Organizing a Small Space

As the new year rolls around, the internet is abuzz with resolutions, weight loss, and organizing goals. It is a great time to take a step back and evaluate the year ahead!
Before the new year gets too busy, lets take a moment and look at implementing some organizing habits into our daily lives.

I enjoy organizing – taking a space, rethinking it, and deciding how that space could be better used. This time of year usually presents a problem, however… since I have recently been gifted new things, I have to find a place for those items as well! While I certainly don’t mind receiving new things, I am very limited on space. I’ve developed a few “rules” that work well for me in my organizing endeavors!

1. Evaluate the space. Sometimes a space is not used to its maximum potential simply because it is not being used in the best way it could be. Yes, bookshelves are traditionally used to store books…but could the space be better used a different way? With all the cute cubbies and baskets these days, there is a ton of potential to use things in different ways. Try a few things and see what works best for your space!

2. Purge…and I mean, PURGE! As time goes on, I’m getting more and more annoyed with stuff. Christ warned us about this in Luke 12:15, “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Christ goes on to tell a parable {an earthly story with a heavenly meaning} that gives us an example of this attitude…and closely parallels society today! The man in the parable had so much bounty that he had to tear down his barns and build bigger. He didn’t realize that he was quickly nearing the end of his life, and that none of his stuff would be of any value to him anymore!

Our mindset in 2013 is much like this rich man. We build bigger houses, or garages, or rent storage units simply to store stuff that doesn’t matter for eternity. Think of all the time, money, and energy we could be using on the eternal if we weren’t spending it all up on the temporary.

With that mindset, I am ruthless when it comes to getting rid of things. If I haven’t used or worn it in the last 6-12 months, it gets donated or sold. Growing up my mom implemented this same idea – if we got a new toy, and old one had to be either rotated out or donated.

Look around – I bet you can find many things to purge out of your home, leaving you with more space for the things that you really need.

3. Use every available space. I have a teeny tiny bedroom that has to house me, my clothes, my library, and my small sewing business. I’ve learned to maximize the space and use every inch of it!

There is a little bit of space under my dresser…big enough for some narrow items like my scrapbooking paper and some packaging items for my business. {don’t mind the dust…}

Stashing things under the bed has a bad connotation – but if you are doing it as an organizing endeavor, I think it is ok. {wink!} I have several narrow boxes that hold my shoes, all my handbags and purses, plus more business supplies and fabric. Rarely used items get placed in the back, while the every day stuff is nicely lined up at the front. My bed packs more storage too – behind the headboard I store a large board and cutting mat that gets pulled out to make my bed a workspace!

I have quite a few books, and while I’d love to have a nice, big built-in to fit them all in perfect {still dreaming up plans for that!} for now I have to get by with a smaller bookcase. It is deep, however, so I utilized that and have two rows of books on some shelves. I used cereal boxes covered in scrapbooking paper to give the back row a boost, so I can clearly see what books are behind there!

4. Remember that your “loss” can be someone's gain. Find creative ways to rid your home of the things you don’t need, and perhaps bring in a few items that you can use.

• We have a great little non-profit store in our area that accepts donations. We enjoy shopping there as well, and have been able to get many items that were needed for a very low price. Donating locally is a great way to help your community!

• Right now the ladies in our church are having a swap. Anyone can bring in items they don’t need any more, in exchange for something you see that you would like to have! I got rid of several items this way, and was able to pick up a couple of craft books in exchange. You could organize this with some friends – it is almost like getting a yard sale experience for free! 🙂

• Selling used items online is very popular these days. Here in Canada we have Kijiji, but Craigslist is the same thing. I was able to sell two large bags of scrap fabrics that I couldn’t use – giving me some spending change to fuel my fabric addiction, ha!

• Simply give. Do you know of a family that is struggling or could just use some encouragement? It is not a bad thing to give away your used items. It doesn’t need to be a big charity event, just a simple, “I can’t use this anymore, could you?” will be sufficient. Clothing especially is something that can be given away! Just be sensitive to the needs of the other person…don’t give things that are junk or that they won’t be able to use. You can still give from the heart, even if the item is used.

The Bible commands us to be good stewards of the things God has given us, and I believe that includes taking care of even the small things in our life. The better we care for our things, the longer they will last us. What methods do you have to organize or purge your things? Anyone else have the challenge of a small space to work with?