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Monday, January 9, 2017

Clearing The Clutter

It just seems that once January rolls around we all jump on board the organizational craze that sweeps across Blogland and Pinterest.
 
I imagine it has to do with clearing out all the holiday décor. Once we put away everything, it seems a natural progression to want to continue to clean and clear our homes, and keep them clutter free.
 
I actually started with my linen closet right before Christmas, and I'm delighted to have that project done.
 
In completely non blogger fashion, I neglected to take even one photo before I started. Not sure how that happened....I must have just wanted to jump right in and get it done.
 
 
But doesn't she look pretty now that's she's all tidied up and organized?
 
I keep opening the door and admiring how tidy and neat everything is, complete with labeled bins!
 
Am I the only one who is obsessed with these fabric drawers? I used a bunch of them in my master closet, in the built in cabinets in my bedroom, and in the linen closet....and every time they are on sale I pick up a few more! They are so handy, and fold when you're not using them for easy storage.
 
 
There's only one shelf where I couldn't use the fabric drawers, because the space between the shelves is too short. But that's ok, I needed a place to store placemats and runners anyway, so it works out well.
 
The next spot that needs some TLC is my pantry. I know, I know....I'm very lucky to even have one. And if I lived alone, no doubt it would stay a lot neater. However, every single time my daughter goes rooting around for something in there I want to toss her out in the snow when I see the mess she's made of my pantry.
 
 
I try to keep things as organized as I possibly can in there, but it's tough.
 
 
I see photos on Pinterest and other blogs of perfectly organized pantries....and I drool. Honestly.
 
 
Sigh. Maybe someday. Meanwhile, I do the best I can. But at this point, it needs some help.
 
Any volunteers?
 
 
Meanwhile, Christmas has been removed from the house for another year. The living room always looks a little naked after the tree comes down. I tried moving things around a little, moving those little stacking tables in front of the sofa to act as a coffee table of sorts, but I'm not sure I'm liking it.
 
The weird shape of my living room makes furniture arrangement challenging, for sure.
 
But something I am loving is actually removing color from this room for a while, to give my eyes a little rest after all the holiday décor was packed up.
 
By spring I'll be ready to add some color back again, but for now I'm loving the soothing neutral pillows and throws.
 
And for once, I got a photo without the Monkey plopped in her little chair in front of the fire.
 
Oh wait, I  just remembered that's because she was on one of the leather chairs you can't see in this photo.
 
That makes more sense.
 

37 comments:

  1. Love all your labeled bins and that closet is amazing. My last pantry was a closet like yours and it was so hard to keep organized. I feel your pain.

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    1. I'm going to be completely jealous of your walk in pantry in your new home, Marty!!

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  2. Well I love how organized your linen closet is and the pantry is good too. My daughter does that shoe bag holder on her door also.It is very good to put small things in and snacks. I wish I had a pantry...I do that open the cabinet throw things in and slam the door. LOL. Blessings, xoxo, Susie

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    1. Ha ha, oh my gosh your comment made me laugh out loud!! Thanks, Susie!

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  3. It seems like everyone is organizing at this time of the year. My goal is to not just organize, but also get rid of things I don't use. What I no longer have, I no longer need to organize. :-)

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    1. Same here, Pattie - although I do tend to store things for my girls, because some day they HAVE to move out of the house, right? :)

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  4. I am so jealous of your clean closet and your pantry, mess or not! My pantry is a few shelves on the wall going down to the cellar. I am always retrieving things at the bottom of the stairs that have fallen off. I too enjoy a calmer, neutral look after the Christmas stuff is put away. I am using all my winter décor at a party at the end of the month and then will put it away. I don't even want to look at it in February!

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    1. Wow, I hope you don't store any jars on those shelves - I'd hate to see the mess at the bottom of the stairs!

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  5. Last year, I went crazy with organizing and was ruthless about throwing things out. I'm happy to say that whatever I organized a year ago, has stayed that way. However, I barely made a dent in things that need organizing, and this year, I just can't get motivated. Maybe it's because I've been sick for a few weeks. Your linen closet looks great! I need some of those drawers. My pantry is a lost cause. It's the one thing that never stays neat, with everyone always digging around in it!

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    1. That's the problem, isn't it? All the digging around in the pantry - next thing you know, it's utter chaos again!

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  6. Your linen closet looks so neat and organized, and so does the pantry. I have a laundry room/pantry. What a mess! My problem is that I want to paint before I organize. I really need to get busy. :)

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    1. I used to have a laundry room/pantry as well - it was probably more organized than the closet pantry I have now! Oh well, I guess having TOO much food in the pantry is certainly a blessing, isn't it?

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  7. Your linen closet looks great and the pantry will fall in place all in good time! I really like to have things neat and organized and I know how good it feels for you to have accomplished what you did there. Wonderful job. Hope you have a great week!!! xo Diana

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    1. Thanks, Diana! I truly need to use up some of the things in the pantry....the problem is, I don't know exactly what I have so I end up with duplicates! Ugghh, that's why I need to organize it so badly!

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  8. Your living room is so pretty!

    I have to tell you, I like that your pantry and closet are real. Pantries filled with snazzy containers just don't seem real to me.

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  9. I get in the cleaning mode in January too. I have closets and drawers to declutter.
    I have that same wire shelving in my pantry and find it a pain in the butt to keep things from falling. I have plans to swap them out for wood shelves soon. But of course i e said that for years. Haha.
    Everything looks nice and tidy. You did great.
    Lisa

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    1. I use baking trays on top of the shelves in the pantry to keep things from falling over - it really helps, and then you can pull out the tray to get at the items in the back.

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    2. Oh imma gonna have to do that!

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  10. Oh I would be opening the closet door to admire how nice everything looks too! :) I so need to get organized and it seems that every time I organize the pantry, I get ill and then my hubby, wanting to help me, goes in and rearranges everything trying to fit new items in. Right now it is a huge mess with boxes and bags of groceries waiting to be put away.

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    1. Ha ha, I guess you need to keep hubby out of the pantry! Although if he's truly helping you, well that's more important by far!

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  11. I love organizing anytime, but it especially fills me with joy when I can start out a new year in the right direction. We are renting for 6 months, so we don't have a lot to keep track of, as we are leaving much of our lives in boxes. Those bins look wonderful!
    Wish I could come work on your pantry with you. I love organizing closets!

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    1. Wow, I wish you could also, Daisy! Where are you moving to?

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  12. You go girl. It is looking so great. I should send you a picture of my pantry and you would feel so much better about yours lol! That is on my list of to do's for this year. I cannot wait to see what you do and hopefully it will motivate me to organize my pantry.
    xoxo
    Kris

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    1. Well I hope I motivate someone, Kris, that's for sure....oh wait, maybe I need someone to motivate ME? :)

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  13. A friend of mine has a pantry like yours and she says the same thing, only she has sons. Your pantry really doesn't look bad at all. The most important thing is that you know where everything is so you don't end up with 8 cans of tomato paste! Not that it's ever happened to moi mind you ;).

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    1. Oh but that's the problem - I don't truly know where everything is, Doreen, and I do end up with duplicates at times! I'll be at the market and can't remember if I have the item I'm looking at.....so I buy it again! Oops!

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  14. I love how you have everything organized in those bins in the linen closet! I need to get some of those for my small linen closet. What store did you get them at? Are they big enough to hold folded sheets? That's the biggest mess in my linen closet: the extra sheet sets. I don't have a pantry - just a couple of metal shelving units in the basement/dungeon.

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    1. Hi Melanie - you can actually click the caption under the photo and it will take you to where I buy those bins. I always wait until I get them on sale, though! And yes, they would be big enough to hold a set of sheets.

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  15. The linen closet looks amazing! The pantry seems fine to me! I am comparing it to mine, though, lol ....

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    1. Ha ha, well from one love of cooking to another, no doubt it's really tough to keep the pantry sorted out all the time!! I have to organize mine regularly or it gets out of control!

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  16. Debbie, will you please come do this at my house???? I've been putting off my basement for over a year now... ugh!

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    1. I have a closet under the stairs in my lower level that needs some help....and my little garden cottage never got sorted out at the end of gardening season, everything's just shoved in and the door closed! I guess that will be a good project when we get that first spring like day and my garden cravings kick in!

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  17. Very neat and organised! I do love a good declutter :)

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    1. I had wanted to get started on the pantry this weekend, but oh well!!

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  18. The linen closet is looking great, and loving the fabric storage bins! It is just the inspiration I need to get started on mine...hopefully very soon :)

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