how is your townhouse organized?

[abiyhayil]

My house is always a wreck and I need some organization ideas!
Our basement has three rooms, the laundry room is where we keep our clothes hung and folded except for DS. ( DH broke our shelves/hanging rack in our closet trying to get in the attic)
the main room is a playroom that ATM is a mess with toys, clothes, diapers and DHs drum set.
the third room is filled with hand me downs either for a third baby or for the kids to grow into, christmas decorations and furniture tha DH doesnt want to part with.
Our first floor is a small galley type kitchen with a half wall looking onto the dining room. We have abench style table with the dog crate between the table and the sliding glass door and the recycle bin behind the dog crate. against the half wall is a china cabinet and folding table with a tablecloth. On top is the breadmaker, sewing machine, rice cooker and junk. Underneath are more appliances - ice cream maker, mixer, blender, food saver, crockpots and steamer. The bathroom is more of a closet with a bin of craft supplies, diaper pail, dogfood, mop and broom and the bench from our table which DS uses to climb on the folding table.
Our living room has more diapers in it, a basket of babylegs and socks that is usually spilled over, a circus tent from gma in the corner, stroller alove seat, sofa, coffee table, two end tables and two wing chairs. There is a bin of junk and ~10 shoe boxes from when DH 'cleaned' the car 3 wks ago.The closet has a shoe stacker and a sweater stacker that acts as a junk collector with burp cloths, wipes and extra clothes too.
We have three bedrooms one has our computer and books from one end to the next(shelves were moved to the storage room 4 months ago, but noone has the energy to move the books)when towels are put away they go in the closet. DSs room is the neatest room and him and DH have just started sleeping in there. his shirts are hung and everything else is folded.
Our bedroom closet is a pile of shleves and summery clothes of mine and DHs work clothes he hasn't dug out to wear yet. We have an armoire, the drawers hold seets and videos, a crib is side carred to the bed which is a captain's with drawers on the one side that only have underwire bras that I cant wear ATM. The endtables are pretty sparse, mostly junk that DS has put in there. The One table has a basket with diaper changing/ baby things, a hudifier an a lamp.
Whew if you got that far thanks, any suggestions welcome, though DH is very resistant to getting rid of furniture or books (he's an english teacher).

[Delicateflower]

One thing that jumps out at me is the small appliances. If you don't use them daily, put them away, and if you use them less than weekly, store them in the basement. (like the humidifier, ice cream maker, sewing machine)

I like to put things where they are used, so the stroller lived in the car when we had no garage. I would either use it somewhere I'd driven to, or I'd bring the children down, get it out and go for a walk.

[abiyhayil]

thanks for reading, I'm not sure why I rambled =p We used to have the random appliances in the basement, but the wire shelving gave out when I tried to rig a clothesline to it and DH takes the car to work and our old stroller was parked outside and now is ruined so it should be inside. I was thinking of curb shopping for a rubbermaid shed to keep it in since we cant afford one

[Katie T]

I am picturing a cramped space with all you have listed off in a town home. What I would do is take it one room at a time. Can your DH fix the closet problem in your room? Then if nothing else you can use it for organizing (If it works well for your clothes to be in the laundry room.)
I would set up 1 area for your diapers and such. As you organize one room have a pile (or garbage bag lol) of things you can donate. Things to throw away, and things that can be stored for a later time. If you never use something, don't hesitate to donate it. I usually have a hard time making the decision to get rid of something but once it is gone I find I don't miss it at all.

As you organize that room put things away in the room that you think you want them to go, even if you end up moving them later it will make it less overwhelming when you start that room.

Get your hubby or you (or both) to get the book to there proper places.

Do you have any money to purchase organizational items? I'm a fan of the under the bed totes for too big/off season clothes.

Good luck it is hard work but sooo worth it!