Blog - Graceful Order

Organized Home Week 5 – The Entryway

February 3, 2015 · by Maria · 16 Comments

The mudroom, entryway, landing pad – whatever you call it – it can be your biggest ally or enemy in the order department. I have a tiny space in the entrance of my home that almost seems unusable…almost. I took a very narrow wall and made it a functional clutter buster in our home.

Remember when I talked about creating a morning routine? Part of our old morning routine was searching frantically for keys and wallets – not fun. Since one of my favorite things in life, besides chocolate pretzels, is coming up with organizing systems, I did just that with this little wall.

A place for keys:

We always had a key holder but it used to be in the office. The problem was that no one (including me) would walk to the office to drop off their keys. I added a key organizer right next to our entrance and that problem was officially solved.

A place for your bag:

Then there was my purse. I never lost it but it was always on the couch or the chair and it made the entrance look messy. I found this little deer hook and problem number two was no more.

A place for umbrellas:

Umbrellas – though not used daily, I wanted them handy. Sometimes we notice that it’s drizzling when we are on our way out, and it is really convenient to have an umbrella right there.

And on a totally related umbrella note: Do you know what happens when it rains cats and dogs? You might step in a poodle! – I’ll be here all night and I hang out with a 3-year-old all day.

A place for kid’s gear:

On the adjacent wall I have this enormous piece of furniture. When we started buying furniture for our home 11 years ago, I wondered if it was too big but now I wonder what I would do without it. It is technically a buffet for a dining room but here it functions as a “mudroom”.

It is decorated the way one would decorate a sofa table but the bottom tier holds a lot of kid stuff. The small drawers hold wallets, notepads and pens and the larger one has extra silverware.

Here is an orchid – totally unrelated to mudrooms, but pretty nonetheless. Sorry, I don’t know any orchid jokes. I’m sure you are glad.

I found these baskets at Target a few years back and they were fancy enough for this piece of furniture but practical enough for my boys. The bottom of the baskets are lined with felt and they are open bins so the boys actually use them. I know that if it had a lid, they wouldn’t but maybe that’s just my kiddos. They place their roller skates and all the safety gear in these baskets.

Add open and covered bins:

On either side, I have lidded bins that I use for extra candles.

I hope this post inspired you, especially if you have a small entrance like me! I encourage you to use every inch of space to your advantage so that your mornings are smoother and you can enjoy some graceful order at home.

I just thought of an orchid joke (actually I saw it online) “Are you an adult or…kid?”

Happy Organizing!

Also in the Organized Home Series:

Week 1 – Organizing the Refrigerator

Week 2 – Organizing Kitchen Cabinets

Week 3- Organizing the Pantry

Week 4- The Master Bedroom

Clean Soap Scum Naturally

January 29, 2015 · by Maria · 8 Comments

Today I want to share with you how I clean my shower and tub and remove soap scum naturally. First let’s chat a bit about this evil foe we call scum. It’s basically what we call the mineral deposits that accumulate in the shower/bath area due to hard water and talc build-up. The easiest way to clean the shower is by not allowing soap scum to build up in the first place. This way you can clean without using too much elbow grease.

I mentioned talc buildup and guess what contains talc? Bar soaps. Making the change to liquid soap will diminish considerably the amount of scum build-up in the shower area.

The following recipes are easy, effective and natural.

Daily Cleaning to prevent soap scum build-up:

I like to spray down my shower as soon as I finish showering. I keep a spray bottle in the shower with just vinegar and a few drops of lemon essential oil.

Lemon is great for cleaning but it also helps to counter the vinegar smell. The vinegar smell will evaporate, but the clean lemon scent remains.

Keep a squeegee in the shower area. My squeegee adheres to the wall and I use it every time I shower. It’s quick and saves me so much time cleaning.

Cleaning the shower when soap scum has already taken hold:

If you already have considerable soap scum build-up, like in my boys bathroom since they don’t wipe down their bathroom, then we need a stronger cleaner. As Emeril would say, let’s kick it up a notch. I combine a mixture of 1 1/2 cups of vinegar and 1/2 cup of dish soap and a few drops of essential oil. I spray down the whole tub, including the fixtures and I allow it to work for a few hours. Then I scrub and rinse the shower area. You may have to rinse a few times since there is soap in this mixture. I usually scrub and rise right before taking a shower so that I can really get in there since I’m…well…in there.

The difference is pretty amazing and proves that you don’t need toxic cleaners to keep a clean home. I guess that scum won’t mess with us!

Note: I would not use this recipe to clean marble, since it stains so easily. I would use this recipe for soap scum on bathroom tile, tub, and fixtures.

Organized Home Week 4 – The Master Bedroom

January 26, 2015 · by Maria · 8 Comments

I have mentioned before that the home should be a place that you feel safe, loved and that the home should feel like a hug. Needless to say, sometimes things get crazy and it feels less like a hug and more like a kick in the gut!

Well, even when other rooms may be out of hand because life happens, the master bedroom should still feel like an embrace. My boys know that they can come into our bedroom whenever they want, they can get in our bed, but there are limits – no food, no toys in mommy and daddy’s room.

Of course when they were babies our room was taken over by small cribs, bibs and diapers but that was just for a season, an awesome season. Now that they are older and they each have their own rooms, there is no reason to have toys everywhere. If my little one walks in with a little car in his hand, I don’t respond like mommy dearest (although I hate wire hangers) and I let him play, but if he wants to come in riding a truck and leave it there, I do tell him “not in mommy and daddy’s room”. It is important for you (and your spouse) to have a space that is calming and that you can really enjoy when the day comes to an end.

Sometimes it’s not even toys, we tend to stash things in the bedrooms so that they are not littering the house but we can be left with a room full of stuff and not a welcoming retreat. So let’s de-clutter the master bedroom!

1- Make the Bed with clean sheets

The bed is the largest piece of furniture in the room and if the bed is made (or isn’t) it makes the biggest difference. This could have been the last step but let’s make it the first so that we are encouraged to continue with the rest of the bedroom.

2- De-clutter the dresser

Pick up the items on your dresser that don’t belong there. I don’t have a dresser now but I used to and I know that it can be a magnet for trinkets, hair brushes and jewelry. After putting everything away, give the dresser a good clean by wiping it down.

3- De-Clutter the nightstands

My nightstand gets messy pretty fast because I have been reading the same 16 books for the last 2 years. I remember when I would devour books in weeks. Nowadays, by the time the boys are in bed and my chores are done (maybe) I can only read a few pages before drifting off to sleepy land. So I keep buying books and reading them at my new snail pace and once a week I need to organize them into stacks. If you bring water or water bottles to bed or place your jewelry there at the end of the day, clear out any clutter and keep what you need. Clean the nightstand and place the objects that are staying back in place. Don’t forget to add a pretty touch, a faux plant or flowers will brighten up your nightstand.

4- Clear items from the floor that don’t belong in the master bedroom

If there are a few things on the floor that out of place, take them into the room that they belong in. Put away any clothing that you have on a chair or bed. If you have a lot of things to sort through that are currently on the floor, take one zone at a time. Consider separating the items into boxes so that you can separate trash from things that need to go into another room or items to donate. Do not become overwhelmed, you have done so much already! You have all week to pace yourself. You can do this!

5- Vacuum and dust the room

Cleaning is the last step! Yay! Doesn’t your room look great? Now diffuse some lavender and get some rest…you deserve it!

Also in the Organized Home Series:

Week 1 – Organizing the Refrigerator

Week 2 – Organizing Kitchen Cabinets

Week 3- Organizing the Pantry

Organized Home Week 3 – The Pantry

January 22, 2015 · by Maria · 6 Comments

How are you all doing with the kitchen organization? Today we are tackling a big project – the pantry. The pantry is the workhorse of the kitchen. Unfortunately, if it is cluttered it won’t serve its purpose in expediting meals and grocery shopping. Today we are creating a pantry that makes our kitchen more efficient and fun…yes, fun.

The pantry below belongs to a client. I have a cabinet pantry and I will share pictures below. You can have an organized pantry whether you have a walk-in pantry like the one below or a cabinet pantry, like mine.

1- Look at your pantry (before emptying it) and figure out what can change and what can stay the same.

Before you start organizing, figure out what works and what doesn’t. There is no reason to put items back in the same spot if it is not working for you. Maybe there is a better spot for the cereal or the juices. Maybe you want the kids to be able to access their snacks, or maybe you want to keep it out of their reach. Maybe the bread is jammed in an area where you dont see it so it gets moldy because you forget its there. You get the point, just re-think your pantry and don’t be afraid to change things up.

2- Empty the pantry.

Use a nearby kitchen table or counter to empty the contents.

3- Purge the pantry.

This is a great opportunity to discard expired cans and set aside a bag of items that you can donate. Many times we buy a specialty ingredient for a recipe that we never make again. Get rid of spices that are probably stale or you don’t use. I love these turntables for spices. Before purchasing turntables, make sure they fit your cabinet.

4- Clean the pantry shelves.

Clean the shelves as they collect crumbs and spices and oils.

5- Categorize the items that you are keeping.

Try to categorize as much as possible. You can put the tomato products together, or categorize by cuisine, or have a breakfast bin. There are many ways to contain the pantry so that everything is easy to find and replenish. Pick a system that will work for you.

6- Choose containers to group items while adding them back into the pantry.

It is no secret that these are my favorite containers. They are not inexpensive but sometimes you can find them discounted at TJ Maxx or other discount stores. Choose quality containers for the frequently used items. I love seeing what is inside the container and I know that the contents will last longer than in it’s original packaging.

7- Place snacks in a large basket.

For snack size items, baskets and bins are the best solution. Also, baskets are great for hiding messy-looking snacks. If the basket is not see-through then you can throw cereal bars and snacks inside and your pantry still looks tidy.

8- Designate zones in the pantry.

Choose whatever zones you want for your newly-organized pantry. Maybe a breakfast station, or a kid station or a baking station.

9- Re-stock your pantry.

The fun part! Place everything back in it’s place. You may have to move things around more than once to find the perfect spot for your new zones. Lastly, consider labeling the shelves or the containers.

10- Enjoy your hard work.

Sit back and stare at your pantry for a long time, while members of your family look at you and wonder what you are doing. Then look at them and smile periodically. Yes, they will wonder about your sanity but 1) they probably won’t pressure you for dinner 2) they clearly don’t know the joy of having an organized pantry.

Enjoy!

Organized Home Week 2 – Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers

January 14, 2015 · by Maria · 11 Comments

Last week, we organized a spot that is in dire need after the holiday season: the refrigerator. How is your refrigerator looking this week? Sparkling and organized? Did the kids already gulp down all your perfectly aligned juice boxes? I know mine did. 🙂

I want to spend the next two weeks in the kitchen (maybe I will venture to the bedroom if I get sleepy) because the kitchen can be a big task. This week let’s concentrate on organizing kitchen cabinets and drawers, and next week we will move on to the pantry. I told ya…big challenges but totally doable.

The first step to any organizing project is to de-clutter.

1. De-Clutter your cabinets and drawers.

Clear your kitchen table or counters to make space for the items that you will be removing from the cabinets. You may also want to bring in a laundry bin or large box so that you can place items that you want to give away. There are so many appliances, gadgets and plates that we meant to use but didn’t. These items should not be cluttering up your kitchen. Let’s only keep the items that we love and know to be useful. Just because you spent a lot of money on an appliance does not mean that you should keep it. Consider whether you will ever use that bread machine that takes up half a cabinet. Will you ever use that place setting that is incomplete? Always keep the end result that you want for your space in mind when deciding what to keep.

2. Organize your cabinets and drawers by choosing the best placement for your kitchen items.

After you have sorted all your cabinets and drawers, re-think whether the items should remain in their current spot. We can become so accustomed to having items in one spot that we don’t even consider moving them. For example, maybe dishes and utensils could be stored by the dishwasher to make putting them away easier; maybe you prefer them by the dinner table. Maybe the cutting board should be close to the garbage can or to the sink. Placing pots and pans by the stove is another idea. Also, consider placing heavier items in lower cabinets, keeping frequently used items easily accessible and rarely used items in upper shelves.

3. Add organizers and dividers to your cabinets, if necessary.

If you have a lot of plates or limited cabinet space, consider adding dividers and/or organizers. Here is one divider that expands but there are many others that you can choose from to customize your space. Sometimes I change the position of the cabinet shelf, since many are adjustable.

4. Add liners to the drawers.

Adding liners to the bottom of the drawer helps items stay in place and it makes the drawer pretty – those two reasons are equally as good in my book.

5. Organize under the kitchen sink.

Don’t forget the kitchen sink cabinet. This area gets messy pretty fast and can always use some tidying up. You can find a detailed post on mine here.

6. Tame the Junk Drawer.

Lastly, the junk drawer. This one needed it’s own mention as it can be the messiest drawer in the kitchen. You can find a detailed post here.

I think this is enough work to last all week, don’t you think? On a related note, I totally want a breadmaker machine but after writing this post, I am reconsidering.

Happy Organizing!

Maria

If you missed it:

Organized Home Week 1 – The Refrigerator