TAT About my Closet Organization

Organizing things brings out a giddyness in me that is different than any other feelings of joy in my heart. :D A few weeks ago I had a great idea for my coat closet as I was cleaning out Lydia's closet. {Organizing one thing often leads to another!} She had a hanging shelf in her closet that I knew she wouldn't need once we got her dresser finished and put to use in her room. I knew I could use it in the coat closet. For a couple of weeks that hanging shelf has been contributing to the clutter on the side of my bed {that I STILL need to get to} and I finally got tired of tripping over it. So I cleared out everything on the floor of my coat closet {only closet outside of a bedroom or bathroom in our house}, swept the floor then realized I didn't take a before picture. Because I'm a little OCD like that and you couldn't truly appreciate the transformation without the before picture I put everything back and clicked a picture. Then the fun began!

I put the hanging shelf up and designated each of us a shelf. Shawn's has his go to gear - pt belts, hat & gloves, beret, gloves and liners that he wears with his ACUs and his blue book that he has to have in his ACUs at all times. My shelf has my gloves, scarf & purse {less kitchen counter clutter!}. Michael & Lydia's shelves holds their gloves, hat and jackets. Why jackets? Well, we can't install lower rods in their closets because we're on post so when I tell them to pick their jackets up off the floor in the living room, kitchen or hallway they still end up on the floor in their bedroom where I usually trip on them. If their jackets go on the shelf along with their hat & gloves they can put it ALL away ALL on their own!

This is why organizing things make me so happy. It's not just that things are in place but it's helping to keep clutter off of other spaces {ie kitchen counter} and helping my kids learn how to keep track of their own stuff {jackets} PLUS my husband will no longer be asking me where his pt belt is. :D I'm giddy just thinking of the many rewards!

The very top shelf in the closet holds two typewriters that were accidently packed into my belongings when we moved. They belong to my great grandmother and I haven't figured out a way to get them back to her in California without costing me an arm and a leg. The lower shelf used to hold the sappy plates that go in Shawn's IBA {body armor from Iraq} and a tub that had misc electronic accessories. Now that bottom shelf has space for our board games & a space for me to put things I need to remember - currently holding a bag of items I need to return to the store.

I had to put the stroller back in the closet for now but after Christmas I'll bag it up & put it in the shed in case we do have another baby {at some point NOT anytime soon - Chriss ;) } Shawn's assault pack, A bag and IBA will go in Lydia's closet until our room & closet gets an organization overhaul. The extra space under the coats may hold some shoes at some point but not until I have a basket or shelf designated for that. I haven't decided what the bottom shelf will hold. I think I'll put a large ziploc bag in there with diapers & wipes so I can quickly grab it on our way out.

Can you feel my happiness? To see what others are talking about click the button above. Thanks for visiting & I hope you can find some organizational joy this week. :D

P.S. I'm writing this post a week before posting it and linking to Lazy's blog. I'll be visiting family so I may not get around to visiting other TATers until we're back home.