Me + IKEA = Idea - Launch Station Part 2

So I had an idea.

For our family to have a place in our home that will help make us more organised.

I had some inspiration.

Ok so it was more like dreaming, but it did provide me with a foundation on which to build.
I had the perfect place to shop and the perfect shopping buddy...

IKEA

with Katrina from The Organised Housewife.

Ok so there was lots of blog talk and of course we had to have breakfast in the Ikea restaurant, but we also did lots of shopping, well three hours worth actually!

I found lots of bits and pieces but my biggest find was

.....STUVA! 

STUVA, a  new range from IKEA appears to be targeted towards kids rooms but

IKEA does versatility like no one else.

This range comes in so many varied colours, combinations, and add ons it is great for any room or decor! 

Oh how I love IKEA!

This storage combination is AMAZING!

Believe it or not I don't think I need this whole set but it provides great inspiration!

In particular I love the bench seat with HUGE storage drawers underneath.

I dont really have need for cupboards for such big cupboards in our space.

The first item on the wish list are the..

Bench drawers. 

Perfect for storing school bags, hand bags, violins, out of sight!

I am thinking two of these side by side under our big window with 

some gorgeous cushions on top.

The perfect spot for reading those home readers! 

Naturally you can even choose what style of drawer you prefer.  

For me personally, our decor suits this more classic style with its simple black handles. 

The configurations in this range are endless!

Two large bottom drawers and a top cupboard.

There is a combination to suit any storage problem!

IKEA is also budget friendly and it is easy to buy what you need

 or can afford now and build on it bit by bit.  

But wait there's more...

Remember that versatility? 

The drawer pulls out and it becomes a desk, perfect for the first few years of school!

So what do you think?  Is it going to work?

Have you been to Ikea lately?

Spill the beans, what did you buy??

Talking chalk.....Fiona Kate Chalkboard Labels

Remember our Project Playroom?

Well we had an awesome TROFAST storage system from IKEA that now houses the majority of our toys.....there is just one problem.....

It was looking like this....

No it's not the poor excuse for lighting when taking a photo

and yes some have been put back into their spot with a crooked lid.....

Notice the labels?

I am a MASSIVE fan of labelling things. 

 Organising and storage are great but without labels 

the items will NEVER find their way back to their home.

My label maker and I go way back.

But this was just one job too big for my little DYMO.

I have had many attempts at conquering this problem.

I tried printing out labels on the computer, laminating them and sticky taping them on....

Only one has survived (the little puzzles label at the bottom).

I then tried to use some letter stickers from a dollar store.  

These were ok, but after a month, wear and tear had got the better of them.  

Funnily enough they had a way of coming of the boxes when I needed them on and 

then when I wanted them off I had to scrub them off!!!

But finally we have a solution.........

Enter Fiona Kate - Simple Storage Solutions

Fiona Kate

Chalkboard Labels!!!!!

Simply write, using chalk onto the labels

For younger children you can add some little pictures to make it easier for them to "read"

Stick them onto your containers and....

You have a fun and functional way of labelling your containers!

Here is what I love about them.

Function.  

They can be written on and personalised.

You can change them with a simple wipe.

We are always culling and resorting toys as the kids grow older so the labels need to be changed accordingly. This is sooo easy with the chalkboard labels.

They can be used anywhere!

They are easy to apply

They are durable

Fun.  

Who doesn't want to have a turn using the chalk to write on them.

A great way to help your children take ownership of organising

 is involving them in the process!

Master O has sneakily been found wiping off the labels so I will let him write on them!

Style

They come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit your project.

Price

Affordable!!!!

The "dot" and rectangular chalkboard labels retail for $12.95

We have used them in our playroom but you could use them;

In the kitchen to label tea and coffee jars or pantry containers

In the wardrobe so your clothes stay organised on the shelves.

Near the phone to jot down messages.

The possibilities are endless.

Fiona Chandler (the owner of Fiona Kate) established the business in 2007 and as a busy Mum of 4 children,  (and 6 chickens, a rabbit and a cat) she HAS to be organised!

Her online store is stocked with clever and innovative storage products.

From Giant storage boxes that double as tables to the divine "postie" for displaying pictures and cards, her products are all made "toddler tough"

Her fresh and creative designs are created at night after the kids have gone to bed.

So what does a typical day look like for this WAHM?

"Up in the morning post the blog,
cup of tea- very important
 load of washing on
breakfast
make lunches and beds
 chase the kids to feed the pets
 clear up
 remind kids to get dressed
sort out the deliveries
try and fit in email
 remind kids to get dressed
hang the washing
 remind kids to get dressed
sign notes
 remind kids to get dressed
walk to school, oli rides home with me
drop deliveries at post office

this is the same most days
then it’s a mix of fun stuff for Oli , a bit of email , a trip to manufacturer and or warehouse
walk to school for pick up and the afternoon begins
homework, friends over, sport, music etc
"work" doesn't begin until 7pm!

You can find Fiona Kate on Facebook

or online at 

fionakate.com.au

Now that we have the toys labelled and organised we just need to find a way to 

make them pick themselves up!!!

Why didn't I think of that?? 3 Clever Organising Ideas

Inner B

The Button's in a Business Card Holder!

I have not had a good track record of keeping track of those buttons, sequins and beads and threads that come with new items of clothing.  I have just been throwing them out as whenever I need one, I can't find it anyway!  This is such a simple and clever idea.  Simply place them into a business card holder.  Use a scrap of cardboard, tape them on and write which item of clothing its for!!!

Good Housekeeping

I don't want to imagine ow many bobby pins I have lost in my lifetime!

This is a magnetic paperclip holder!

What a great way to store bobby pins all together!

Green Apple Organising - Cable Labels

These should be free with every electronic purchase!

Until the world is wireless, these are a must.

How many times have you been under he desk pushing and pulling at cables trying to figure out what is connected to what?

Or even worse we have a HUGE box of cables and cords, I have no idea what they are for!!!

Why didn't I think of that!!!!

A space, a shelf, a solution.....The InstaHANGER from Green Apple Organising

Well our bathroom organisation project has definitely left us with the organisation bug 

and this is one bug we are in no hurry to get rid of! 

Our organisation fever has  moved on from the bathroom 

and now taken its hold on the wardrobe!

In particular Master O's wardrobe has long been cause of heart palpitations with an overwhelming amount of clothes, shoes, socks, underwear, swimwear, even a large family of stuffed toys have taken up residence amongst the chaos. 

In particular I have been searching for a way of storing and organising his clothes so that he can independently get dressed (in appropriate clothes) in the mornings.

Sending him off to get dressed often results in him reappearing with his swim suit bottoms, a jumper, socks and sandals.  As much as I appreciate his european styling, I am not sure it would meet "Kindy standards" and so we waste another half an hour arguing, wrestling the clothes off getting him changed.

With his first year of school uniforms rapidly approaching I was starting to get frantic!

We have the space but just not the solution.

Then I spied this little piece of inspiration...

Living Locurto

Amy from Living Locurto was in a similar predicament when she created this great system for her son!

I must admit the procrastinator in me bit and although I saw this picture months ago, I have not done anything about it!

Well to be fair it was not just procrastination but the how-would-this-work-for-us question?

Master O has to be able to reach the clothes for this to be effective?

How can you put a clothes rail at his height?

Do we really have room for a whole other clothes rail in his cupboard?

How would you install it?

enter......

The InstaHANGER

$19.99

Green Apple Organising

 I found this little beauty when I recently stumbled upon a life changing website. 

Green Apple Organising.  

Australian based, Adele from Green Apple not only has the most amazing products 

but inspiring videos with time saving and simple snippets of organising gold!

I had massive organisers envy when I browsed her online store but there was one product I had to HAVE!

This product the InstaHANGER is the perfect solution to our wardrobe problem!

Basically its a mini hanging shelf that can be put almost anywhere you need some extra shelf space!

It can be installed anywhere!  On a door, wall, cupboard or in our case in the wardrobe!

Here it is!!!

We are putting it at Master O's eye level so that he can see what he is to wear each day.

Each coathanger has a day of the week tag on it so I can help him plan for a week of clothes!

The InstaHANGER is the perfect size, stable and can hold 50lbs of weight.

and.....

It has made the most of the unused space underneath the current clothes rail!

Children's clothes are so short that you often have unused space (at their reach!)

I would love to have one in the laundry to place clothes on once I have ironed them.

Or in our guest bathroom for guests to put their clothes on whilst they have a shower.

Or in our entryway for school jumpers and work jackets.

ANYWHERE!

It is great because when you are not using it just folds discretely against the wall. (see the little inset picture above) and can be used inside and outside!

The InstaHANGER is available online through Green Apple Organising

but beware they have sooo many clever products (more of which you will read about on here!) and Adele's You Tube Clips are addictive

and will only encourage your organising bug may take hold of your life! 

That can't be a bad thing, can it?

Jewellery Organisation

Notice that little pile of necklaces so casually thrown on the floor?

(Bottom right)

Thats what happens when.....

You have a treasure hunter, delving into the jewellery drawer

unearthing sparkly finds and taking them back to add to her collection!

This was driving me INSANE!

Mainly because she "chooses" to play this game, whilst I am in the franic

I HAVE TO LEAVE IN 10 MINUTES

morning rush!

As part of Operation Bathroom

I HAD to find a solution to this disaster!

Enter......IKEA!

Ok so by now, you have surely realised I am obsessed with IKEA

but when ti comes to organisation, they have it covered AND its cheap!!!

In the wardrobe department I discovered this little beauty....

a sliding hook organiser...

I have attached it to the inside of our Walk In Robe.

Can you spy it?

It is so carefully hidden away from the treasure seekers!

There it is!Two lines of hooks, just made to store necklaces, bangles etc!

and when I want to take somehting off, or view what I have...

It just slides out!

I LOVE IT!!!

I can now see everything that I have

It's not tangled and the hooks help keep it that way!

I can't stop playing with it!

You could put this inside a bathroom cupboard, on a wall, anywhere!

It would also be great for hair bands or belts!

The possibilities are endless!

SO what do you think?

Meet you at IKEA???

Of course now that I have entered the wardrobe, I have to start organising it too!

Can't wait to share some great finds from Green Apple Organising