31 Days To a Less Messy Nest :: Day 2
Oh ye young lassies out there who have yet to experience the 15 years of marriage to a man with stuff and 13 years of raising boys with stuff, let me speak my words of hard earned wisdom to your yearning, youthful years, I mean ears.
ONLY USE SQUARE CONTAINERS. DON’T GET THE ROUND STORAGE THINGS.
Square baskets, wooden cornered bins and tins can all fit nicely together side by side using up every inch of space. Round or oval baskets don’t work as well in drawers, shelves, and tables.
if it’s square leave it there, if it’s round, don’t let it be found.
Well Said Nester! As a not so young Lassie with 5 wee ones I thank you for this series.
Kariann
New follower here! I’m always looking for ways to declutter so I look forward to your future posts.
I live just outside of Charlotte. Yay Queen City! :)
Square not round. I’ll remember that!
Huh. I have a few large roundish baskets I’ve noticed lately loitering, unused, on top of dressers or in corners. I have a few rectangular baskets next to each other on my entry bookcase and on shelves that function well. Now it makes sense!
This married-for-15-and-parent-for-11-years woman gives a hearty, “Here! Here!” So true, so true.
Thanks for the great advice. I seem to be drawn to round containers, but you are right they are much harder to work with. I will remember this suggestion next time I find myself day-dreaming about a round storage container. Loving the organizing advice.
You crack me up !
Hello? Why didn’t you tell me this 6 years ago when all of that “Beehouse” stuff was popular? I am wondering if someone has pie-shaped containers that would go well in a lazy susan. =]
Thank you for these posts – I need them!
Sounds to me like you have a perfect idea to take to market. Go with it!
Agreed!! VERY good advice! So profound, yet so simple!
I am LOVING your series, and it’s only day 2!! Yippeeee! All the things I will learn. :)
♥ Amber
Silver Lining
So simple, but so true! Great tip. I’m excited for the next 29 days! :)
I’m following along with the 31 days. And will make sure that I follow this rule from now on. Already I can see boxes and containers that will soon be gone.
Probably most helpful rhyme when dealing with living with boys other than, “If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie, wipe the seatie.”
Thanks :) I am defiantely one of the inexperienced ones! I am the mother of a 5 year old girl and a 3 year old boy – and we live in an apartment, and don’t have a lot of room. So, I need all the help I can get. Square, not round. Got it!
I never thought about it! But that makes absolute sense. Thanks for the advice!
ashleyanderic.blogspot.com
Great advice~ thanks for sharing.
Cheers for a great yard sale today. <3
This cracked me up! :)
Huey Lewis would be proud.
Woah! I was scrolling down to leave a comment and saw this. I LOVED Huey Lewis and still do! :) Hip to be Square, right?! :)
Oh so true…thanks for sharing this simple nugget of advice.
Good point, all that wasted space in corners that aren’t filled by round edged containers!
Funny I should come across this post. I had just gotten through emptying the dishwasher and trying to find space for several of those dreaded plastic storage containers. You know that cabinet you hate to open because everything will come tumbling down? As I looked at the mess, it occurred to me that if I would just stick with SQUARE plastic containers and get rid of the ROUND ones everything would fit in there better. I think the round ones will be departing today….
Well, now you tell me! ;) I’ve noticed that even in the fridge–the round stuff just doesn’t fit as well. Loving your series so far. :)
Uh! Such a great tip! I love how we can reply to each other, too!
That’s so about the frig!! Why have I not ever put that together! Salad dressing is so much easier than the jar o pickles! Ya’ll are sooooo smart!
so right about the frig I mean
profound. ;-)
So true! Square is so much more accommodating. Loved your rhyme at the end.
That IS a good tip!!
Genuis. It’s simple geometry (geometry, right? architecture? I dunno), but SO simple, and yet SO overlooked. Love it.
That is good advice! I too have almost 15 years of marriage and 14 years with boys :) Lovin’ the 31 days of less mess. I need to un-mess my house.
I like the clever little rhyme. And I tend to gravitate toward square things, but never really paid attention to why. I think you’ve just helped me figure that out – efficient use of space. And I love efficiency.
Flush it down. Wise words, Nester.
Amen!! I just recently figured this out myself!
Good advice! I’ve just been telling myself that this past week as I’ve been reorganizing the house and sorting for our upcoming yard sale. Timely! :)
I absolutely love the 31 day ideas! Also, I thoroughly enjoyed your yard sale this morning! The large rusty star fits perfectly above our mantle. We came back to your sale 3 times and still found treasures. Please, please, please do it again next year. I will begin saving my pennies. Have a relaxing weekend!
Freaking Brilliant!
and sweetly short.
Love it! Thanks for the reminder!
Love the rhyme.
Ummm, not sure how I missed that one. Ridiculously simple. Unbelievably smart.
Lol! I love this!!
Good advice.
How did the yard sale go?
So true!!! Excellent advice!
So funny! I’ve been looking for baskets to organize my pantry and I can’t tell you how many nice ones I’ve picked up at thrift stores/garage sales and said, “Nahhh, it’s too round!”
You crack me up, but this is some really good advice! I learned the hard way. Lots of big round storage containers in the garage for balls, lightsabers, dump trucks, etc. Didn’t work out so well…
Totally agree with you. Unfortunately it took me a long time to figure that out. Lots of money wasted in the process.
I love the saying….and how true! Looking forward to the rest of the 31 days..
Ah, the truth of this cracked me up. Gotta love the corners.
Thank you for doing this 31 Days – the round thing is the absolute truth. Okay, I will save my beautiful round basket for serving rolls at the table and not be tempted to buy another round container again!
Amen.
And YOU are brilliant. Thanks for the great tips Nester!
For organising within drawers, certainly square baskets are much, much better but I find round baskets and boxes wonderful on top of bookcases, on top of a pile of big books under a table, as a catch all for gloves or other small things. They may not be ultimate, but when the baskets are on display I like them round to break up all the squareness of tables, bookcases, books and whatnot.
I couldn’t agree more, round containers still have many purposes!
Is that why I just bought 3 round galvanized buckets at your yard sale? : )
yep.
actually, those were our toy buckets for our toy shelf and my boys have gotten rid of all but board games and legos. So now we use the bookshelf for …wait for it….books.
so we had lots of empty bins. and I know I don’t need 38 of them.
After 25 years of marriage to a man with stuff and 19 years of mothering three boys, I think I’m an
OLD LASSIE.
Is that a contradiction in terms? Maybe I’m not even a lass any more. So what would that make me? Yikes.
That is brilliant-and TRUE!
Awesome idea! Do you make your boys the same lunch each week? I have 3 boys too and Im having a hard time coming up with lunch box menus.