Tips to get more organised please.....

[ManiDeadi]

My house always seems to be untidy, and I'm pretty sure it's because a lot of things don't have a "place".

Every drawer is cluttered, because when I do try to tidy, I often end up throwing things in anywhere I can.

Loads of pairs of shoes are always strewn across the hall floor.

I also often have piles of post and unopened catalogues lying around, as I do want to look at them, but often don't have time at that moment.

I often walk into our study and move some things around for a bit and then walk out, because I just do not know where to start.

Can anyone share some tips on organising? I don't mind buying some new storage, but I just feel I need to know what.

Where do you store CDs, DVDs, towels (if you don't have a linen cupboard like me ), coats and shoes etc.

Thanks

You need Fly Lady

I was just going to say Flylady.

It's not a quick fix but it does work if you stick with it.

Where to store things:
CDs - Ikea CD towers, have a regular cull
ditto DVDs

Towels - I keep mine in two big canvas boxes on the top shelf of my wardrobe. I am ruthless about how many I have - I only have about 6 hand towels and about 8 bath towels and a couple of old ones for hair dying and that's all.

Coats and shoes - no idea, we have no space in the entrance hall for proper storage and always have coats and shoes all over the place, so you're not alone.

Hmmm...not really a fan of having CDs and DVDs on display - was thinking more boxes/behind doors.

I will have a look at Flylady - thanks for the replies so far.

I had a big cupboard built into one end of my lounge with door and lined from top to bottom with shelves - every member of the family has a shelf and all the house hold papers are in one place. House look so much tidier .

Am looking for a good solution for coats and shoes ;P

Do you have room for more coat hooks in your entranceway? In my house each person is allowed only 2 coats or jackets and 2 pairs of shoes out, the rest have to be stored in each person's wardrobe. This minimises clutter in hall.

All CDs and DVDs are stored in Case Logic or similar wallets and stacked on floor or on bookshelves.

Each room in house has a toybox where all toys go into at end of each day.

I encourage regular de-clutter sessions for each person (otherwise I'll sneakily chuck things out / send to charity when no one's looking).

In study, each member of household has own shelves and in trays (even 2.4 year old DD has her own box where I put all her official documents and other paperwork eg childminder contract).

But it really helps that I am a clutter freak: I love having systems and routines and my rule is the house needs to be tidy by 7pm so I can have peaceful adult time in clutter-free house each night. I am a bit of a freak, tbh.

We don't have room for any coat hooks - all coats get hung on the banister or on the single hook on the back of the utility room door.

Re the DVDs: we have a storage footstool which stores most of them, but we have a huge pile on top of our entertainment cupboard and I just don't know where to put them. They need to be away because it is really pissing me off looking at them.

We just seem to have sooooo much stuff. When I lived on my own, my house was always clean and tidy - I know it sounds harsh but I honestly blame it on my husband who is a major hoarder. It's making me annoyed just typing this out.

Just the other day he took a piece of MDF out of a skip and brought it home because he thought it might be useful in the future .

Like you Orissiah, I have taken to sometimes throwing stuff out when he is not here, but it is like a drop in the ocean compared to the amount of crap that builds up on a daily basis.

It sounds like you need a major declutter. For example, catalogues can be looked at online so chuck the paper copies. Find a box for your paperwork and open all the post, chuck way envelopes and any junk and put the important bits in the box. You will get rid of loads of rubbish doing this.

Can coats go in bedroom wardrobes? And shoes?

We bought an Apple TV and you can burn all your CD's and DVD's onto the computer and watch them through the Apple TV (it connects to your TV). It's brilliant and all of our CD's and DVD's are out in the garage now.

I.m great at decluttering and living in a small space (have downsized from a 4 bed house to 2 bed flat) so if there's any specific help you need just post it on here.

Orissiah and Plumm - massive respect!

My aim in life is to be like you

Flylady definition of clutter = anything you don't need, love, or use regularly.

Yes the coats and shoes can go in wardrobes, but what I find happens is that someone will wear a heavy coat as it is cold and then a few days later it's a bit nicer so they wear a thinner coat, and don't put the thick one away first IYSWIM so we end up with a coat monster on the banister . Similar thing with shoes. I often tidy them all away upstairs but within a week it is back to mayhem. That's why I'd like some sort of downstairs solution, but we don't have a lot of room in the hall.

Apple TV sounds a good idea, but don't think we can stretch to that at the moment.

Glad to hear you are great at decluttering as I may have a few things to ask, though I can't think of anything specific at the moment.

Thank you all for the replies so far.

We have 3 young kids and a smallish house, I find that what helps is everything having its own place in the house,wherever that is. Also what helps

• DVDS/Videos go in ikea boxes under the sofa
• coathooks for adults adn kids behind frontdoor- we have very narrow hall
• string bag on coathook is full of winter hats/gloves etc and changes to sun hats in summer

-shoes worn daily are kept in open box/trug thing in hall -get plastic storage for under the bed -Keep swimming kit/pe kit/footie kit in separate bags always ready to go

• go through post and file or deal with once a week

-have envelope files for lots of different topics, e.g each child, tax, instructions/guarantees, recipes etc so you can just chuck someting in the file and then at least it's out of sight

• I have a pile of catalogues under bedsite drawers but agree that should just look online instead
• row of hooks at child level on back of bedroom doors for dressing gowns, coats, dressing up etc

Am waiting for other suggestions so I can learn some more tips

I have put all or our DVD's in those wallets.

And I have hooks halfway down the doors for the kids things.

We also have a shoe shelf in the understairs cupboard and we are all supposed to put our shoes on it.

14 cupboards in my house not including the kitchen, DH got a bit carried away when we were renovating the house.

Everything has its designated cupboard.

If he builds anymore I am going to lock him in one.

;ynli, very of your cupboard situation!!