Here’s how this actually happened: I crashed into the massive laundry hamper in our bedroom for the millionth time and decided something had to be done. While our shared laundry bin was attractive enough, functional, and even made of sustainable materials, it was huge. Ideally we would’ve tucked it discreetly into a closet or a bathroom, but after trying every possible place we realized it was just too big for our small home – there was simply nowhere it could be tucked.
And that’s when Jordan had a great idea. He hypothesized that if we cleared a single shelf in our linen closet (which is directly adjacent to our bedroom), we could stow two smaller laundry baskets inside the closet – one for each of us. After trying a few baskets to find the right size and shape, we landed on these handwoven beauties from Connected Goods. The next step was to clear room in the linen cabinet. Just by donating a few extra blankets and consolidating our sheets, we were able to create enough space to store the two baskets and eliminate a daily bedroom hazard. Oh, joy! Bonus: I rewarded Jordan for his smart thinking by giving him the honor of helping me paint the inside of the closet. Don’t look too closely at the floor where we both spilled paint – we’re not professionals.
This small shift has actually had a huge impact. Our bedroom is less cluttered (no more crashing into laundry bins for me), and I like that we now have our own laundry baskets (#notgreatatsharing). Bonus: I gave the old one to my good friend, Ariel, who has twins. I love that sometimes a solution can be found simply by asking the question, “how could this be better?”
For inquiring minds, the rest of the linen closet houses all of our backup sheets and towels, first-aid, and backup products. I’m not gifted in the folding arts, so I use the open bins for sheet sets and the large boxes on the floor for extra towels and bathmats. I love that it always looks neat and tidy even when the contents inside aren’t perfect.
Storage products linked below:
Open Farmhouse Bins // First-Aid Box / Linen Boxes with Lids
What about you? Have you made any small but impactful shifts in your home? Please share in the comments below!
Love your book Shira & your ideas remind me so much of my own!! So excited to hear more & if you write another book please let me know. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book #2 is being written right now 🙂
First, I adore your book and cannot WAIT for the second! Next, after watching one of your short videos, I finally put my finger on who you remind me of!! You favor Carolyn Bessette Kennedy! So lovely.
Please keep doing what you’re doing, it’s beyond inspiring to me.
Thank you so very much! Xx
Can I say I’m so glad to hear that the organizing inside your bins isn’t perfect! That is just a level I can’t reach. You just made it acceptable’
Ha, so glad. I’ve been embracing the idea of being “organized enough” – perfection is optional!
I love your realness about pointing out the paint on the floor! I would have just been focused on all the seeming-perfection otherwise! It’s refreshing to see with my own eyeballs that your incredibly lovely closet/home are not perfect (even though intellectually I know that OBVIOUSLY they are not since perfection doesn’t exist!).
Ha! Our home is far from perfect. I think the fact that it’s over 100 years old and has lots of scratches and imperfections has made it easier to brush off the paint spills etc. Xx
My favorite flip from Minimalista was the junk drawer to utility drawer. So functional and has resulted in more art projects easily mounted on the fly at home. (Highly recommend a post and share).
My favorite thing about this post is realizing that you have a hubby that will open a door to put dirty socks in place. Mine don’t make to our beautiful basket (less than two feet away). 😂
Love that! And I think even my husband is surprised that he has been successful at opening the door to put away his laundry in the basket! 🤣
Shira, I loved your book and I’m so looking forward to book #2!!! I love how you show us how to live with less and your real!!! have a blessed day!!!