Organizing My Worst Clutter Spot

I attended a Ladies Club Christmas party in December.  There I overheard one lady ask the hostess what she kept in the shallow drawers in the small chest beside her favorite recliner... was it her sewing or craft items?  The hostess hesitated and then responded, "No, I've given up crafts - it's just stuff."  She opened one drawer to show that her telephone book, her TV controls, and various other items were in those narrow drawers, at her fingertips.  She opened another drawer to show stamps, and writing supplies. 

I was impressed with her small chest holding so much out of sight.  I came home to my portable computer stand, which sits beside my favorite chair.  It never has room for my portable laptop computer because I always have it full of "clutter."  I also have spread out to the raised fireplace hearth, and to the window sill, where my address book, camera, and cell phone sit, along with various other items that are handy to my needs in my favorite chair. This "clutter" has regrown since the holidays, when I had it fairly well cleaned up.   I'd take a photo for you, but I'd be too embarrassed.  Let's just say that my computer mouse fell off the computer stand for the second time today with batteries and cover scattering in various directions, and from which other items fall frequently. 

Our hostess' organizational skills remained a source of fascination to me throughout the holidays and I looked at Walmart and other  stores for a couple of weeks, hoping to find a sewing or craft table that would be similar. 

Finally, with the many on-line catalogs that arrived with the New Year, I received a catalog from Home Decorators.com., a Home Depot company,  and was pleased to see a cart that would work beside my recliner.  The Stanton Storage Cart I ordered has six drawers and is 26 inches tall by 20 inches wide.  It is delivered "fully assembled" with the exception of 4 casters which were easily installed by me, the least handy woman in the US.    I had a choice of finishes and choice of sizes.  Mine cost $152 and there was a $10 coupon so the actual cost was $150.88 including tax, with free shipping on storage items for a limited time. 

It arrived within days and the delivery man offered to put it inside for me.  It weighs approximately 50 lbs. and I happily accepted his offer.  I opened the very well wrapped wooden cart and installed the feet in approximately 30 minutes.  I have yet to fill it, other than to put my television remote and telephones inside, but the manufacturers suggest that heavy items be placed in the bottom.  I ordered the cherry finish cart, although I fell in love with the blue one but it didn't come in this "wide" size.  Mine came in a choice of dark cherry, black, white or oak.    The cart is made of solid "Rubberwood", grown on a plantation, renewable and thus production doesn't endanger the environment.  Mine has a nice, smooth finish and is very sturdy.  Country of origin is Thailand.   Since the nice finish may be scratched or damaged by my drinks and other items, I put a square granite chessboard on the top, with a  protective mat underneat but a tray or cut glass top would work.

I will blog again soon about this wonderful cart that is sure to improve my degree of organization if not improve the quality of my life.  I am amazed at my "Logitech" red cordless computer mouse, because it has been dropped at least twice daily for at least six months and continues to work.  Maybe now its life will be extended.

Happy days!!! Tonight and tomorrow I will figure out where to put my 3 piles of clutter. 

See you soon!  Phebe

Interesting Thought Regarding Lack of Organization

I'm still excited about my New Year's resolution of becoming more organized in 2012. 

How organized are you?  Are you happy with your home's organization?
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Did you know"The average American spends 1 year of their life looking for misplaced items." 
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( DIY Network's 10 Best Space Saving Solutions on Saturday, January 7, 2012)

Are you "average", above average, or below average in organizational skills?

 What area would you like to be more organized in?...or are you one of those few very organized people?

January Dreaming: A Organized Life

Good January, Cottage Dreamers:

Many of us try to jazz up our holiday let-down with New Years resolutions and planning for spring.

I had a fabulous Christmas season enjoying my little lake cottage with family, including two of my children, my teen grandson and friends. Too busy to blog through the last part of December, although I had good intentions.  

Now, I, too, am making New Years resolutions that will make my life better in 2012.  I aspire to better organization this year.   

At my age it may be too much to hope for me to become a totally organized person,  : (  but it is a fine goal and for me, any movement toward that goal will improve my life.  I spend a lot of time "looking for things."  Currently I've misplaced an important check;  often each month I spend a lot of time around the 15th looking for my postcard water bill.  Oh, how I wish for a system where I put things in their proper spot.  Maybe, soon, I will be able to do that.

Cottages often do not have enough storage, and that is true for mine.  As homes go in my neighborhood, mine is considered small by neighbors.  So often, when asked where I live and I tell them, they reply, "Oh, the little house."  Because it has soaring ceilings, I do not think of it as small, but it actually is. 

I started planning late last year to improve my life by creating a mudroom area in my house.  I envy the mudrooms seen in home improvement books or new home design books that show lockers for each family member to store outside gear, shoes, etc.  I thought of what my greatest needs are and realized I don't really need a traditional mudroom.  We seldom have a need for cold weather boots, lots of gloves, and down coats in my area of Texas.  If I used those items, I would surely want a place to stash them. 

My storage needs include a place to stash pet supplies and a place for my two cats to sleep and eat.  They have been garage kitties at night, but they enjoyed sleeping on the top of my van so much they created long scratches on the hood, and after it was recently painted, I decided I had to find a better place for them to sleep.  For three months, the car has been in the driveway and the kitties have slept in the garage. 

The January-February 2012 issue of This Old House magazine offers some great storage tips.  Immediately I was drawn to the cover which says:  "Same house, more space, and lots less clutter!"  This perfectly states my resolution for 2012.  

One suggestion in this issue, page 106, is a "mini-mudroom" (see below).

I imagine most homes, even small condos and apartments can create a "mini-mudroom" if that is something the owner desires.  A mini-mudroom also may be located in a converted bookshelf, armoire, coat closet or cabinet near the entry door.  Doors or a curtain will hide the clutter. 

I have a very small laundry room and I have stored cleaning supplies, the sweeper, brooms, and mops there.

My double car garage is extra-wide, and I decided that a mudroom in the corner of the garage would meet my needs nicely. My son, bless him, built me an 8 by 8 room over New Years weekend. I will use this for my cat sisters' bedroom, as well as for storing my cleaning items that now clutter my laundry room.

Although not yet finished, my kitties and I have moved in. Haven't decided wall colors yet, but have picked up some Martha Stewart paint samples from Home Depot.

Here is a photo of one of my kitties, Ellie, happy in her new home.  (The rug is an indoor-outdoor one from Home Depot.) 

Her sister, Annie, (below) likes to eat and sleep on the computer desk I placed in the room for the cats to eat on so that my family dog can't easily eat too much cat food.  My cats enjoy eating up high, and the old yellow bathroom rug I placed on the table makes a comfortable bed, although they also have a heated electric puppy pad on the floor.

When the room has been painted I will post more photos. The walls are wooden  unfinished beadboard  4 by 8 panels.   Organized life, I'm on my way! 
 

Happy Cottage Dreaming!   Phebe