Tag: winter

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12 ways to store hats, gloves and scarves

Baby, it’s cold outside! So if you’re going out, get togged up in hats, gloves and scarves. But can you find them?

gloves and scarves
Jean-Marc Merlin by David Merrett (CC BY 2.0)

 

Here are a dozen possible places for your hats, gloves and scarves to live – with pros and cons. Decide on a place, set it up so it works for you and use it! Then you’ll be able to find your hats, gloves and scarves easily.

For North Wales readers: get organised! You’ll be able to go out to enjoy our great outdoors even sooner, whatever the weather.

1. All together now

Put the scarf down the arm of the coat. Or roll the scarf and put it with the gloves in the hat. You could roll woollen gloves together like socks. These ideas are good for when you’re on the move or if you’re wearing the same hat, gloves and scarf every day.

2. A hatstand

This is great for hats and scarves but not so good for gloves unless it has a shelf. A bag hanging from the stand would work. Remember a hatstand is most efficient if it’s not overloaded.

3. A hook

Yes, but it has the same problems as a hatstand (see above). Once again, you could use a bag.

4. A shelf

I do like this one because hats, gloves and scarves can dry out and get warm. A generous shelf above a coat rail is the best system I’ve ever seen. It was in Sweden and they understand about cold there.

Knitted mittens with furry wristbands. gloves and scarves

5. A drawer

On the plus side, things are together and don’t splurge everywhere. (I do recommend dividing the drawer with a box or two to keep gloves and scarves separate.) On the minus side, wet things have to dry out first.

6. In a cupboard

Same as the drawer. If you use it, organise it!

7. On a chair

I understand why but if you live with anyone else this is the short path to mislaying at least one glove. Or even losing it.

8. In a basket

Yes, it’s a good idea for hats, gloves and scarves although rummaging may be necessary. And it’s good to be streamlined when you’re trying to get out of the door. A basket for each person works nicely.

Woman laughing and wearing grey knitted bobble hat, gloves and scarves

9. Over door shoe tidy

This is a good idea if you’ve got the right door.

10. On the table

OK as a short-term measure but it’s not sustainable.

11. In the kitchen

This doesn’t really work for me.

12. On the floor

My first thought was: No! Don’t do it!

My second thought was: This is where I put my soaking hat, gloves and scarves by the radiator to dry out, and it’s the best place in the house for that.

Conclusion: as a place to put them it’s OK, but only temporarily.

I’m off out now

Now, where did I put my gloves? (Just joking.)

Woman jumping on moorland in hat and big scarf. gloves and scarves

 

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3 small things that really help in the run up to Christmas

Relaxed snowboarder in orange goggles, blue trousers and fab multicoloured anorak
Very relaxed snowboarder (Photo: Dana Tentis)

There are three things that really help in the run up to Christmas and, to be fair, work pretty well during the rest of the year too. (You’ve already decluttered, of course, haven’t you?) No time for fine words at this stage of the game, so let’s cut to the chase.

1. The heavy duty sellotape dispenser

Sellotape (aka sticky tape) pretends to be helpful and friendly but in the twinkling of an eye can turn any peaceful present-wrapping session into a hand-to-hand wrestling bout.

I tried all the usual self-defence methods:

  • marking the end of the tape with a piece of paper or card
  • cutting short lengths and having them hanging ready on the edge of the table
  • sticking the tape firmly to the parcel and then unrolling firmly and fairly.

These worked all right, I suppose, although I was still being ambushed by a roll of sellotape rather too often and ending up with wonkily wrapped presents and fingers tied up in those knotted sticky tape pretzels.

After years of fighting back and losing, I’d had enough. I bought a heavy duty sellotape dispenser and suddenly all the exhaustion had gone. The dispenser doesn’t move about on the table and has the end of the roll just there, ready for you to use. It has its own fierce cutter. It does the job.

In the main, present and parcel wrapping goes smoothly for me now. There’s still the odd growl from the sellotape but generally it’s all pretty relaxed.

Relaxed tabby cat under the Christmas tree between two wrapped parcels. Help in the run up to Christmas
Relaxed tabby cat under the Christmas tree between two wrapped parcels. Everything organised! (Photo: Jenna Hamra)

2. The box that is big enough for rolls of wrapping paper

This is a more recent find and it’s still going through its paces. I’m convinced, though, and this is why:

  • I know where all the wrapping paper is – Christmas, birthday and those other pieces you can use for anything.
  • I know where it isn’t and that’s in a bag which keeps falling over or rolling about in the corner.
  • There’s room for bits of ribbon and rosettes.

Easy and straightforward, it’s the right box for the job.

3. Buying far more stamps than I need by early December

This is just fabulous and, if you’ve got the money, very easy to pull off. Christmas stamps are available in early November and can be used all year round if you really do buy far too many.

To be able to write the card, bung it in the envelope and slap on the stamp is great. With practice it can become an all-in-one movement. Granted it’s not cardio-vascular exercise, but looking at the pile of cards ready to go makes the heart beat that little bit faster. So organised! So efficient! Sling the whole pile into the post box, listen to the sshhhrrr noise as the envelopes settle into their place and move on.

Skiier in purple anorak with green ski poles speeds down the hill in low sunlight
Christmas cards make a sshhhrrr noise as the envelopes settle into their place in the post box (Photo: Terje Sollie)
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Declutter before the festive season and avoid frazzle

Half-term’s over, Halloween’s over and the clocks have gone back. That means we’re on the fast track to dark nights and cold weather. And that’s why our ancestors had winter festivals – they met up, kept warm and generally brightened things up a bit. The festive season made sense then and it makes sense now.

Having a bit of a clearout will really help in a few weeks time. As you know, when the festive season revs up in earnest you need all the time and space you can lay your hands on.

If you do one thing to get ready, do some decluttering and make some space before the festive season starts.

Friends and family

There can be a lot of coming and going at this time of year and visitors take up a lot of space! Make room for them by finding somewhere to hang their coats and put their bags, hats and gloves. Not to mention any packages, parcels and presents they may bring.

Christmas presents under the tree during the festive season
A good clearout and there’s room for Christmas presents under the tree! (Photo credit: Markus Spiske temporausch.com)

Keeping warm over the festive season

This is essential, obviously. We all want to keep coughs, colds and the flu at bay, and shivering is no fun. So make sure there’s no clutter in between you and your chosen source of heat, and move furniture around to let the warmth get into the room.

Brightening things up a bit

Festive decorations make all the difference to how our houses look at this time of year. We often have to shift things to fit in the tree, the lights, the cards, the candles and all the other bits and pieces. It’s a great opportunity to consider whether you still actually love or need what you’re moving. You don’t have to keep everything for ever and if something’s time has passed, then give it to a charity shop and someone else will benefit. And take time to clean the space you’ve made before filling it with festive fripperies.

Avoid festive season frazzle

Being in a frazzle isn’t good for anyone. So take control and have a clearout, big or small – any size will help. If you declutter before the festive season you’ll make some space before it arrives and that can only help things go more smoothly.

Christmas wreath on a door in Lincoln. Festive season
Christmas wreath, Lincoln. © Richard Croft and licensed for reuse under CC BY-SA 2.0 licence.