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    • I'm Christina, a full-time web developer with a dog sitting business, home renovations, and a blog on the side.

      This blog is about restoration and decorating of our houses, currently a 50s New England ranch, previously an MCM, and before that our Little Victorian...and the homemaking in between.

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You are here: Home / Interior Decorating / DIY / Decor / Shred paper clutter, keep your house pretty

Shred paper clutter, keep your house pretty

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Decor, DIY, Homekeeping, Simplifying

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, we’re doing some major simplifying around our house.  One of the problems we’ve had over the years is stacks of paper.  Junk mail and non-junk mail and magazines will be piled up in at least three different places in the house.  Those stacks will get combined and make a giant stack that we’ll put off going through because it will take an hour.

Pin it for later.

 
When I made the mail holder from a cereal box, that became our bill organizer, so when bills come in the mail, they go directly into it.  We still had a problem with the rest of the mail and papers though.

I’ve read lots of suggestions to keep a garbage can by the front door so junk mail can go directly into it, but so much of our junk mail needs to be shredded first.

So, how could we keep a paper shredder at the front door and not let ruin the decor?

First thought, was of course, spray painting it.  But, while it wouldn’t have been as noticeable, it still would have looked like a paper shredder.  So, then I thought about wrapping it in fabric or twine (like this), but then we’d still have the issue of the plastic bag hanging out around the edges.  Ew.

We needed to hide the paper shredder.  A basket!  And just like that, I found this one at the thrift shop.  And it was the perfect size!  

Small wicker hamper

Of course, I was hoping for rattan or seagrass or anything prettier than wicker, but I can’t always have everything.  Besides, it was only $6.  Immediately upon getting home, I spray painted it my favorite cool gold (the same as the lamps).

Painted wicker basket to hide paper shredder at front door | Little Victorian

Now, as soon as junk mail comes in the door, it goes straight into the shredder.

Small hamper to hide paper shredder | Little Victorian

When a catalog comes in, I flip through it right there at the front door.  If there is nothing I’m interested in, it goes into the basket to be recycled with the paper shreds at the end of the week.  If there is something I like, I take it straight to the computer, look up the item online, pin it to a Pinterest board and then recycle the catalog.

We’ve been using it for a week now, and there hasn’t been a stray piece of paper to be seen in the house.  Success!

Front door in living room | Little Victorian

You can look for similar ones on Amazon. (affiliate link) It doesn’t have to be one with a lid either, you could get one of those big pretty baskets and then just put a pillow or throw blanket on top as if the whole basket were holding pillows and blankets. Like this one:

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SUCCESS!

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  1. onshore

    April 16, 2013 at 5:17 pm

    That is genious! And the basket is a real beauty. I would have never guessed what is inside. We also have basket for magazines and non important mail in the entry. But some magazines tend to pile on surfaces.

    Reply
    • Christina

      April 17, 2013 at 1:21 am

      Thanks Leena! I love the wall mounted box you have to organize your mail.

  2. Rosa Paula

    April 16, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    Hi Christina!This is one smart idea!
    I’m already following you with bloglovin.
    Let’s stay in touch!
    Greetings from Brazil,
    Rosa
    PS: Where are you from? I’m asking because of your last name. It is royalty (or used to be) here in Brazil!

    Reply
    • Christina

      April 17, 2013 at 1:25 am

      Thank you Rosa!

      That is so interesting. My husband is actually from the royal line in France, we had no idea there was a royal line in Brazil with the same name.

  3. Storypiece

    April 16, 2013 at 10:13 pm

    Wow! That is a great find and a stylish solution. Love it and pinning it now. 🙂

    Reply
    • Christina

      April 17, 2013 at 1:29 am

      Glad you liked it!

  4. ruralurbanwi.com

    April 17, 2013 at 12:08 pm

    This is a great idea! I hate clutter and paper–great post!

    Reply
    • Christina

      April 19, 2013 at 2:29 pm

      Thanks Kelly! It feels so good to get rid of it immediately.

  5. Teresa

    May 6, 2015 at 8:11 am

    I’m not sure – buy some more stuff to hide the device to clear stuff. Well, it was second hand and looks good so kudos!

    I rip open the envelopes and other junk without my address on it and stick straight in the recycling. Then I put the addressed material – it’s usually only 1 or 2 pages a week in the shredder tray next door. The trick is to return all junk to sender so it decreases over time .

    Reply
  6. Tiffany

    February 27, 2020 at 12:31 pm

    Great idea was looking for something to put my shredder in to to hid it wpuld have never thought to put it in a laundry hamper and I clicked on the tab you added tp find a similar one and the link send me to Amazon and it’s just to purchase a hamper cloth liner the laundry hamper is not Included I hope I can find one thanks

    Reply
    • Christina

      March 10, 2020 at 7:07 am

      Ah, thanks for catching that. I will update the link!

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Ugly photo time! We're doing the $100 Room Challen Ugly photo time! We're doing the $100 Room Challenge on our dining room (that you guys haven't even seen the "before" of yet). It's a super fun challenge to stay within $100 and makeover a room in a month. We're behind schedule, but there has actually been progress. I'll try to remember to share here, but there's more on the blog! LittleVictorian.com
#100roomchallenge
Update: the MCM is officially sold! We did eventua Update: the MCM is officially sold! We did eventually finish most of our restoration/renovation projects. I'll share the updates in the coming months as we get settled in to our new place. 😁
House update! The realtor is still confused about House update! The realtor is still confused about why "it's such a popular house." When she arrived yesterday for a showing, there were 8 cars in the driveway. 😃

We had three offers the first day, one of whom hadn't even seen the house in person yet.
Surprise! The house is going on the market today. Surprise! The house is going on the market today. (Long story that I'll fill you in on when I have more than 2 seconds.)
.
But we're once again with a realtor that calls our house "unique" instead of calling it a Mid Century Modern. 🤦‍♀️
.
We can't count how many locals came into this house and mentioned that those windows should be removed and walled up and the beams cut off. And then it would be a "normal" house. 🤯
.
Still can't really identify with people in this area. 🤷‍♀️ SO happy to be going back home to the East coast TOMORROW!
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