organization around our home

In continuation of Organization Week, I thought I'd share some of what I do around our house...

{It's completely a work in progress}

This is my office/craft room/mud room

There are so many purposes in this space, it's an interior designer's nightmare. I'm sorry to say you're not getting a view of the ENTIRE room because...well, quite simply...it's not done.

The mud room portion on the oposite wall is half finished and stresses me out even to look at. So that'll come at a later date. Don't worry, you'll get before & afters.

Like Lissy, I've had this project table from Pottery Barn for forever.

It houses my ribbon {which I also have tons of}, sewing supplies, and other craft items.

I am completely obsessed with this vintage inspired postcard holder my aunt Kristel bought me, after I about stole hers from her dining room {similar ones found here & here}.

It currently displays brightly colored paper napkins {which you can never have too much of}, as well as the glassine paper bags from my shop.

This chevron board looks familiar, if you've been following us for awhile {here & here}.

I had such fun rounding up meaningful items {like photos of Imani & Ezekiel with friends in the orphanage}, some inspiration pieces...and some things in colors that make me happy {ie: yellow & robins egg}.

Oh. And yes, those are Stella & Dot boxes in the apothecary jar toward the back. They're just so cheerful and bright, I couldn't toss them.

For a long, loooong time, I had searched for exactly this. A vintage drying rack to hold my files. I was beyond thrilled when I found this one at Goodwill last summer.

More Goodwill purchases. This silver tray and silver gravy boat are the perfect way to contain & show off pretty office supplies.

I had initially purchased this fun birch jewelry stand for my necklaces, but I like it so much better to hold ribbon, my measuring tape, and a few odds and ends.

This pitcher reminded me of the dishes my mom had when we were growing up so when I saw it at another thrift store, I snatched it right up. I love it for my pencils & scissors.

The sweet little sugar bowl that holds my paper clips is handed down from my mother {love you, mum}.

You all know my obsession with paper straws. I just love them.

Why not have them out to add a little color to the kitchen??

I love having glass front upper cabinets. It's a fun way to display things like tea cups from my grandmother. I needed some height so they'd be shown best...so I simply stacked them, using the saucers.

Ok yes, I may be a little OCD about some things in my kitchen.

But Ikea just makes it so easy.

I'd LOVE to take the time to put on pretty labels like these {swoon}. Maybe soon.

{iheart organizing...free printables!}

And what about the toys?! We {along with seemingly everyone else in America these days} have several of the fantastic Expedit bookcases throughout our house.

Our kids come home from school everyday with an ungodly amount of paper. Homework, drawings, projects, and more.

We place them into these labeled boxes and once they're full and the lid isn't closing well, we will go through them together and figure out what to throw out.

If it's a very special art project or a paper or test they did well on and want to keep, it goes into a bin in the basement {which is at the moment overflowing}.

On the coffee table sits this fun bright yellow dump truck full of favorite books and ones we've recently gotten from the library.

We can always find our library books when they're due because the kids know they go here.

Our kids...Laith particularly...color ALL the time. In fact, I think Laith would give up eating over coloring. So here they sit, also on the coffee table {which now is lined with paper they can doodle on}.

Another Expedit bookshelf hides tons of clutter. Because we don't live in a big house {but have a lot of people who live IN the house}, every room is SUPER multi-functional.

Here in the family room, we have bins for toys, books, and learning material...as well as office supplies.

The ultimate organization spot for us.

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Hope you got some good ideas! We have so much more to do in our house, it isn't funny. But we're getting there!

I can't wait for you to see our next post in the Organization Series...your closet.

Don't forget to send me photos of YOUR anti-clutter creativity {details here}! My favorites will be chosen to be showcased here next week!