Now let's make the space your own.

Well now that you know what to do with all the stuff. Lets talk about how to customize your space. First thing is to know what you want to do there. Do you do paint, do paper crafts, sewing, or scrapbook? What ever it is that you like to do, will make a bit of a difference, but really not much. Like I said in the last post, open shelves tend to be the best. You want to be able to have easy access to your stuff.

This is what a nice set of organized open shelves would look like.

Before all the shelves go up, lets talk about color. Oh, this is my favorite part. What kind of colors make you happy? This space is about you. The things you like. Your not doing it to make anyone else happy. Do you like the shabby look? Is contemporary your style? Maybe you don't know your style, but you know what colors you like. Red, yellow or pure white everywhere.?? You can get as fancy or keep it as simple as you feel comfortable.

Here are a few ideas I found around the internet. Look at the great colors!

Let's get started

OK, I know that May is almost halfway over, and you feel overwhelmed and maybe disapointed in yourself, by that New Years resolution that you made. You know the one, "I'm going to get myself organized this year" , and it hasn't happened yet. Don't give up. It's not too late. Any little bit you can do, helps you on your way to getting that room organized.

First, lets get some boxes. They can be just some big cardboard boxes or good Rubbermaid totes. Whatever you have, can work. You need one for trash, if your honest, there will be trash. Then you need one for donations, and another one for keepers. Boxes maybe too small for some of these categories, so make it an area instead. The hardest part of this is being honest. You know you have to purge so just do it. It will be so worth it in the end. Look at the stuff and wonder "where do I begin?!!" "there is SO much stuff!" . Well take a note from Nike and just do it! Just start going through the shelves and boxes. I know you have stuff that you have been saving for some project, some day. but have you touched it this year, have you touched it in the last 2 years?? If not, it needs to go. Let it go. There is somebody else out there looking for it. Try to donate most of the stuff you get rid of. Then you can feel good about what your doing for more then just yourself.

After you have done this, lets get some good organizing boxes that you will be putting to use. I really like going to your local dollar store. You know, Dollar General, Family Dollar, or the 99cents store. You don't need to spend a small fortune on these. Clear shoe boxes seem to be the best option. You can't get too much in them, so things don't get buried and you can see what you have. Labels are a must. If you don't have a label maker, a roll of masking tape and a marker, will do. If you don't know what's in the box, you won't use it. It's an amazing feel when you need something, go to the box that has it and WOW, there it is!! I know to some of you, that sounds silly, but to most of us, that would be awesome.

Shelves or bookcases are very important. You have got to be able to get to your stuff or you just won't use it. Don't put things back in a deep cabinet and loose it again. Open shelves tend to be the best. Keep it simple.


I hope that some of this has been helpful. The best thing you can do is help someone else get organized and then they can help you. It's great to have friends eyes going through stuff. They can be brutally honest. And that is something you need.

OK, the weekend is here........Get to IT!! These are a few pictures to give you some inspiration.