Jan 21, 2022 | Declutter Tips, Holidays, Organizing
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The holidays are over and now comes the not-so-fun part. Taking down, organizing, and storing your decorations. Here are some of my favorite tips that I share with my clients to make the process a bit easier now–and for decorating next year.
> Take the Time to Do It Right
Whether you like to take everything down on the 26th or leave it up until mid-January, taking the necessary time to organize your décor now will save you a lot of time and frustration next year. This is not an exercise that you should rush through. I typically recommend devoting at least a day for this process (depending on how many decorations you have).
> Have Appropriate Storage
In my experience, one of the biggest space-eaters that I find among my clients is loose items that have been tossed in the attic. To help combat this culprit of clutter, try utilizing clear, uniform storage bins that stack to take advantage of vertical space and save you a ton of headaches. BONUS–They will also protect your stored items from extreme heat or cold while in your attic, garage or basement.
Pro Tip: Avoid storing your decorations in cardboard boxes! Over time, they can hold moisture, collapse, and attract bugs!
> Look at Everything Twice
Before packing it away to deal with next year, be sure to scrutinize what you have. Rate items 1 to 10 if that’s easier for you. Anything below a certain number goes to the donate bin for someone else to enjoy!
> Store by Area in Your Home
Do you always put the same decorations in the same places around your home each year? Designating a storage container by area (kitchen, mantle, foyer, etc.) will make it quick and easy to set up next year.
> Store by Like Kind
If you are the type of decorator that puts out a lot of items at the end as “finishing touches,” they may not always go in a particular spot. Decorative Christmas balls or greenery are great examples of this. In this case, I recommend sorting these items into like kinds and packing all-together. Decorated garland? Keep those decorations on and carefully fold into a bin. This makes it easier to put up next year.
> Holiday Hostess Gifts & Party Supplies
Do your family and friends gather at your home each year for holiday festivities? Between hostess gifs and seasonal supplies, keep these items together in a bin so you can easily find them for next year as events come up.
Pro Tip: Cut down on the clutter and donate holiday specific hostess gifts and part supplies in favor of more “evergreen” options that can be used year-round!
> Store Gift Wrap Separate
I recommend designating separate storage for holiday gift wrap, separate from non-holiday wrapping supplies. Holiday wrapping can range from simple bows, to elaborate ribbons and ties, so it is often easiest to keep them on their own. By doing this, you can easily see what you have and only deal with it once a year.
> Tree Décor and Accessories
Reuse supplies when you can! Do you have a lot of leftover tissue paper from holiday presents? Use it to wrap ornaments from your tree to keep them safe and minimize the potential for damage. Lights can take up a lot of space, so try wrapping them into a ball (starting with the female end to make it easier to plug in) to save space and keep them from tangling. Be sure to store in a separate bin from the outside lights so you easily know what goes where!
> LABEL, LABEL, LABEL!
Make sure you label all of your decoration storage and be specific! These labels from Amazon are great option and they are easy to change. Put them inside a clear bin so they are more protected but still easy to read.
Less Clutter, More Life
If these tips worked for you, share some pictures of your holiday décor clean-up! Or if you are feeling overwhelmed and would like some help, let’s chat!
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Jan 5, 2022 | Declutter Challenge, Declutter Tips
January is a great time to start a home REFRESH – it’s the doldrums of winter, we are home A LOT and why not take a little time and LOVE your home again?
That’s why we are doing a home organization challenge concentrating on a different area of your home each weekend. How did it go last weekend when you organized the KITCHEN? Do you find that it was easier to prepare meals or put groceries away? Did you have more space on your counter?
Next up – MISCELLANEOUS!
You know, the annoying little items that are stuffed in drawers around your home – receipts, papers, junk mail, take out menus, old instruction manuals, old electronics and cords and MORE! These items might be hidden away so you or visitors can’t see them – until a door or drawer is opened. Or maybe you’re keeping them JUST IN CASE. The problem is that most of these items won’t be used in the future or just might be TRASH. But they are taking up valuable space or they keep you from finding what you are really looking for.
Some tips for organizing miscellaneous items:
- Miscellaneous items are usually a pretty quick decision – you use it or you don’t. Also, there is usually not a sentimental attachment to items, so that helps, too.
- Items can be found hidden in drawers, closets and cabinets. It’s messy but you can’t see it, so it’s easy to ignore – until you need to find something.
- Sometimes it’s easy to work on one drawer at a time.
- Gather items and sort by category. Decide where it’s going to live and where you can find it easy in the future.
We hope you have enjoyed the Declutter Challenge and are feeling organized to start the year off right! If you are still having trouble getting started, sign up for our newsletter and gain access to our FREE Declutter Quicklist. You’ll get our itemized checklist to help get the ball rolling, as well as even more spots in your home to declutter. Set a timer for 20 minutes and GO! At the end, either stop or continue. It’s that easy! If you need some assistance, encouragement, or just want to let me know how it goes…let’s chat! Schedule a call HERE.
Jan 5, 2022 | Declutter Challenge, Declutter Tips
January is a great time to start a home REFRESH – it’s the doldrums of winter, we are home A LOT and why not take a little time and LOVE your home again?
That’s why we are doing a home organization challenge concentrating on a different area of your home each weekend. How did it go last weekend with the weekend organizing challenge #2 – your CLOSETS? Do you find that it was easier to get ready in the morning? Did you have more space on your closet?
Next up – the KITCHEN!
I LOVE organizing kitchens. With the kitchen being the heart of the home, it is essential that it functions well, and people know where everything is located. Typically, people’s kitchen cabinets are stuffed (how many coffee mugs do you REALLY need???), so items end up on the countertop and reduces the working space available. And maybe since you’re working from home, you find that you are cooking differently. Now is a great chance to really re-organize for the life you’re living NOW – especially if you know you’re not going back to the office for a while.
Some tips for organizing a kitchen:
- The kitchen can easily become a catch all area of the home. Depending on the space you have, only crucial items should be stored in the kitchen. (A bottle of ibuprofen – yes. A whole entire medicine cabinet taking up the prime real estate in your kitchen – no.)
- Pull out kitchen items and sort by category. This is the messy, tedious part but then you can really see all the gadgets and duplicates you have and possibly don’t use.
- Decide what you want to keep.
- Figure out where it’s going to live depending on the space you have (drawers vs. cabinet vs. pantry) and ask if it NEEDS to live in your kitchen or could it be stored in somewhere else? The huge lobster pot you use once a year? Maybe that can live in the attic or garage.
- Drawer organizers can help neatly keep things in place.
- Give the inside of the cabinets and drawers a good deep cleaning while empty.
- Put items back where it makes sense – keep frequently used stuff at your fingertips and things used less often you can tuck away.
- After the kitchen, move onto the pantry – toss the expired food and spices and you’ll be amazed how much space you have!
Having trouble getting started? Sign up for our newsletter and gain access to our FREE Declutter Quicklist. You’ll get our itemized checklist to help get the ball rolling, as well as even more spots in your home to declutter. Set a timer for 20 minutes and GO! At the end, either stop or continue. It’s that easy! If you need some assistance, encouragement, or just want to let me know how it goes…let’s chat! Schedule a call HERE.
Ready for the next step in the Declutter Challenge? Check it out HERE.
Jan 5, 2022 | Declutter Challenge, Declutter Tips
January is a great time to start a home REFRESH – it’s the doldrums of winter, we are home A LOT and why not take a little time and LOVE your home again?
That’s why we are doing a home organization challenge concentrating on a different area of your home each weekend. How did week #1 of the Declutter Challenge go with the BATHROOM? Do you find that it was easier to get ready in the morning? Did you have more space on your countertop?
Next up – CLOSETS! Dealing with your clothes can be challenging – and this past year didn’t help. With so many people continuing to work from home and special events cancelled, you might have found that your work and dress clothes haven’t quite made it out of the closet in a while. Now is a great chance to really re-organize for the life you’re living NOW – especially if you know you’re not going back to the office for a while.
Some tips:
- There are different ideas on where to start – I think it’s a little overwhelming to throw all your clothes on the bed. It’s easier to sort by one category at a time and start there. TOPS (Tank tops, short sleeve tops, long sleeve tops, sweaters, etc.) PANTS (jeans, leggings, etc).
- Decide what you want to keep.
- Figure out where it’s going to live depending on the space you have (dresser vs. closet) and ask if it NEEDS to live in your closet or could it be stored in somewhere else? Work clothes and formal wear, for example, might go to the guest room closet or can be boxed up and stored.
- Buy nice hangers to create a uniform look – I suggest the non-slip black velvet hangers – the best prices are found at Costco and HomeGoods.
- Give your closet a good deep cleaning while empty.
- Hang up your clothes by category and by color – lightest to darkest.
- To maintain it, gather empty hangers together and don’t have more than about 5.
Having trouble getting started? Sign up for our newsletter and gain access to our FREE Declutter Quicklist. You’ll get our itemized checklist to help get the ball rolling, as well as even more spots in your home to declutter. Set a timer for 20 minutes and GO! At the end, either stop or continue. It’s that easy! If you need some assistance, encouragement, or just want to let me know how it goes…let’s chat! Schedule a call HERE.
Ready for the next step in the Declutter Challenge? Check it out HERE.
Jan 5, 2022 | Declutter Challenge, Declutter Tips
HAPPY NEW YEAR! It’s JANUARY – FINALLY!!
After the Christmas chaos, decorations are packed away, new gifts have found a home and your home is looking perfect – OR IS IT??!?!?
January is a great time to start a home REFRESH – it’s the doldrums of winter, we are home A LOT and why not take a little time and LOVE your home again?
That’s why we are starting a home organization challenge concentrating on a different area of your home each weekend. First up, the BATHROOM. WHY? It’s typically an easy place to start to hone your decision-making skills – few sentimental items, products you either use or you don’t, and it’s an area that you use every day.
Some tips:
- Make your bed and put a blanket or old sheet on top to protect the covers. It’s great to use to spread everything out and easier than using the floor.
- Start pulling out everything from your bathroom and sort by category and sub-category. For example – make up/ eyeshadow, mascara, hair products/ gels, shampoo… etc.
- Decide what you want to keep.
- Figure out where it’s going to live – does it NEED to live in your bathroom, or could it be stored in the linen closet? Backstock of extras or towels would be a good example.
- Decide on a container that best suits what you’re keeping.
- Give your bathroom a good deep cleaning.
- Put things back where it makes sense and LABEL.
Having trouble getting started? Sign up for our newsletter and gain access to our FREE Declutter Quicklist. You’ll get our itemized checklist to help get the ball rolling, as well as even more spots in your home to declutter. Set a timer for 20 minutes and GO! At the end, either stop or continue. It’s that easy! If you need some assistance, encouragement, or just want to let me know how it goes…let’s chat! Schedule a call HERE.
Ready for the next step in the Declutter Challenge? Check it out HERE.
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