Grover Beach - The House Half Full Professional Organizing

October 12, 2023July 28, 2026

Hall Closets

Oftentimes closets are crammed with so much stuff, the items go unused because it is easier to buy more than use up what is already there-somewhere. Case in point: the hand soaps in this closet! There were about 20 of them floating around, hidden behind other things. I also gathered all the extra consumables from a nearby bathroom so the client would always have an idea of what items she had on hand, preventing over-stocking and over-spending on future shopping trips. I rearranged these two closets so that frequently used items are at eye level, spares and backup items are easily retrievable (even by the kids), and like items are grouped together. As always, a lot of unused, duplicate, outgrown, and worn items were either donated or tossed. The result is user-friendly and functional.

March 14, 2023July 28, 2026

Entryway

This Grover Beach client had me in to help organize her kids’ playroom and game/laundry room. Those projects resulted in a furniture shuffle (as they sometimes do!). We moved several items around and I ended up doing a mini-makeover in the entry with a piece of furniture that wasn’t being used in the two other rooms. I absolutely love moving furniture around in a home to give the space a fresh look without spending any money on buying new pieces. The client was very pleased with the new, streamlined look of the entryway. Shoes are contained and easy for the kids to find and put away. There is also enough space on the seat to sit, even if there is a purse or diaper bag sitting on it.

March 14, 2023July 28, 2026

Kids’ Play Closet

This Grover Beach Client was my first Kid-Client. I loved working with the almost-5-year-old big sister. She wanted to transform her long, narrow play closet into a space for play for both herself and her little brother (baby sister isn’t quite playing yet!). It was already a pretty fun spot but being a slightly odd shape, it was too cluttered to allow a lot of creativity. The Kid-Client’s willingness to let things go to create space for the things she loves most was impressive! We left the larger play stations in the closet, separating the space into three sections as if it was a house. All the smaller items were rehoused to just outside the two closet doors. Using a cubed shelving unit from another room, we designated a different spot for each type of toy. This system is child-friendly. Things are easily found, used, and returned. Because the toys are in obvious groups (dolls, doll clothes, trucks, etc) kids can keep it tidy even though they can’t read yet. I am actually not a huge fan of labelling things. I find it becomes a hindrance when you want to repurpose containers-often the label doesn’t get changed or even removed which just adds to more overwhelm when you are looking for an item. Also, having to take a quick peak into a container is a good way to keep in mind what items you have stored away. This helps you locate them when you need them and helps prevent buying something you already have down the road.

December 19, 2022July 28, 2026

Utility Closet

This Grover Beach Client has a pantry and utility closet in the same hallway off the kitchen.

The utility closet was being under-utilized and the pantry was home to several non-food items. This meant that most trips to either closet meant a peak into both closets because it was such a jumble!

The Strategy

Firstly, I wanted to make the utility closest more functional so that we could fit more items into it but keep it organized, at the same time. I installed two shelving units that the client already had but wasn’t using to create more storage space.

Secondly, I wanted the pantry to be only for food. All non-food items were moved to the utility closet or relocated to other areas in the house that made more sense. For example the humidifier, which is used primarily in bedrooms, was moved to the upstairs bathroom to be more readily available when needed. The travel accessories were stashed in suitcases. This not only freed up more shelving space in the small pantry, but it created a system where not often used items are stored in a place that makes sense so time won’t be wasted searching for the items when they are needed.

Finally, we rearranged the food items in the pantry by category, keeping in mind which items we wanted the little kids be able to reach on their own…or not.

The Result

The final result is a functional utility closet whose small space is maximized. I love that the client was able to use shelves she already had and nothing new was purchased for this transformation. The contents of the closet now make sense for the family’s lifestyle and needs. Not to mention they’ll have to make fewer trips up and down the stairs when someone needs the humidifier in the middle of the night!

If you want to see another inspiring closet project, click here!

AFTER (In my excitement to get started on this project I forgot to take a before picture!)

November 12, 2022July 28, 2026

Craft|Guest Room Before and After

A lot of people are lucky enough to have a spare room. Unfortunately, this room is typically expected to serve multiple functions. These spare rooms are often guest rooms, offices, home gyms, playrooms, and most frequently, dumping grounds for everything else as well! While this craft room was only intended to be used as a craft room and guest room, it also started becoming a dumping ground as well.

Fortunately, this client saw it coming and asked for help before it became a massive project, as they sometimes do. Because she got ahead of it, this craft room before and after in Grover Beach was so fun! The Client needed help decluttering and then organizing this craft room which needed to also function as a guest room. Decluttering is key when getting organized.

Pro-tip: check your local thrift store for craft supplies! I bring donations to Shamrock Thrift in Grover Beach and they always have a great selection of crafting things. Also, if you are decluttering craft supplies, don’t forget they can get reused by someone else! If your local thrift store does not take them, check nearby schools or libraries.

After downsizing a ton of unwanted crafting supplies and other items that had piled up over the years, we moved the bookshelves to make a library space in the master bedroom. We rearranged the remaining items to create a more open and functional space. By minimizing the visual clutter (moving the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves), it was possible to achieve a peaceful space for guests that still functioned as a craft room. Additionally, the “Library” in the master bedroom adds interest to what were formerly blank walls. She LOVED the result!

I love the impact of moving around furniture. It is a lot of work, but not that hard in the grand scheme of things and it is a great way to change things up without buying anything new. Also, avoid having furniture in a room that isn’t being used. It clutters the space and inevitably becomes a “flat surface” for things to pile up on!

If you need some more inspiration for a do-it-all guest room, see another project here!

Messy craft room before

Tidy organized craft room after

November 12, 2022July 28, 2026

Garage|Gym Before and After

This garage/gym before and after in Grover Beach was so good. The Client had already done a fair amount of decluttering but wanted help organizing the garage space into both a functional garage (including room to park a car) and a home gym. Not to mention laundry and general storage needs. Don’t concern yourself with how a space “should” be used. Make the space suit your needs and you’ll be able to get the most out of it.