A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.
The “Perfect” Playroom
Kathleen shares her thoughts on creating the “Perfect” Playroom.
Kathleen shares her thoughts on the “Perfect” Playroom.
Real Image from a Professional Organizer's playroom
Perfect and playroom are two words, in my mind, that should never be grouped together and if they are than you may not be using the room correctly. I would love to have a picture perfect playroom like you see in magazines, but they do not exist if you have actual real-life human children playing in them. I believe playrooms should be used and even messy. However, it is the ease as which items can be put away that should command your focus. Everything should have a home and if there are multiple people who do the putting away- there should be labels. Toys should not be hidden or most likely they will stay hidden and then forgotten. Toys should be easily accessible and in turn easily put away. Shallow shelves, clear containers without lids when possible. I also love me a good theme, have a dress-up area, arts & craft area, and an area for dramatic play.
I set my playroom or play area up so if the situation arises, usually this means someone decides to stop by unexpectedly, I can literally “toss” items away and off the floor in an instant.
As an organizer and a mother of two small children, the most common statement I hear is “your home must be so organized”. My answer? I’m a mom, it’s as organized as I can get it and for as long as they let it stay that way. On any given day our playroom looks like a toddler tornado just hit it. As much as I love having it look”pretty”, I also love (yes I know - the horror of a pro organizer stating this) seeing such a disaster. It tells me my kids are being kids and having a blast playing with all those clutter inducing toys that my family and friends purchased for them. It makes me smile. What might make it different than other homes though is I also smile knowing there are proper homes for all the toys and there is a system in place that I or anyone taking care of my kids and/or home can rely on. I organize for my children but more importantly for me - so I can find things, easily put things away, and also teach my kids how to put things away properly. Will they always do it - no. It is often a struggle and of course frustrating. Kids learn through example and surprisingly they do love being able to find their toys with ease.
Make clean up a game - time them or race them. Show them that putting their toys away can be easy- they will catch on quickly. My children know exactly where their toys live. Do they put all their toys away, all the time - of course not, but they try (in their own way). At 3 and 6, I feel like I win half the battles. Stay strong care givers and let your children play!
Guest Post - How To Store Your Golf Clubs At Home
Many of our clients either play golf or have golf clubs in their house. We turned to Jordan Fuller for some storage advice since golf season is almost upon us.
How To Store Your Golf Clubs At Home: 3 Strategies To Reduce Clutter and Free Up Space
We all know space around the house is limited - and finding appropriate space to store golf clubs is no exception to this rule.
There are generally two issues that will occur: finding enough space and making sure the golf equipment is stored safely, so the golf clubs stay in mint condition. Overall, the general consensus is to store golf clubs in a dry room at moderate temperature.
Yet this is often easier said than done: we all know that it can be much more complicated than that, especially if you have a lot of clubs. In this article, we will share our top three tips on storing golf clubs, and how you can make the most of your home’s storage space.
Let us begin with the first one.
Only Store at Home an Optimized Amount of Golf Clubs
The first mindset you should have on golf club storage is that you are only allowed to bring 14 different clubs to a golf course. So, arguably the best way to optimize club storage at home is to first, only purchase and bring home the clubs you will actually need. Yes, some golfers might need different club sets for different courses, but doesn’t mean you need to have over 50 clubs stored at home.
With so much new equipment released virtually every day, it is understandable that the temptation to expand your collection is high. If you do have unlimited budget and unlimited storage spaces, that shouldn’t be a problem. Yet, we all know that’s not the case for the most of us.
So, what’s the optimal club sets we should have (and store at home)? Here is how I will recommend it:
For Beginners/High-Handicappers
A very forgiving driver or a 3-wood, as most high-handicappers can’t hit a driver and they can replace it with an easier to hit 3-wood
7-, 8-, 9- irons
4-, 5-, 6- hybrids to replace the hard to hit long-irons
Putter, a mallet one with plenty of forgiveness
A pitching wedge
For Mid-Handicappers
A driver
A 3-wood
6- to 9- irons
4- and 5- hybrids to replace two long irons
Putter
For Low-Handicappers/Tour Players
A driver
A 3-wood, or you can replace it with a more versatile 2-hybrid
3- to 9- irons
Gap wedge
Pitching wedge, lob wedge, sand wedge
Putter
Store Your Clubs In Your Bedroom
The first places that come to mind to store your golf clubs might be your pantry, your garage, or other dedicated storage spaces. Yet, there are several disadvantages with this practice which make us actually strongly recommend other, more appropriate places around the house.
Our recommendation is to store your golf clubs in your bedroom, a study or other rooms with enough storage spaces you frequently use.
Why? There are three things you should definitely avoid with golf clubs: physical scratches, heat, and moisture.
If you store your clubs in a warehouse or even worse, your car trunk, the clubs can pick up physical dent or nicks from bumping with each other or with other things inside the warehouse.
Heat is also an issue if you are storing your clubs in your car trunk, especially if you park your car outside. Heat can cause the glue under your grip to break down. A garage, on the other hand, often has issues with build-up moistures.
If you have a big collection of golf clubs (which we don’t recommend, see our first tip above), you might also forget some of the clubs stored in your garage or warehouse, since you don’t visit those rooms often.
So, storing your clubs in a room you frequent has two main benefits : first, you won’t forget about them and can check their condition frequently. Second, by having your clubs where you can see it, they can remind you to play more often.
Choose a Proper Golf Bag
No matter where you store your golf clubs, you will obviously need a golf bag to place your clubs (or several, if you have more than 14 clubs). Since we have agreed that storage spaces are limited and hence, valuable, the ideal golf bag is the one that allows you to store as many golf clubs as possible, yet has the least volume.
Here are some we will recommend:
Callaway Golf 2017 Org Cart Bag
A relatively compact golf bag with 12 x 10 x 35 inches dimension and only 5.8 pounds of weight (without your clubs), yet offers plenty of storage spaces and pockets with Callaway quality.
The most interesting quality of the Callaway 2017 Org Cart Bag is the 14-way organization system, complete with full-length club dividers. So, you wouldn’t have to worry about clubs banging with each other during transportation or storage.
A key highlight of the Ogio Golf 2017 Press Cart Bag is how it is very reasonably priced, so it is an excellent choice for those with limited budget. Yet, the bag offers plenty of storage with eight-way organization and full-length dividers.
Regarding compactness, it is only 8-ounces with 10.5 x 13 x 37 inches of dimension. There are also 9 additional pockets to store other golf equipment.
PING Golf Men’s Traverse II Cart Bag
PING is of course, one of the most prominent names in the world of golf equipment, so quality is definitely not a question with the PING Traverse II Cart Bag. As with Callaway Org Cart Bag above, it also offers 14-way organization system, and the full-length dividers are made from air-meshed and cushion polypropylene material able to withstand high impact.
It is still relatively compact at 36 x 10 x 14 inches, but is slightly heavier at 8 pounds. An excellent choice for those looking for a high-end golf bag.
Jordan Fuller is a golf enthusiast who loves to spend days on the green, interacting with other players. For the last 25 years, he's been a key member of the Nebraska golf community, helping and assisting players of all levels near his home course near Omaha. Recently, seeing that many golfers were facing the same challenges, he started his own golf website to help golfers become better players.
The Container Conundrum
Our top tips for organizing containers.
House to Home spent this past week unpacking and reorganizing kitchens for our clients. A question that always comes up is where to store plastic containers used for leftover food and lunch prep. Clients complain that no matter how hard they try to keep these items neatly arranged, within a few days they dread opening the cabinet because the containers and lids fall everywhere. Before you put up a hard hat required sign in your kitchen, here are House to Home Organizing's top four tips:
Downsize
It is not necessary to have 100 different shaped containers. You do not need the ones from 1998 which have turned that weird shade of yellow, sport warped lids and have an unusual odor. Go through your plastic containers and pick out the best ones that have lids that fit. Maybe keep 6 of various sizes and shapes. Recycle the rest. You may also consider not keeping inexpensive and easy to come by plastic containers from take out restaurants.
Purchase the Same Brand
For ease of stacking buy one brand of containers that nest into each other. This will free up space in your cabinet and make storage easier.
Within Reach
Store containers and lids in a cabinet which is easy to reach. Many people tend to put their plastic ware in a hard to reach cabinet. Make sure you can reach it easily during and after cooking for clean- up and lunch prep. We even have a few clients who keep their "Tupperware" in the only non-baby proofed cabinet so the little ones have access to non-breakables and can score a win by opening the door themselves.
The Separater
Use larger bins or wire baskets to separate items If you have room in your cabinets. Purchase clear bins or wire baskets to separate lids and bottoms. This way when you go to pick one, they all do not come toppling out.
Want to upgrade? Many people are switching to glass containers. There is zero risk of toxic chemicals and negative impact on the environment. A few brands we have noticed in our clients homes are:
Please note: If you choose to purchase these containers using our Amazon link, H2H receives a small commission designed to help keep our rates affordable.
Bins: Not Necessarily What It’s All Stacked Up To Be
Storage bins are great for organizing, but sometimes they aren't all they are stacked up to be. If an organizing system isn't easy you simply aren't going to use it and in that regard bins can give with one hand and take with the other.
We partnered with a home improvement company. for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.
Storage bins are great for organizing, but sometimes they aren't all they are stacked up to be. If an organizing system isn't easy you simply aren't going to use it and in that regard bins can give with one hand and take with the other.
Pack'em, Stack'em and Rack'em
Bins provided a great storage solution for household items especially for those you don't use very often. They make sense for items like holiday decorations, keepsakes, and recreational equipment. During the winter/summer swap of jackets for bathing suits bins are perfect. However, the danger of bin use can be seen in the stack. When it comes to bins when they get stacked the ones on the bottom become a black hole. If you have to take down five bins to get something you just won't.
Bigger Isn't Better
You think you solved all your problems by finding the biggest bin in existence, however the big bin often creates more problems than it solves. Big bins get heavy quick and one person can't lift them and they'll usually need a wheelie bin tipper in order to move them. Often a giant bin will sit covered and unmoved for decades. Another challenge of the giant bin is finding anything inside easily.
Solid as a Rock
Clear bins make for the best bins for obvious reasons, but solid colored bins aren't necessarily bad if it doesn't matter what you need to grab. Think Christmas or Halloween bins in Red/Green or Orange/Black. If you are taking the whole bin down from the attic and using everything inside than the benefits of the clear bin aren't necessary. The danger lies in a non-clear mystery bin not properly labelled.
Easy in, Easy Out
While bins are ideal for a many items, drawers make for an easier system for those things you use frequently. Drawers are perfect for art and office supplies since they not only keep a limit on supplies but allow items to go in easy and also come out easy. Imagine a child having to un-stack four bins to get to paper or stickers. Batteries and toiletries also benefit from being in easy access drawers and not stacked bins.
