It’s that time of year . . . when we pack-up all of the Christmas decor and . . . sigh . . . and dream of a new year in which everything is organized and in it’s place. Our family has actually been living an organizational saga (also known as an organizational nightmare). About three years ago we bought a tiny, little house built in 1952. We’ve slowly been gutting our little home room by room. This summer it was MacGyver’s turn to create a new room. Those of you who have gotten to know MacGyver, you know that he is quite prolific when it comes to making creations. I’ve been asked many times, “What do you do with all of that stuff he makes.” Let me assure you, it is a big challenge! This is our a attempt to organize his room and his creativity!
As we began planning his room, I began searching for organization and shelving. After hours of scouring the internet and shopping local, I still hadn’t found what I was envisioning. I guess I should also mention that I insist on decorating within a frugal budget. It’s literally not in my DNA to spend loads of money. That is when I hit the jackpot at Costco!
This versatile and inexpensive Interlocking Cube Organizer is available at Costco. I couldn’t find it on their website; however, last week our local Costco still had this shelf in-stock.
Two things in particular sold me on this little shelf:
- It was inexpensive ($25.00)
- The box showed no less the 12 configurations for the little cubbies. I loved the flexibility of the shelf!
*These shelves are lightweight. They would not be suitable for heavy items.
The unit comes with 20 large tiles and 10 small tiles.
It also has 32 of these nifty little connectors.
The tiles and connectors snap together easily to create the organizer of your dreams.
Don’t you love those dirty little boy fingernails! You can tell my children play outside every day. I guess I should make him clean his fingernails before taking close-up photos. At least you know it’s real life around here.
So simple an eight and four-year-old can put it together!
I gave MacGyver the box and the simple directions and he eagerly got to work. We discussed the configuration and I did not assist him in any other way. Miss Enigma acted as his assistant and the two of them put together the shelves all by themselves. MacGyver actually wanted a set of these to build with like giant Legos.
*The kiddos did not use the drill. That was for Daddy who was busy putting together MacGyver’s loft bed.
Combined with inexpensive, colorful plastic bins from Target and Walmart we created storage for MacGyver’s clothes.
This unit with the bins cost me less than $50.00. A chest of drawers would have definitely cost much more! And I like how this is tucked away in his closet.
By nature, MacGyver is extremely messy. In order to corral some of this messiness, I labeled each of the clothes bins.
Each week MacGyver folds his laundry and puts it away in the appropriate bin.
In the other section of his closet, we added his plastic stacking storage shelves to organize the bulk of his toys. Again, I like how this is tucked away neatly in his closet.
Next, we tackled his homeschool and art area. We have attempted to give everything a place.
Last but not least, we set-up a display area. This is a work in progress! This photo is from the day MacGyver assembled the shelf, he has quickly covered this shelf with his creations.
This shelf gives MacGyver the perfect place to display important creations like the face sculpture he created in Grandpa’s workshop.
Here is an “after photo” of MacGyvers room organization. I should be too ashamed to post the following before photo because it is horrific! No seriously, it is truly awful! But perhaps it will give you a little organization hope. Here we go . . . 1, 2, 3 . . . I’m holding my breath . . .
I know it’s shocking. But don’t judge me too harshly. When you gut an old house room by room the other rooms suffer. They suffer A LOT. Since we moved in, MacGyver, age 8, and Miss Enigma, age 5, have shared a room. This was a few weeks of transition before they each moved into their own rooms. Someday I’ll explain this photo and post more photos of their rooms. Our home is definitely a work in progress!
Happy New Year! And happy organizing!
Life with Jeannine
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