As March begins, I’m in high hopes of living more effectively. Here’s a glance back at my progress with the February goals I set to Streamline My Home. I found that with fewer toys in our living space, my son actually engaged more with the activities available and it made cleanup much less daunting and predicable since everything had a place. We have also enjoyed my son’s bedtime routine much more now that we have only the essentials in his room. There is more space for creative, relational play, and again it makes keeping the room clean so much easier.
As you can see, by everything “unessential” heaped onto my bed, I had WAY too much stuffed in the changing table.
In addition to having too much stuff, the space was very cramped due to the transition from crib to twin bed. So our changing table was not only disheveled but also very hard to access. I held onto so many items “just in case” I would need them, but seldom did. I decided I would rather make do without these items than to keep an inefficient, cluttered space that was making it hard to find, use and put away the things I need on a multiple-times-a-day basis. I am so pleased with the results.
It’s hard to imagine we had a changing table squeezed into the space between the foot of the bed and the wall. We very luckily found a narrow bookcase that fit three of the baskets we had been using on the changing table and decided to only keep out cloth diapers and disposable diapers, with a bin at the bottom for socks and two favorite pairs of shoes. The top of the shelf holds wipes and creams. I also took out everything from the closet that could possibly be moved to our basement storage so that I would have a convenient, easy-to-grab space for jackets, a few stuffed animals and some smaller sets of quiet night time toys.
Another area of relative success was streamlining my food storage “tupperware” cabinet. My son so enjoyed helping me clean out the absolutely crammed and disheveled food storage cabinet.
I opted the get rid of all things that did not have a matching lid/bottom and even some pieces that I used infrequently or did not go with a set. I bulked up my supply of glass storage containers in my frequent use sizes and purchased a small tub to use for organizing lids. All of these measures helped tremendously with the constant frustration I had at never being able to find suitable, matching containers in a timely manner.
Did you streamline in February? If so, comment with your success or challenges and additional spaces to tackle.
Jennifer H says
I can relate to the tupperware! I don’t know where it all came from. LOL I’ve even downsized, yet it seems cramped again.
Rachel says
I know!! It’s almost like you have to do a mini-reorganize a few times a month to keep on top of it, but I always fall behind with that.
Crystal says
Looks great! I always love the idea of organizing, but it’s so hard to get started. There’s a few areas around here that definitely need some order, though.
Rachel says
I know! That’s why I tried to start small and just focus on specific little areas instead of feeling like I have to organize it ALL!
Megan @ That Neat Blog says
I may make March my steamline month. I really need to get organized. I’ve been slack.
Rachel says
Good idea! It makes me happy when each person is able to make these monthly themes their own.
Melinda says
I’m always re organizing the tupperware container. i’d love to get all glass just for our health’s sake
Rachel says
It is an unending task, isn’t it!
Daisy says
What a cute picture of him pulling out the storage containers! Hehe, reminds me of my little boy. I haven’t streamlined recently, but it is one of my goals for this week since we have a spring break.
Rachel says
Awesome! Good luck! I find it works best for me when I define small spaces that I can get done in a reasonable amount of time, instead of picking something ambiguous like my “kitchen.”
And I love that my little guy reminds me of yours! So precious aren’t they!
Jenn says
I WISH I had streamlined in February. Great job!
Rachel says
Just start by picking one small space to do this month! You never know, making small progress may give you inspiration to do more… and if not, at least you have one space that’s more efficient and less bogged down.
Michelle says
That looks great!! I am going to start reducing all the junk we never use.
Rachel says
It really helps so much with the daily grind to only have around what you are really using!
Liz Mays says
I most definitely need to get after my Tupperware chaos and throw out mismatched lids and containers! Thanks for the reminder to do it!
Catherine L. says
Great job! I’m always organizing and reorganizing, so yes I streamlined for February. My family calls it OCD, and get annoyed because I’m constantly changing things.
Rachel says
It’s better than the opposite extreme! I have always wished I was a little more OCD on organization!
Cat Davis says
Doesn’t it feel amazing to get so organized? I think I’m going to tackle my kitchen cabinets this spring. They are long overdue for organization.
Rachel says
I know! I want to do my spice cabinet next!
Melissa says
I have long been thinking I need to get rid of some toys. Sometimes my kids just seem so overwhelmed with them all and then just don’t play with them!
Rachel says
I know, it’s crazy that with less they actually play more. Maybe it’s because real playing is more of a creative process.
Digna D. says
Something that I need to do around the house – become more organized.
Donna says
I so need to streamline. My kitchen cabinets are a mess and so are my closets.
Rachel says
Just start by picking one small space to do this month! You never know, making small progress may give you inspiration to do more… and if not, at least you have one space that’s more efficient and less bogged down.
Kerri says
You are so right. When you get rid of toys or put some away, the kids want to play with others that they now see and are more focused. I need to do this again soon!
Shell Feis says
We did a major home organization overhaul a couple months ago in preparation for the baby & somehow have managed to keep it clean. We never did get to the Tupperware though & it drives me CRAZY!
trisha says
We are a minimalistic family so all my cupboards are clean!
Tammilee says
Cleaning out our tupperware is on my list of things to do this week. It just seems to grow and multiply on its own lately.
Amy says
Streamlining is a constant battle for us – we’re constantly evolving things in our house – but making a very consious effort to stay on top of it all really has helped – especially since I am back to work full-time and my husband has not magically learned to clean the whole house himself!