Operation {Re}Organization

In turning my attention to a new calendar year, I've started to think about some goals for our home for the next year. New year, fresh start, right? I think others feel this way too based on recent posts from the blogs I read. I have most certainly caught the organization bug that seems to be going around. (It's mighty contagious!) Though I haven't done much other than simply unpack from our vacation and put Christmas decorations away (yet), I have been dreaming of ways to get going in the home organization department. Enter...

I added the {re} because I did feel like things were fairly organized at one point!

Living in a small space makes me hyper aware of the places that are "problem areas" in our apartment since I pretty much run into, literally, anything that doesn't have a proper home. I'm also amazed at how easily I lose things. How can I possibly misplace something in 654 square feet? It happens, all too often. Trust me. And while I'd love to just move everything out of our apartment and start over, I don't think that's gonna happen. One reason might have to do with the fact that I don't think our neighbors would appreciate us blocking the hallway to the elevators - ha.

So I decided to make a list of the spaces I'd like to tackle. It's embarrassing/highly motivating to list these for you. Please don't judge :). If I get the courage, maybe I'll even share some before pictures...but not today. Today is for listing the problems and showing you some pretty pictures of what I'd like to see happen. You know, light at the end of the proverbial tunnel kind of thing.

Here are the general spaces I'd like to see {re}organized with corresponding inspiring pictures that are admittedly idealistic. Never hurts to aim high, though. (Oh, and one more thing to note, we are renters, so there are some things that we just can't change; but I refuse to use that as an excuse!)

Front Hall Closet:

{via BHG}

{via Organizing Home Life}

{via Martha Stewart}

Under-Bed Storage:

{via Endless Crafting}

{via The Terp Blog}

{Mini Manor Blog via IHeart Organizing}

"Pantry" (pantry in quotes because there isn't one, but there are a couple of scattered areas we have designated for that purpose):

{The Social Home via IHeart Organizing} 

{via PBJstories}

{via Hi Sugarplum}

Home "Office" (office in quotes because it's really just a corner of our bedroom):

Our desk is similar to this one with sawhorse legs (and is slightly more "rustic-looking" - i.e. homemade), but I'm thinking a glass top would be a nice addition.

{via The Glitter Guide}

We've got an Ikea Expedit unit (the 4x2 version) that multitasks for us and includes some of our office storage. Perhaps it could look a little more like this:

{almostbunnies via Flickr}

Crafty Items (this has lots of overlap with the home office space since the supplies pretty much occupy the same area):

{via Centsational Girl}

{via BHG}

{via IHeart Organizing}

Over-the-Toilet Storage:

{via BHG}

{via IHeart Organizing}

{via Martha Stewart}

Yay for pretty inspiration pictures! Hopefully this will help me get my organizing rear in gear.

To help keep me on track, I think I'm going to try to participate in Jen's (over at IHeart Organizing) monthly organizing challenges. January's is home office month. I think that sounds like a good place to start, so I'm sure I'll be back with more posts related to that. Hooray for accountability!

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This post is a part of the series "Operation {Re}Organization." To see other posts in the series, click the tab at the top of the page.