Just because you do a big purge doesn't mean the work is done. I'm pretty good about keeping our newly purged spaces organized and clutter free, but it is amazing how quickly the clutter can start to take over.
This counter area in our kitchen is a magnet for clutter. We never use it for food prep, and our junk drawers, medicine, tools, phone chargers, etc, are all stored in the drawers and cabinets over here. So it is a natural spot for random stuff to land.
Saturday I walked in to the kitchen and did a double take. How did a counter that was clear a few days ago get to look like that!!! Let's see, kids' water cups from Bens tball game, paper work from Dee's latest vet visit, a toy bucket, a purchase from IKEA, Liv's binkie, Dee's leash, Ben's latest issue of Nat Geo Kids, and touch up paint for the office. See what I mean about randomness gathering here.
The funny thing is, all that stuff has a home. So 10 minutes later it was looking like this. I even went through the papers hanging on the fridge and narrowed those down to the must-haves. Ah, much better. All we usually keep here are the kids M&Ms and jellie beans, which are reward candy that we honestly forget about most times (which is weird since it is right in front of our faces).
And what was in that IKEA box on the counter? The IKEA cart!!! I was visiting IKEA for some frames (more on that later) and noticed it was now $30 instead of $50. Sold. We had a book situation and this cart is the answer.
I was worried that it would take a long time to assemble, but it was 20 minutes start to finish, including opening the box and unpacking it. Easy peasy. And now all the books that somehow make it downstairs have a place to land. And since it rolls, I can easily move it. For now it is tucked away in the office, but I may roll it into the playroom. But likely it will end up in Liv's room. I prefer the books be up there, and the blue color will go great with her color scheme.
So that is how I'm keeping up with the clutter lately. It is certainly a never-ending battle.
Cute little model you have there next to the cart. I was thinking of the empty shelves in your office downstairs that those books could go on until they go back upstairs. We organized hoarders are real junkies for carts, baskets, boxes, shelves...you name it. I was relieved when you said it was going to Livvie's room. I shouldn't be giving you advice because I am only (sadly) about 1/4 of the way thru getting my stuff purged, but I will say you and I need to guard against letting any "organizational tools" (no matter how cute or pretty) make there way back in once we've reduced our possessions.
ReplyDeleteWe got rid of the empty shelves! So there is no place for kids' books. Which is good because I don't really want them in here. As for the new cart, Liv's books were stacked on our fireplace while I took my time figuring out how best to store them. This cart was the answer. So it was a thought-out idea, not an impulse purchase. I have empty storage containers in the bsmt, but nothing that would work for her books. Keep on keepin' on with the purging, mama!
Deleteopps "their" not "there" in last sentence above. Don't want the grammar police to tsk tsk me.
ReplyDeletedang, I paid $50 for that cart!! Since we have all wood floors I use it to put the kids clean laundry on when I fold it and then roll it from room to room to put it away. But it's been in almost every room in the house at some point! That's it's current job.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea. This cart is so versatile!
DeleteI've always wanted that cart from IKEA! So cute for the books. And Lesli, I love the idea of using it as a laundry cart too.. you gals are smart cookies!
ReplyDelete