Tammy's Tips - Think Outside the Box

Welcome to the first ever Tammy's Tips on Thursday.  I wanted to participate in the Post-It Note Tuesdays so had to do a bit of rescheduling.  I hope this works for you.

Did anyone do any decluttering this last week?  I hope I inspired some of you to implement the tips that I shared.  This week I thought I would share some of my favorite items I use in my home.  These products may not be used in the way that they are sold to do, but function in an organizational way.

Let's start in the Bathroom:
I have a very small linen closet so I must utilize every inch of space.  I keep the medicines up high so that the kids do not have access to them.  I have a shoe bin that I keep the kids medication in and also one where I keep any medication for my hubby and I.  They are sold as shoe boxes but I use them in here to help save space since they are stackable.

Mud Room/Entry Hall:
Do you have a hard time finding your keys in the morning?  You can take a inexpensive Shadow Box, make a picture collage or add a decorative scrap book paper as the back of the box.  Add small hooks found at your hardware store and there you have a nice attractive key hook for not a lot of money.  Hang it near the back door or front door so you have it handy to grab and go.

I use a shoe organizer in our hall closet and use it for just about everything.  Our kids are always losing their gloves or hats.  There is a shelf for those.  I have slippers or flip flops on the bottom shelf (depending on the time of year).  Each child gets a shelf for their shoes, the next shelf holds their cold winter items.  My hubby has a ton of baseball caps so I have a shelf for those and then our cold winter items go on the top shelf.  It so much easier finding things with this little helper.



Kitchen:
The rubber matting that can be used as contact paper in your cupboards can also be used as protection between your China or Christmas dishes.  Just cut into small squares and it works really well.  Another good use for it is to put it under tablecloths that have a tendency to move around a lot.  It helps keep it in place.  Or use it as a can opener on those tough jars that can't be opened.

A bread box is a good decoy for all those chargers, electronic cords, and wires.  I have seen some really nice ones at the Good Will or Value Village.  It looks tidy but can really hide a mess of cords.

Kids Art:
I have always had a hard time throwing away things the kids have drawn.  I had an empty wall in our eating area where I put up corkboard strips and attached it with ribbon.  I can put up the kids pictures, papers etc.  When it's been up for awhile I can take it down and if it's not too sentimental I can recycle it.  Another thing I have done is framed the kids artwork and they are very proud of it hanging up. 





How to organize all the crayons, markers, scissors, and pencils?  I bought a  utensil holder several years ago.  It is so nice because they can spin it around if they are drawing together or they can find what they are looking for easily.  This one is from Pampered Chef but you can find them anywhere. 



The infamous junk drawer:  Who doesn't have one of these?  I use school boxes and organize within the drawer.  It works pretty well until one of the kids decides to see what is in all of them and then it becomes a junk drawer again.



These are a few things that I have found that I like to work with.  Do you have any products that you use in a totally different capacity than what they are sold for?  I would love for you to share them with me and my readers.

Thursday Tip:  Think outside the box when looking for organizational products. 





Here is a video I found with a few more ideas of using typical household items for other uses:



For more Video Thursdays see Pretty Pink Momma.