Until recently, I kept light bulbs in the main level laundry room. But I bought a cabinet for the great room and when I moved the taller vases in there to store, I decided to move the light bulbs too.

Any beach towels we own belong to the dogs when they get bathed, so they are stored in lower level laundry room.

Wrapping paper is stored in a three drawer chest in one of the lower level hallways. That's been the job of the chests for at least 18 years; first location was in the breakfast room, second at top of stairway landing in hallway.

I have a tool drawer of my own in the main level laundry room. Things I use to hang pictures, make a small repair, etc. Small level, hangers, hammer, screw drivers, wire cutter, tape measure, pencil, etc. Bigger tools are all stored in lower garage and storage room under front veranda.

Light bulbs are stored on the top shelf of the linen closet. Because almost all house lights are CLFs, there's no reason to keep spare bulbs in convenient reach. Well, something has to go on that high shelf! BTW, the bathroom has a linen closet for towels etc. and jumbo bottles of softsoap and vinegar are kept on the floor. Vinegar and alcohol are my preference for cleaning agents. Spray bottles of cleaning mix and other cleaning supplies (sponges, rags) are together in a basket, easy to grab and carry along. There's enough floor space for a jumbo pack of paper towels and a jumbo pack of TP, too.

Tools are in the workshop except for the pliers used only the kitchen, which have their own drawer, shared with lobster picks and nutcrackers, etc. Bottom drawer and out of the way.

Beach towels are stored in an airtight box, along with the folding chairs, coolers, beach umbrella. In a back corner of the attic because we only go once or twice a year. A pal goes beaching weekly and stores all the beach paraphenalia in a tall Rubbermaid closet, in the garage. I agree with her theory of keeping much-used things convenient.

Wrapping paper, boxes, bows, special cutters, etc. are in special boxes, attic but convenient to the stairs. I tried keeping them in the spare bedroom closet, but there aren't really that many holidays which call for giftwrap. However, if you do a lot of gifts, I'd suggest planning for their own closet, with a built-in drop-down worktop. Sometime ago I saw one that was put it under a stairs; very neat idea. Holiday decorations are each in their own box; attic.

I try to keep all materials together in their category; fabric, thread, electric scissors, etc are all kept near the sewing machine. Sewing and craft supplies are best stored in fairly deep drawers (IMO, the only thing a bureau is good for). Because I have tendency to collect yarns (aka compulsive buying), they are stored in airtight boxes in the attic, except for whatever present project which has its own drawer. I really considered storing them in the transparent shoe drawers, all nicely visible, but I do only one project at a time, so having spare skeins convenient is not a priority.

The kitchen seems to be the main clutter-magnet. I do try to keep things in groups, such as all the baking pans together and all the canning supplies in one area. New house will have ALL shelves adjustable. One thing I'm looking forward to is having *enough* shelves -- imagine not having to lift 3 pots to get to the one on the bottom, lol. Because I have a knee problem, I can't crouch down to reach things stored in the back of a cabinet. All lower cabinets will have cart-type storage, to make it easy to reach whatever's in 'back' AND provide extra counter-space when needed.

The only other clutter seems to be magazine and catalogs. I read the magazine and pass it on. Catalogs are stored alphabetically in a file cabinet with the old one removed whenever a...

For us lightbulbs are currently stored in the above the fridge cabinet in the clutter room. Wrapping paper - in a cupboard in the clutter room. In season beach towels - we use almost everyday so for now they get dried/washed and folded and placed back on the counter in the clutter room. In the off season they will return to the upstairs linen closet.
We have many "dog towels" and crate beds etc. I haven't really figured out a system for those yet. We have a new puppy so we are washing them daily. DH just installed our basement washer and dryer yesterday ( our third set in the house- we are living the life now!). This set is specifically for dog and horse laundry so I will probably store the the majority of the dog towels/beds there and bring them up as needed.

My clutter room is living up to it's name- it is a mess of dog toys, kid toys, shoes, laundry and magazines/mail to sort through. It's the best thing we ever did.

PD

Our 'back hall' (8 X 21) contains laundry at one end and half-bath and one huge double-door closet at the other end. In the middle are doors to kitchen and garage. At the bath end is a door to the backyard.

All the junk stuff like small tools, vases, wrappings, light bulbs, bulk items (T-paper, P-towels, dog kibble, you-name-it) are in the back hall, either in the closet or in upper and lower cabinets and drawers in the laundry end. If whatever you're looking for isn't there, it's in the attic or garage...or we're out of it!

"Where do you keep your light bulbs, tools, beach towels, wrapping paper?"

light bulbs: on a shelf in the pantry. If we bought bulk, they are in the storage bench of the kitchen banquette.

tools: the tools I routinely use live in a kitchen drawer. The bulk of our tools are in the garage.

beach towels: everyone has their beach towel in their beach bag in their closet. The swimsuits and beach shoes live there too.

wrapping paper: in the laundry area, where I have counter space to wrap. Ribbons, gift tags and bows are there also, along with scissors and tape

I keep light bulbs in a see thru plastic container on the top of my cabinet in the laundry room, I don't use wrapping paper, tools are in a drawer in the laundry room.

If you want to learn how to organize you need to post on the Organizational Forum. Those people over there are awesome and have a place for everything. They are amazing. I aspire to be like them in my new house. LOL

well, regular light bulbs go in the pantry above the garbage can. odd balll bulbs usually in end up in oddball places cause my wife will leave the pack sitting there for a week, then pick it up and jsut shove it in the nearest cabinet. i have found the bulbs for our chandelir(sp) in with teh canned veggies, in the hall bath medicine cabinet, UNDER the hall bath sink, and most recently under her sink which is physically the furthest point from anywhere in teh house they could be used! and she fusses about not being able to find stuff!

tools: all go in my workshop except 1 pair of pliers and a couple screwdrivers are in teh junk drawer in the kitchen.

wrapping paper: MB closet or in storage bin under our bed. used to keep it in the foyer closet, but never put it back in there after laying tile since she wraps everything in our bedroom anyway.

beach towels: we have a basket by the back door where they stay. between having to dry the dog when it is raining, and our 4 year old playing on her water slide or with teh hose, gotta keep them close.

This is great info. I currently keep a lot of tools and paint and tape measures and beach towels, cleaning products, etc. in my laundry room (on second floor). I will have a laundry room upstairs again, but not have quite as much storage. I don't have a mudroom now, but hope some of those things will fit in there. I also don't have any linen closets now (weird, huh?), but will in my new house, of course, so maybe beach towels will go in there. Anyway, I love all these answers!