Clutter Magnets … And, their thrifty solutions!

Think of your home as a walk in the forest.  Do you walk through an orderly, sun dappled landscape covered with fern and fauna, gazing up at towering trees with playful wildlife scampering past? Or, is your walk a study in navigation … through debris, fallen trees, broken branches and tangled undergrowth?

We all want that serene, organized home that is a pleasure to walk through.  However, if you are anything like me, you’re probably suffering from an abundant collection of junk that insists on invading your spaces. I’m talking about all those areas that somehow collect clothes, shoes, bags, keys, receipts, toys, books…you get the picture.  Hang on to your tiaras ladies … there is a cure.  But, there’s also a price to pay!  Yep, swallow that yucky medicine if you want to feel better about yourself, your home and your time.  Realize that creating a tidy home is a paltry sum to pay considering the benefits.

Okay, you thought that this “Thrifty Diva” was simply about saving money!  Ah ha!  I’m also about saving you time . . . and, maybe, just a bit of your sanity! Here are my thrifty time-saving tips that will keep you from being overwhelmed by the clutter in key areas of your home:

Entries

When we arrive home, tired and hungry, we tend to drop our parcels at the nearest flat surface then rush off to our closest to change into something comfy, or to the refrigerator to grab a snack…all the while leaving a trail of clutter in our wake.

By taking a few minutes to stow brief cases, purses, baby items, mail and wallets in attractive storage units, strategically placed at our entryways, our access areas will always be “visitor’ ready.

Now, when I suggest storage units, I’m not talking about red, white and blue plastic store-alls!  Think… design savvy…get creative with leather storage units, an antique armoire, a fabulous desk or a chic credenza purchased from your neighborhood thrift store.

This storage-friendly wall was done for under $100!

Bedrooms

The bedroom should be a place of tranquility…a serene place where eight hours of every day is spent in peaceful repose. Instead, one often finds a sea of topsy-turvy items within its chaotic walls. Here are a few thrifty tips that will help to keep this area in tip-top shape:

Closets: Watch out!  Some closets are dangerous to open for fear of getting caught in the dreaded “clothes avalanche.” Although hiring a company to rebuild closet interiors can be expensive, inexpensive organizers can be found at most home improvement centers.  Build storage areas all the way to the top to store seldom used items, while creating layered hanging areas for long and short items.  Finally, create low level shelving, underneath hanging areas to organize shoes and folded items.

Nightstands: Hit your local garage sales or thrift stores and purchase two nightstands that have one to three drawers. (Diva tip: They don’t have to match …enjoy their unique separateness!) These will serve to organize and conceal items that detract from your bedroom’s décor. Place your prescriptions, remote controls, flashlights, books, eyeglasses and candles within your new-to-you nightstands rather than on top or scattered around the floor. Now, decorate the tops with attractive lights, alarm clocks and the occasional vase filled with flowers.

A clothing stand:  Since chairs and chaises become convenient repositories for hastily tossed clothes, buy a clothing stand that will hold your tired threads until the next morning.  Refrain from using the reading area as a catchall for your discarded items as they can amass a mountain of clutter very quickly.

Drawers: somehow the old addage out of sight, out of mind applies to these sneaky disaster centers. Thrift stores abound with a myriad of drawer organizers. Grab a bunch of dividers to keep socks, underwear, sweaters, sweats, under garments, pajamas, and scarves all neatly organized.

Kitchen

People naturally gravitate to the kitchen. Not only is it the family gathering place, it’s also a convenient dumping spot for purses, shoes, homework, art projects, backpacks, and toys and games. Reserve this collective area for preparation and meal time. If the front and rear entry ways have convenient storage areas, insist that the family use these areas to unleash their stream of belongings.  Otherwise, make it a rule that the family drops their possessions in their respective bedrooms.

Keep a tidy handle on these pesky areas:

• Refrigerator
• Pantry
  • Stair-step stackers
  • Rotating rounds
  • Hooks
  • Shelving
  • Laundry center
  • Cupboards
    • Dishes
    • Pots and Pans
    • Drawers
      • Silverware
      • Junk drawer

Bathroom

Since bathrooms a typically small, it is essential that these areas be kept free of clutter.  Countertops that are strewn with toothpaste, perfumes, shaving gear and hair products prove to be not only unsightly but like any clutter, add to the heap of hidden stresses that affects our quality of life.

Resale shops abound with storage units that will effectively and attractively store linens, cosmetics, soaps, bath toys and medicines.

Office

It is a proven fact that an organized work space contributes to one’s ability to focus on the tasks at hand and increases productivity throughout the workday. A serene and well organized office is not only more pleasant but often stirs creativity as well.

Thrift shops abound with items that can turn your office into a neat, professional business center:

• Phone stations equipped with a pen and notepad
• Whiteboards for reminders and creative thinking
• Computer station
• Desk with a good supply of drawer dividers
• Shelving or storage units

The Laundry Center

Depending on where your laundry center is in your home, put some thought into storing your detergents, laundry and ironing supplies in an attractive unit. If possible build or create a folding and hanging area to simplify the wearisome laundry task.

Recycle Center

Create a storage center that separates bottles, cans, plastic and paper so that recyclable items can be readily sorted on trash day.

Garage and basement

The garage, basements and attics are probably the biggest clutter magnets.  These are areas that can easily accumulate a mountain of junk because they are out-of-sight, out-of-mind areas.  Once an organizational process is put in place it is up to the adults to enforce that everything has a place and it is returned to that spot … every time. Create areas for tools, charity donations, mementos, seasonal décor, gardening equipment, and car care.

Dare I re-gift?

Christmas is over and I am still trying to recover from it.  Trying to put things away and well, what do I do with gifts I don’t want that weren’t quite right?  Can I, should I, could I, re-gift them?  Doesn’t sound very “Diva” like.  But I really hate waste.  Some things I can return or exchange but some things could go to other people.  I think I will put them in my “gift box” for later.

The “gift box” idea came from my mom.  My whole life she had a box or a drawer with “gifts” for last minute occasions.  Some things were new and some were not, but there was always something for that last minute birthday or anniversary or stocking stuffer.  Even the guest who came for Christmas Eve dinner and stayed all night (but that is another story and he was from another country where they stay up for fireworks and food at midnight).  That gift box saved the day many times and some things nestled in there were items my mom had been given but never used because they really didn’t fit her style.

If you are thinking about “re-gifting” you might want to entertain these suggestions to avoid offense.

-Don’t give something back to the person who originally gave you the gift (or anyone who they might visit) because that will end up as a “oh how lovely, I gave a vase just like that to my niece Jane.”  Followed by, “Oh, that’s funny; Jane gave me this lovely vase.”  That will get you written out of the will, trust me!

- If you have something not right for you, but perfect for someone else, set it aside for their birthday or some other occasion and re-wrap it and make sure they know it made you think of them when you give it.  (Honestly, my favorite gift this year came from a co-worker and it was definitely several different items (thrift or garage sale) inside this really cute cardboard house!  I took the gifts out and put one of those battery operated candles in it, and used the house as centerpiece on a table.

-Sometimes a gift exchange is a good place to re-gift an item, especially if it is a white elephant gift exchange.  Or maybe you want to have some good friends over for libations and fun and bring gifts that didn’t work out and trade….you could end up with something really wonderful!

-If the gift is truly terrible, give it to the Goodwill or some other charitable organization.  Your trash is someone else’s treasure.  (Be sure to REMOVE any personal notes or identification.)  Great Aunt Martha may shop the Goodwill and find that lovely floral house coat you donated especially if it has “To Jane from Aunt Martha” still on it.

-Last but not least,  if you can’t part with the gift for fear of hurting the feelings of someone you love, hold on to it, display it proudly or wear it to their house and then after a respectful amount of time put it away in your own “gift box” for some later gift emergency.