that's wrong, but they usually don't care and even help me toss it. And I do that with my own stuff, too. I've really been questioning why we have so much STUFF lately. . .
ReplyDeleteI usually end up donating or throwing away a LOT! My husband is more cautious, thank goodness, or we'd probably have no furniture and eat off of paper plates!
DeleteI remember looking at a book on the Shakers. They had pegs on the wall where they hung up their chairs. Many a time I was tempted, because it seems like the most fun thing of all was music and lots of dancing space.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure my kiddos would like that! Lots of racing space. :-)
DeleteThe hardest part for me is getting started. Once I get the motivation to get started I can make a lot of progress. We just moved from Ohio to CA and had to downsize a lot. It is a lot easier to keep the house clean when you can't hide the piles in closest. :)
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking that the starting is the hardest! Moving is definitely a great motivator to get rid of stuff. I'm currently in a get rid of mood, so I'm trying to take advantage of it and toss while I feel like it!
DeleteMoving or getting ready to move is always a good motivator for me. :-)
DeleteSo good! When this challenge is done and I have slivers of time again, I will attack the laundry room / office room / craft room with this strategy.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that you stopped by, Wendy! That system works for pretty much every room in the house. Sometimes I even just tackle one closet. Very approachable!
DeleteOh crafts! I keep way too much, but you're right - I always go out and buy the items FOR that specific project anyway - what am I THINKING!? I need to purge! :)
ReplyDeleteIt took awhile for me to realize that. :-) So now I just keep the bare basics on hand: white cardstock, always in fashion; glue sticks, you can never have too many of those; but more specific things, I use them up and wait until I have another specific project!
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