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STORAGE CLOSET DECLUTTER

We are in the final stage of decluttering our rental farmhouse. Only a few areas and categories remain to be sorted through before our big move! This week I took on the storage closet declutter, and am happy to have it behind me!

Embarrassing as it is, all of these items were stuffed in our hall storage closet

STORAGE CLOSET DECLUTTER – OUR WHY

My husband and I have lived in three houses during our marriage. The first, for only a year. The second, for ten years. And our current rental farmhouse for the past four and a half years. Each time we have moved we were shocked to find the amount of boxes that were transported from house to house, without being opened. Because of this, we were determined to really SEE what we own before our next (and hopefully final) move.

The goal when sorting through this storage closet was to determine which items we plan to keep. There is no sense in moving the weight of extra items that we don’t need or want anymore. By doing the sorting before the move, we are more likely to be critical. In contrast, if the boxes were to come with us to the new house without being looked through, they likely would have found a spot in a closet there. And sat, again unopened, for who knows how long!

We actually designed our custom cottage home to have relatively little storage. Some people may be shocked to learn that our master bedroom has no walk in closet, and our kitchen doesn’t feature a pantry. This conscious decision was made because my husband and I both recognize that we have a tendency to fill large storage spaces with unnecessary items.

TIPS ON DECLUTTERING A CLOSET

Decluttering a storage closet is a big undertaking. From my own experience, I am offering tips to help you achieve the best results, without too much stress.

CLEAR OUT THE SPACE

The very first step when decluttering a closet is to remove everything. It will seem daunting, to be sure; But it is very important to see the closet completely emptied. Seeing open shelves and space on the floor will give you a better sense of just how much room you have to work with. It can also help you recognize the dark, tricky corners where items can easily be lost and forgotten.

SORT ONE BOX AT A TIME

Tackling the clutter in bite sized pieces allows you to focus your mental energy without feeling overwhelmed. It can also help prevent decision fatigue. I suggest moving one or two bins/boxes into a separate room for sorting.

PUTTING ITEMS BACK IN

Think carefully about which items make their way back into your storage closet. Generally, it is best to store like-purposed items in the same space. If you must store many random types of things together in one closet, as we do, consider giving the closet ‘zones’. One shelf for camping gear, another as a spot to keep decorations, for example.

THE RESULT OF OUR STORAGE CLOSET DECLUTTER

I am happy to report that less than half of the items originally stuffed into our hall closet made their way back in. There is still a bit of randomness in there though. Camping gear, holiday decorations, DIY supplies. Quite a mix. We are hopeful that at Arrow Hill Cottage we will be able to be more intentional about where these items are stored. Camping gear will likely find a place in the garage, where it can be easily accessible, for example.

While sorting through the stored items, I found some real gems that we had completely forgotten about.

These adorable little shoes were worn by our oldest son, when he took his first steps.

And these chess pieces were hand painted by Craig’s mom, many years ago. Now that a couple of our kids have learned how to play, we plan to keep this set up and available for a game at any time.

As I was sorting, I made it a point to really think about these items. If they were things we wanted to keep, I needed to commit to finding a place for them at the new house – to give them prominence. Otherwise, we will be left with unopened storage boxes once again.

WATCH ME DECLUTTER

Need a little extra motivation to get started on your storage closet? Take a peek at what our closet looked like before. It was insanely stuffed. And watch me tackle it head-on. It took a lot of effort, but I am very happy with the result!

BONUS STORAGE CLOSET DECLUTTER TIPS

More great posts from other websites, offering you even more insight on how to approach these tricky spaces!

Declutter Storage Area |Home Storage Solutions

How To Declutter Your Storage Area Without Feeling Overwhelmed | Simple Lionheart Life

8 Surprising Decluttering Benefits | Lady Decluttered

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Keep this motivation and inspiration close by and add it to your relevant Pinterest board! Happy decluttering!

Porch Essentials | Create a welcoming outdoor space

There is something special about a covered front porch. Today I am sharing the front porch essentials that can help you create a welcoming outdoor room.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here

Most people who see a home with a front porch will have a fond memory fill their minds. Perhaps the sight of a porch brings back feelings of family and gathering. Maybe it is a bit of nostalgia – longing for simpler times.

With summer right around the corner, and the anticipation of Arrow Hill Cottage being built, I have found myself really looking forward to spending time on the front porch. Though we won’t be able to enjoy the space until this time next year, I did a bit of research trying to figure out how we can make it as comfortable and relaxing as possible.

Below are the front porch essentials I believe make them special. I also share the products that can enhance each of these elements.

A SENSE OF WELCOME

To their very core purpose, porches provide a sense of welcome. They are the gateways from the hustle and bustle of the roadway to the peacefulness of indoors.

The most connected neighborhoods likely have homes that are outfitted with front porches. Sadly, it is rare for homes to be built with front porches nowadays. It is much more typical to find a garage positioned closest to the street, with a rather small front door set back.

We were very careful, during the design of our cottage, to include a large covered front porch. Not only do we believe it improves the look of the house itself (see for yourself in this post), we also feel that it will make our home feel more welcoming to our friends and neighbors. Porches have a way of encouraging face to face conversations with neighbors.

Adding a welcome sign to a front porch is a great sentiment, as is a cherry welcome mat.

A PLACE TO CONVERSE

Once a person has stepped onto a front porch, they are going to want to stay a while. Almost guaranteed. Give yourself and your visitors that opportunity by providing plenty of seating.

A porch swing is classic, and a staple for most front porches. We will definitely be incorporating one!

Be sure to offer a variety of seating options. Placing a matching set of chairs opposite the porch swing, for example, can create a wonderful conversation spot. Provide a mix of rocking and stationary seating.

Large ottomans or plush outdoor pillows are great for little ones. They can easily be moved around, perhaps even serving as a small table for a snack, or to hold a book.

A SPOT TO RELAX

Your front porch should be an extension of your home’s interior. Soften it’s hard lines by adding cozy elements such as layered rugs and pillows. Don’t be afraid to have fun with color and pattern. These elements can also infuse a bit of excitement and playfulness to the porch space.

AN ENTERTAINING SPACE

Porches also make great entertaining spaces. The purchase of a small beverage and snack cart can make a statement. Find one with wheels, so that it can easily be moved in and out of the house to be reloaded with snacks and drinks. An antique buffet or dresser can be set up in the milder weather months of the year, offering a more permanent entertainment solution.

A large drink dispenser allows guests to help themselves. You may even choose to refill the dispenser daily and keep it on the porch during the hot summer months, for family members to access when working and playing outdoors.

With proper seating provided, it is important to also include small tables where drinks can be placed. Nestle a table in between a set of chairs, or offer small serving trays that can be held on laps.

A CONNECTION TO NATURE

Another element that makes a front porch special is the connection it has to nature. Covered porches have a sheltering aspect, while also allowing users to feel the soft Summer breeze and smell the crispness of Fall air.

Try adding potted plants and small trees to the space. Hanging flower baskets are very popular among front porch owners.

One way we are planning to further connect the porch at Arrow Hill Cottage to nature is by incorporating a large planter. This project was the topic of much debate between myself and my husband. I think that I have won the battle, at least for now, and am very excited to see the planter come to life!

A SHELTER FROM OUTDOOR ELEMENTS

The outdoor experience can be enhanced by adding a bit of climate control to your front porch. This can be as simple as choosing appropriate lighting, to extend the usefulness of the space.

For the stuffy, hot summer afternoons, consider including a ceiling fan on the front porch. They can be found in a wide variety of styles.

Though the ceiling of a covered porch will add some protection from the sun’s overhead rays, a set of sheer curtains can help filter light further. They may also have the added benefit of deterring bugs and proving privacy when closed fully.

I hope that these porch essentials and product suggestions were useful to you, and give you insight into some ways to make your space really shine! If you have a front porch that you love, I want to hear what you do to make it a go-to space. Please comment below with your tips!

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Click the links below for product information of all items in this post

FRONT PORCH ESSENTIALS VIDEO

Toy Room Refresh | Quick clean

Let’s be real. The rooms where kid’s play tend to get messed up faster than any other room in the house. Today, I am sharing a quick toy room refresh that I recently did at our rental home.

We have lived in this rental house for four years now. There is no basement here, and I can honestly say that I miss having a ‘kid zone’ space tremendously. While we definitely have a nice basement in the works for our new home, we have been making due, for now.

OUR TOY ROOM

The main level of the rental farmhouse has a small room that we have set up as a play space for the kids. It includes a tv with a gaming station, a couple of computers, a whole lot of Legos, and other miscellaneous toys. Brace yourself for a couple of pre-cleaning before photos.

This room is used on a daily basis. And, generally, we have the kids tidy it up every night before bed. However, the past couple of weeks have been beyond busy. With house building preparation in full swing, we haven’t always remembered to have the kids clean up. I walked into the toy room the other day and was horrified. It was an absolute mess!

In some weird way, cleaning is therapeutic for me. And so, this week I decided to use part of the afternoon, before picking the kids up from school, to get the job done.

WATCH ME CLEAN

I put on a pair of headphones, and my favorite Podcast (Young House Love Has A Podcast), and set to work. Listening to something entertaining while cleaning definitely keeps me going. Give it a try!

OUR TOY ROOM AFTER

With one hour of focused attention, I was able to get the play area tidy. You parents out there know that it isn’t likely to stay looking like this for long. But, I suppose that is just as it should be. After all, a toy room’s main purpose is to be played in!

I appreciate that the room has a bit of open floor space for the kids to sprawl out with their toys. The trampoline is also a hit with the girls. We are still debating if we will take it with us when we move.

The electronics section got a major cleaning. I made sure to use Clorox wipes on the controllers and computer mice. It’s doubtful that the kids would ever think to do that on their own!

The Lego area is ready for more creativity. Just in case you are wondering, yes. We do sort our Lego’s by color! Since this cheap shelving unit won’t be making the move with us, I will be searching for other ideas on how to store the collection.

TIPS FOR CONTROLLING TOY CLUTTER

At some point I will do a more in depth post about how to keep kid’s toys in check. But, for now I want to offer up a few quick tips.

ONLY KEEP WHAT THE KIDS USE

As I mentioned in this post about Kids + Minimalism, we have definitely seen that less is more when it comes to toys. We have decluttered our kid’s collection down to the basics. Their favorites include standard wooden blocks, a few dolls, matchbox cars, and, of course, Legos. All of these toy items allow for plenty of open ended playing.

STORE IN EASILY ACCESSIBLE BINS

Unless you want to be constantly supervising play time, it is essential that the toys themselves are accessible to the kids. Keeping them on low shelving and in durable bins is a good idea.

ESTABLISH SOME RULES

Teaching kids to clean up after themselves is an important life lesson. A great place to start is by making sure that they learn to put away any toys they are finished playing with. This is also one of the seven daily habits that can help you keep your house tidy without the stress!

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Speed Cleaning | Mudroom Spring Refresh

Today I want to share how I tackled the spring cleaning of our back entryway / mudroom space. With speed. This Spring speed cleaning means that we are now set up for the warmer weather ahead. Bring it on!

SPRING SPEED CLEANING

It’s that time of year. When transitioning from one season to the next, you are never quite sure which items to keep out. Will snow boots be necessary, or will flip flops suffice? How heavy of a coat will be needed? This questioning creates a major clutter problem, at least at our house. Essentially, everything is left out, ‘just in case’ it might be needed.

I finally got tired of tripping over all the excess left out by our five children, and set to work on cleaning up our back entryway / mudroom space.

This is quite possibly the most awkward space I have ever been tasked to organize. It is small, and filled with stairs. The one little bit of flat floor space that it has just happens to be in the path of the door swing. Not a great setup for a functional mudroom; But we are renting this house, and there isn’t much we can do about it.

Thankfully, this should be the last season change we make here, and come next winter we will be able to utilize the mudroom at Arrow Hill Cottage!

MUDROOM SPACE BEFORE THE SPEED CLEANING

We have done our best to maximize what little space the mudroom has to offer, by putting up coat hooks and using a shelf as a shoe organizer. It seems to never fail though, after a few weeks, this space needs to be organized yet again.

Because have five small children who use this mudroom on a daily basis, I know full well that my efforts to clean and organize it will only last a limited amount of time. That is simply the nature of this type of space. Thankfully, it isn’t an area that guests typically see.

Instead of using an entire day to deep clean, as I have done in other rooms, I opted to practice speed cleaning. I set my timer for sixty minutes, and got to work.

SPEED CLEANING TIPS

For a successful speed cleaning in your own house, consider these valuable tips.

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WALKING INTO

Survey the space you want to clean, and think about all of the tasks needed to get the job done. It might be helpful to write out a list, which you can reference while cleaning.

Understand that during a speed cleaning session, you may not be able to cross off every item that is on your list. Prioritize which are most important, and start with those first.

SET A TIME LIMIT

More importantly, be sure to stick to it! I recommend no more than one hour of efforts in any one space. It is quite motivating to know that once the timer rings, you can put away the cleaning supplies and be done. Having a time limit is also likely to keep you moving at a good pace. You may subconsciously try to ‘beat the clock’, so to speak.

STAY FOCUSED

Speed cleaning should aim to improve the overall appearance of the space, without fussing over minor issues and unnecessary details. For example, organizing shoes in a mudroom might be a good use of time. Removing dirt from the bottom of shoes, on the other hand, could stall your progress.

DON’T BE A PERFECTIONIST

Just as you can’t buy everything you might desire when you are living on a tight budget, you won’t be able to perfect a space that is cleaned in a short amount of time. Again, the point of speed cleaning is to do something, not everything. Even small improvements matter when it comes to cleaning, decluttering and organizing a space.

WATCH ME SPEED CLEANING

I recorded the process of changing our mudroom over for the season. Notice how important it is to make quick decisions. While cleaning and organizing the mudroom, I was also thinking about decluttering. There were plenty of items that I was able to toss or donate!

I came across rain boots with giant holes, gloves that looked like they had gone through a shredder, and outgrown snow pants.

Following my own advice, I stopped after my pre-determined hour had expired. That meant that I wasn’t able to get to everything I had hoped. The items that are left-over can be tackled easily on another day.

THE RESULTS (AFTER)

Considering only sixty minutes were invested in this space, I am quite pleased with the end results. My main objective was to free the steps of clutter. Gone are the boots that we constantly tripped on, as well as the box of snacks. Success!

The second priority I had was to switch out seasonal items. Winter snow pants, boots, hats, gloves, and ice skates were all cleaned quickly and packed away. The summer towels and swimming suits were brought out of storage, and each child’s rain boots were given a specific spot.

Shoes are now neatly placed on the shelf. As mentioned before, I am not fooled into thinking it will stay looking like this for long. I will, however, surely enjoy the clutter free space while I can!

Of course, I also did a quick sweep, and mopped the entire floor. In addition, the muddy parts of the walls got a spray down. The room has a nice, bright feeling to it now.

There was not enough time to tackle the shelf closest to the door. This shelf houses many partially used cans of paint. I have a feeling that most of them will need to be disposed of, when we move. And so, I feel comfortable leaving the task for later.

ADDITIONAL CLEANING RESOURCES

Do you need more motivation to get started on your own speed cleaning? These resources might be helpful.

11 speed cleaning tools for epic results | show me suburban

How to spring clean your home | shannon torrens

7 daily habits for a tidy house | arrow hill cottage

Speed cleaning checklist | living well spending less

The secret to speed cleaning like a pro | practically perfect meg

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JEWELRY DECLUTTER | HOW ORGANIZING SMALL THINGS CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT

This week I spent some time doing a jewelry declutter. I thought that it would be a quick process, and in a lot of ways it was. But, it also got me thinking – even the small things can make a big impact when it comes to decluttering and organizing.

I’ve never been much of a jewelry wearer. Though I like the idea of wearing jewelry, and I think that it looks nice on other people, wearing it myself is uncomfortable. It might be because I have sensitive skin and the metals make me itch. Or it might have more to do with the fact that for many years any necklaces or earrings I wore ended up being tugged on by my kids. These days, I tend to only wear my wedding ring on a regular basis.

While going through all of our belongings in an effort to only bring our favorites to Arrow Hill Cottage, I knew I wanted to leave no stone un-turned. And that meant I would need to take a close look at everything we owned. Even the smallest of items that seemingly take up little space.

STARTING THE JEWELRY DECLUTTER

And so, I opened up my little cabinet and started my jewelry declutter. Funny story about this little jewelry cabinet. It was one of the first gifts my husband gave me when we were married nearly seventeen years ago. I’ll admit that I was less than thrilled when I opened it. Why? Well, because what I had suggested to him as a ‘gift hint’ when he asked was a stand up furniture piece jewelry cabinet, not some small little table top storage piece.

I remember thinking that there was no way all of my jewelry would fit inside it. I wanted bigger, I wanted better. But was it necessary? Not even close. Looking back, I think my husband knew me better than I knew myself. He had seen that I didn’t wear jewelry often. He had noticed that when I did wear something, I always grabbed for the same one or two items.

This cabinet has moved with us into each home we have shared together. And, if I’m being completely honest, I don’t think I have opened it once since we moved into our current rental farmhouse four years ago. Are the items it contains precious and useful to me? I think we all know the answer to that question.

LAYING THE JEWELRY OUT

Opening up the cabinet and laying every piece of jewelry out on the table was like a blast from the past. Necklaces from junior high. Sparkly hair combs from high school prom.

A handful of keys that unlock… who knows what!

There were also a few sweet surprises. My wedding jewelry that, although I don’t intend to wear ever again, I could never part with. And, my husband’s high school class ring, which I distinctly remember him wearing the first time we met. When we started dating he put it on a chain and I wore it around my neck.

WATCH MY JEWELRY DECLUTTER

THOUGHTS ABOUT THIS PROCESS

As I was sorting through everything, I realized that, on a very small scale, jewelry can serve as a metaphor for all types of clutter.

Stop and think about it. A bracelet is a small item. So small, in fact, that we find no harm in holding onto it, even if it isn’t something we use or really love. Add to it a few more bracelets, a necklace or two, and a pack of earrings. Suddenly we are finding ourselves needing a place to store these items. It’s like a snowball that keeps getting bigger.

Compare jewelry to other item types in your home. Those dresses you are holding onto, hoping that the next time you slip them on they will fit perfectly. The camping gear your family used once, then stored away. The space that these unused items are taking up is more valuable than you may currently realize. And the more items that are accumulated, the more space that is needed to store them.

This is why it is important to be honest with yourself regarding each and every item in your home. There is no reason to keep anything that is not special or useful.

NEW JEWELRY STORAGE SOLUTION

After my jewelry declutter, I was left with a handful of special items. Will they go back into my jewelry box? In a word, no. Just as you a person doesn’t need an entire walk in closet for a few pairs of jeans, I do not need a storage box for my favorite jewelry.

Instead, I will be storing my special items in a set of silk and velvet bags. These small bags have special meaning to me. They were given to me when I purchased a set of pearls during our adoption trips to China. Twice we watched skilled women string the pearls of my choosing, add the clasp, and delicately place them into a bag. Two adoptions, two bags.

The bags will be placed in my sock drawer, where they will be kept safe and easily accessible. And you can bet that every time I look at them I will have a smile on my face.

I also will be keeping a small, velvet lined, silver jewelry box that was my grandma’s. It will surely find a place of importance in the new house decor.

Don’t worry though. My husband has given me his full blessing to donate or sell the jewelry box he gifted me all those years ago. I hope it falls into the hands of someone who will cherish it.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I’m extremely happy to admit, once and for all, that I’m not a jewelry wearer. And that is okay! The pieces I have kept reflect my personality and style, and have strong memories attached to them. That is what is more important to me. If you are considering a jewelry declutter, I definitely recommend it! Don’t let the little things get in the way of the big picture you envision for your life!

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GIRLS SHARED BEDROOM TOUR

The girls shared bedroom in our rental house is a small and simple space, which both our daughters love. Today, I want to give you a little tour and explain a few of the ways we made the room functional and fun!

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here

Of all the rooms in our rental house, I am pretty sure that the small girls shared bedroom gives me the most joy. It is full of fresh colors and simple details and, even with it’s tiny footprint, offers a lot of functionality.

GIRLS SHARED BEDROOM

As I mentioned in my post about the boys shared bedroom, we like to keep our sleeping spaces simple. The main purpose of a bedroom is to promote sleep and relaxation. As such, we tend to minimize distractions.

This particular bedroom is the smallest in the house, at only 8 feet by 9 feet . At first, the room as a nursery for our daughter {M}. But when we were in the process of adopting our older daughter, {K}, we looked at different options on how to make the room functional for both girls. Because {K} has a joint condition, which hinders her mobility, we were faced with a few additional challenges.

THE BEDS

When looking at bed options, we knew we needed both beds to be accessible. Bunk beds, though space saving, would not be appropriate for our daughters because of our oldest’s needs. Our solution was to convert our Jenny Lind style crib into two toddler sized beds. This was a relatively simple DIY project that turned something unusable into the focal point of the girls shared bedroom.

The girls absolutely adore their beds and how close it allows them to sleep at night. Since our girls are both relatively young (and small), the toddler beds have worked well. They will be getting twin sized beds for their room in the new house, however. You can see their new room design for Arrow Hill Cottage in this post.

Between the bed sits a small thrifted nightstand, which I painted in a soft blue color. The shelf serves as the perfect spot for extra stuffed animals.

Because the beds are small, we were able to use toddler bed sheets from Pottery Barn. The sets were purchased as a gift from the grandparents. A white queen sized blanket was cut in half, the edges sewn, to create two bed covers. Each girl also has a special quilt, decorative pillow and stuffed animal to complete their bedding.

THE DECOR

The girls shared bedroom features plenty of special decor items, including a pair of decorative birdcages filled with paper cranes. Twenty-one origami cranes were created by me during our first adoption wait. Each individual crane represents a month that {M} lived without us by her side. They now serve as a cheerful reminder of the importance of family.

The other side of the room features a mirror, turned art piece, above the book case. A collection of art, created by the girls older brothers, hangs on the wall near a rocking chair. This chair used to be Craig’s grandfather’s and has special sentimental value for that reason.

THE STORAGE

The main storage pieces in the room include a book stand, and the girl’s dresser. The book stand was once in the Carnegie library in our town. When the library closed, they sold off most of the shelving and decor, and I was able to pick up this unique piece for a great price. Although we store most of our children books in the boy’s bedroom, we rotate some onto this stand on a regular basis.

Having the books arranged facing out makes it easy for the girls to choose their favorites for story time before bed.

The wooden dresser that sits in the corner of the bedroom was mine when I was a little girl. A gift from my grandpa, it is a special piece that will surely move with us to the new house. We keep the girls pants and shirts in the dresser, and they each have two drawers apiece.

The shelf above the dresser is both functional and decorative. While the baskets contain extra bedding and blankets, special artwork, including this fabulous art print, adds sentimental value to the room.

GIRLS SHARED BEDROOM CLOSET

Because of the way that the rental farmhouse was built, there is quite a bit of storage in the eave space. The girls ended up with the largest closet in the house. Though they definitely don’t need this much space to store their clothing, they love their closet.

Removing the drawers from this old dresser and using baskets makes it easy for the girls to find what they need. The baskets are filled with socks, undergarments, and pajamas. On top of the dresser, the girls like to keep their special jewelry boxes and play ‘make up’ station.

They definitely have plenty of dresses and shoes, most of which were received as hand me downs or gifts from friends and relatives. I think that at some point in the not too distant future I will need to sit down with the girls and determine which of these hanging items are their most favorite.

Though they will have a small walk in closet at the new house, it isn’t our intention to fill it the the max. Keeping our favorite clothing items has been very rewarding for both Craig and myself, and I am sure it would be great for our kids as well.

GIRLS SHARED BEDROOM TOUR

I hope you enjoyed the photos of our girls shared bedroom. If you’d like a more in depth view of the room, be sure to check out this video tour!

ADDITIONAL GIRLS SHARED BEDROOM IDEAS

These stunning girls shared bedrooms are very inspiring. I’m sure any little girl would love to spend the night in any one of these rooms!

Sisters Garden Bedroom by Ellison Made

Pretty in Pink Big Girl Bedroom by Stage + Style + Stra

Girl Bedroom Makeover by The Tattered Pew

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KITCHEN CLEANING CHECKLIST + TIPS

Kitchen cleaning can really be a chore. Though keeping the kitchen clean is something that is ongoing, a deep clean session is required every so often. This article provides a kitchen cleaning checklist, plus tips on how to get the job done well. Be sure to read until the end to see a video of my own personal kitchen cleaning and declutter!

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

If you plan to do a major kitchen cleaning in one day, be sure to get plenty of rest and to drink enough water during the process. It can be tiring work! Gather your favorite music, or download a few of your favorite podcasts to listen to. This really will help the time be more enjoyable! Be sure to think about what your ultimate goals are for your kitchen. If you want to cook more, every decision should be driven by that. If it is a calming space you’re after, keep that in mind while you work.

DECLUTTER THE DISHES/ CUPS AND COOKING ITEMS

In order to truly see how many of any given type of item you own, Marie Kondo suggests to lay them all out in one place. When it comes to dishes and cooking items, it is really easy to collect more than we actually need or use.

Think carefully about which items you use often. Are there small appliances or serving dishes that can do double duty? Which is the one coffee cup you tend to gravitate toward? Are the others in the cabinet really serving you well just sitting there taking up space? Trust that the items you decide to part with will likely be useful for someone else.

Once you have sorted through the items and begin to put things back, don’t automatically assume that the place it was before is the best option. Really think about where the items will be most useful.

RETHINK THE ‘EVERYTHING’ DRAWER

If you are like me, you have a drawer in your kitchen that is dedicated to cutlery – knives, forks and spoons. Then you have a drawer that is for everything else. I’m embarrassed to show you what mine looked like before my deep clean declutter. It was basically a tangled mess of serving spoons, spatulas and other random items. In my mind, I justified this scenario saying that at least everything was in one spot. However, because the drawer was so full, it was still overly difficult to find items when I needed them.

I emptied out the entire drawer and eliminated all of the items that we rarely used. I decided to place the most regularly used items in a large ceramic container I had purchased on sale a few months ago. Items were positioned standing up for easy accessibility. A few odd things, such as a potato masher and apple slicer, did not fit comfortably. They were given a spot in the cutlery drawer instead.

This solution looks nice and is functional!

SORT THROUGH THE PANTRY / FOOD STORAGE PLACES

Go through all the areas where food is stored. That may be in a large walk in pantry, or in simple cabinets and drawers. While kitchen cleaning, remove any expired canned or boxed goods. Remember that you can not donate expired items. Though it will seem like a waste to dump all of this food into the trashcan, it may serve as a good reminder to only purchase items that you can use quickly.

I will admit that our Lazy Susan cabinet, which holds most of our dry and canned goods, was filled with expired product. Most of these items had been gifted to us by someone who didn’t want to throw them out herself. We thought we might eat the food, but never did. And now, it has made it’s way to the trash anyway. Lesson learned.

TAKE CARE OF THE WORK HORSES

The appliances and sink are the work horses of the kitchen. They work hard so that, in some cases, you don’t have to. You can respect their help by cleaning them regularly.

FRIDGE

A fridge is likely the most overlooked appliance in the entire kitchen. It silently does it’s job, acting much like a storage cabinet. But, the fridge has a step up on the standard cupboard in that it keeps our food fresh. If it were to break down, we really would miss it’s function!

Fridges can benefit from a regular cleaning. Remove any sauces that are basically empty, throw out any questionable food, and wash the crisper drawers and shelves.

OVEN

The oven has to be one of the most dreaded items to clean in the entire house. It is large, grimy, and downright awkward to sanitize. That may be the reason why many of us put off the task until the grossness has gotten well out of control.

There are plenty of techniques people swear by when it comes to oven cleanliness. Bren, from the blog Bren Did, has a wonderful post that compares all of the homemade and natural oven cleaning methods. And she found a clear winner! One tip I have found to be helpful is to place aluminum foil on the bottom of the oven. It will catch splatters and spills, making cleaning up a lot faster!

MICROWAVE

If your microwave is set above your oven/stove, as ours is, it is likely to see it’s fair share of grease. A simple spray of white vinegar and a hot rag rinse can do wonders. Make sure to remove the turntable and give it a thorough washing as well.

DISHWASHER

I personally have very little experience with a dishwasher, since we don’t own one and don’t plan on installing one in the new house. However, I do know that even this little cleaning machine needs a good clean of it’s own on occasion. 101 Days of Organizing has a great post on how to keep your dishwasher running smoothly and grime free.

SINK

Give your sink a good scrub with a natural scouring product, such as baking soda. Spraying a stainless steel sink with vinegar and rubbing with a damp rag can help to remove any pesky water spots. Be sure to clean the faucet handles and nozzle with natural products.

CLEAN ALL THE FLAT SURFACES

Kitchens have likely the largest amount of surface area that needs cleaning. Where you can get by in a bedroom without needing to clean the walls for many years, for example, the same is not true for a kitchen. Look at each and every surface as an opportunity to really make the room shine.

FLOORS

If your kitchen has any area rugs, now is a good time to shake them out or throw them in the washing machine. Sweep the entire floor, then mop with warm soapy water.

COUNTERS

It is important to keep counters as clear as possible. After all, they are intended to be working space! By keeping them clear and clean, your kitchen will be more efficient, and look a lot less cluttered. This is one of the seven daily habits I believe to be most important for a tidy house, and a clear mind.

WALLS AND CABINET DOORS

When deep cleaning, be sure to spray down walls and cabinets doors. Pay special attention to the cabinets that are near the oven, as they are most likely to have grease build up.

Walls should be painted in a satin or semi gloss finish, to ensure a wipe-able surface and easy clean up.

Give the back splash extra care, checking grout lines for signs of mildew and wear.

CABINET INTERIORS + TOPS

While you are sorting through your dishware, remove everything from your cabinets and drawers and give them a quick wash. Add shelf and drawer liners for an easy clean surface. They come in many fun styles and are relatively inexpensive. This post from Salvaged Inspiration has great tips on how to fit the liners perfectly.

Don’t forget to clean on top of any cabinets that don’t reach the ceiling. This soffit space can collect plenty of dust, especially if you use it for decor display!

MY KITCHEN CLEANING VIDEO

I recently went through this exact same process with the kitchen in our rental home. And though it was an exhausting long day of hard work, the reward was worth the effort!

SAVE THESE KITCHEN CLEANING TIPS

Not ready to start your major kitchen cleaning and declutter yet? Save this checklist and tips for later!

HUSBAND’S CLOSET | DECLUTTER + ORGANIZE

Like many men, my husband was reluctant to declutter his closet. And so, I teamed up with him to get the job done. Find out what I learned that helped him get organized and complete the process.

My husband watched as I decluttered my clothing, creating a 50 piece year round capsule wardrobe. Seeing how freeing it has been for me to have a smaller wardrobe, he became interested in tackling his own side of the closet. Though interested, he had no idea where to start or what to do. In fact, he told me that I could go ahead and get rid of anything I wanted and he would just wear whatever I decided to keep.

While decluttering other people’s belongings isn’t generally recommended, it may work for some items. Things such as dishes, toys, and books might be easy for an outsider to sort through without too many problems. Clothing though? I think it’s much too personal. And though he hates to admit it, I know that my husband has an opinion about how he looks and what he feels comfortable wearing.

And so, after some negotiation, we came to the decision that we would work together on his closet declutter. After everything was sorted, I would then be in charge of organizing the remaining items in a thoughtful way that he could easily maintain.

MY HUSBAND’S STYLE

Before we began the closet declutter, we sat down and talked about which clothing items he tends to gravitate toward. His response was that he likes to be comfortable, and that jeans, t-shirts and hooded sweatshirts were among his favorites. I would agree that it seems to be what he wears most often – though he does need to dress up slightly more for his office job. In that respect, he prefers polo shirts and nice sweaters to button downs and ties.

With this information in mind, we set to work on the process.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here

EMPTYING THE CLOSET AND DRAWERS

Following the KonMari method of decluttering, we gathered all of his clothing and laid it on the bed. We share a small closet, where he hangs up his nicer shirts. He also has a couple of drawers where he keeps t-shirts, shorts, and undergarments.

Seeing the mound of clothing on the bed seemed to surprise him. In fact, he commented that he probably had more clothes than I did! Now that I have my capsule wardrobe, perhaps. But during my own closet declutter, the pile I had on the bed was nearly twice the size of his. He just didn’t witness it.

SORTING THROUGH THE CLOTHING

My husband felt more comfortable going through his items while I was standing in the room. He knew from the start that he wasn’t planning on creating a capsule wardrobe. Instead, he wished to eliminate items that he didn’t like to wear or those that were damaged.

If he questioned any of the clothing choices, he would ask for my input. Ultimately though, every decision was his to make. There were definitely a few pieces that he decided to keep that I might have thrown directly into the rag pile!

Take this shirt, for example. It is literally see through – but Craig insists that it is the most comfortable shirt he has ever worn. He loves to wear it when he chops wood or is working outside.

There were also a pair of shorts that I think are too baggy, that he loves to wear. I encouraged him to keep them. This is his wardrobe after all, and I continued to reassure him of that fact as we went through this process.

BENEFITS OF DECLUTTERING TOGETHER

Decluttering can many times be thought of as a personal process. Going through my husband’s clothing with him though, I realized some important benefits.

BONDING

He might not agree, but I actually had a lot of fun helping him tackle the closet declutter. Not only did I get a better sense of what his style is, it helped to cement the unity of this moment as a couple. Minimalism and simplicity is something that we are constantly discussing as a couple, though I am the one who has taken on the bulk of the decluttering. It was nice to share this responsibility. Though I know that he doesn’t plan to help me declutter each and every room or category, this exercise at least gave him a better idea of the process that I am going through.

FINDING DUPLICATES

It was obvious during this closet declutter, that Craig had amassed quite the collection of T-shirts. Ironically, he doesn’t often wear them. After realizing that an entire drawer was stuffed with clothes he doesn’t use, he was willing to choose his favorites and let go of the rest.

In the large pile of t-shirts, we found two identical workout tank tops. Craig was unaware that he had both of them, and even questioned where one of them came from. He was able to look them both over, compare, and decide which to keep.

NOTING WHAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

As the person who does the majority of shopping for our family (including clothing), it is important that I know when things need to be replaced. I will admit, however, that I hadn’t been paying close attention to Craig’s wardrobe. During this particular declutter process, it became pretty obvious that Craig is in dire need of a new pair of nice summer shorts, and also a couple new pairs of work Kaki’s.

Since we are currently halfway through a no spend month, these purchases will need to wait a bit, which shouldn’t be a problem. They are noted, and will be taken care of.

ORGANIZING THE CLOSET AND DRAWERS

Holding up my end of the bargain, I went to work getting everything put back in it’s place. The hanging items were neatly arranged in our small shared closet. Short sleeved tops are currently hung on the left side, since they are out of season. The long sleeved shirts are more easily accessible, on the right – closer to the door opening.

I decided since hooded sweatshirts were important to Craig, that I would hang them up as well. This makes them more easily visible. Pants and shorts were also hung, using a special type of hanger.

I folded his t-shirts using the KonMari method, and was pleasantly surprised to easily fit them all into the drawer along with workout shorts and running pants.

While decluttering together, we discussed that the bins we had been using on the floor of our closet were not a great solution. It seemed to us that when items went into the bins, they were easily forgotten about. We decided to fit all of our items either on the hanging rod, or in the dresser drawers. This will not only make the clothing more accessible, it should also hopefully cut down on items being forgotten.

The bins, and also over 60 hangers, are now relieved of their service.

WATCH US TACKLE CRAIG’S CLOTHING

There is something entertaining about watching other people take on a closet declutter. It might even be motivating for you to try the same thing!

If you are looking for more inspiration, check out the husband closet declutter videos from Katie on the Flip Side and Old World Home.

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Organized Linen Closet | Quick Declutter

Today I am going to share how I tackled a seriously stuffed hall closet and turned it into a simple and organized linen closet – in less than 30 minutes!

*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my full disclosure here**

In this decluttering journey, I have to admit that this space was one I was not looking forward to. Our linen closet had become one of those places in our house that was just out of sight, and out of mind. I knew what was lurking behind those doors – and knew it wasn’t pretty. But I didn’t really want to acknowledge the task at hand.

Faced with the lofty New Year’s goal of finishing our rental house declutter before we break ground on Arrow Hill Cottage in the spring, I knew that there was no more holding back. It was time.

LINEN CLOSET BEFORE

We moved into this rental house four years ago. In our previous home we did not have a linen closet, and so we saw this as a bit of a luxury upgrade. We piled all of our bedding, towels, and extra pillows into the closet and called it good. Except, it wasn’t good.

Here’s the situation. I wash laundry only once per week. I like this system, especially since it gives me a sense of finalization, at least for one day. The towels we use daily are stored in our bathrooms. They make their way into the laundry baskets throughout the week, and on Sunday get a thorough washing. That means that every towel behind this closed linen closet door are ‘extras’, and are rarely used. They are brought out primarily when we have guests stay in our home.

Bedding is similar. After I wash the sheets, they go right back on the beds. Again, as the above photo illustrates, we had saved plenty of extras.

DECLUTTERING THE LINEN CLOSET

Starting this declutter was by far the most difficult part. I think I was a bit overcome by just how MUCH we had stored away in this small closet. Once I began to take it all out though, a weight started to lift.

Our linen closet is located at the end of a long hallway upstairs. As I removed the items from the closet, I grouped like category items together. This made it easy to see the quantity of each type of item. Noticing the amount of duplicates made it easier to make decisions regarding what should stay and what should go.

Sorting through the piles, I placed items that I thought we should keep on the right side of the hallway, and those that we could donate or sell on the left.

FINDING TREASURES

One of the biggest surprises during this declutter project was finding a special quilt I had made years ago. It was presented to my husband at the groom’s supper, the night before our wedding. I clearly remember the months leading up to our marriage. Craig was doing a mechanical engineering internship near Chicago, and I was in North Dakota, at college. Those months apart were long and difficult, and I spent many hours working on the quilt and dreaming about married life.

Honestly, this quilt means more to me than my wedding dress. So why was it stuffed in the bottom of the closet, completely forgotten? When I first saw it, I felt really sad that it had been so neglected. Now I am ever more committed to this process, and discovering which items bring us joy.

This quilt will serve as a reminder of how easily items you cherish can be crowded out by other, less important, belongings. It will be going to the dry cleaners, and a more prominent spot will be found for it in our new home.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

When decluttering and creating an organized linen closet, there are a few important questions you should ask yourself:

Is this a convenient location for these items? Linen closets were very popular in older homes, but have fallen out of favor somewhat in recent years. I believe the reason is that more people now place items closer to where they will be used, instead of grouped together in a central location. For example, the bed sheets may be stored in the bedroom closets, and the extra toilet paper in the bathroom.

Really think about what works best for you and your family. Where some might find a central linen closet the prime location to store towels and bedding, others may find that a hall linen closet in their home is better suited to store cleaning supplies, small appliances, or even toys.

How many of _____ do we need? In our household, whenever a new set of towels was purchased we continued to hold onto the old set. Just in case, we said. If we have company, we thought. The truth of the matter is that if we chose to buy new towels, our old ones had more than likely finished their purposeful life for our family.

I encourage you to determine how many towels, bed linens, etc. your family really needs. Any more than those items used on a weekly basis will likely be stored. Don’t let them multiply behind closed doors like we did!

ORGANIZED LINEN CLOSET

Like a lot of people, I have been watching ‘Tidying up’ on Netflix. One of the tips I have learned from watching the show is the idea of placing like items into smaller baskets for storage. I have mentioned before that I have a love for baskets. In fact, I have a stash of them in our storage closet, just waiting to be used.

These chrome wire baskets were the perfect size to hold the items I had chosen to keep.

Though I don’t have quite the ‘magic’ of Marie Kondo, I did try her method of folding into thirds and storing them upright. I have to say that it really did save space! An entire set of towels (two bath towels, one hand towel and one wash cloth), was able to fit into a single basket, for example.

When putting the linens back into the closet, I made sure to put the items that will be used more frequently on the eye level shelves. The large blankets were placed on the highest shelf, since it is likely they will be accessed by the adults only. The extra pillows are now within reach for the kids to use for camp-outs and movie nights.

It is important to note that we are living in a rental house. Because of this, we aren’t able to modify the spacing between shelves. If you have a closet with adjustable shelves, customizing your storage should be much more efficient!

BENEFITS OF AN ORGANIZED LINEN CLOSET

Now that our linen closet is organized, I definitely want it to stay that way! The following benefits will help me keep the clutter from coming back.

Items are easily found. One glance in, and you can see how things are organized, by category. This makes it much faster to find that towel when you need to clean up a spill, or retrieve a clean set of bedsheets for a child who had a middle of the night accident.

Linens have room to breathe. With the linen closet stuffed to the max, there was little air circulation. Stored in this way for too long, and you could be dealing with musty towels and bedding. That’s just not pleasant. In your organized linen closet, you may consider adding an open box of baking soda. It will help cut down on moisture and will keep things smelling fresh and clean.

WATCH ME ORGANIZE MY LINEN CLOSET

See the process of of decluttering my personal linen closet. I am still shocked to see the drastic change!

ORGANIZED LINEN CLOSET INSPIRATION

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Control magazine clutter | Simple organizing tip

Do you love getting a new glossy magazine filled with inspiration in the mail, but are not sure what to do with them after you’re finished reading? Today, I will be offering a quick organizing tip on how to control magazine clutter.

Long before the steady reliable stream of digital images, print inspiration was king. Magazine subscriptions were sold door to door as a form of entertainment and inspiration, and it was big business. I too have had a few longstanding subscriptions. And I can genuinely say that I look forward to each month’s new copy.

However, there is a major downside to this seemingly harmless consumption. Clutter.

HOW MAGAZINE CLUTTER HAPPENS

Perhaps you already have a system in place to stay on top of paper pile up. Many businesses now offer a paperless billing option that you might be taking advantage of. Or maybe you are great about sending junk promotions directly to the recycle bin as soon as they exit your mailbox.

However, there is something a bit more special about that shiny new magazine that shows up once a month. Whether because they arrive with less frequency or the fact that they are full of colorful images and inspiring information, magazines are hard to let go of.

One thin magazine laid on the coffee table turns into five, and then into a stack in the corner of the room. Before you know it, magazines are taking up more of your precious space than you would like. If this has become a problem for you, I have a tip that can help you control magazine clutter.

SIMPLE STORAGE TIP

Because I work in the home design industry, I find home decor and building magazines very inspiring. For years I held onto stacks of my favorite issues. Eventually they got overwhelming, and I had to come up with a solution. I realized that of an entire magazine, I was interested in about 5% of the articles and images.

Because of this, I determined that it didn’t make much sense to keep the entire magazine. Instead, I opt to rip out only the pages that are most inspiring. I then curate them in plastic sheet covers, in white three ring binders. This is an ultra simple and inexpensive way to control magazine clutter, and it has been working well for me.

One important word of advice. This method will work best when you get in the habit of practicing the ‘tear out’ method immediately after reading through a magazine. Not only will your favorite ideas and images be fresh in your mind, you will also be more likely to get the job done. If a magazine is allowed to stay whole for too long, it becomes a more permanent house resident that sadly won’t be noticed until a few of it’s buddies join.

My binders are stored on a shelf in my home office. The contents are used as inspiration not only for the decorating of my own home, but also also but when designing homes and spaces for clients. They are plump full of images I love. And they certainly were helpful to look back on during the design process of our family’s home, Arrow Hill Cottage.

WATCH ME DECLUTTER MY MAGAZINE STASH

With this storage system, it is important to go through the binders on a regular basis. Doing so will allow you to be sure they contain contain content you wish to save.

Recently, when looking through my collection, I noticed that there were articles and images that were outdated or no longer my style. Trending home products from 2006? Probably not relevant any longer. Just this week I decided to further pare down my collection by eliminating the pages that no longer inspired me.

The beauty of the binder system is that you can easily switch out items that are no longer giving you inspiration for those that are.

Before this most recent declutter, I had a total of six binders filled with plastic sleeves. Through the declutter process, I was able to reduce my binders from six down to three. It feels good to know that inspiration on each and every page awaits me, whenever I choose to open the binders up.

IS STORING MAGAZINES MINIMAL?

You might be wondering – wouldn’t it just be easier, and more minimal, to throw out all the magazines? Is keeping magazine clippings even necessary when there is Pinerest?

There is no short answer to either of those questions. The truth is that the more we walk down this minimalism path, the more realize that it is a highly personal journey. There are no hard and fast rules about what can be deemed appropriate to save, and what for sure needs to be tossed. Those decisions lie solely with the person who owns the possession, and nobody else.

Minimalism does not mean we need to rid our lives of all the things we love. Instead, it asks us to be mindful of the intentions behind each of our belongings. To decide, for ourselves, what things and quantity of things are appropriate for this moment in time.

The beauty of this mindset is that I don’t need to justify my decision to save three binders full of magazine clippings any more than someone else needs to justify their personal collection. Whatever that may be. My magazine binders bring me joy, and serve a purpose at this point in my life. So they stay. In the future, if I decide to scan all of the pages and keep only a digital copy, that is fine too.

I would encourage you to follow the same process of thinking while you declutter or attempt to simplify.

PIN THIS SIMPLE WAY TO CONTROL MAGAZINE CLUTTER

If you are a magazine lover like I am, I encourage you to try out this method. It’s inexpensive – maybe $3 per binder and $5 for a large pack of plastic sheets. It is also simple enough to be maintained as a long term solution to control magazine clutter.

OTHER MAGAZINE ORGANIZING TIPS

These articles offer additional ways to control magazine clutter:

Simple Magazine Filing System

Determine what magazines mean to you