Welcome to my new(ish) weekly feature... The Organizer's House, a sneak peek into the homes of professional organizers!
When people find out that you're an organizer... this is what follows "You must be SO organized, I bet your home is perfect". So here it is... because the curious want to know and we want to show you we are indeed human... not the stepford wives you picture us to be.
A Sneak Peek into the home of Professional Organizer Ellen Delap of Houston, Texas and owner of Professional-Organizer.com.
Ellen and I haven't met in person... yet. But we've been getting to know one another via twitter... that's another reason I love social media :) We both love office supply stores [might just be a prerequ to becoming a professional organizer]! I think you'll find her featured space refreshing... it's a great trick of the trade. As is #4's didy about lids!
HER ORGANIZED SPACE: Office and School Supplies
HER ORGANIZING TIPS:
1. Choose an easy access spot for your entire family to get to the supplies.
Easier access means you can get to your goodies, rather than shop for them at the store more easily.
2. Categorize your items by use, with items together that are used together.
Dry erase and easel markers go together for use at presentations. Notes, papers and note pads, as well as sharpies and highlighters, are good to categories for our family. Create categories that work for your family.
3. Use plastic shoe box size bins side by side or stacked for storage.
Our office supply spot is in the office, but it is hard to use our deep shelves in the cabinets. It makes units of the items and it is easy to access and return to its slot. Shoeboxes help you define how much to keep and how much to donate too. Keep lids off so you can get in and out of your bins very easily. This trick works in all deep cabinets, especially under sinks and medicine cabinets in the bathroom.
4. Label!
This way everyone knows where to look for supplies and where to return them.
WHY THIS WORKS FOR ME: From this picture, you can see we are not perfect, but we do “just enough”!
*If you're a professional organizer + you'd like to be featured on "The Organizer's House"... drop me an email and let me know!
I love the clear plastic boxes without lids to organize. Do you have any suggestions for all the damn Legos ?! By shape or color -- it's a philosophical question, I know : )
Posted by: Kine | June 22, 2011 at 12:04 AM
Legos... did you say legos?! My friend Jeri has a great post on Legos! http://jdorganizer.blogspot.com/2011/06/two-more-ways-to-store-legos.html
Posted by: krista colvin | June 22, 2011 at 05:06 PM
Organizing all the stuff in the house is just so important! Not only to speed up things but also to keep ourselves sane. I love clear plastic boxes! I personally have lots in my house. :)
Posted by: Arlene Marie Daniels | June 24, 2011 at 09:17 PM
These tips would be great if we will just apply this in our home as well as in office.
Posted by: Paper Folders | October 29, 2012 at 10:45 PM