Getting Organized: Bedside Drawers

Today I have another installment of project - get organized.  Our bedside drawers were pretty much a disaster, overrun with junk, papers and cords.  It was time to tackle both and get them clean, organized and functional.  

So this getting the house organized thing has become a goal of mine for this year.  I've chosen to take it slow and do it right - tackling one drawer or cabinet at a time.  I think it has really helped me to not get overwhelmed and frustrated and also stay on track.  So far we have conquered our kitchen junk drawer, organized our small office space and created a shared and pretty organized space for our laundry, craft and utility supplies.  Things are looking good and we are liking the new organized spaces.  Ok, so on to our before & after shots of the bedside drawers...

So much better right?  So like all the others spaces I have tackled, I started this the same way - taking all of the junk out and sorting through it.  Its always amazing to me how many things can just be thrown away.  After sorting and throwing away the useless junk then I begin putting things in the right places and I'm usually left with much less than I began with.  Next its time to line the drawer with pretty paper (this one is a wrapping paper from Target) and then finding the right arrangement with my new organizers.  The blue and pink containers were from the Target dollar spot, the white ones were left over from a pack I got at Homegoods for my desk and the clear ones I found at Homegoods as well.

We had a ridiculous amount of cords in these drawers so I needed to come up with a way to keep them all corralled and neat.  I just simply used a few binder clips to keep each cord together and designated one of my containers for all of the cords.  

Its amazing how much extra room you have after you purge and organize.  We always think we don't have a lot of space and then after you finish you realize you have plenty - we were just not properly using it.

I also added a little catch all tray for Justin for things that might be in his pockets and such.  

It's so nice to know where to find things now.  The cord situation is so much better - no more searching and searching for that specific charger or usb that you can't find.  I always thought that staying organized would be impossible for us but it has been amazingly easy.  Once you get going and figure out the best methods and function for your home it really isn't difficult.  I'm beginning to realize that organization is really attainable for everyone.  Just check out those before & afters again.

So I'm kind of thinking my next move is going to be tackling the kitchen cabinets.  Its a much bigger task but one that needs to be done.  

What is next on your list of organizing?  Any kitchen organizing going on? Share with me!

Have a fantastic day!

Linking Up Here:

Inspiration Gallery

Organizing Your Junk Drawer

So I did it, I began the great organization crusades of 2013 in our house over the weekend.  It has begun with the cleaning and organizing of one kitchen junk drawer - but that one project has given me much motivation and energy to take on the chaos of clutter that lurks around the hidden places.  

Here's the thing, it was super easy and cost very little money.  It didn't take that long at all to clean out, purge, organize and make pretty this junky little drawer.  Here's its tiny journey...

The best way to begin a project like this is to start by taking out everything that is packed in.  As I pulled things out I made little piles and gathered similar items together.  I even got organized with this part and made sticky note labels for my gatherings.  We learned in the process that we had a crazy amount of batteries shoved in this drawer, along with a thousand pens and pencils, remotes that don't belong to anything we own and I found the sunglasses I have been missing the past three months - lots of scores here.  Everything I pulled out did not go back in the drawer.  Some things were moved to their rightful spot, some things were just trashed and some things will receive a new space to live in the future (its all a work in progress over here).

This was a sight that hasn't been seen in a while, an empty and clean drawer!

Ok, for my attack plan I found these little bins in the Target dollar section.  Those bigger bins were two for a dollar - so I spent a total of $6 on this drawer project.

After everything was cleared out I decided on my strategy for organizing.  I knew it had to be functional, I knew I couldn't leave a lot of open room for future shoving and clutter and I knew I wanted it to be pretty.  For me, if its pretty I will be more likely to keep it organized.  So I grabbed some polka dot paper I had and measured and cut it to fit the size of my drawer and sprayed a little adhesive to keep it in place.  Next I just adjusted the storage bins for optimal usage - giving a specific place for everything to live.

Then I started filing up the space with what I wanted to keep in the drawer.

As I filled everything in I decided I wanted some labels - I think that will help keep us accountable for keeping things in certain places and not junking it up again.  

I grabbed a label maker and some washi tape I had on hand and made cute little labels for my bins.  I haven't decided yet on labeling every single little spot but for now the larger ones needed it.

And here is what that junky drawer is looking like now....so much better right??!!

Just for fun and because everyone likes a good before and after, here's our junk drawer before...

And after...

I was so excited about how easy and inexpensive this project was.  Anyone of you could totally do this!  I think I might have caught the organizing bug and I can't wait to get more of our spaces looking more like this.  

What kind of organizing projects are you guys tackling?  Share with me!

Have a great week!

Linking Up Here:

Organize It Linky Party