That one earring… those paper clips… the rubber band… on which garment does this button belong? This screw fell off of what? The tiny tube of super glue… All things to keep but where? How about a command center in a kitchen or laundry room drawer? There are many drawer organizers that would love to house all these little gems… they expand to fit most drawers and all these gems can be housed handy… but sew on the button when you find the garment to which it belongs!
Weekly Tip
Wall space is often the most overlooked real estate in your home, especially in closets and mudroom areas. Hooks are a great solution for hoodies, backpacks, keys, handbags, umbrellas… the items we all throw on the floor or table when walking through the door. Hooks can be decorative or utility-like, but most functional. There are hanging solutions for stick cleaners like your Swiffer, brooms, small vacuums… Let’s use this “real estate” and get hung up!
Are your clothes stashed in the dark abyss of your closet? Open shelving and cubbies are a solution. Exposing your attire will curb impulse buys. No open slot? No purchase.
Perhaps your closet doors make it impossible to reach in and grab what you need. Consider a small redo of the doors.
Wallpaper, colorful paint or wall mirrors can give your closet a huge lift and lift your spirits too!
Recently I was tasked with a supply and copy room in an office building. The manager wisely emptied out the entire room of all boxes, bins, piles and her employees sorted it out in a large empty room. When it was my turn, I had a clean slate with which to work… shelves, cabinets, drawers. I knew all the items in front of me were to be kept and it was a snap to put it all together in an organized fashion using drawer organizers and a label maker, I had the supply room looking pristine in no time.
This method is perfect for anyone, anywhere. Home, office, garage… empty, sort and organize. Always better to start with a clean slate.
That one earring… those paper clips… the rubber band… on which garment does this button belong? This screw fell off of what? The tiny tube of super glue… All things to keep but where? How about a command center in a kitchen or laundry room drawer? There are many drawer organizers that would love to house all these little gems… they expand to fit most drawers and all these gems can be housed handy… but sew on the button when you find the garment to which it belongs!
Wall space is often the most overlooked real estate in your home, especially in closets and mudroom areas. Hooks are a great solution for hoodies, backpacks, keys, handbags, umbrellas… the items we all throw on the floor or table when walking through the door. Hooks can be decorative or utility-like, but most functional. There are hanging solutions for stick cleaners like your Swiffer, brooms, small vacuums… Let’s use this “real estate” and get hung up!
I see new storage units popping up everywhere. Why? Do we have that much stuff that we should pay a monthly rental fee for it? I see homes with cars parked in driveways because the garage is too full of stuff so the cars don’t fit. Why? Do we really have to keep all this stuff?
If choosing to downsize to a smaller home, then downsize the stuff. Stuff costs money. Pay to store it, haul it, move it… I’d rather take a wonderful vacation with that money.
One recent client just moved from a small urban condo to a 2,300-square foot home. It seemed like a mansion to her. She called me to help organize her stuff. Didn’t take long because in the condo she was forced to live a minimal lifestyle, thus she didn’t have a lot of stuff. Will she fill her new home with stuff? Nope. She loves minimal and empty shelves are good.
We made use of wall space in the garage, hanging most everything and two cars fit perfectly.
Only purchasing what is needed and what fits is another good practice.
Think about all that stuff and decide… storage unit or vacation? Cars safe inside or outside?
Crowded living or comfortable?
As much as I appreciate the digital age and “e”-age, I am still a believer in handwritten notes, thank you notes, and greeting cards. I even have a separate desk in a corner of my house where I find joy in penning correspondence to those I love. When traveling or in unique boutiques, I keep an eye out for greeting cards and stock up.
Each month I set aside time to address the cards going out in the next four weeks… birthdays, anniversaries, friendship, encouragement notes. I also keep on hand sympathy and get-well cards – you never know.
I post them and with a sticky note for the mail date, keep them in a vertical holder awaiting a trip to the mailbox. With this process, I never send embarrassing belated birthday cards and it connects me with friends and family bringing joy to all my recipients.
P.S. Pretty postage stamps available online or at the post office add a bit of pizzazz to each envelope sending smiles.
Never let paper piles spread to all parts of the house. You can follow this rule by:
- Shred or recycle junk mail before bringing it in the house.
- Separate papers into three categories: currently in use, keep indefinitely and need for a limited amount of time.
- Find an organizer that works for you and organize the papers that fit in these three categories.
- Statements? In this electronic age why keep them? Once you have paid a bill, matched receipts and confirmed the statement is correct – discard. Banks have records of statements so balance accounts online and WOW! That paper is gone!
- Household warranties? Gather them, purchase a 3-ring binder and using clear pocket sleeves, fill the binder with the warranties. Keep in garage or storage closet.
These are just a few tips, but there are many more… call organiZare for assistance or a consultation to help you get started.
It’s summer and if you are in the desert it’s hot. Too hot to turn on the oven. Too hot to run outside. Too hot to run the clothes dryer in the middle of the day. Too hot to do, well much of anything! I find energy in the fresh morning and a few minutes a day of tidying in the morning starts your day off on a happy note.
Set aside 20 minutes each morning to do one small tidying task. Maybe it’s a gadget drawer in the kitchen, or your loungewear drawer in your closet. How about under the kitchen or bathroom sink? Check your medicine cabinets for expired items, especially sunscreen. Straighten the towels in your linen closet. Sort just one pile of paperwork.
These aren’t huge tasks and usually don’t generate larger projects. You will feel energized all day, so kick up your heels as you walk out the door and have a very “neat” day.