I started with our mudroom. It is the first place you come in and where all our junk goes! It started off like this...
You know all southern belle dresses should be in your mudroom! Right?!?
This closet is very wide.
First step was to take everything out of the mudroom and make a big ol' mess in the kitchen!
I am a candle hoarder. This is just a bit of the stash!
Then I grouped like items and made a list of baskets, tubs and hooks that I would need. I tried to use a lot of baskets and things that I already had.
Off I went to Walmart and it all came together!
First off, I assembled this $14 plastic shelf that I put in the back of the long closet. The closet is so long, it is hard to see coats and things back there so I utilized the space for items like paper towels, change bowl, dog basket with her leash and bags, cleaning items and miscellaneous.
I added 3M hooks for the Swiffer and Bona cleaner to get them off the floor.
I already had the white baskets from HomeGoods and used them to put all my bags. I am a Thirty One addict so I needed a good spot to store them! The basket on the right is empty right now! I am sure I will fill it up soon and I seriously have more bags I could put in there. I have a bag problem! The white plastic basket was $4 at Walmart and holds all my candles.
I bought the shoe rack for $12 and put our shoes on there. I am going to buy pretty baskets from Target to go on the top row for our hats, mittens and scarves. I have enough room in front of the rack to put a boot tray for wet boots this winter. I also have the bit of space to the right for our beach bag in the summer. I keep a bag filled with towels, suits, sunscreens and toys to be ready to hit the pool at any time. Murphy's dog food is in a container on the right.
I only put the coats that we would need for the season in the spot so it doesn't get too cluttered. We have a coat closet in the hall for other coats and extra guest rooms where we can hang them if we ever have a party and need the coat closet.
I love this bench area especially now that we can see it and sit on it! We each have our own little section of hooks and each basket underneath has our shoes in it. I was going to put winter gear in the baskets, but the shoe rack didn't hold all our shoes so it was back to the baskets underneath. This is perfect as we sit on the bench, pull out our basket, put on our shoes, and away we go!
I was going to have baskets on the top shelf for winter gear, but frankly it is pretty high and Jemma and I can't even really reach up there without standing on the bench so I thought it would be a cute place to do a little decorating. I think I am going to frame some of Jemma's artwork and hang up there!
The back door is our only magnetic space so it becomes our note reminder door and Jemma school work! The basket under the security system holds our keys, wallets and sunglasses. I also added an area rug that I already had to warm up the space a bit. It isn't what I want, but I was shopping the house and it fit the bill!
We love our mudroom now and I have taught Jemma a system for when she comes in how to hang up her backpack and coat on her hook and to put her shoes in her basket. It is working so well and I am so happy! I still want to decorate that space, but I have other projects like this...
DON'T JUDGE, PEOPLE!!!!
Ha!!! Doesn't it look like Toys R Us was hit by a tornado???? We had the movers take everything out of the boxes when we moved. All of her toys were out and it was Christmas not only to her, but to all her friends that came to play. It is out of control so that is my goal is to get this playroom straightened up and organized! It may take a while, but I am on it!!!
Today is October 1st, so it is time to Halloween up the house! The silhouettes will be back! I think I may have to redo a bunch, but I can't wait to get started!
WOW!!! Nicely done, Kathryn!!! Doesn't it feel awesome having it done and getting to go take a peek every now and again at your work...great job! :)
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I love your mudroom, so envious that you have one. It's been a dream of mine to have one, maybe the next house. Look how organized you are now, well done. The playroom made me chuckle, my basement has looked like that a few times, especially when the neighborhood kids come over + my crew. One suggestion - baskets, baskets, and more baskets! ;) Baskets have saved the day when getting organized. Can't wait to see what you do! Thanks for sharing! XO ~Liz
ReplyDeleteP.S. Thanks for the nice comment on my blog post, too! =)
Great work!... I'm a slacker in the organizational department for sure, but being married to a type A person, it doesn't ever get out of hand because he just wouldn't let it..lol..
ReplyDeleteYou go girl! I need a mudroom so bad!! I have a rather extensive candle collection too! That's why we're friends, lol! Good luck on the playroom!
ReplyDeleteI would never judge. I am amazed though at how brave and honest you are able to be. We have all "been there done that" at some point. I have two candle shelves that I need to go through too. The upcoming cold weather will give you lots of reasons to stay in doors and organize and smell great candles while you are at it.
ReplyDeleteLove how deliberate you
ReplyDeleteare and how you had a PLAN
in hand before moving ahead!
Looks great!
Since we have been here for
{pinch me} 11 years, I need
to do this with EVERY closet
in the house. In the old days
when we were moving a lot,
the moves kept me on top of
things : )
One drawer, one cupboard,
one closet at a time, right?
Happy Tuesday!
xo Suzanne
KABOOM! That was my first thoughts looking at your playroom. LOL! I hope you can laugh about it too because you should. That's exactly what playrooms are supposed to look like with young ones in the house. Oh, how I remember those days going through and trying to decide where to start cleaning up without stepping on one of those gosh darn legos that bite. LOL! Funny, now I really do cherish the memory of those days. You will too. Good luck on getting it organized for a spell. Your mudroom is fantastic. I love it!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the mudroom! It looks great and I'm sure it functions well being all organized. Had to laugh at Jemma's playroom. Ours always looked like that. I'd spend hours cleaning it up and organizing it, but my girls would mess it up again in 15 minutes, especially if they had a couple of friends over. As teenagers, their rooms looked like that too. My 19 year old's room is so bad, I'm afraid to go in there, for fear I will trip and fall. Our cat Sammy won't even go in her room unless it's cleaned up either.lol.
ReplyDeleteYou are one brave girl to show your basement! LOL- Yes mam, something exploded in there and I do think it was a toy store. But you'll soon have it looking as good as your mudroom, I'm sure of it. Hey, you've inspired me to get my mops and brooms off the floor between the washer and the wall in the laundry room by using those Command hooks. Now why didn't I think of this before? Thanks, Kathryn! xo Sue
ReplyDeleteSo glad I'm not alone! Behind cabinets and doors are always a struggle for me. You doing good girl! Have to start somewhere! Can't wait to see your windows! Your neighbors will love them!
ReplyDeletehaha! I've bee waiting a while for this month! Love it!
I totally suck at organizing - I wouldn't even be able to figure out all the shelves and baskets I'd need to get started! You did a great job in your mudroom - it looks really functional!
ReplyDeleteYour Toys R Us explosion room would have me curled up in a little ball on the floor crying like a baby! I wouldn't even know where to start! Good luck - I'm sure you'll do a great job :-)
You crack me up girl! Hey one thing down and how many more to go. You will get there! Your mudroom looks great.
ReplyDelete