Plastic or Plastic? The Handy Dandy Plastic Bin
As I work through my house one space at a time, (sad I know, but even the obsessive aren’t able to do EVERYTHING at once) in my mind, my home will look like a page out of Pottery Barn or at the very least a small editorial in Southern Living. Beautiful wood furniture in pristinely decorated spaces with aesthetically pleasing color palettes. You know the rooms I am talking about…the storage containers that blend seamlessly into the landscape of the room in a way that not only organizes but enhances the surroundings. I fantasize about this. I clip pictures of these rooms. Then I remember…Oh yeah, I live in real life…
In this picture from Pottery Barn, see how the buckets perfectly enhance the decor and provide storage? Gives me goosebumps.
In my real life with my real family and my real budget, I use plastic containers in my closets, cabinets, and storage units. Plastic containers and labels from my handy dandy label maker. So, when my laundry room cabinets got too much for me to handle…my shopping cart looked like this…
There is a process for using plastic containers. In order to optimize your space and the use of containers, you should (1) always use square shaped containers. Odd shaped containers will not make full use of cubic area. (2) Measure your space. Select containers that fit neatly into the area you have available. (3) As with any organizing project you will need to empty the area; purge old, broken, or unneeded items; and sort items into logical categories. Then it is time to go hunt for your containers! For this particular project I chose Sterilite brand items. They have clasping lids, come in a variety of different sizes, and they stack neatly with corresponding notches in the bases and lids. I was super excited with the end result…what do you think? Not only can I find everything I need, but my previously overcrowded shelves, now have some EMPTY containers that I can expand into as needed.
Pottery Barn it isn't, but it still makes my heart flutter!
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Comments
Comment from Michelle "Chaos Caretaker"
Time October 28, 2009 at
Agreed, Lauree! This picture perfect shelving unit seems void of any children. There is nothing out of place nor is there the tell-tale sheet of dust that has accumulated on everything while the house-keeper (“Mom”) is multi-tasking a billion different activities. Additionally there aren’t holes in the walls where the children have attempted to climb the ladder and jump from the top shelf. 
Comment from Lauree
Time October 28, 2009 at
The open storage that looks like ladders is beautiful but it is pretty obvious that person does not have any boys.