I found 2 of these linen hanging organizers at Target last week on clearance for $3.74 each. They were originally priced at $14.99 each.
I grabbed ’em up and knew right away where I was going to use them. You see, Layne started kindergarten this fall. Who’da thought kindergarteners would bring home so much paperwork? From PTO newsletters to fundraiser info to weekly fluoride treatment consent forms…I’ve been slightly overwhelmed. {Layne calls it his ‘homework.’} Most of it gets tossed into the recycling bin but some is worth keeping and I haven’t found a good place to put it. That is, not until I found these Real Simple bad boys.
Our mini mudroom is drop-zone central for coats, backpacks, shoes, hats, bags, etc. {It was once a cumbersome hall closet. See how we DIY’d it into a multitasking mudroom here over on Young House Love.} So, I figured what better place to add organization, right? I used 4 drywall anchors and coordinating screws to secure the 2 hanging organizers to the narrow mudroom wall {just left of the bench if looking head-on}.
Then, to make ’em a little more personal, I stamped the boys’ names onto the back of the Real Simple cards that came with the organizers.
Everett isn’t in school {not even preschool} yet, so I’ll probably just throw some extra pairs of undies in his for a while…or his coloring artwork. God forbid I don’t get him something that Layne got! Layne’s will come in handy for school reminders, consent forms and his weekly school library book {that we often have trouble finding the morning it’s due back}. And I love the fact that these will grow with the boys. Homework, here we come!
I could see these hanging organizers working just as well in an office or craft room. And what about as mail sorters? Yes, siree. Finding ways to keep our home clutter-free and running smoothly is fun to me. Nerdy? Absolutely. But it preserves my sanity. And a mother’s sanity is a worthy investment. Especially if it only costs $7.48.
images: all by Dana Miller for House*Tweaking
budget decor, DIY, kid-friendly, organization