Wednesday

A Place to Stick It

I love organizing paraphernalia. (I also like that word).


I'm a sucker for a pretty box or an odd-shaped basket.

Just stick me in the container aisle with a glass of sweet tea and I'll be happy for life.

Even though I put my OCD to good use and live in a fairly clean, organized home, I still battle clutter.  And toys. Everywhere.  

And so, I've attacked these areas with a plethora of containers!  

Isn't it amazing how three matching boxes (Ikea $2.50 for 2) in a row look so swell?  Inside those boxes?  Hundreds of unorganized photos dating all the way back to my 'fro.

Inside this modern secretary desk (from Ikea)? None 'o you beeswax.  It's a mess.



Here's three more matching baskets that hold all the junk fine linens that won't fit into my dining room hutch. Looks like it's time to clean those out.  I have no idea what's in them.



I love this little basket with a handle.  I don't have enough kitchen drawers and every time my kids dig in the silverware drawer for a pencil or glue, my head spins around in circles and I would foam in the mouth.

It wasn't pretty.  At all.

And so, I hung the basket over my vintage shoe drying rack, now being used as a kitchen catch-all!



And all the books and papers and stuff that collect on my kitchen counter?

I stick them in this red wire basket.  Because what exactly is better than a basket that is red? Not much, my friends.


(Try not to judge me by the title of that book, Making Your Children Mind without Losing Yours. It's summer and I'd like to keep my mind. Enough said).

This little gem was found at Canton, the world's largest flea market and heaven on earth for people like me.  It's a reproduction and not the finest of furnishings, but each box comes out 
and is the perfect toy holder, dontchathink?  It makes me very happy.



I love this giant garage sale basket.  It stored my hubby's dress shirts that needed to go to the cleaners until I confiscated it for more toys.



And this?  Oh, my!  My hubby rolled his eyes at this idea (yes, he did)! I've turned this antique laundry basket into a container to hold an extra quilt next toour bed.  I also toss all the fancy throw pillows from my bed into at night, so Alice the Cat, won't feel compelled to lay on them. I think I would grab this basket if my house caught on fire and roll it through the house throwing things in it.  

That's called an Emergency Plan.  You're welcome.



Even tiny baskets can help you gather similar items.  My remote control basket comes in handy.



I'm throwing this one in for just for fun.  Because I'm not so obsessive that I have to organize my bread, but don't you just love this little red box?  I found it at TJMaxx for $5.99 and thought it would make the perfect bread box.



I like to think of this as the mother of all basket-organizing.  She is great and mighty:  The Ikea book shelf.  I went back to Ikea every month for about a year to buy baskets for this thing.  This piece is quite an investment.  But since our playroom doubles as our TV room, toys fit nicely in all those baskets.



So, baskets and boxes are my tip for great organization. 

57 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! The toyroom thing, with all those baskets...what did you use to hold all the baskets? Shelving or did the baskets come with the unit?

Awesomeness Kristin! If only I had it together like that, I might not be pulling my hair out trying to get ready for the Mother of ALL Garage Sales this weekend!

Kim said...

I love the Ikea basket bookshelf! I have nearly 500 books in my classroom library and that would make my classroom look swanky! I'm just sayin'...

Anonymous said...

I LOVE all of your ideas! When can we come for a tour??? ;)

Katie said...

I LOOOOVE Ikea!! You are way more organized than me. Want to come do my house?

Tammy said...

OOOOhhhhhh, I love! Nice, very nice.

Took my first trip to Ikea a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, my kids are too tall to check in at the store day care. Drats. Next trip will be kid free. Then maybe I can actually see all the fine stuff!

Anonymous said...

I love all of your baskets! I too am a container and organizing freak. There's nothing like an adorable bin or basket to make the place seem clean and homey at the same time!

Unknown said...

I am in awe of your absolute knowledge of how to use baskets. My house is a disaster. I am shamed.

World's Greatest Mommy said...

I love containers. I don't feel so badly when they are cluttered, 'cause it's "contained clutter" which is almost the same as uncluttered...expcept it's not.

Do you do house visits?

By the way, your emergency fire plan is the bomb. Or something else that sounds cool.

Jennifer said...

I love that bedspread! Where did you get it? I gotta have it!

Heather said...

Wow! I am a basket lover too and all of your ideas are great! I especially love the IKEA book shelf. I really need to go back there and look around.

jOni lAnE said...

I love love love containers! You have put them all to good use! I love the toy room containers...very nice.

I feel a little like I'm on Sesame Street today with their "word on the street."
In the last three blogs I have read, including my own, I have read the word "plethora."

Is it weird to read it so much in such a short time?? The word is pretty cool though. I wonder if I will read it any more tonight. Weird.

Smiles,
Joni

The Momster said...

Well first, you make me want to go to IKEA right now - in the middle of the night. :)
And I love seeing that someone else is as obessive about baskets as I am! I love your ideas.

Great post!

Monica said...

I just love all of these!! I am dying to go to IKEA...not REALLY dying, but close.

And I taught Making Your Kids Mind without Losing Yours. I highly recommend it!

Mom2my10 @ 11th Heaven said...

Hi! I got here from the Weins and I love this post! I LOVE organizing perf., too! I only wish we had an IKEA close by. That store is amazing! I'm sure I'll be back to visit. and I'm going to try to enter that contest if I can get the rules clear!

Marlene McGarrity said...

I love all of your baskets for organizing.

Your playroom is awesome. I love it!

KWolfAK said...

I am also a sucker for a place to stuff things. My husband calls it clutter. Some people are collectors and some are tossers.

Cindy said...

I love baskets, too! That Ikea book shelf is AWESOME, and I love your flea market find. I'm a sucker for baskets on shelves. :)

Thanks for the virtual tour. Gives me lots more ideas...now I just need some extra money!

Happy Mommy said...

I love those baskets and boxes! You have mad organizational skills! Go Girl!

Jessica said...

Our homes are almost identical! I too am an organizational basket lover. We lived in Germany for over 7 years and traveled to Poland to buy their beautiful insanely inexpensive baskets. I use them for toys, food, clothes, everything! We also have a "House by Ikea". I am currently using a bookcase similar to yours, only 2 tier, as a sideboard to display Polish Pottery. It frees up cabinet space, does not look as formal as achina cabinet, and allows our 4 kids easy access to set the table! I'll post a pic on my blog today!

Anonymous said...

We love baskets around here, too. That is how the playroom is organized as well as other rooms. I noticed in one of your baskets the book, How to Make Children Mind Without Losing Yours. We have that, too! It reminded me that maybe I need to reread it. Especially since I feel like I am going bonkers and it is only 7:50am. I'm just saying.

Carol said...

I am organizationally challenged and wouldn't know what to do with all those clever bins and things. (Love the one in the playroom, by the way!)

I think you should adopt me.

April said...

I have never been to an IKEA, we don't have one close, although by the looks of things I am glad we don't. I like their collections. I think I would go broke. :) I absolutely love the antique laundry basket in your bedroom. That is a priceless find!

Joanna said...

I have OCD too....And when life is unorganized it rears it's ugly head at all in the path! So, in my house it looks all tidy because well it is because of the OCD, now if only I cared that there were 3 inches of dust everywhere!?! Funny how that OCD works! : )

I love baskets and containers too! In stores I look at them all and pick them up, look inside and wonder what I would put in there to make my life happier!

Marcy Massura said...

I also adore storage solutions. I want to have all my stuff-I just want it CONCEALED. Ross, TJ MAxx, IKEA and of course the MECA of all organizing...The Container Store are my favorites too.

I adore my white enamel bread box. My husband hates it. Apparently lifting a lid to get bread is like hard labor to him. And you can forget about him putting it BACK. But I kept it. Because it CONCEALS!

Suzie said...

Wow look how organized you are. I just leave everything in a big pile that way its easier to find everything

Anonymous said...

I am a box addict myself, but be warned- it can backfire! When Brad comes home from work and empties his pockets, he dumps all these little folded bits of paper and business cards on the desk and just leaves them there. And he never opens his mail. I can't throw it away, so I put it in a box. A few months later, I'll have several boxes full of mail and business cards and little bits of paper. And he'll ask me where something is, and I'll say, "beats me, look in your box!" And at that point it's more like "check the warehouse!"

Heidi said...

I love the canton table. It's like a mullet (business on top, party on the bottom) I also looove Canton shopping. I got a ring there about 10 years ago and still wear it all the time. I try to go when I am in Dallas visiting.

Anonymous said...

I too love baskets! Great ideas!

Amanda said...

ok- so I sooo need you to help me organize my launddry room. Im almost tempted to send you a pic. its bad- real bad- I do have some baskets above the machines for soap and what-not but what to do with that huge box of laundry powder-I love the glass jar thing-but I KNOW my hubby would break the lid trying to reach for it when he does the laundry (which believe it or not - he does often-Praise God) so ideas I welcome!! and I just emailed you the new Carters coupon too- Im going today.

Unknown said...

I love containers and baskets too! My hubby just calls them stuff to put stuff in. Guess you can tell who the neat freak is (it ain't me)

Joy said...

Drooling over here!!! I love containers, too, but can never find a use for them and end up using them as gift baskets. THANKS for the ideas!!!

Robin said...

Greg actually looked at this post. He says you have too many baskets!

Lisa said...

I did not know you were such a "basket case". there might be help for you but I am not sure.
My son lives very close to Canton and I keep saying I am going to stay with him and go shop at Canton. Never have made myself do it yet. I think I fear what I will be bringing home. There are girls from Enid, OK that would go at least twice a year to it and stay in Tyler at night. Now I am more inspired to go after seeing your finds!!!!

Luke Holzmann said...

My wife totally bought three baskets like those from Ikea as well. They live under the coffee table. I think there are puzzles, magazines, and other stuff... junk mail?

Yeah, having a place to put stuff: Important.

~Luke

Wani said...

I love these! I need to have more baskets around. Instead we have piles.

twin power mommy ♥ said...

...uh....yeah.....
i think you need to go to a baskets anon meeting!

That last one was the kicker of 'em all!
Organization to the MAX!!!

Unknown said...

For starters, you do not know how happy it make me to know that YOU have a constant battle over clutter and TOYS as well! I mean, what are they...like little rabbits and they just multiply? But I digress. And secondly, THANK YOU for inspiring me with your ideas that are livable and doable! I mean, I see all of these great, pristine looking homes with never a hair out of place and really not only wonder how they do it but just where in the heck I go wrong because with my crew and my life? Uh-unh. Nope. Not happening. So thank you. Your time writing this was very well spent!

Alyson, the 3 P's Mama who shall remain ever in your debt!

Unknown said...

Sweet tea makes everything better. Especially if it helps you be organized. :)

Sarah M. said...

Love, Love, Love the baskets!! I can't wait until our home is built! My husband keeps reminding me, "We are building, not decorating right now."

Genny said...

Loved this post! We have our remotes in a basket too. Love those kitchen baskets and some of your other organizing ideas. And everything matches! (Even though I love those whiteboards in my kids' rooms, I still like to match when I can!) LOL. Take care.

Mama Smurf said...

I think you are my bloggy soul mate...

1) I'm a basket junkie too. My house is littered with baskets all shapes and sizes.

2) I have that same book (Making Children Mind...Without Losing Yours) on my kitchen counter also.

3) Every room in my home houses an Ikea shelf, basket, or organizer. I'll have to take pictures of all my Ikea finds some day soon.

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

You, my dear, are my long, lost sister. Nice to meet you! ;0)

Angela Nazworth said...

The basket idea is my very favorite!!

Shelly Wildman said...

Canton?! I love Canton!! I fly down from Chicago every so often just to get a Canton fix (and to see my sisters). Haven't been there in over a year--it might be time soon . . . If you write back to me I'll tell you about the greatest girlfriend road trip to Canton EVER! :)

Megan @ Megity's Handmade said...

Hi! I just found your bloggy through somebody somewhere. Not so sure how it happened, but it's a good thing! I love baskets. Love, love, love! And wow, thanks for the emergency plan! All I have to do is find a really cool antique laundry basket. :)

cajungal01 said...

AHHHHH...so we again have something very specific in common besides our love for sweet ice tea...I am working on the "organized" part but I am extremely fond of containers and each room has at least three or more for various items.
What's funny...
I have a red wire basket that sits on my counter by my phone (FABULOUS find at the dollar spot at target one day...I limited myself tothree of them knowing they would be PERFECT for something!)that holds my mail and that exact same book! (haven't gotten far in it though)

:0)
great post!

Unknown said...

Wow - you are the QUEEN of baskets!!

Those are some really great ideas.

C.Thompson said...

you've got a great organizing system going!! I am a basket and bin organizing nut. You can never have too many canvas bin and baskets.

Heidi Zawisza said...

Oh my gosh! I love your sofa table!!! Wish I lived near this Canton flea market!!

Ok, Where Was I? said...

I used to love baskets that much. Then I got a two year old who's got a dumping obsession. So my house is filled with clutter, including empty containers strewn about the floor.

Mozi Esme said...

I'm hoping you're inspiring me and not just making me feel overwhelmed. I think I'm gonna take a nap and decide when I wake up . . .

nicole said...

I love your bedding. Can I have it? I am also quite jealous of your copious amounts of organizing goodies. My budget cannot tolerate that level of inspiration unfortunately.

The Fritz Facts said...

I love baskets and bins. The dollar store wall is my heaven! lol

I love the toy room wall, I wish I could have that now!

Valarie Lea said...

I know I am two days late commenting on this post, but I am a slacker like that. It is also late at night and I think I am getting tired and delirious, because I can't stop thinking about your bread in that box. It looks like its in jail or something. Like its in a cage. OK I am going to bed now. :)

gina said...

I love, love, LOVE all your stuff but I must say if I did see you wheeling that laundry basket out in a fire, I might knock you down from behind and steal it. ;)

Col said...

I loooo-o-ove baskets. I am a basketholic and it feels sooo good to just have things "in" something ... like all is well with the world and I can BREATHE again, whee! Beautiful!

Merrie said...

Oh, yes. A mom after my own heart! I have baskets everywhere too. Love, love, love to hide my lack of organization in them and call it organized.
I even have them in my minivan!