11 UHeart Organizing: Organizing Kit Must Haves

An avid organizer like myself is definitely the type to organize their organizing supplies. I know not everyone may have a need or desire to go to that level of Danny Tanner like detail, but it really is useful to have a "go to" kit. In fact, I have always been a super-sized advocate for kits and caddies and how helpful they are around the home, and I love how my friend Ursula created one specifically for the task of organizing. I would imagine this to be especially helpful when setting up a new home after a move, or if you just love to go on organizing sprees whenever the mood strikes. There always tends to be specific items that are used frequently when working on organizational projects, so it only makes sense to store them together right? What must have products do you find yourself reaching for time and time again while organizing? A label maker? A favorite pen? Stickers or tape? I am totally geeking out about this right now!

Hey there IHeart Organizing readers, Ursula here from Home Made by Carmona! So good to be back again with another project that has my heart skipping a beat.

You know how much I love beautiful organization, and all things gold, aaaaand all things crafty? Well I have a project that brings all three of those things together. The best part? The project is a cute (and super handy) organizing kit to help you make MORE organized spaces!

I've got this handy little printable shopping list for you to ensure you get all the materials you need to assemble the perfect organizing kit:

Half the fun is buying the cutest organizing materials you can possibly find! Remember, the prettier your materials are, the more beautiful your organized spaces will be and the more likely you will be to maintain them!

And just in case you were wondering exactly how I use each and every handy dandy organizing thing in my kit; that is a whole post all by itself which I have shared here. I also recommend getting yourself a project journal and/or a clipboard for your organizing to-do list. Nothing keeps my organizing mojo going more than having a list to keep me on task! So go ahead, arm yourself to make cool stuff and amazing spaces.

Let's talk about organizing the organizing kit for a moment shall we?\

Haha, it makes me think of the TV show episode where clean freak Adrian Monk cleans his big vacuum with a handheld vacuum, then bemoans not having an even smaller vacuum with which to clean the handheld vacuum! (did you follow any of that?)

Now you are going to put some of those new supplies from your shopping list to good use right away! I hope you got a variety of sizes in clear plastic bags (often found in the bead and jewelry making department), because you are going to need them to store some things. I love that they are clear so you can see exactly what is in them. And if you still want to label the bags that are holding your labels, well I won't judge! Some of us (most of us here) are certifiable labeling freaks, and proud of it!

Speaking of clear storage, you'll want to buy a clear stack-able container to hold your labels, tags, ribbon, twine, bags, and other medium sized items.

Then you can easily lift out this smaller kit for labeling specific tasks. Rather than carting the entire organizing bin with you, segment each part by task type.

This next storage module will hold push pins, clips, safety pins, small round magnets, etc. These are the little items that need to be contained, and typically used for creating inspiration boards, reminder boards, as well as a variety of other organizing projects.

The cutest possible bag holds all my marking gear. We're talking fabric markers, oil-based markers, permanent markers, wet and dry erased markers... Oh, and each and every one in my favorite metallic colors! Whether I am writing on mirrors, labeling bins, or marking my territory on my tea mug ("Mom's ONLY!"), this little bag serves me well!

Finally, the file holder part of your organizing kit should store stickers, rub-ons, scrapbook paper, decals, folder dividers, baseball card holder sheets, etc.

I know what you are thinking, scrapbooking paper makes it sound more like a crafters kit than an organizing kit. Well, see a few of my organizational uses here, and trust me that many people find organizing is a craft project in it's own right! My things shouldn't just be pretty organized, they should be organized prettily!

I added one last bin to hold my favorite drawer contact adhesive, label maker, three hole punch, and other large items. Then stack all of these "mini kits" into one large box or bin (preferably one with handles).

Remember the job of these organizing modules within a bigger box or bin is to be able to easily access whatever you need, no matter what organizing task you have taken on! You can bring it with you wherever you need to go, and even work it into your decor when not in use!

I don't know about you, but nothing motivates me to organize more than a handy kit with all manner of beautiful things in it! 'Til next time friends!

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Hi, I'm Ursula and I blog at Home Made by Carmona where there is always a fun DIY project in play. I've got expensive taste and no money, I'm a neat freak who's house didn't get that memo, and I firmly believe organization has the power to improve our homes, habits, and the members that abide there! I'm so thrilled to be here at IHeart Organizing, the blog that first inspired me to start my own blogging journey.

5 UHeart Organizing: 10 Creative Ways to Store Linens (When You Don't Have a Linen Closet)

Our closet situation has always been a little awkward around here, and when I recently organized our hallway "linen" closet, a few people noticed that I only store a few extra towels there (where are your linens!?).  The remainder of the closet consisted of storing medications, paper products, cleaning supplies, toiletries and ironing supplies.  So where are the rest of our linens?  Well, my first tip is of course to be selective about how many linens are really necessary.  From there, I tend to store our linens in their dedicated space/room; bedding in the bedrooms, cloth napkins in the kitchen, towels in the bathrooms. This setup has been working like a charm for years.

So, whether you have no linen closet, or you utilize your dedicated linen closet to store alternative items, Ursula from Home Made by Carmona is stopping in today to share 10 creative ways to store your linens, and you don't need a specific linen closet for any of them.

Hi there iHeart Organizing readers! I'm SO pleased to be back here today sharing some smart solutions to a problem that has plagued me for so long.

My house doesn't have any linen closets, or any space I could really convert into a linen closet. When you have a family of five, that means 5 times the bedding, 5 times the bath towels, and 5 times the dinner linens. That isn't even accounting for the extra for guests, for differences of weather (winter versus summer bedding for example), and the fact that there are probably 2 sets for each person for laundering purposes (so that should really read 10 times). Needless to say, not having a linen closet can become quite the storage nightmare. Over many years, I have discovered all kinds of creative storage solutions, so today I'm sharing with you 10 Creative Ways To Store Linens (when you have no linen closet).

Before we dive in, there are 3 main principles to keep in mind when thinking outside the linen closet.

1. Fill unused spaces - Put hallway nooks and open corners to good use as storage.
2. Work it into the decor - Storage can be very attractive, especially if you have lovely linens. Store the pretty ones in plain sight, and tuck the less-than-attractive sets behind closed doors and drawers.
3. Streamline - You don't need three sheets per bed, especially if many of the beds are the same size. Keep no more than two towels per family member, and a few extra for guests (amount depends on whether most of your friends have kids, and how many).

Ready for some creative solutions? Here we go!

1.  BASKETS

Baskets are beautiful and decorative, and your guests won't realize that the cute rolls of blankets inside them are actually there because you had no where else to store them. Instead it will seem like a sweet, guest-friendly gesture that you made available should someone feel a chill.


2.  BEHIND CLOSED DRAWERS

What if you can't find a place to put your dinner linens behind closed doors? Never mind, put them behind closed drawers! Take a seldom used kitchen drawer, or dining room hutch drawer, and keep the dinner items close at hand.


3.  BOOKCASES AS LINEN STORAGE

Bookshelves aren't just for books anymore! Add one to an open wall or hallway space to store your sheets, towels, and other miscellaneous items! Smaller than the average freestanding wardrobe, you can still add doors to a bookshelf and keep your linens hidden with more walking room. Or maintain them as an attractive open storage unit and use baskets to organize.


4. TOWEL HOLDERS AS STORAGE

Add towel holders behind doors, behind cabinet doors, and even to walls. Then think beyond the traditional use of just bath towels... Use them to store dish towels, cloth napkins, blankets, and even add hooks to place baskets with miscellaneous stored items. You name it!


5.  IN CLOTHING CLOSETS

Why not keep your sheets and blankets in the same room you use them in? Make a little space in the top of your closet shelf, or add a hanging closet organizer, to store that specific bedroom's linens. Another options, which is what I personally prefer, is to place comforters and blankets in some pretty canvas bins way up high (too high to use for other purposes), then place that bedroom's frequently used sheets and pillow cases at a lower level within reach.


6.  UNDER-BED STORAGE

I love making use of underused spaces. Under the bed is where socks and miscellaneous items go to die, so why not prevent that by keeping bins under there? Then those get-away items have no where to roll.


7.  UNUSUAL STORAGE SOLUTIONS

I don't think of baskets as my only go-to solution for storing linens; I use bowls, jars, bins, and more. It is a nice way to store smaller linens in the appropriate room, such as face rags in a jar in the bathroom, cloth napkins in a bowl in the kitchen, and pillow cases in a bin in the bedroom.


8.  BINS: BIG & SMALL

From medium canvas bins, to large plastic bins and beyond, these are a great go-to storage solution. If you have a basement or attic storage space, this is where you can put seasonal bedding, such as large winter comforters.


9.  STORAGE OTTOMANS

Double duty furniture is a DREAM! Ah! Definitely purchase a few large storage ottomans or storage chairs to stash away over-sized blankets and other linens. They are lovely at the end of a bed, in a hallway space, or even as extra seating in a living area!


10.  DIY DOOR ORGANIZERS

Remember these bad boys I whipped up? I showed them off here on iHeart Organizing last year, and they have been incredible space saving storage. I made a bunch of cabinet door organizers the easy way (learn how here), and they extend the storage of any cabinet or door space. Not to mention, they are stunning as cloth storage and cleaning tool storage.

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I hope some of these tips will help keep your linens neatly tucked away, even if you don't have a linen closet. Until next time, keep on organizing!

Hi, I'm Ursula and I blog at Home Made by Carmona where there is always a fun DIY project in play. I've got expensive taste and no money, I'm a neat freak who's house didn't get that memo, and I firmly believe organization has the power to improve our homes, habits, and the members that abide there! I'm so thrilled to be here at IHeart Organizing, the blog that first inspired me to start my own blogging journey.

36 UHeart Organizing: DIY Acrylic Drawer Dividers

First, thank you again so very much for your comments on this week's blogiversary post.  I have been really moved by all you have had to say, and I look forward to many more years with you all.  #bestreadersever

It is always funny when the contributors and I fall into the same organizing wavelengths.  It happens quite often and always causes me to grin big when we are on similar paths with our ideas (great minds think alike right?).  I recently shared how we DIY'd some wooden, adjustable dividers from our son's armoire drawers (yet the concept could be used in any drawer).  Today, Ursula is joining us from Home Made by Carmona, and she is sharing her stunning acrylic version of adjustable drawer dividers.  The best part, no major tools are required and they will turn out incredibly lovely.  Acrylic anything gets my heart racing, and this project was no exception.

Hi there amazing organizing lovers! Ursula here from Home Made by Carmona, excited to share with you my latest and greatest in stylish organizing.

There is nothing I hate more than having to sort through a drawer to find what I'm looking for. Any drawer, kitchen drawer, bathroom drawer, clothing drawer, office supply drawer... you name it! Ideally, wouldn't it be amazing to know exactly where everything is, where it goes, and when you opened a drawer you could see everything at a glance? Ah-mazing. Am I dreaming? Well then don't pinch me, because I'm not willing to wake up from this one!

In order to achieve this dream, half the battle is organizing the drawer in a way that maximizes the space and allows you to get a clear view of everything in it. So, today I'm going to show you how to make stylish and custom adjustable acrylic drawer organizers. I made an entire set for my bedroom wardrobe, and I LOVE them!

Why custom? Because I am not of fan of purchasing a set of acrylic organizers that don't fit precisely in the drawer and end up wasting some space. Now with these DIY acrylic organizers, you can adjust the inserts to fit into the drawer perfectly. As a matter of fact, they are designed specifically to each individual drawer!

Ready to get started?

Materials what you'll need:

• Dentil molding
• Plastic sheets
• Wood glue
• Finishing nails (optional)

Tools you'll need:

• Hack saw (or something to cut molding to size)
• Carpenters steel square
• Vice grips
• Plastic cutter (or really sharp utility knife)
• Measuring tape
• Paint & spray paint, painters tape (all optional)

Begin by measuring the length of your drawers and cutting 4 pieces of dentil molding to size. Be sure that each piece of molding will line up (so start cuts from the same location on each square). These will act as slots where you can insert your dividers.

Glue down the two pieces of dentil molding to the back and two to the front of the drawer. One at the bottom of the drawer, and one near the top. If you like you can use finishing nails to add a little security and hold the molding in place.

*Alteration Note: If you prefer your organizers going across the drawer rather than back to front, that is fine, add the molding to the sides of the drawer instead.

While your molding dries in place. Measure the drawer from front to back, from molding strip to molding strip. Remember, you want your dividers to be able to slide in place without being too snug or too loose, so measure from the crevice in the molding, to the crevice of the molding on the opposite side. This is going to be the length of your acrylic sheet. Then measure how deep your drawer sides are, and you'll have the dimensions for your acrylic (plastic) insert.

Place your acrylic sheet on top of a piece of scrap wood you don't mind cutting/damaging. Using your carpenters steel square (or T-square, whatever you have) and a pair of vice grips to hold it in place, you will use your plastic cutter to score the acrylic sheet in the desired size. You will want to score it 3 or 4 times in the same line... go slowly as it is easy for the cutter to wander outside of the lines you are trying to make. Accuracy is more important than pressure when scoring; remember you're not trying to cut it, you're trying to score it.

Next move it down to the edge of your wood work top, still using the carpenter square and vice grips along the score line. Allow it to overhang right where the score line is, then gently snap the acrylic by pressing downward. This part is much easier than you'd think, it doesn't take much pressure, and the break line is quite clean! Do this for as many inserts as you desire to have.

Tip: if you have a small piece that needs to be broken off, without much of an over hang, use a pair of pliers instead of your hands to break along the score line.

Now if you like, you can paint your drawer, and even add a little glam to your acrylic inserts by spray painting the bottom. I love a gorgeous metallic gold, so I am covering the tops, and spray painting the bottoms.

I love that these acrylic dividers are adjustable. Finally time to insert your acrylic dividers and get organizing!

Practical, yet stunning! My entire set of wardrobe drawers got a full organizing makeover!

Just to give you a peek at a few of my drawers, and how I organized them; notice how everything is easily visible without having to sort through it to find what you need?

You could make these same organizers using wooden inserts, but honestly I just love the look of acrylic. It is beautiful and reflective, and nothing can get mistakenly hidden by being jammed in a corner somewhere.

Whether you need small slots, large slots, or you need to change how many acrylic dividers you require for each drawer, it is easily done without having to run out and purchase a new set of organizers.

Now everything in my freestanding wardrobe is customized to my exact needs; when my needs change, everything in it is easily changed... as a matter of fact, this entire unit is a DIY build! If you like, you can learn how I turned two small IKEA rast dressers into this wardrobe you see.

Then come back, and make these DIY acrylic organizers to go with them. It will be the perfect custom combination!

________________

"Hi, I'm Ursula and I blog at Home Made by Carmona where there is always a fun DIY project in play. I've got expensive taste and no money, I'm a neat freak who's house didn't get that memo, and I firmly believe organization has the power to improve our homes, habits, and the members that abide there! I'm so thrilled to be here at IHeart Organizing, the blog that first inspired me to start my own blogging journey."

16 UHeart Organizing: 7 Steps to an Amazing Cleaning Closet

Although most of you are probably more excited about the fact that it is "Shark Week" this week, it has also been a bit of "Closet Week" around here.  I organized my portion of our closet last week (and oddly enough was even able to inspire my husband who has now emptied his side of the closet out), and have been sharing more specifics of the process.  Keeping in theme with closet week, today's super brilliant contributor, Ursula of Home Made by Carmona, is here sharing a closet she recently cleaned out.  But this is not just any closet, she cleaned out her cleaning closet.  And it is beyond lovely.  Cleaning closets and cabinets can be so helpful in terms of keeping a clean home, but if they are messy, then they won't do a good job inspiring you to keep up with daily chores.  She has definitely gone above and beyond to create the most delightful closet imaginable, and I hope you all love it as much as I do!

Hey there awesome organizers! Ursula here, from Home Made by Carmona, back to share another great project with you.

My favorite projects always incorporate a sprinkle of organization, a smidge of decorating, and loads of DIY projects to make it budget friendly. One thing, however, I do not relish is cleaning... isn't that interesting? To love organizing but hate cleaning? It is a bit of a conundrum for me, which is why today I'm taking on my cleaning closet! After all, what better way to motivate you to accomplish your cleaning work than to organize and beautify... Whatever helps get the job done!

My cleaning closet was not functioning well for me. My girls were tossing things in there without having any rhyme or reason to the madness. It was quickly becoming a disaster... When it wasn't "tidy" (like in the picture below), the cleaners would start piling up on the closet floor, with the brooms and mop thrown on top. Bugs were making homes in there and crumbs could collect from dirty rags... Yes, in the CLEANING closet (seriously ironic). It got bad guys. So bad.

After a few basic organizing techniques, and several DIY's, this closet is working much better for us, and no longer causes me to shudder! As a matter of fact, while taking pictures the girls kept coming in to grab the broom, then the vacuum, and finally I gave up waiting for all my tools to stay in place and took photos while the mop was missing. At least I know they return items without prompting, and know where to put them (yay for tags and labels!).

In order to turn this disaster around, I employed 7 simple projects that made all the difference! Now it is beautiful, effective, and even motivational.


7 STEPS TO AN AMAZING CLEANING CLOSET 

1. Turn a door into usable storage space by attaching shelves

Sometimes finding a custom shelf size is hard to come by, so I made these DIY corbel shelves for under $5 per shelf! Gorgeous, and so easy to make! Just in case you'd like to make your own, I'm sharing the entire how-to here so you can create shelves that makes the most of your door width.

 

2. Make it beautiful and add a little bit of personality

I'm all about practicality, it's one of the most important things to help me get and stay organized. But making it beautiful is very important! I don't know about you, but I feel all kinds of unhappy and guilty when I leave a beautiful space trashed. There is just something motivational and inspirational about a beautiful space!

 

3. Add a towel rack (or a few) and then dress it up!

The beauty of installing a towel rack is that you now have a place to hang rags that aren't quite dry. Don't think that is the only use however! You can hang anything from a towel rack when you add the right accessories! So whether you employ a towel rack, or a multi-hanging rack like mine, take the time to "dress" it with a few cheap shower curtain hangers. Just tweak them into a smaller better hanger with pliers. Now you can hang all kinds of miscellaneous items from your rack, items that can't be draped over the bar.

 

4. Add lots of hooks!

I do add tons of hooks for easy hanging, but not in a haphazard way. Take inventory of all the things you need to store in your cleaning closet, then draw a little diagram of where each item can go. Also be sure to measure the height and width of your cleaning implements before installing hooks... You want everything to fit perfectly, and all the space to be used effectively!

 

5. Get gorgeous cleaning tools

I love HomeGoods for amazing cleaning implements! They are typically made from natural earthy materials, and hullo, so cute! Of course, you can always add interest to your existing tools and bottles with a little spray paint and sealer (as with my ombre broom handle, and the spray bottles below).

 

6. Label everything for organization purposes

If you haven't learned by now (because I swear Jen is the queen of gorgeous labeling), you should add tags to anything nondescript, and add labels that tell where everything should go. That way there is no second guessing by other members of the family!

I add a label above each shelf with a general description of item types that may go in that shelf... but then I can narrow it down even further by saying what goes where on the shelf by using chalk board paint on the front! Use a chalkboard wet marker to write, it is eraseable when you want to change it.

 

7. Have a great plan of action to go with your new space

One of the most important items housed in this cleaning closet is the room-by-room cleaning checklists I created. No more "Mooom, am I done cleaning this room yet?". Sigh. These checklists really helped, and I hope they will help you too! You can download them free here and get your home spic and span.

I hope you have gained a few great ideas for how to help put your cleaning closet in order, and with a little bit of effort it can aid our families in "getting their clean on" too! If you would like, here is a full source list for each of the items used in creating my closet. Happy organizing!

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"Hi, I'm Ursula and I blog at Home Made by Carmona where there is always a fun DIY project in play. I've got expensive taste and no money, I'm a neat freak who's house didn't get that memo, and I firmly believe organization has the power to improve our homes, habits, and the members that abide there! I'm so thrilled to be here at IHeart Organizing, the blog that first inspired me to start my own blogging journey."