Toni Hammersley's Blog, page 4

2020 Home Organization Challenge: Week 14 Garage

 

You made it! It’s the last week of the 2020 Home Organization Challenge. Congratulations to everyone who stuck it out. It’s such a major accomplishment. This week we are organizing our garages. Everyone is home now, so we should be able to find the time. If you missed any of the previous weeks, you can find them here.

 







 

If you’re new to the challenge, print out the schedule and checklists below and begin on the current week. If you missed any challenges, re-visit them when you have free time. 

PRINT –> Free Challenge Kit

GARAGE CHECKLIST:

1. PREPARE – Gather several boxes, bins and trash bags. Label boxes to sort items: keep, donate, trash, house.

2. SORT – Sort through everything in the garage. Empty it out completely (weather permitting), going through one item at a time, and placing it in the designated bin or box.

3. CLEAN – Once you’ve sorted trough everything, the garage should be empty. At this point you can sweep, leaf blow, or hose down the floor. This is an important step. You don’t want to organize a dirty garage. If you have a problem with spiders or ants,  you can spray the perimeter of the garage with insecticide. Living in the south, we have to do this every three months.

4. ORGANIZE – Once you have sorted through everything and cleaned, its time to set up a system of organization. Label plastic totes to contain items that will remain in the garage. Place the organized bins and boxes back into the garage. Hang things on wall hooks.  Try to keep everything up off the ground. Spiders like to hide behind stuff on the ground and so does dust.

 

Our 3 car garage is very simple. I used tall white cabinetry and our old kitchen cabinets to store our things. We purged a lot of stuff, when we moved. So we just have the basics in here now. Our bikes and lawn mower are in the middle bay of the garage. Let me take you on a tour and show you what we have in here.

 







 

Since we are Ohio natives, we had to show our team (and state) spirit by decorating the garage in Ohio State gear. Go Buckeyes!

 







 

The wall color is Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams. We keep an extra refrigerator in here for overflow food and entertaining. It also has a water line hooked up so we can get water when we’re in the home gym or outside doing yard work.

 







 

We keep grocery bags in these organizers. I’ve had the bins for years but I think I got them at TJ Maxx. The numbers are from Lowes. 

 







 

The glass cabinet is from Facebook marketplace. I use it to store paint and plant food. The Seed & Supply sign is from Michaels. 

 







 

It’s a good idea to categorize your cabinets. This cabinet contains our gardening items.

 







 

On this side of the cabinet, we store power tools, oil supplies, ropes/bungee cords, and paint supplies.

 







 

I have a drawer devoted to my gardening tools & gloves.

 







 







 

The large white cabinet holds a lot of stuff! It’s great because it hides clutter.

 







 

We keep car care and detailing items on these 2 shelves. I found the black microfiber cloths here. We use them to dry the cars.

 







 

This shelf contains our disposable paper products. I found the bins at Target.

 



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Below, we have our pet carriers, grooming caddy, party decor, and my sons fishing bags.

 







 

The tall shelf holds a lot of things! The basket at the top contains our gardening mixes and plant fertilizers. The bin at the bottom contains a variety of tape.

 







 

I found the long clear containers & teal baskets at TJ Maxx. Labeling everything clearly keeps things tidy. There should be no question as to where things go.

 







 

Store a few cleaning supplies in the garage to use on car messes. The lazy Susan is from here.

 

The double doors lead to our back patio and pool. The folding table leaning on the cabinet is our dogs grooming table. We found it here.

 







 







 

On the other side of the garage is our home gym. Take a tour here.

 







 

Here are several blog posts that will inspire you to get your garage organized.

How to create a garage mudroomMy garage home gymGarage organization Garage Organization



 

For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges as well as a ton of inspiration and tips about the spaces we will be organizing. No need to log onto the computer for ideas, this manual has it all!

 







 

If you need more guidance on cleaning your house, be sure to pick up The Complete Book of Clean.  It has tons of tips and checklists that will teach you how to get your homes sparkling clean.

 







 

Take a few days this week to clean out and organize the Garage. Purge as much as you can. Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolchallenge. Thanks for joining me this year!

 

Home Organization Challenge: Week 13 Launch Pad

 

It’s Saturday and time for another weekly challenge. Our homes are thanking us, for clearing out the clutter and bringing calmness to the space. So far, we’ve organized the laundry room, home office, kitchen, pantry, master closet, master bedroom, master bathroom, living room, dining room, linen closet, kids closets, and toys/hobbies. It’s week 13 and we are clearing the clutter from our launch pads (aka mudrooms or the space where you keep the family calendar, keys, backpacks, etc).

If you’re new to the challenge, print out the schedule and checklists below and begin on the current week. If you missed any challenges, re-visit them when you have free time.

PRINT –> Free Challenge Kit

 

For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges as well as a ton of inspiration and tips about the spaces we will be organizing.

 







 

If you need more guidance on cleaning your house, be sure to order The Complete Book of Clean.  It has tons of tips and checklists that will teach you how to get your homes sparkling clean.

 







 

In our new home, our launch pad is near the back door. In this space, we have designated areas for our coats, bags, shoes, keys, and pet items. The launch is the place where you drop your things, when you walk in the door. It doesn’t have to be a big space and anyone can make one.

If you don’t have a designated launch pad, now’s a great time to create one for your family. You can create a launch pad in any of the following areas:

FoyerHall closetKitchenGarageLaundry Room



 







 

By creating a space for our things, our home remains organized.  There’s no reason to bring these items into my kitchen and drop them on the counter. This system helps to eliminate piles of clutter. My kids have a place to put their things so they don’t just drop everything on the floor.  The keys are hung, backpacks have a spot, umbrellas have a basket, shoes have a tray, etc. The goal is for everything to have a place. 

 







 

A shoe tray keeps dirt & snow off the floor. I found this tray at Target.

 







 







 







 

I keep our dog walking items in this basket. It includes an umbrella, leash, and pet waste bags.

 







 

It’s always a great idea to have a place to keep your keys. This one is from Target.

 







 



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Below are a few examples of launch pads I created in my previous home. Be creative. The sky is the limit.

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My foyer launch pad. Details here. 

 







 

My garage launch pad. Details here.

 







 

My mudroom launch pad. Details here.

 







 

Launch pad in my old office. Details here.

 







 

Spend a little time this week creating a launch pad in your home.  Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolchallenge. Keep up the great work. You can finish all 14 challenges! I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.  Good luck. I’ll see you back next week for the final week of the challenge. Happy Organizing!

~Toni

Emergency Preparedness Group

 

I have been sharing about emergency preparedness for the last 10 years and it’s time we come together to share our preparedness tips, questions, and concerns with each other. Now, more than ever, we need to support one another. I created a Facebook group where we can share anything related to emergency preparedness, homesteading, and such. You can join the group HERE.

 







 

Here is my emergency preparedness binder. It’s good to have all of this information together in one place. Along with stocking up on essential food items, you can set up an emergency preparedness station in your home. You can find those details HERE.

 







 

Finally, I created a list of my essential food stockpile items for you to reference. I also included a blank sheet, so you can create your own list. If you have anything essential to add, please share. You can print them out for free HERE.

 







 

Let’s support each other during these stressful times. We are all in this together. Be sure to share the group with your family and friends. Hang in there!

2020 Home Organization Challenge: Week 12 Toys & Hobbies

 

Welcome to week 12 of the Home Organization Challenge. I know things are stressful right now, but we must try to keep our lives as normal as possible. Our homes still need cleaned, the food still needs cooked, and our kids still need a schedule. We must keep it together. As the saying goes, “This too shall pass”.

This week, we are organizing our kids toys and/or our hobbies (sewing, planning, crafts, home gym, etc). So far, we’ve organized the laundry room, home office, kitchen, pantry, master closet, master bedroom, master bathroom, living room, dining room, linen closet, and kids closets. It’s time to have a little fun and create an organized toy or hobby space in your home. I’m sure you can get the kids to help out this week.

 







 

If you’re new to the challenge, print out the schedule & checklists and begin on the current week.  Free Challenge Kit

 

My kids no longer play with toys, so this post is here simply to inspire you. Our “toys” are in our home gym. My family loves to exercise and that’s where we spend a lot of our free time. This is what our toy room looked like, when our kids were smaller.

 







 

I always kept their toys organized in these bins (from Target). The shelf is from Ikea. I labeled the bins clearly, so there wasn’t any confusion as to where things needed to go. 

 







 

They picked up after themselves and it always stayed fairly clean. This is a great organizing solution families who have children in this stage of their lives. 

 









 

Now, our “toy” area is our home gym. Here’s a peek into the space. You can see details on this blog post.

 







 

Here are few more blog posts that will inspire you to get toys organized.

Toy room organizationReading nooks for toddlersPlayroom Organization



 

For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges as well as a ton of inspiration and tips about the spaces we will be organizing. No need to log onto the computer for ideas, this manual has it all!

 







 

If you need more guidance on cleaning your house, be sure to pick up The Complete Book of Clean.  It has tons of tips and checklists that will teach you how to get your homes sparkling clean.

 







 

Sort through all of the toys in your house this week. Purge what your kids no longer play with. Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolchallenge. Hold yourself accountable and finish all 14 challenges! I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.  Good luck. I’ll see you back next week for the week 13 challenge. Happy Organizing!

 

2020 Home Organization Challenge: Week 11 Kids Closets

 

Welcome back! It’s week 11 and we are clearing the clutter from our kids closets. This is a fun week where you can bring your family into the challenge with you. If you don’t have children, pick another closet to organize. It’s important to get your kids involved. Have them sort through their things, purging and donating what they no longer use, fit, or love. Spend the day with your kids and get them organized!

If you’re new to the challenge, print out the free challenge kit. It will guide you through each week. You can find it here. It has all of the weekly assignments and checklists.

 







 

Closet space is a precious commodity. We need to be smart with how we organize the area, but relentless with purging things we no longer use or need. Before you organize your kids closets this week, take a little time to purge things. Start fresh and claim more usable space to store the things you actually use.

 

Here’s a look into my daughters organized “teen” closet. She is very good about keeping it clean and organized. She will organize it on a regular basis, without me asking. I love it!

 







 

She keeps travel bags, vacation miscellaneous, and out of season items in the bins on the top shelf.

 







 







 







 

She stores make-up bags, wallets, hats, scarves, gloves, and sun glasses in these bins. I found them at TJ Maxx.

 







 







 







 

She keeps her collection of backpacks in this basket. (It’s from Target).

 







 

When your children have an organized system set up, it’s easier for them to maintain the space. It just takes a little time and effort to help them purge the clutter and teach them how to keep it clean.

 







 

Here are few blog posts that will inspire you to get your Kids Closets organized.

Kids Closet OrganizationTeen Closet OrganizationBoys Closet Organization (My guest post to Home Depot Blog)



 

For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges as well as a ton of inspiration and tips about the spaces we will be organizing. No need to log onto the computer for ideas, this manual has it all!

 







 

If you need more guidance on cleaning your house, be sure to pick up The Complete Book of Clean.  It has tons of tips and checklists that will teach you how to get your homes sparkling clean.

 







 

This week, clear the clutter from your kids closets.  Purge what you can and bring it back to order. Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolchallenge. Hold yourself accountable and finish all 14 challenges! I can’t wait to see what you accomplish.  Good luck. I’ll see you back next week for the week 12 challenge. Happy Organizing!

 

2020 Home Organization Challenge: Week 10 Linen Closet

 

Welcome back to the 2020 Home Organization Challenge. We are working our way through our homes and clearing the clutter. So far, we have organized the laundry room, home office, kitchen, pantry, master closet, master bedroom, master bathroom, living room and dining room. It’s week 10 and we are organizing the linen closet.

 







 

If you’re new to the challenge, be sure to print out the free challenge kit. It will guide you through each week. You can find it here. It has all of the weekly assignments and checklists.

 







 











 

My linen closet is small and oddly shaped so I had to be creative with the organization in here. It also doubles as a utility closet. 

 







 

I store extra pillow cases, towels, curtains, and cleaning miscellaneous in this space. You won’t see bedding because we keep the extras in our bedrooms.

 







 

This shelf is used to store essential oil diffusers, Scentsy warmers, vacuum attachments, sewing miscellaneous and cleaning products for this wing of the house. (It’s above our garage).

 







 

I store extra linens on this shelf. The bins are labeled curtains, hand towels, (seasonal) pillow cases, and microfiber cloths.

 







 







 

The bins are from Target.

 







 

I love this closet. I have a place for everything and it’s easy to find what I’m looking for quickly.

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Here are few blog posts that will inspire you to get your Linen Closets organized.

Linen Closet OrganizationLinen Closet (Guest Post)Farmhouse Linen Closet



 

For the perfect companion guide to our challenge, purchase The Complete Book to Home Organization. It includes all 14 weekly challenges as well as a ton of inspiration and tips about the spaces we will be organizing. No need to log onto the computer for ideas, this manual has it all!

 







 

If you need more guidance on cleaning your house, be sure to pick up The Complete Book of Clean.  It has tons of tips and checklists that will teach you how to get your homes sparkling clean.

 







 

Purge your linen closet this week. It should only take one afternoon. You can do it! Share your progress on Instagram using the hash tag #abfolchallenge.  Hold yourself accountable and finish all 14 challenges!  Good luck. I’ll see you back next week for the week 11 challenge. Happy Organizing!

2020 Home Organization Challenge: Week 9 Dining Room

 

Welcome back to the Home Organization Challenge! We are getting things done and have completed so much already. So far, we have organized the laundry room, home office, kitchen, pantry, master closet, master bedroom, master bathroom, and living room. It’s week 9 and we are cleaning & organizing the dining room (or space where your kitchen table is located).

 







 

Our dining room is an open space with only 3 walls (all windows). It’s a simple and decluttered space.

 







 

I have one cabinet in the dining room. It’s where I store my candles and glass hurricanes.

 







 







 

My table and chairs are from Restoration Hardware.

 







 

I keep the pet dishes in the dining room, on a pet rug from TJ Maxx. You can find the pet feeders here.

 







 

Clear the clutter from your dining room this week. Remove all of the things you haven’t used in over a year. Wipe up those dust bunnies and deep clean the table legs and chairs.

Here are a few blog posts that will inspire you to get started in your dining room.

1. Dining Room Organization2. Organizing Heirlooms & Collectibles3. Decorating the dining room4. Dining Room Rug Makeover5. 2018 Dining Room Organization



 







 

If you’re new to the challenge, be sure to print out the free challenge kit. It will guide you through each week. You can find it here. If you’re a visual person, you’ll want to get the challenge companion guide and cleaning book.

 







 

This should be a simple week. You can do it. I will see you back here next week for a brand new challenge. Have a great weekend.

 







 

2020 Home Organization Challenge: Week 8 Living Room

 

It’s week 8 of the 2020 Home Organization Challenge. So far, we have completed the laundry room, home office, kitchen, pantry, master closet, master bedroom, and master bathroom. This week, we are clearing the clutter from the living room (or family room).

If you’re new to our challenge, be sure to print out the free challenge kit. It’s your guide for all 14 weeks. You can find it here. If you’re a visual person, you’ll want to get the challenge companion guide and cleaning book. Both of these are essential tools that will help you get your homes organized and cleaned from top to bottom. There are lots of pictures to help guide you through the challenges.

 







 

I cleared the clutter from my living room this week. I emptied everything from the baskets and drawers and purged things we no longer use. Take some time to do this. Once you do it, you will feel such relief.

 







 







 

I keep votives and candles in this basket. I emptied the other since we no longer used the things that were stored in it. The baskets are from TJ Maxx.

 







 

I have a chest of drawers to store “living room” items. The chest is from TJ Maxx.

 







 

The top drawer contains my essential oils.

 







 

I store candles in this drawer.

 







 

The final drawer contains family games & puzzles.

 







 

It’s completely fine to keep home decor in your space, as long as it doesn’t take over all visible surfaces. Get rid of trinkets that no longer bring you joy. Simplify as much as you can.

 







 







 

Use baskets to store throw blankets and kids toys. These baskets are from Home Goods.

 







 

Sources: My sofa is from Ikea. The chairs and coffee table are from Restoration Hardware. The curtains are from Pottery Barn. The wall color is Repose Gray by Sherwin Williams. The pillows and flowers are from TJ Maxx.

 







 







 

We have a cocktail cabinet that contains liquor, wine, & essentials that go with it. We have everything needed to make a mixed drink in this cabinet. It’s from TJ Maxx.

 







 







 

Concentrate on the living room this week, decluttering and purging things you no longer use. Give it a deep clean and move the furniture around (if you have time). It’s a great way to get those dust bunnies that are hiding.

 







 

Here are several blog posts that will inspire you to get your Living Room organized.

2018 Living Room Organization2019 Living Room OrganizationOrganizing Heirlooms & Collectibles Organizing the BookshelfOrganizing DVD’sOrganizing Magazines2015 Living Room Organization 2013 Living Room Organization



 

I’ll see you back here next week for another challenge. Have a great weekend.

 







 

2020 Home Organization Challenge: Week 7 Bathroom

 

Congratulations! We have made it half way through the 2020 home organization challenge. This week, we are decluttering, cleaning, and organizing the master bathroom. If you’re new to the challenge, we have completed the laundry room, home office, kitchen, pantry, master closet and the master bedroom. We are moving along great!

 







 

To get your weekly homework, be sure to print out the free challenge kit. It has a checklist and guide for every week of the challenge. You can find it here. If you’re a visual person, you’ll want to get the challenge companion guide and cleaning book. Both of these are essential tools that will help you get your homes organized and cleaned from top to bottom. There are lots of pictures to help guide you through the challenges.

 







 

My bathroom is clear of all clutter. The countertops are clean and organized. The floors are clear and the bathroom products are put away.

 







 

I keep a basket on my counter to store my phone and watch chargers. It keeps the space clutter free.

 







 

I love this drawer organizer for my narrow bathroom vanity drawers.

 







 

Store like items together.

 







 







 

You can find more of my favorite organizers here.

 







 

My makeup vanity is free of clutter and messes. My trifold mirror & tissue cover are from Pottery Barn and the perfume tray flowers, & make up mirror are from TJ Maxx.

 







 

I keep my makeup tidy using this drawer organizer.

 







 







 







 

I keep towels folded neatly on this rack from Pottery Barn.

 







 

I hope you gained inspiration to get your bathroom organized this week. Don’t forget to declutter the shower and wash your bath mats. Have a great week.

 







 

If you want more inspiration, be sure to check out this bathroom organization post. It even has a video of my master bathroom in our old home. I’ll see you back here next week. We’ll be organizing the living room.

 







 

2020 Home Organization Challenge: Week 6 Master Bedroom

 

Welcome to week 6 of the Home Organization Challenge. This week, we are cleaning, decluttering, and organizing the master bedroom. If you missed the first 5 weeks, we’ve completed the  laundry room, home office, kitchen, pantry, and master closet.

 







 

If you’re new to the challenge, be sure to print out the challenge kit. It has the checklist and tasks to complete each week. You can find it here.

 







 

If you’re a visual person, you’ll want to get the challenge companion guide and cleaning book. Both of these are essential tools that will help you get your homes organized and cleaned from top to bottom. There are lots of pictures to help guide you through the challenges.

 



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Our master bedroom is clear of all clutter. I have eliminated all unnecessary items from the table tops and drawers. Take a few minutes to do the same. * We painted the walls mindful gray by Sherwin Williams.

 







 

The bedding is inviting and comfy with a fluffy duvet cover from Simply Shabby Chic. Target has discontinued it but you can still find it on Ebay. (Search aqua rose Simply Shabby Chic bedding). The blue euro pillows are from Pottery Barn as are the curtain panels.

 







 

The bed was purchased at At Home.

 







 

Our master closet is large enough for all of our clothes, so we keep bed linens in our dresser.

 







 







 

My nightstand contains my most used items (in the evening). I organized it with drawer bins. The dresser and nightstands are from Restoration Hardware.

 







 

You can find similar organizers here and here.

 







 

We have a seating area to relax while reading or watching television.

 







 

Get some more of our master bedroom inspiration here.

 







 

Take some time this week to clear the clutter from your master bedroom. You deserve to unwind in a chaos free zone. I’ll see you back here next week for another organizing challenge. PS. If you share, be sure to tag me in your social media posts @abowlfulloflemons. You can find me on Instagram here.