Guest Room Organizing

Summer can mean many things: hot days, baseball and soccer leagues, picnics, the beach, the pool, vacation and barbeque.

To me, summer also means my guest room is never empty. Well, maybe there are two 2-7 days between occupancy. Summer means family visits from my parents to the third cousin of my great aunt's third daughter. After all, we live in a metropolitan area with loads of activities to offer to anyone. (Moreover, my guestroom is rather nice- after years of work on it!)

What I want is simple- to keep my guestroom organized for guests but still "cozy" enough for me to know where things are in the "down months".

Prior to my mom's visit (she is always our first summer guest!) I make a keep or toss pile of all the objects in the room.

My keep for guests in my guestroom pile:

1) A basket on the bottom shelf of the nightstand on the right hand side of maps, public transit schedules, and brochures of summertime activities.

2) In the top drawer of the right side nightstand, I keep a list of my home address and cross streets. I keep directions back to my home from various hot spots of interest. Also, in this drawer, is a list of family and friends cell phone numbers as well as emergency ones.

3) Spare house keys will go in the same drawer but in a small bowl.

4) Books, books and more books. I am a manager at a bookstore and guests like the eclectic choices I leave for them all throughout the room. I keep a few books on a reading and sitting bench.

5) Keep all working light bulbs and toss any burned out ones.

My toss or remove from guests in my guestroom pile:

1) Old newspapers and magazines that have been accumulating in a corner.

2) All those fragile kitty figurines that I have been collecting over the years... I have moved them to my room. One day I will get that curio cabinet that I have been searching for; then all my little kitties will have a home. I know they are just figurines and are not worth much, but I love them and do not want to have them accidentally broken or damaged by anyone other than me.

3) Any other fragile keepsakes I may have stashed or stored in there will be relocated as well. Not only do I not wish for any of my guests to break something, I am sure breaking that porcelain Persian cat handed down to me by my grandmother is nothing my guests want to accidentally do either.

4) Any item that is ratty and been tossed in there for needle mending. If I have not got around to mending a ratty pair of shorts then I do not think I really need to hold onto them.