A few weeks ago I re-arranged my kitchen cabinets. It is been a very efficient and user-friendly system since.
Now a different area of the home is out of balance and needs a solution: the boys’ clothing storage situation. Perhaps you can relate to the following scenario: Child wants to get dressed. Child then pulls out one (or more) shirts/pants/ etc. and the entire drawer/shelf/ etc. consequently ends up all over the floor. Maybe it’s just in my house…
When I taught English, I did a creative thinking exercise with my students where a common everyday object was shown to the class and the students needed to brainstorm how this object could be used in non-conventional ways. Real Simple magazine has a column called ‘New Uses for Old Things’ which is of the same concept. When it comes to home organizing, I like find new uses for existing storage. It’s sometimes a matter of thinking out of the box for a solution and then shifting around the items.
I decided to use the cabinet space in the bookcase for clothing storage. I liked this idea because this is the room where I fold laundry so it makes it more convenient for put-away. I do not have a before photo with the cabinets filled with playthings because these are generally all over the floor before cleanup time, so instead of cleaning up for the photo op, I just shifted everything around.
Not pictured: There is a hanging bar opposite these cubbies and drawers. Shabbos shirts are hung up. There are four more cubbies utilized by DS18.
Not pictured: On the top railing of the boys’ bunk bed is one of those over-the-door thingys with multiple hooks. Jackets and hooded sweatshirts are hung there.
To note: I have transitioned about 85% of summer clothes to winter clothes. Seeing everything neatly folded gives me a good idea where there are clothing gaps to fill such as DS6 needs more pants and DS2 needs more shirts and pants. Even with clothing gaps, I choose not to own tons of clothes because a) I can keep on top of the laundry process better and b) My home has limited storage. Ideally, each child will have a week’s worth of outfits plus 2-3 Shabbos outfits and a few pairs of pjs for each season.
This project was completed a few hours ago. It took about 1.5 hours to shift everything around. Once the week progresses I will see how this system is working. As I tell my clients, nothing is set in stone. In the future I may decide to switch things back, but for now this seems to be the best clothing storage option.
Thanks for reading.
Karen T.K.K. The Klutter Koach
October 22, 2017
