Since we're having such a rainy fall I decided to get a jump on my closet organizing which I usually do in the dead of winter.
When we were remodeling the basement many times we had to build soffits or closets to hide heat ducts and other unsightly necessities. And right at the bottom of our basement stairs we had a heat duct and some electrical cable connections that needed to disappear so I had the closet built with double doors and very deep, wide shelves. The closet was one of the last things built which means I was construction weary, facing surgery and to make things even more hectic I was called for jury duty! So when the shelves were finally installed I just piled stuff in with no organization at all. And what starts out with no organization just gets worse...and worse...and worse.
In half the closet I keep light bulbs, candles, lanterns and flashlights and this side is actually pretty well organized. But the other half of the closet is where I keep all my confections for cookies and cupcakes, infrequently used small appliances, candy making equipment and large tupperware-like containers for storage and it was a horrible mess.
I mean really look at these shelves!
So I totally emptied the confection/baking side of the closet and put it all in the middle of the basement floor.
I know I have a lot of confections but I do bake quite a bit and I love to sprinkle. So I organized all the confections, sanding sugars, nonpareils and jimmies per holiday or season and then by color.
This is about half of my stash of confections. It was nice to organize them because now I know I'm low on 4th of July and St. Patrick's Day sprinkles and almost completely out of orange jimmies!
Sugar Confections will fade if exposed to light. So make sure to store them in a dark closet or in a lidded box.
I'm going to blame my bulk store for feeding my obsession because they have the most wonderful assortment of decorations for every season and holiday imaginable. There's easily 100+ bins of different colored sugars and decorations.
After I organized all the confections, it really did not take me long at all to put the closet in order. And look at all the room I have!
I feel so much better now!
Next on the list is the other large basement closet which now contains all our wine and my hiking gear plus all the dogs hiking gear. Should be interesting..LOL!
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33 comments:
I always get disenchanted after I get everything pulled out. And then I just shove it all back in again.
GREAT job! I, too, love to oragnize closets and it IS a great wintertime activity! I just FEEl so much better when things are all organized and orderly.....I know.....:):)
I have been working this week on cupboards, closets, freezer, frig--but I have more stuff to get done. It DOES make one feel so good!! And really sometimes it doesn't take too much time. Like you said, you find out what you are out of etc.
I am wondering where you hike. I will have to see if you say where you are from...my oldest son lives in the Seattle area and does a lot of hiking in the Mountains around there!
oh love the dogs hiking gear he he
Wow - that's a lot of sprinkles! But it's worth it to be so organized. Linda
that is amazing! and inspiring. those sugars look so pretty organized in bags like that, i just love it.
I love neat organized spaces - I need to get busy. Thanks for sharing.
Superb! And cute cookie jars stashed in the back :D
Also love your Rotties!
Jane T.
Boy, do I need to do that to some of my closets around here!!
I love your header!
Rhonda
Wow, nice work! I need to clean out our pantry, too. :-P
I'll bet you feel good after getting that done! I always feel good after organizing something ~ whether it's a closet, drawers, or whatever needs it.
Doesn't that feel awesome! I love organizing closets...well, not so much the organizing part, as the finished result. :-) Your header pic is soooo cute...made my evening just seeing it. :-)
susan
it always feels good to clean out closets - it seems like I always find things I forgot I had too!
Super great organizing skills - now you know what you got !
Kammy
Great job!! I have a few cabinets that I need to clean out!
Wow, what a closet transformation! You must be so pleased with the result.
Jane
I do really well for a while but then one day in a hurry stuff will just get shoved in, then a bag will break and there will be sugar all over then I will buy more of something that I already had and ...well you get the picture.
Good for you for getting organized.
Good for you! I also started organizing my much overdue mess in the pantry.
Doesn't it make you feel so much better?
You have given me the added inspiration I need. Thank you!
If you organize more please post it.
Yvonne
Now that you have practice, can I interest you in cleaning out my pantry? ;) I have a shelf that is lots of partially opened bags of chocolate chips, PB chips, sprinkles, etc... It's on my to-do list for the next week or so (along with rearranging my whole kitchen - eek!).
Excellent! Well done, and how marvelous you must feel having completed it. I do love the pic with bins and bins of baking confections. Very dangerous place for me.
First, where is that store. Tell me please. Second I though I was bad , but you have me beat. You could open a shop.
Lovely job, I wanna come bake with you! What bulk store is that? We used to have a Home Economist but it closed many years ago. Stop by for a visit soon!
Michelle
Why is it that some simple organizing makes me feel settled inside?? It looks great!!...and the photos of the dogs is terrific!
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Great looking closets now! You do have a lot of sprinkles!
I am getting ready to paint the sports room, man cave, smoking room (it is seperate from the house, no smoking in my house) place where we all watch the big screen! It will be a job, but someone has to do it!
Michelle, I don't care how messy your place is... I am so jealous now! We hardly get any sprinkles here! WOW! You have an amaaazing collection! And doggie hiking gear should be very intersting! :)
You're so right. When things start getting jumbled up, it only gets worse. And worse. Good job on getting it organized. I hate it when I can't find something I need!
Brenda
Love the feeling after getting organized. She store with the bins would get me in TROUBLE!! What fun though.
A great collection!
I keep mine in tin lunch boxes, but I don't have nearly the amount you have.
The heat ducts don't effect the sugars? Or is it a cold air return?
Natashya,
It's a heat duct. I didn't even think of the heat effecting the sugars. But they've beens stored in this closet for over a year now so all last winter and no problems. But the sugars are on the middle shelf, a good 2-3' from the heat duct.
So far so good!
Michelle
Yikes...now I'm getting embarrassed by how atrocious my pantry looks. Organizing always makes a great metamorphosis :O)
peace.
OH MY, I love it when things get organized....but that is not why I had to drop you a quick note! I LOVE YOUR PUPPIES! We had two Rotties, Boz and Kiesha, who alas are no longer with us. We have a lab now, but I will always love our Big Black Dogs. Thanks for sharing pictures of yours!
Wow, you did a great job in organizing that closet. Now you have inspired me to get to work on my pantry, which looks like your "before" picture!
Cass
Great job! Isn't it a good feeling to organize?
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