52 Places In 52 Weeks: Organizing Your Storage Areas
How many storage spaces do you have in your home? How many cupboards or closets are designated as storage places? Maybe the better question to ask is how many storage places do you WANT and how many do you actually HAVE?
The thought of storage spaces may be overwhelming. You may think of that ONE spot that is just hideous – an eye sore. The place where you will take NO ONE because you are embarrassed at the sight of it and you know if YOU are embarrassed, you wonder what others will think of it then!
Storage spaces can have such a negative connotation because that means you are storing things you do not need for the time being. Storage spaces are a catch all – the “I don’t know where else to put it” space. It is often the place you can put things and not have to think about them again, until you open up that door.
That is why I feel organizing storage spaces is so important. They can become so unsightly so quickly, if they are not kept up on. Because storage spaces and places are all over your home and they store so many random items, how do you even begin to organize such a place? Think about these questions:
5. Would someone else put this item to better use?
6. Is this storage space too full? (if so, you MUST get rid of things!)
If you are keeping items for the wrong reasons (because of fear of letting go, hanging onto the past, excuse of I will EVENTUALLY need it), do it another day. Make sure you are READY to get rid of things and organize your storage spaces. If you are in a “keep it” mode, this process probably is not worth your time. Start with one at a time too – it will be tempting to move from one room to the next, without keeping your focus on the first, as you are putting things away. Stick to one area!
We have 2 spaces in our home that we have designated for storage, both in the basement. We a shelf or two with items like pictures, computer paper, etc, but all things we do not use on a regular basis, go into our storage areas. One small room is just that – a storage room and we know exactly where to find things because they are all in bins. For example, I have all of my fabric in one bin. My sentimental items in another. My Christmas decor in another. You get what I am getting at. Find a PLACE for everything! Make sure you know where to find an item when you need to find it, so you aren’t spending an hour trying to find something you know exists.
Start small and you would be surprised at what your storage spaces will look like after you are done!
