Zones for Family Room Organization

Photo Credits By: Carrie Qualters

It may be helpful to have a true vision of how you want the room that you will be organizing to look in appearance. Also, you should decide on the main purpose and function of the room.

Photo Credits: By Carrie Qualters

You may decide to select a few different zones for your room when developing your organizing plan. One specific room in your home may need to be multifunctional for your family. A family room is a good example of this type of room.

Photo Credits: By Maegan Tintari

It is a common practice for many people to actually incorporate a little office space into their main living area. A nice office desk and a few coordinating shelves may easily blend into a family room environment. 

The advances in today's technology make it conducive for moms, dads and teenagers to want a little office space of their own at home. The family room is a common place to organize a small corner area dedicated for a desk, chair, and a few shelves.

Photo Crefits: By Carrie Qualters

Another popular section of a family room is an area set aside specifically for reading and enjoying some relaxation.

As you can easily see, one family room could function well with the following three individual zones:

1. Television/Movie/Gaming Zone

2. Home Office Zone

3. Reading Zone

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25 Tips For Organizing Your Kitchen

Photo Credits: By Sonja Lovas

Are you ready to read about some helpful tips on the subject of organizing the kitchen? I think the above photo is a prime example of a beautifully organized kitchen. 

Most people have busy schedules every day and it is so easy for their kitchens to become somewhat disorganized at times. Good organizing habits and a little daily maintenance can help to keep the kitchen area clean and free of clutter.

When my kitchen is organized, it definitely saves me a great deal of time and effort when I am preparing my family meals. I can cook more efficiently and I actually enjoy cooking a little more when my kitchen is decluttered. I have a great passion in general for organizing the house. That is the main reason that I became a professional organizer.

Many women need to spend a lot of time in the kitchen each day. It may be helpful to keep the kitchen organized, so your time spent in the kitchen is more enjoyable. These are some of my organizing ideas and tips that I personally use in my own kitchen.

1. I try to keep all kitchen countertops free of unnecessary clutter.
2. It is helpful to clean up and wipe my kitchen countertops immediately after preparing my family meals. 
3. We load the dishwasher after meals. I make sure the kitchen sink is clean and free of any dishes every evening before bedtime, so our family can enjoy a clean kitchen for breakfast.
4. Every evening, I clear the countertops of any unnecessary clutter that may have accumulated throughout the day.
5. When I clean my kitchen, I organize one cabinet at a time and just concentrate on that "one specific task" until I complete it and move on to the next task. 
6. I place most of the kitchen items that I frequently use in an appropriate safe area where I have easy access to them.
7. It may be helpful to keep any kitchen appliances that you do not use on a daily basis inside your kitchen cabinets, instead of keeping them on top of your countertops. (This may provide some extra space for your food preparation area.)
8. You may decide to place large or heavy kitchen appliances that are not routinely used everyday on a bottom shelf inside a lower kitchen cabinet. (A possible example would be a large or heavy-duty kitchen mixer that is only used periodically.)
9. I keep "like"or similar items together inside my cabinets, such as the following categories: dinner plates, bowls, glasses, coffee mugs, pots and pans, etc.
10. I have a Lazy Susan for my collection of spices that I use for cooking every day.
11. I labeled clear plastic containers to keep my vitamins in specific categories.
12. There are a variety of pull-out shelves that you can purchase for kitchen cabinets. These are helpful for easy access to your frequently used kitchen items.
13. I had a few drawers in my kitchen that used to be "junk" drawers, until I neatly organized everything by using individual drawer dividers.
14. In my pantry, I have placed all of the items with the oldest expiration dates in the front section of my shelving. I will be more likely to use these items first.
15. I routinely label all of my left-over food stored in my refrigerator with the content and the correct date.
16. I try to clean and wipe inside of my refrigerator before I go to the grocery store for a large order of food. I do a visual inventory of the food items inside my refrigerator and freezer before I go to the store, so I am less likely to buy duplicate items when shopping.
17. I keep one separate list of any specific items that I need to restock my pantry when I go to the store each week to buy my groceries.
18. If I happen to come across a kitchen item that I haven't used in quite awhile, I place the item in a separate box and put it away for a month to see if I still need to keep that item or I may decide to donate it. 
19. Also, we keep one separate "donation" box at our house to collect any items that we no longer need or want anymore.
20. I keep a labeled basket in one specific area in my kitchen to collect the mail until I sort through it each day.
21. It is so nice to have a dedicated area in the kitchen to have a small desk and a little shelf, or even a basket for your favorite cookbooks. The desk area is a great place for menu planning and paying bills. An action folder on top of your desk may be helpful to remind you of current bills, letters, appointments, etc. The desk area is an excellent place to keep your calendar, bulletin board, or weekly menu planner posted for your family.
22. Recently, I have narrowed down my very large collection of cookbooks. I decided to only keep the ones that I use frequently. I donated several cookbooks. There is a nice consignment store in our area that even sells used cookbooks, which is helpful.
23. I have been cutting out some of my favorite recipes from magazines and keeping them all togehter in plastic protector sheets inside one special binder that I made specifically for recipes. 
24. I also made one individual binder with various categories: home organizing projects, vacation plans, school projects, home improvement plans, decorating ideas, etc. 
25. Lastly, I use a printed grocery list that I can easily modify each week. 

Photo Credits: By Susan Serra, CKD 

I thought the above photo was a beautiful example of a desk area within an organized kitchen.

I hope you enjoyed our discussion about organizing tips for the kitchen. Also, you may want to check out a helpful link regarding specific organizing products: Kitchen Cabinets and Pantry Organizers at 
http://www.organizedatoz.com/Shelf-Organizers-s/46.htm?click=7114.

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Ten Smart Organizing Tips - Time Management That Really Works

By Jane Alais 

There are ten smart organizing tips to manage your time in a productive satisfying way. Time management is defined as the ability to arrange, organize and schedule your time so you are more effective and productive in everything you do. Here are ten simple tips that will organize your day and let you do more with less.

1. Match task with time. Use this organizing tip to schedule time consuming tasks on less busy days, giving you the ability to organize your week better. This also prevents you from scheduling more than you can do to streamline your week.

2. Plan ahead and write things down. This often means using a planner and taking a bird's eye view of what you want to accomplish. This lets you preplan grocery shopping consolidate errands, schedule in the time you need for your business or work and plan quality time with friends or family.

3. Think about creating a schedule and blocking time into half hour or hour time periods. This lets you limit distractions, creates focus and makes clear boundaries between work and play.

4. Organize as you go: spending a few moments organizing your desk, making a short list, or filling in a planner is a best time saver you can do. Small organizing moments can save hours in your week.

5. Limit multi tasking. Research has shown multi tasking may actually work as a distraction decreasing your ability to finish tasks efficiently. Get clear on the outcome or result you want to create and focus fully on the task you are doing at that time.

5. Group similar tasks together. Try consolidating errands, phone calls, e-mails, housework, or any personal projects. Doing similar or related tasks together gets you into the zone and often tasks flow to completion.

6. Develop a rhythm or routine for the things you have to do. Scientists state complex tasks become easier and general tasks can be done quicker when part to the process becomes a routine. Doing tasks at certain times of the day or week get you into a rhythm creating momentum and energy around what you do.

7. Prioritize daily. Look at your day and highlight the tasks that would bring you the most benefit. Put these at the top of your list and do them first.

8. Focus on task completion. Always start with the end in mind. If you are unable to complete a larger task break it down into smaller actions and focus on completing each step.

9. Set aside refresh time. If you find getting work done is really difficult you may not be scheduling enough time to rejuvenate and relax. Having a balance of work and play helps you to work quicker with more enthusiasm and concentration.

10. Reassess at the end of the day. Take a few minutes to re think your success or what you need to improve and make a plan for the next day. These little shifts in action that can help you be productive and efficient.

Time management skills are essential for anyone who works, manages a home and family, studies or is working in a home business. Try these smart organizing tips for better time management and increased efficiency.

Want to clear clutter and manage time better? Click here and to go to http://www.declutterbefree.com for your special free report.

Jane Alais is a professional organizer, the creator of Declutter Befree.com and the author of Get Organized-Get Happy A Step by Step Guide to Clear Clutter and Organize Success. She writes about strategies and solutions to declutter, organize and energize your home and your life.

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