Please send us in some pictures so we can help you. I have been using MyPhotoAlbum.com which is so easy to use.

chery, I am sure we all could help you - we just need some pics. Also if you could post a floor plan sketch - that would help.

Chery, I know how you fe3el. Just about the time I was making some headway on my own clutter my folks passed away and I got more clutter from them. If you've got the money, you can hire an organizer to come over and give your space personal attention. But I also hope you get some good ideas here.

Do you watch Mission Organization on HGTV? They always start out with a few boxes or piles -- keep; donate; sell; trash. Then they start tossing things in the boxes. They end up taking everything out of the room, painting, then bringing it back into really nice storage, filing, and so on units. You can sell stuff for free on Craigslist, btw. You can also buy storage pieces there, bookshelves, and so on. Trade your bad stuff for some good stuff. lol!

We have a really big upstairs bonus room without wall division. We just used furniture placement to determine the use of the space.
The furniture up there is all "inheirited" discards from my parents and really doesn't go together, but the space has turned out to be the most desirable spot in the house.

It sounds like you're just using it simply as storage right now. Do you have other good storage places in the house where you could distribute these things and make room for a new room?

Since you're working with a blank slate, you really need to think about what it is you want to be doing when you're in that space. If it doesn't have a purpose, it probably won't be used for anything but storage :)

Hobbies, sewing/crafting/projects, exercise gym, relaxation with music or movies, home business, reading/library room .... likely a combination of things to provide a little nook for. Once you decide what you'll do in there, you can support it with design :)

chery2,
Every time I clean & organize our basement (after procrastinating for weeks at a time) it honestly always seems so daunting. It's THE LAST thing I ever want to do. And I'm not even organizing so I can gain space for myself. I just do it b/c I have to be able to access some of the stuff from time to time and before you know it you can't even walk through there (seriously!). But EVERY time it honestly only takes me ~2-3 hrs. Not a lot of time - even if it's completely unorganized with piles of stuff everywhere. I just always think it's going to take forever based on what it looks like. First thing you need to do is decide on a place for all of the stuff you rarely use like xmas and easter decorations- do you have an attic, a basement or a garage? Then try to org the rarely used stuff in piles. Makes piles all over the room but just get the stuff together that belongs together. Then write a list of your piles/categories and next to it write the approx size bin you think you'll need (with room to add if necessary). Then go buy some bins. Put everything in the bins and label them with a large marker and decide where you will put them. Hopefully you can stack them in the attic, basement or garage - especially the stuff you rarely use. Get it out of there!!! Who wants to have their 'sanctuary room' piled with stuff you rarely use anyway. Then for the stuff that you want to keep in that room, you'll now have freed up some space to use the pieces of furniture/storage you already have to organize it. The important thing to remember is it will probably take you a lot less time than you think to clear out that room. It will seem daunting but you can do it. Once you start, you'll get your momentum and you'll want to finish. That's your sanctuary room - every girl's dream! If you think you're worth it and deserve that space then you will make the time. I know you can do it!

You guys are the greatest! Why do I feel the need to have all my Christmas stuff in plain sight all the time? I DON'T HAVE TO!! Here's the skinny on garage and basement: (Remember, we've just lived here not quite 4 years, moved from "starter" home of 30 yrs.) In the starter home, the attic was stacked to the rafters with everything that wouldn't fit in the large barn-like building in our back yard. No basement. My girls AND my dh are packrats like me. Also, dh has a close, personal attachment to everything his dad ever laid hands on. So we're ALL to blame. And, yes, my mother died suddenly, right before my first granddaughter was born, and she would never tell us, even when we asked, what she'd like each of us 3 kids to have. Most went to Estate Specialists. More later. Just wanted to thank you for all the great ideas -- as well as the empathy. Will try the photo site. Gotta go --
chery

Chery2,

I empathize with your situation. Our garage and basement seem to be striken with the same problem. Because stuff inevitably piles up, the space cannot be used to its potential. I couldn't agree more with what mcfromct already posted. It may look worse than the time it will actually take to clean it up. Break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Also, if you have more stuff, in general, than the space in your home allows, you likely need to think of ways to part with that which isn't essential. A periodic purging is a big help in keeping things organized, as there is simply less stuff to manage. There are lots of shows and resources on organization, which you may find helpful. Once you find a way to organize your stuff, you can fully use the room to its potential. Please post pictures when you can.

Jan

Chery, I'm glad you posted this.

We have a bonus room and it's going to waste. The bad thing about ours is that there is no central heating or cooling, so have to depend on a heater or window a/c unit. We originally used ours as a spare bedroom/office, but then we got laptops we don't bother going up there anymore. Also our need for an extra bedroom has dropped dramatically since our kids are on their own. When they were here their friends stayed here constantly, but alas, no more. :( I feel guilty not using it for "something" but for the life of me, I can't figure out what. LOL

Chery:
Your post couldn't be more timely for me. We also have a large bonus room, and since our home is one-floor, the bonus room is the out-of-sight place I stash all the boxes from my numerous online purchases (lamps come in HUGE boxes, and I've bought many over the past year), as well as miscellaneous toys, leftovers from my DD days occupying that room, and anything else I can't find a place for anywhere else. I kept my 2 year old DGD and 4 year old DGS last night and today, and THAT'S where they want to be. (That or the basement family room, which is in a similar state of clutter, but does have an actual function)Why? NO RULES!!! It's already a mess. I never have to say, "Please be careful with that.....Ty, please don't jump on the furniture...Callie, let me wipe your fingers."
You mentioned your DGD. Make it a great hang-out place with grandma where she can feel totally free to just be. "Memaw, will you pwease go upstair wit me? I need to pinish decarating my boxth". LOVE IT!!! Life does not get better....

I'm trying the MyPhotoAlbum site, but when it asks for the address I want to send pictures to, and I say, www.thathomesite.com , it says that's an invalid web adress. How should I send it?

chery2

Are you using Photo Bucket? If so you need to copy the HTML string that is below the photo, copy and paste it. Do you know how to do that?