These are areas in the house that never stay organized. I have - ahem - more than one, but there are a few that are chronic problems.
Case in point:
The biggest cause of the endless clutter is that I have no between-space (between the outside and inside), no garage, and very little storage space. When I need to grab my stirrup hoe, I tend to leave it where I can get my hands on it quickly - because I will, unfailingly, forget that I need it within a nanosecond. So it goes just inside the deck door. Ditto with the deck broom, the pellet gun, bits of lumber, the string trimmer, towels for the dog, clothespin holder, halters, leads, rain jacket, egg basket, binoculars, pellets, empty pots, Yaktraks (eek) from winter, etc.
I'll get a bee in my bonnet and put everything back where it's supposed to be, leaving only my pellet gun, pellets, egg basket and binoculars. Within a couple of days, it's all back.
Do you have a system that works? Will you share?
16 comments:
If you figure it out, let me know! ;-)
Ditto Sara.
Well, a whole lotta help you two are! :)
I find the more storage space I, have the more clutter I accumulate ..... case in point back porch is full
I have a spot like this in the garage (and maybe another one or two in the house that I don't want to fess up to right now), and I've learned that you can't have hanging stuff - like jackets, towels, hats, etc - on both sides of an inside-shaped corner...
I've also learned that organized clutter is much more manageable than disorganized clutter, so it would be good to have a tall box or good-sized PVC pipe that fits the small wall to stand all the tall stuff in - like the stirrup hoe, broom, etc. Then on the longer wall section, put hooks for the hanging stuff high enough that there is space at the bottom for a bench thing for mucky boots to fit under & a place to sit to put them on...
On some wall space back there, you can nail square or rectangular baskets to the wall to store gloves, safety glasses, scarves, and such. If that red thing is a tool box, put it in a shed or barn and make yourself a handier tool carrier in a plastic bucket with one of those canvas liners to keep your everyday tools sorted and handy. Mine has become the most-used thing we have in the house, it's portable, and you can see what you have at a glance - instead of having to clear off the top of the tool box that has a hinged lid before you can get to anything...
Okay - enough comment from me. Those clutter collection spots get me agitated, but we all need them. Good luck with figuring out how to manage yours.
Actually, I look at a space like that and think "This person has a LIFE".
I wouldn't change a thing..........
TL - It's true - I think the real problem (for me) is that I just have too much stuff. I've tried to rid myself of a lot of it, but things just seem to keep sneaking in...
Charade - GREAT ideas! I especially like the tall box/PVC holder for tall stuff. Things like the broom and rifle are needed most of all. The red box is really fairly useless. I am eyeing for my yard sale later this summer.
Sue - LOL! Yes, I do have a life - such as it is!!
Susan,
My only suggestion is a tool holder attached to the back of your door, this way things will be out of the way and on the door. We have placed tool holders on the backs of doors, and on closet walls because we really don't have much storage.
When I look at your picture, I see a person who is always working and has her tools/items readily available.
I've used a 1x4 and attached it to the outside siding, and added hooks. Hang some of it outside. Or get/build a small leanto outside as well on an outside wall...
Hanging up or propped in a holder like a pvc pipe. That's the only way to go. I am amazed at how much this kind of thing can weigh me down day to day. I tend to move houses as soon as I get things organized just right, so I never get ahead. Grrr. :)
As soon as I clean up an area, the kids mess it up. When they move out, I might have a solution, ha ha!
I have places like this all over my house and the only messes that ever bother me are the ones *other* people make! Seriously - isn't worrying about it one of the perks of being on your own???
Yep, I say if it works for you (and the house animals don't care), just go with it. On the other hand, if the little clutter spots really bother you, go on line and look for "storage ideas for when you have no space." You're clever enough to come up with some good solutions! But haven't you ever been in a house that was so uncluttered that you just knew nobody who lived there ever did a thing? Ish. Awful. Who'd want to live like that?
We have a few problem areas around our house too. One is an antique buffet in our entry that we throw everything onto and into when we come and go. I try to clean it out from time to time but it's almost pointless. Another area is the laundry room. It never stays clean. We're always doing something in there and things are always piling up, leaving, and more things piling. I keep trying to keep up on it but it never seems to work. The only problem area I've found a solution for is papers. They have such a way of multiplying....you know...junk mail, bills, things to file, etc. I got a small file basket that holds hanging folders upright. It sits in the office and I have just a few folders to handle what we're constantly needing a place for....bills to pay, receipts, things to file, and things to shred. From time to time, I go through and file what's in the file folder, bills are easily accessible when I need to pay them, I can easily put things in the file folder for filing later but it's quick, and I don't have to shred things but every once in a while when the folder gets full. I also go through the mail each time I pick it up and throw away as much as I can and put bills right into the bill folder. It's made a huge difference. I love this system. It works better than anything else I've tried. :-)
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