Photos
Fig 1: The shelves before
Fig 2: Filled shoe organizer
Fig 3: Close-up view
Fig 4: Guest shelves after
After organizing my winter accessories in the coat closet, I decided to tackle another troublesome closet in my house — the guest bathroom. As I was going through my file tote of inspiration this morning (see Organizing clippings from magazines and newspapers), I found a clipping from Real Simple magazine that I had filed away for a rainy day. It wasn’t a rainy day but I did find myself with some free time so I decided to try out the following tip on my own bathroom closet disaster:
Our family uses over-the-door plastic-pocket shoe holders to store odds and ends. One holds all our son’s small stuffed animals for easy play and cleanup. Another, in our linen closet, stores everything from extra toothpaste and soap to pain medication and Band-Aids. Everything is visible, and dangerous items can be kept in the top pockets, out of the reach of little hands. We can always tell when we’re running low on something, and our closets are clutter-free.
–Alanna Goldberg, West Hartford, Connecticut
Before, I had all of the extras for guests to use taking up an entire shelf in the closet (Fig 1). It was difficult to really see what was available and I could be using the shelving more efficiently. I purchased one of the vinyl shoe organizers
Now, I have almost two full shelves available to store larger items (Fig 4). If your guest bathroom doesn’t have a closet, you could still use this idea and put it on the back of the bathroom door. If you don’t want to see all of the items, you could use a canvas over-the-door shoe organizer
I am even thinking about using one of the vinyl ones in my kitchen pantry to hold all of the small packets and boxes that otherwise get lost on the shelves. I will file that idea away for another day…
4 comments so far:
This post was great! I have the standard catch-all junk closet and grew tired of not being able to find anything. I saw this post and purchased the clear plastic version for cheap and it cleaned all the little pens, notebooks, cleaning supplies and junk that had accumulated. While there, you guys even inspired to think of a creative solution to holding pens and pencils (the big box store did not have a pencil box). I thought “What would Chica and Jo do?” and was struck with looking at little rubbermaid storage totes, which were a better fit for my needs anyway. Thanks you guys!!
Thanks for the great post, Dana! I’m so glad to hear that you were able to organize your closet so easily and inexpensively.
Inspiring you to think creatively is exactly our goal, so I’m thrilled that you thought of us while solving your problem
Have been using over the door shoe holders for my sewing items and an two hung together for spools of thread. Have three in my sons bedroom for toy cars, school supplies, and socks. Using one by the back door for hats and gloves. There is one in the garage for gardening stuff. I feel less stressed out if I’m organized.
Those are wonderful ideas, Anita. I totally agree about organization reducing stress