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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