How To Accidentally Overcome Organizing Hysteria

People often think that in order to get organized they need to buy "stuff." However, storage bins, containers, hanging racks and other organizing tools can end up creating additional clutter and costing you money.

According to lifestyle expert Julie Edelman, a.k.a. The Accidental Housewife and author of The New York Times best-seller "The Accidental Housewife: How to Overcome Housekeeping Hysteria One Task at a Time," "You may not realize it, but there are many items hanging around your home that can be easily used or repurposed to help you organize in a creative and decorative manner without breaking a sweat, your bank account or a nail."

Edelman offers the following tips on how to use everyday items to help you get accidentally organized:

• Paper Towel Tubes: These are great for storing your kids' artwork and other memorabilia. Let your young Rembrandts decorate the tubes with crayons, stickers or whatever other creative stuff you have handy.

• Toothbrush Holder: These are a great way to organize straight and thin objects in your bathroom (other than your toothbrush) such as lip liners, eye pencils and makeup brushes that may crowd your bathroom drawers.

• Corks: Rather then throw them away, stand them upright in your jewelry box and stick your pins and earring posts into them.

• Photos: Fun and spontaneous photos can be a picture-perfect way to both organize and decorate an entryway. Print out digital pictures of family members and stick them on walls, bins or any other surface to identify personal spaces for coats, shoes, hats and keys.

One easy way to do this is with Post-it Picture Paper. It has an adhesive backing just like a Post-it Note, so you can let your kiddies stick and restick photos without the worry of them ruining your walls.

• Glove Widows: Just like socks in the dryer, one glove always seems to disappear, leaving the other glove widowed. Here's a way to make the most of those lonely gloves. Stuff them with dry-cleaning plastic to create a unique place to put your jewelry. Put rings on the fingers and watches and bracelets around the wrist. Edelman says, "I just 'glove' this idea!"

By: Stacey Moore