MY FIVE FAVORITES: TIPS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR HOME

Hello Friends, I hope your new year is off to a fantastic start!  My blog friends Pam of Simple Details, Lisa of Shine Your Light, Kris of Driven by Decor and I are back today (and the first Tuesday of every month) for this month's feature of My Favorite Five.  This is the third installment in our new series and it's already been so much fun, we hope you're enjoying it as much as we are!

Today, we thought it appropriate as we kick off a new year to share our favorite organizing tips with you.  I have a confession to make.  Organizing is NOT my strong suit.  It wouldn't take you long to believe me if you opened most any drawer or closet in my home.  So....  I was a little creative with my selections today and am sharing some projects that have just made my life a little easier, neater, or prettier.

But you know what?  This month we're honored to have Carmel from Our Fifth House as our guest host, and she IS a whiz at organizing!  I mean, check out this amazing work space she created in her former home (she recently moved to house #6)!  

I get so many ideas from Carmel's home and her posts are always inspiring, informative, and educational, so be sure to hop over and meet her if you're not friends yet and see more of her amazing organizing ideas.

One of the very best things we've done to keep our family's activities organized is to use this oversized chalkboard calendar in the kitchen.  My husband and I have our own personal calendars, but including everything family related in one spot that everyone can see has been so helpful for even the kids to be able to glance and know what's coming up when.

Does your car turn into be a dump on wheels at times like mine does?  For the longest time I never had a designated spot for trash to go in the car.  Once I made this thrifted straw purse turned car trash basket and we started using it, the difference in keeping the car clutter at bay has been night and day!

Space is at a premium in my son's room, and we opted to use a large storage shelf from Ikea along one wall.  It not only offers space to keep all of his treasures on display, but filling the cubes across the bottom with bins provides concealed storage for a neater look. 

By adding these DIY wooden personalized basket labels, everything has a spot and clean-up is much easier and faster.

I believe that one aspect of organizing is making every day things look pretty while keeping them easily accessible, like putting my dish soap in a decanter right next to the sink.  

Probably the most organized spot in my house is the small pantry door command center that I put together to keep our most used papers at our fingertips,

and I added to it this Fall with our lunch box organization station.  The kids and I have been able to make lunches in a flash!

What are your favorite organizing tips?  I'd love to know in the comments!  Be sure to head over to Simple Details, Shine Your Light, Driven by Decor, and Our Fifth House to check out their 5 best organizing ideas too!

Missed any previous My 5 Favorites posts? Catch up here!

My 5 Favorite Paint Colors

My 5 Favorite Quick and Easy Holiday Decorating Ideas