Get Thee to a Container Store! (or wherever these doohickeys are sold)

A few years ago one of our teachers in the Belmont Montessori program treated us to a tour of her home and Montessori school.  It was amazing, and served 20-something children daily.  It wasn't cluttered or disorganized--kind of miraculous!  I remember the one burning question I had for the lady who lived there and ran the school:  "Where do you put all of your STUFF?"

She giggled and told us some of her tricks for storing backup glassware (to replace the many glasses and pitchers that break), art supplies, toilet paper, etc. etc. etc.  She laughed because really that's the KEY QUESTION, isn't it?!?

Flash forward to today.  I recently bought an over-the-door shoe organizer at The Container Store, hoping (in vain, it turns out) to inspire my teenage daughter "Wasabi" to get her room into some kind of shape.  She tends to litter her bedroom floor with shoes.  When I checked out with my purchase I was puzzled that the store clerk asked me, "So what are you going to organize with your 'shoe organizer'?"  (finger wiggles in the air, emphasizing the sarcasm in her voice)  "Um, shoes?" I stuttered lamely, though in the back of my mind I was already deciding whether--in the likely event that my teenager would reject this proposal for organization--it would be worth it to return the shoe organizer to the store or whether I should just use it for something else.

As Wasabi was out at an overnight sleepover thing, I snuck the over-the-door pocket gizmo into her room and installed it over the door.

It didn't take long for Wasabi to toss said organizer out, complaining that it covered her Dr. Who poster on the door.  Enter Plan B, executed on the back of a closet door next to the Montessori room.

Plan B:  Organize my Montessori stuff.

I hung it to house fragile breakables up top (mostly Practical Life things and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd glassware) and flashcards lower down.  I like it because I can see what's in the pockets, but only when I've opened the closet door.  When I had these materials in storage I either forgot that I had them, I had to hide them when rough and tumble visitors came over, or I just felt too tired to dig them out of storage.  This is one easy solution!

The wine decanter is used in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the watering can is used in Care of Plants (which can be part of an Atrium, too) and the spice jar is for a yeast demonstration.  A tea pot and shot glasses are in the top row (but not too high for me to reach).

Glass cruets, vases and pitchers are up high.

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