Okay, I'm trying to get things organized around here. First off, I did a purge and got rid of everything we have not used in a year, all paperwork more than 4 years old, and anything we didn't want/need. I threw some, donated some, ect.

Now, my issue is finding storage space for what we do need/want. We live in a very small house, 800 sq feet, 2 bedrooms. There are 4, soon to be 5 people in here. My husband loves everything to be super organized and neat. I was raised to let the housework go and worry about other stuff... that isn't working in this space. We have a 2-1/2 year old, 10 month old, and I'm due in June with #3. All 3 kids are going to be sharing one room which is only about 12x10', our room is about 13'x13', we have a small kitchen, one tiny bath, tiny hall/linen closet, combo entry/dining room, and living room which we designated one corner for a play area (like it stays in that corner. ) We have an unfinished basement where the laundry is and a small room off that which is our home office. We run two businesses from home.. I do Medical transcription (that'll be ending soon and not resuming until the youngest is a bit older), and my husband owns a construction company. I do most of his secretary work as well as run the home finances.

Anyway, I need help... desperately. I forget things so much. Forget to pay a bill, mail this or that, pick up something at the store, can't find things when I need them. Everything is just really scattered and I'm basically starting from scratch here.

What storage ideas can you give me? What containers, ect should I be looking for? I got some underbed containers for the kids' blankets and extra sheets so that freed up a drawer in their dresser. Also bought a hanging shelf set for their closet for shoes and some clothing items. A shelf in the hallway closet is totally designated to diapers and wipes because I buy those all in bulk.

Shelving is an issue because half of the house has concrete/plaster walls and I cannot really put anything up on them.

I'm so overwhelmed... help.

TIA!

i don't have any suggestions, but i would love to nominate you for Deserving Design with Vern Yip! he surely could figure out something for you!! Good luck!

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The biggest thing that helped me use every inch of space in our house (which is just barely 700 sq ft) was getting hanging sweater bag things. (like the one in the middle of this picture)
I hung two in my closet and there is one in DS's closet (he had two when he was younger). It's a great use of vertical space. I put everything from sweaters to diapers/wipes, baby shoes to a shoe box of corded adapters and extension cords. If you have normal doors on your closets, hanging shoe organizers (which can hold lots more than just shoes) and hooks are great to put there too. (I can't - I have bi-fold doors... grr) Also, if you have regular doors that are solid, you can install towel rods on the inside of them and hang blankets/sheets, etc on the rods. Under bed storage is vital for me, as I have limited storage. Right now my Christmas decorations are under our bed (not where I really want them, but you gotta do what you gotta do).

Do you have any storage containers that double as seating? A bench that opens to put kids toys in, for instance? I feel your pain. I went through my house and did a very severe purge (ie: cut down to one set of sheets and a handful of pillowcases) and I'm still looking for ways to streamline the house and have a place for everything. If I figure anything else out, I'll be sure to let you know

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Hi! Wow, and I thought I had it tough with 4 people in a 2 BR house!

One thing I would HIGHLY recommend is this: BEFORE going out and buying all kinds of storage things, read Peter Walsh's "It's All Too Much". It's a very simple and fast read. I know reading is probably the last thing in the world you have time for right now, but I believe this will really help you tackle that desperate, overwhelming feeling you have right now.

The first part of the book talks about the pyschology of clutter and having things. This is NOT mumbo-jumbo! It's just very basic, common sense info. as well as extremely motivating. Once you read this part he then takes you through each room, step-by-step, showing you how to declutter and reorganize. (I can't emphasize enough how important the first part of the book is though. This will help you in the decision-making process when trying to organize.)

I consider myself an organized person and bought this book more out of interest than necessity. I can't say enough about how much it has helped me and continues to help me in my small home. For $7.99 at Amazon, it has been the best value ever!!

Good luck and congratulations!

I have a small house, too, and we love the storage that rolls underneath the bed. When I was a kid, I didn't have a closet, and my mom had all of my clothes in rolling wire baskets under my bed. It was really easy to put away my laundry! Maybe if you did that with some of your kids clothes or shoes, you could have room for some larger things that you would like to keep in their closet. Or they could each have a designated area.

I am absolutely anal about my kitchen countertops, I don't like to have any appliances on them except for the microwave. We put extra shelves in our kitchen cabinets, which helped A TON - they hold so much more now - and it was pretty easy. My countertops are always clutter free now!

I don't have a home office, so we keep all of our bills in a clip on the side of the fridge. They go in the order that we receive them, and so I know that the next bill/ I have to pay is/are on the front. We also keep coupons in a clip on the side of the fridge (but I don't use very many, this prob. wouldn't work for someone who usually does) as well as a grocery list, calendar, and a to do list. That is all that is there, so it doesn't get cluttered, doesn't get messed with unless it is me, because no one is interested in that stuff! haha

I wish you luck!!!!

I was the same way with forgetting when stuff was due, grocery items needed and other misc. things. What I did to solve that was I got a one week dry erase board that I put on my fridge I write everything on there that is going on each day and which day a bill is due, on the side of it is an area that is blank where as soon as I am out of something it gets wrote down.

When the mail arrives, I immediately go through and open the bills write on them when they are due as a reminder besides the board and put them in a small basket that sits on my kitchen counter that way I am bound to always see them.

The storage units that flybygrace mentioned is a great thing also utilizing the space underneath the beds is a all time must.

I will do some brainstorming about what you can or could use considering the type of walls you are dealing with.

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I would not overlook your wall space. If you have or could borrow a drill with a masonry bit for the concrete, or you could use wall anchors in the plaster walls to hang shelves, on the wall and in the closets.
I would recommend one of those hanging corner nets for the kids' stuffed animals. I would also recommend purging again. You can always get rid of more stuff.

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