southern fried gal

We finally got everything packed and stored away from the holidays – yeah!!! Now I can really move on to some of the fun projects I have planned. I am a little obsessed when it comes to organization. The good Lord gave me a brain for optimization and it is a wonderful gift! The only downside is that I am constantly looking for ways to improve which means I am in a constant state of change. Remember when I re-organized my kitchen cabinets? This is what I do when I get stressed and I get stressed if this isn’t done. It’s a vicious cycle – ha! Anyway, I figured I would share some tips that have really helped me over the years.

First of all let me say that we are blessed with lots of storage. Our home was built for the original builder’s family so space was optimized (a builder after my own heart!). So we have this spacious dormer storage in both the master bedroom and in BBC’s bedroom. These tips are designed with optimization in mind so they will hold value even if you have limited storage space!

So here we go…

What does that mean, you say? Packing logistically means I pack my bins by either like items (glass balls) or by rooms. It also means that I take full advantage of the space in each bin. Pack your bins like you are working a puzzle. Yes, I even stuff ornaments up in the angel’s dress! Not a square of air to spare in there – ha!

Tip 2: Packing Materials

Tip 3: Packing Tape and a Sharpie

Have I mentioned that I redo stuff all the time? When I first starting buying bins for storage I wrote on them with a sharpie. Did I pack the same way the following year – NO! Did I regret writing something so permanent – YES! BUT I have to have labels. My solution? Put a strip of clear packing tape on your bucket and then write the contents (all of them, trust me), with a sharpie. The tape comes off easily even after being stored in the attic. It doesn’t even leave sticky goo behind! And as an added bonus, if you do like the way a bin was packed from the previous year, these labels will help you re-pack with little effort!

Tip 4: Store Logistically

I know what you are thinking – this is the same as number 2. OK, maybe it is similar but you will find new value in this tip. When putting your bins away, think about how you will use them next go around. You wouldn’t want to put your fall decor back behind the Christmas decor just because it is easy to do it now. Think about having to pull out all those Christmas bins next year just to get to your fall items – and then you will have to put them back!

Likewise, think about how you usually decorate around your home. You have to put lights and garland on the tree before the ornaments so why not put the lights and garland in front of the ornaments! Or if you always start with a particular room, make that the first bin in the group!

Tip 5: Leave a Legend

I did mention I was a little obsessed, right? Well here’s proof! Even through I have meticulously labeled all my bins with their precise contents and stored logistically I still can’t remember what’s in the bins in the back a year later without moving it all around. My solution? I make a legend of what’s in the storage area and I tape it to the door. It saves a lot of time and frustration in the long run. Even if I totally scrapped the other ideas I would keep this one.

Well, I have lots of tips in this area but these are my top 5 for now. I hope you have found them helpful! I’d love to here if these help you out! I would also love to hear about your tips as well! Please leave me a comment! After all I am always on the lookout for improvements!