Using Shelves to Get Organized

Lack of efficient storage space is often a key problem for many people when they try to get their home organized. Although it’s certainly important to reduce clutter and discard anything you don’t really need, you also need an efficient way to store the things you plan to keep. If you are currently trying to get your home better organized, it might be time to look at shelves. Shelves can be used in a wide variety of ways to store and organize items in a neat and easily accessible fashion. Here are a few shelving ideas you can use to help bring a bit more organization to your own home.

Choosing the Best Shelves for Your Needs

Before you run right out and buy a new bookcase or a few wall shelves to install, you should first take the time to assess your need and examine your home. Take a tour around your home, looking for areas that could possibly benefit from shelves. For example, if your family has a habit of scattering their books around the house, a full height bookshelf in the family room could be the perfect solution. In a small child’s room, a short bookcase or long shelves along the wall could be much more effective than a toy box. In the kitchen, you could clear off valuable countertop area by installing a few shelves designed to hold canisters, small appliances or other accessories. Once you’ve got a good idea as to where you’d like to use shelves, take some measurements. You’ll also need to decide as to whether wall shelves, bookcases, or another kind of shelving options would be the best choice.

Shelves in the Kitchen

The kitchen is a great place to use shelves to get organized. You might opt to install a long shelf around the entire top edge of the room, which can be used to neatly display collectibles or seldom used china or serving pieces. A few short wall shelves installed over the countertop work area could transform wasted space into an efficient baking center. Adding a baker’s rack to the kitchen is also a great way to add a few shelves in a very stylish fashion.

Shelves in the Family Room

Because the average family room is such a busy place, it can often be especially challenging to keep it organized. By adding one or more full height bookcases to the family room, you’ll add plenty of storage space while using very little floor area. Even if you only have room for one bookcase, you can use it to display art objects or store books, games and toys.

Shelves in the Bedroom

Shelves can often be especially handy in a child’s bedroom. As compared to a toy box, shelves can keep toys better organized and visible. If your child is constantly tossing toys on the floor as he or she digs through the toy box, shelves could be the perfect organizational solution. In a teenager or adult’s bedroom, shelves can be used to store books, personal items, music collections, and many other items in a very space efficient and organized fashion. Add a few bins, baskets or boxes to the shelves for even more organized storage options.