I'm not only re-working my bookshelves, I am also re-organizing my corner storage cabinet, too!

I'm doing all this work to organize because I believe if I just figure out how to best organize my bookshelves and school supplies now... while my oldest is only beginning the second grade, I will really benefit from all this extra effort and expense for years and years to come.

I've avoided putting serious mental effort toward organization until now. But, at this point, we are accumulating books and supplies in mass so it's time to get serious about keeping everything neat and in it's place so I can be a good steward of what I have and so it will last for much longer. (I am sure being pregnant is motivating me to do this as well.)

Notice the pile of trash I pulled out of this cabinet there on the floor! It's just so easy to stuff stuff into this cabinet before company comes over or when I just want the table clean now! But I have to stop doing that. I read a home organization website that explained one of the best ways to prevent clutter like this is to "decide to decide" whether or not to keep things right away. I need to do this. I need to be honest and realistic with myself about how likely I am to use the scraps of paper, the coupons, the fliers, the handouts, etc. and if I am not 100% sure I will use them and use them soon, I need to just throw them away before they pile up somewhere and become a burden.

I am not done with this cabinet, as you can see. I still plan to put Norah's paints in the bottom section as soon as I can figure out how to store them in that space. I need something she can pull out and put back in herself and preferably something with a handle. Right now, I use a picnic basket for her paints and brushes, etc. but that basket is too big for this space. The basket just sits near the table along the wall. It works alright, but I'd really like to have as many art supplies tucked away inside cabinets and on shelves as possible.