Organizing Tips
The benefits of having a bedroom free of clutter are obvious to see. It is easier to move in the room without tripping on items left on the floor. You can find things on your night table without bumping other items over. Have you thought about how a clutter free bedroom might make you feel? You will feel as though you have a clearer mind when you are in that room, and that might help you unwind and sleep more effectively. When it is less cluttered, you might enjoy being there more and it can become a sacred place. Fortunately, it’s relatively easy to gain a clutter-free bedroom, so let’s take a look at four steps you might not have thought of as a way to achieve that.
Match The Bed To The Room
Have you seen a bedroom with a bed and furniture that takes up all the space so that it is difficult to move around the room? Did you ever think the cluttered feeling could be caused by the size of your bed? Try to match the bed to the room size. A less crowded room is easier to keep clean and organized. When you have a huge bed, one problem is that you might struggle to feel relaxed in that room with no place to move. You might need to visit a mattress store in your area to find better options for your space. Visually your room will look bigger, less crowded and more inviting. You will feel less anxious entering the room and have less stress. Practically it will be easier to get things out, put them away and make your bed every day.
Store Items Under The Bed
This is a simple thing you can do which will make your bedroom less cluttered and visibly cleaner. Storing items under the bed is something that is not always possible – for instance, if you have a divan base that almost touches the floor. Captain’s beds are built with drawers under the bed for storage. Some beds have a base that is hinged to create a storage area in the bed frame. You can create storage under your bed by using bed risers to lift the bed up. When there is space under the bed, make use of it. It’s amazing how this space can be used so you have more room in your closets or dressers.
Minimize Wall Decorations
It can be tempting to go all out and try to decorate your bedroom in a way that is beautiful. You might find it quite beneficial to not go overboard here. In fact, you’ll find that keeping wall decorations to a minimum will lead to a space that has less visual clutter and a much clearer appearance. Put items on the wall that have a calming effect so it is easier to relax and clear your mind as you get ready to sleep.
Store Things Elsewhere
Finally, there is something to be said about not letting the bedroom become a general dumping ground for random items around the home. It is one of the most important rooms in the home and one that you need to care for and respect. It is a space where you rejuvenate your mind and regenerate your body for the next day. It is easy at the end of a tiring day to bring things into the bedroom, put them down and say you’ll put them away tomorrow. Take the extra minute and put them away so you don’t have a constant reminder of an unfinished task when you are trying to go to sleep. Don’t end up with lots of random items cluttering up your restful space.
Usually, I talk about the process of decluttering a room to have less unwanted stuff. These 4 steps approach making a bedroom clutter-free in a different way, through the thoughtful selection of furniture, decoration and storage. They also help to create a room with less visual clutter and mental clutter.
In the comments share how you make your bedroom clutter-free.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices,oachng you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Every storage room has its different problems to consider. Some have very low ceilings. Some may be hard to get into. The walls and corners might be angled. Sometimes they have a smell you need to get rid of. There are a number of questions to ask yourself before you purchase shelving for your storage room.
Show or Stow?
1. Do you like things displayed on open shelves or stowed behind closed doors? This will help you determine if you want a cupboard or shelving.
Measure Carefully
2. Next measure the space. You need to get storage that uses all the area and not buy storage that leaves some of the area unusable. This happens when one storage unit is too large and another storage unit can’t fit into the remaining space.
Lids or no lids?
3. Next ask yourself, will you open a lid to put things into a container, will you reclose the top of a box? If the answer is no, cut the flaps off the box or purchase containers without lids. You want to make it as easy as possible to get the items into the correct box.
Make it easy to get to the bottom container
4. Lastly ask yourself, if your bins are stacked will you unstack them to put something in the bottom container? Will you restack the containers on the storage unit? If your answer is no then buy large containers that fill the vertical space between the shelves so you can maximize your storage. It is usually good to have two or three containers on each shelf so they are easy to move and not too heavy.
How to place items on the shelves
Now you have your storage units and bins.
- Store items you use frequently at eye level.
- Store heavy items on the bottom shelf
- Store items close to where you use them
- Store infrequently used items up high or in less accessible areas.
Hockey bags?
Trying to store hockey bags? Try placing two shelving units that are 4 or 5 shelves high, with 24” or 36” deep shelves, one in front of the other and securely attach them together. This will hold one bag per shelf with room to leave it open to air out and place some items beside the bag to dry.
Do you need to mitigate an odour?
I contributed to an article about smells in homes. I suggested when you enter a new room there may be an odour you don’t like. The easiest first step is to increase the air circulation, open some windows, prop open a door and use a fan to circulate the air. The next thing you can try is a dehumidifier especially if you are in the basement. Removing the dampness can help remove unwanted odours. If the problem is not solved try a deep clean of the walls, carpets and window coverings. Fabrics can hold many odours from the previous clients’ cooking, pets and hobbies. We were named a local expert on ApartmentGuide. Read the full article here: What to Do About Bad Smells in the House.
ApartmentGuide is a subsidiary of Redfin.com
With the right shelves and bins, it is easy to sort your items into categories, place them in a labelled container and locate them in your storage room. Removing smells from your storage areas will keep your items clean and fresh. Remember to keep only what you need and love.
Book a complimentary 30-minute virtual chat with me to get started planning your storage area.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
With the change in seasons, eating habits change too. You might eat more fresh produce, barbecue, make salads, eat sandwiches or plan picnics. Now is a good time to look at what is in your fridge and use up items before you buy new things for this season of cooking.
Here are the steps for cleaning and organizing your fridge.
Take everything out of the fridge.
Remove all the items from the shelves, drawers, and compartments in the door. It is important to be thorough. You may think you know what is “hiding” in your fridge. Things fall over and get lost from view.
Compost expired and spoiled food
Check each item for an expiry date. Check food items for signs that they are spoiled. There may be mould on the edge of a jar or bottle. Make a place for the items you have checked and will return to the fridge later.
Wipe down all the surfaces
Use warm soapy water to wash off all the shelves, bins, compartments and sides of the fridge. Wipe it a second time with clear warm water. You may need to leave a small amount of water on a tough stain to soften it. Once it has sat for a few minutes try wiping it away before the water completely cools and the stain becomes hard.
Rearrange the shelves to maximize space and organization
It is time to put the food back in. Plan zones in your fridge based on how you use items or into food group categories. This will make it easy to find things. Make an area for leftovers so they can be easily seen and get eaten before they are spoiled. Keep all your cheeses, meats, vegetables and fruits together in their own areas. Locate your condiments, sauces and salad dressings together. After you have opened one of these items check the label to see if it can go back into the pantry or if it goes into the fridge once it is opened. Using bins to hold categories for food makes it easy to keep it together, take it out and find what you need and slide it back on a shelf. Adjust the shelf spacing to suit taller items and shorter items so the space is used efficiently. Regularly assess your organization system and make changes as needed.
Tips and tricks
Here are a few additional tips that may help you to keep your fridge working well.
- Put taller items at the back and shorter ones at the front. It makes it easier to see everything.
- Don’t overstuff your fridge. It is hard for the fridge to stay at the correct temperature and for the air to circulate properly. Food may get spoiled more quickly.
- Use labels or clear containers if items are not in their original containers.
- Label shelves so everyone knows where to put the food back. It helps you to know if something has been used up if it is always stored near the same spot. This prevents having multiples of the same item open in the fridge and taking up space.
Menu planning is easier when your fridge is organized. You know what you have available to put on your menu. You can quickly see what needs to be used so it doesn’t spoil. Reducing the amount of food that spoils saves you money on your grocery bill. A clean and organized fridge helps you stay healthy. There are fewer bacteria in your fridge and that keeps your food safe and you healthy.
I think I have covered everything. If I left something out please share your ideas in the comments.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Sometimes when we are organizing we make the organization look like art. We organize books by the colour of their spine, hang baskets on a wall in an interesting pattern or use brightly coloured baskets to hold exercise equipment. Let’s look at the reverse of this idea. Can artwork help you get organized?
This piece of artwork provides storage opportunities.
I attended the National Home Show in Toronto Canada a few years ago. I saw this great piece of artwork. If you have a small home this artwork is dual purpose. It can be used to hold CDs, video games and equipment, and books. Plants would look lovely on this tree especially ivy or other hanging plants that would give it “leaves”. It would be fun to decorate it for any season or special event.
Here is a creative use of a sign. This piece of artwork has hooks added to it to organize cycling gear. When the cycling gear is removed you have a lovely picture on your wall.
Let me know about artwork in your home that helps you stay organized.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
My guest blogger is Sophia Perry from Arizona Moving Professional
Before we dive in, let’s take a moment to reflect on why decluttering your home is so important. For starters, cluttered living spaces can have a negative impact on your mental health, causing feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed. On the other hand, a tidy home can promote feelings of calm, relaxation, and happiness. A clutter-free space can also increase your productivity and creativity, making it easier to focus on the things that matter most to you. It’s a fantastic feeling to purge unwanted items and create a clean and organized space. However, maintaining that momentum and preventing clutter from creeping back in is the real challenge. Don’t worry! Whether you’re a decluttering pro or just starting, this guide will provide practical tips and expert advice on maintaining momentum after decluttering your home to help you keep your home clutter-free. Let’s get started!
#1 Set boundaries for what enters your home
The first step in maintaining a decluttered home is to set boundaries for the items you allow into your space. When shopping or accepting gifts, consider whether the item will add value to your life or just take up space. Creating a rule such as “one item in, one item out” can also help prevent accumulation.
Another useful strategy is to implement a waiting period before making any new purchases. If you see something you like, wait a few days before purchasing it. During this time, you can evaluate if the item is truly essential or if it’s just a passing phase. If you find that you still want the item after the waiting period, you can feel more confident that it’s a worthwhile purchase.
#2 Maintain your space daily
Keep up with daily maintenance to prevent clutter from building up. One of the biggest mistakes people make is giving up decluttering once they are finished with it. Therefore, take a few minutes each day to tidy up and put things away. This can be as simple as making your bed in the morning or quickly sweeping your living space before bed. By taking these small steps consistently, you’ll prevent clutter from accumulating and ensure that your space stays clean and organized.
Another useful strategy is to implement a system for organizing your belongings. This can include using storage bins, labels, and drawer dividers to keep everything in its place. Having designated spots for your possessions makes putting things away easier and prevents them from getting lost in the shuffle.
#3 Set aside things that are not important
There is no better way to maintain momentum after decluttering than by donating things that are not important to you. It’s easy to feel like every item in your home is essential, but in reality, some things are less necessary than others. For example, do you really need five sets of sheets for your bed, or could you make do with two? If you feel 5 sets of sheets are important find storage space for 3 sets of sheets in another area until you need them. Keeping only 2 sets of sheets in your linen closet can help prevent it from becoming cluttered again. Keep the important items easily accessible and consider how many duplicates you need to keep. Duplicates create clutter.
One way to create space for less important things is to prioritize your belongings. Think about what items you use daily versus what items you only use occasionally. Store the occasional-use items in a less accessible place, such as a high shelf or a storage closet, or rent a storage unit. This will help prevent them from taking up valuable real estate in your home.
Regularly reevaluate your possessions and donate items that no longer serve you. This can be a challenging task, but it’s essential for maintaining a clutter-free home.
#4 Set a regular cleaning schedule
Establishing a regular cleaning schedule is important for maintaining momentum after decluttering your home. This will help maintain the sense of space and organization you’ve created. By setting aside a few hours each week to clean, you can prevent clutter from accumulating and keep your home feeling fresh and tidy.
Start by creating a checklist of cleaning tasks that need to be done regularly. Assign these tasks to specific days of the week or month. Make sure to mark them on your calendar or planner so you don’t miss them. You can also enlist the help of family members or roommates to share the cleaning responsibilities. Create a chore chart and assign tasks to each person, making sure to rotate them regularly so that everyone gets a chance to do different tasks.
#5 Don’t clutter it, donate it!
Aren’t you tired of cluttering your house with things you don’t even need? Wouldn’t it be better to donate them to someone who could appreciate them? Creating a donation system is an excellent way to maintain momentum after decluttering your home. Not only will you be doing something good for others, you’ll also be reducing clutter in your home.
Set a date and time to drop off or have your donations picked up, and mark it on your calendar. This will help you stay accountable and ensure that your items don’t just sit around your home, taking up space.
#6 Embrace minimalism
Can you embrace minimalism as a way of life? Minimalism isn’t just about having fewer possessions. It’s a mindset that can help you live a more intentional and fulfilling life. By focusing on the things that truly matter to you and letting go of the rest, you’ll create more space, time, and energy for the things that bring you joy.
Embracing minimalism also means being mindful of your consumption habits. Rather than constantly buying new things, focus on using and appreciating what you already have. When you do make purchases, invest in high-quality items that will last for years rather than cheap, disposable products that will clutter up your home.
Final thoughts
Congratulations! You’ve succeeded in decluttering your home and creating a new sense of space and organization. But the work doesn’t stop there! Maintaining momentum after decluttering your home is just as big of a task. In the end, decluttering is a journey, not a destination. It’s a continuous process of letting go, simplifying, and making room for less clutter and more joy in your life. And with the tips and tricks outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to maintaining momentum and enjoying the benefits of a clutter-free home.
I think Sophia Perry has created a good guide. What would you add to this guide? Leave me a comment.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Pinterest can be a great resource. It has ideas on how to organize everything and anything. It has DIY solutions in all price ranges and skill levels. Pinterest is a good resource for visual learners, you see the design on your screen.
So why don’t I like it?
The problem that arises for me, as a Trained Professional Organizer, occurs when clients see something on Pinterest and ask me to create that system for them. Just because it is on Pinterest doesn’t mean it is the right solution for you. It is the right solution for the person who posted it.
Evaluate the idea and think about how you do things before you copy it. Just because you like the way it looks or because it is trending doesn’t mean it will work for the way you think and do things. Deciding how to organize your books, jewelry etc needs to be done in a way that you can find what you need when you need it and in a timely manner.
Organizing your books by colour looks great on the wall, will you be able to find the book you need? If you did it with a small number of books or only pick 2 or 3 colours of books you could adapt the idea and make it work.
Books sorted by colour create an interesting design for your wall
If you organize your jewelry hanging it from the horizontal bar of a hanger using binder clips to attach the jewelry may be a good solution if you don’t have a lot of jewelry. If you hang all your jewelry and then slide the hangers on a rod to look for a certain piece of jewelry the jewelry might become tangled as they sway when the hangers are moved. How would you attach your rings? You might end up this your jewelry stored in many different locations and not be able to find what you want.
If you have a small amount of jewelry and space on your wall to place your hanger this might work for you.
A recipe may look great. Is it something you can make in a big batch and freeze so you can get 2 meals for the time you are spending in the kitchen? Are the ingredients something you have in your cupboard or will you need to make an extra trip to the store?
Enjoy using Pinterest use it wisely to help you save time, money and effort.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
My guest blogger is Sophia Perry from Arizona Moving Professionals
Small homes can be tricky when you have many things you need to store. However, you may have more storage space than you realize. Maximizing your home’s storage space can be much easier than it seems at first. With minimal upgrades and these space-saving hacks, your small home will be transformed. Moreover, you won’t have to stress as much over the lack of space in your home. The final result will have your home looking bright and airy, which is something every homeowner strives for.
Use vertical space
In every small home, vertical space is the best way to store things. Vertical storage solutions are fantastic, as you will not have to sacrifice any floor space to gain additional room for storage. They are also some of the most affordable home upgrades you can make. Open wall shelves, door hangers, and bike racks for walls can save a lot of space in your small home. If you are looking to divide the space, use a divider that doubles as a shelving unit. This way, you’ll get to separate the areas and make them feel bigger. In addition to this, you will find the divider useful because it will be a great way to store things. You can also decorate it so that it ties the whole room together.
Utilize every corner of your home
If you find a way to use every corner of our home, you will have enough room for storage. Add built-in shelves for the narrow corner between closets to make the most out of the space. Fill it with smaller items such as books and decor. These will now have a designated area, making your room look much better. Underneath some beds is an empty space that can be used for storage. Simply packing things in bags and putting them underneath isn’t the way to go. You can easily organize this space and make it easy to use with roll-out drawers specifically designed for this space. This is a fantastic solution for extra pillows and linens you don’t have the space for in your closet. These things are easily accessible without ruining the room’s overall look.
Space-saving storage hacks for small kitchens
Cooking in a small kitchen can be annoying if it is cluttered. If you own an extensive collection of mugs and other dishes, you can display them to save space. Use vertical hangers for all of your fanciest cups so that they can be on display. You can use high-quality packing materials if you are relocating into a new, small home and don’t want them to get damaged. To keep your fragile items safe, let a reliable team handle transport for your next long-distance move from Toronto. In the kitchen, you can use your fine china as decor saving cupboard space for the things you use every day.
Open shelving is a great storage solution for narrow spaces. And in a small home, you want to use as much of it as possible. Closed storage solutions, like many cupboards, can make your kitchen feel smaller. But installing open shelving instead can be the right solution for this.
Furthermore, you can even use the ceiling to create more space in your kitchen. Hang the cooking utensils and pots you use the most above the kitchen counters or the kitchen island. They will now be easily accessible and simultaneously make more room in your cupboards and drawers.
Organize your closet in a smart way
You may be surprised to see how much room you can make in your closet with a little reorganization. By reorganizing a little bit, you will have more room for all your clothes. A shoe organizer for your door is great for smaller shoes, such as sandals and flip-flops. Moreover, it can be an excellent way to store accessories like belts and necklaces. To organize your shoe collection:
- Use a variety of shoe racks.
- Separate them if you can so they don’t get damaged by the weight of the other shoes.
- Use vacuum bags for seasonal clothes like winter jackets that you won’t have to use for a few months.
This way, you’ll save space and keep the things you use regularly at your fingertips.
Turn the stairs into a storage solution
Another smart way to make more storage space in your tiny home is to use your staircase as a storage solution. You can achieve this in several different ways. One way would be to turn each step into a drawer for storage. This excellent idea is great for smaller things and seasonal shoes. It can be beneficial because the staircase is usually close to the entry door. Another way is to maximize the space underneath the staircase by making a custom built-in closet or a set of drawers. This is the perfect place for storing your coats and sporting equipment. Now, your sporting equipment is easily accessible and stays hidden when not used. However, before you begin renovating your new home, experts from Centennial Moving advise you to declutter. You may need less space than you think at first.
Summing up these space-saving hacks
Even though your home may be small, that doesn’t mean you don’t have the storage room you need. By using smart, space-saving hacks for your home, you will have enough space for all of your things. These hacks and solutions will make your small home feel bigger and brighter in the process. In addition, if you ever run out of space, you can always use a storage unit for all your seasonal items. Finally, it’s all about combining various hacks and storage solutions to create a smart home that’s well-organized and clutter-free to suit your personality and lifestyle.
If Sophia missed anything add it to the comments.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Click here to learn more about working with a Professional Organizer.
Just because something brought you joy in the past doesn’t mean you should carry it forever. The possessions you keep should represent the person you are trying to become, not the person you were. Keep this in mind when you start your decluttering journey. As you start to let go of things it will become easier and easier. Here are steps to help you on your path to finding your treasures.
Planning the space
1. Decide what the goal is for the room. Is it to have a:
- Beautiful compact space
- Functional workshop
- Sense of freedom and control
- The joy of financially exchanging stuff for new experiences and pleasures.
- Clear out a parent’s home
- Make things easier for the next generation
- Streamline your lifestyle
2. Decide what you want the room to look like and be used for. Draw a floor plan and make a list of activities that happen in that space. It will help you to know what to keep.
3. Decision criteria
Set up some questions to help you with your decision making. Here are some examples:
- How many of these do I have? How many is enough?
- Does the item fit in with my values?
- Is this item current?
- Is this item really valuable?
- Will owning this help to resolve my clutter?
- What is the worst thing that can happen if I don’t have it?
- Can I borrow it from somewhere?
- Does it bring me joy?
- Do I need it?
4. How much is enough?
Look around the room and decide what percentage of stuff you need to give away so everything will fit into the room. 25% 50% 75%?
5. If you don’t schedule it, it won’t get done.
Schedule time and work when you are not rushed. Do one area, room, box or even corner of a room depending on how much stuff you have to go through and your timeline.
6. Prepare the room for working.
You will need a series of boxes, bins, bags or containers. for garbage, recycling, donations, items to go to other rooms and items to return to people.
5 Methods for decluttering the room
I’m going to go through a number of ways to sort through your items and you can decide what method works best for you. At first, decluttering is easy because you find items that you know you don’t want and just haven’t given them away yet. Then it becomes more challenging. You must chip away at identifying which items are true treasures versus those you feel guilty about giving away. Remember to reduce by the percentage you choose in your planning.
1. Have a box
The simplest way to start is to keep a box in your closet and whenever you find something you don’t need put it into the box and you can start decluttering right away.
2. Skimming
- Go to a closet/cupboard and select the best items in each that category.
- Most cupboards/closets will have more than one category.
- For example, in a kitchen, the cupboard might have baking dishes, casserole dishes, muffin tins and loaf pans. Pick the best 1 or 2 of each of these 4 categories and donate the rest.
- Continue to open each cupboard and drawer skimming the contents and selecting 1 or 2 items from each category.
3. Sort then declutter
- Go clockwise around the room sorting items into groups by function
- Do the surfaces first and then the drawers and cupboards next
- When you are done, the garbage and recycling will be collected and removed from the room
- All the items in the room will be in groups
- Each room will have different categories/groups of items. Here are some examples, books, electronics, tools, dishes, home decor, games, clothing, photos etc
Look at one category/group and apply the questions and percentage you determined in the planning stage. Start removing items.
If that method doesn’t work for you and you are keeping everything, try a different method.
4. Grouping
Keep the Best of the Best. Instead of thinking about giving things away, it might be easier to consider keeping the best.
- After you have sorted the room make sure you are keeping the best one. You need to see all of the items in one group together and keep only as many as you need or the percentage you set in the planning stage, keep the best ones.
5. Triage
- Gather all your items from one category
- Pick up the first three and remove the one you like the least.
- Pick up 3 more and remove one again
- After you have gone through the category/group you will have decluttered by 1/3
If you are sentimental
- Try taking a picture of the items so you have the memory and let go of the item.
- Find a good home for the thing you are letting go of, they are still useful, just not to you anymore.
- “Shrink it”, only keep one item from a collection instead of the entire collection, you will still have the memory
- Ask yourself, what would be best, having a number of boxes with large quantities of unsorted keepsakes or a carefully assembled box of very precious treasures?
Decluttering is about having a mindset of letting go and having less. Once you experience the joy of being unburdened from cleaning, organizing, buying, and repairing stuff you don’t need, want, use or like you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner. Enjoy the journey.
Did I miss anything?
If you need help to start your decluttering project work with me virtually on zoom.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Click here to learn more about working with a Professional Organizer.
My guest blogger this month is Sophie Perry from Arizona Moving Professional
People say that a messy home means a messy life. And while some may argue that is not true, no one can deny that a messy home is an issue that has to be dealt with sooner or later. And it‘s much better if it’s sooner, as a messy environment can negatively affect people. Studies have shown that our environment impacts our mental health and can lead to a person becoming anxious and depressed and making them lose focus. In order to avoid that, regular home organizing sessions are a must. But you need to know how to do it properly. People often make some home organizing mistakes, especially if they don’t have much experience organizing. We decided to help anyone struggling with this and share a list of the most common mistakes people make.
Most common home organizing mistakes
These are mistakes people make very often, and they make the whole process much more difficult.
- Being overly ambitious
- Avoiding decluttering
- Procrastinating
- Not asking for help
- Not utilizing storage
Biting more than they can chew
The first mistake people make when organizing their home is that they underestimate how much work that requires. They think organizing an entire house can be done in a day. That’s impossible. This is a mistake that people who just moved often make as well. They want to make their new home completely organized as soon as they get there, which requires time and patience. For example, organizing a kitchen after the move should be done first, and you shouldn’t start organizing another room until you are done with it. Then once you make your kitchen neat and tidy, you can move to the next room. This room-by-room approach is best for home organizing. If you start a new room before finishing the previous one, you are less likely to finish it and do it nicely and thoroughly.
Skipping decluttering
Another one of the home organizing mistakes people make is underestimating how important decluttering is. This is essential to a clean and tidy home, but unfortunately, too many people skip it. Before you can start cleaning and organizing, you must eliminate junk and stuff you don’t need anymore. This makes the rest of the home organizing a lot easier. And it’s a straightforward process. Just separate things into three different piles. One pile is for the things that you are keeping. The other pile is for broken and useless things that you will be throwing away. And the final pile is for the things you don’t want but are still helpful, and you can donate them. Once you declutter, you will immediately notice the difference in your home. It will be more spacious and easier to organize.
Putting things off
Successful home organizing will require you to be motivated and focused. As we said, it cannot be done in a single day, but that doesn’t mean you should drag it out for too long. People often procrastinate with home organizing, resulting in a home that is even messier than before. You may start all focused, but you start putting things off like “ I can take this donation box to charity tomorrow” or “I’ll throw away this junk later.” Slowly you will find yourself a month in your organizing process, and you are not even halfway there. The key to home organizing is not losing focus. Set a goal, and don’t stop until you are done. Don’t put things off; throw the garbage immediately, and take that donation box to charity. If you are motivated and focused, you will be done much quicker and then be able to relax.
Not asking for help
You might think you can organize your own home without help, but you’d be mistaken, especially if you live in a big house or apartment. That’s too much space for one person to take care of by themselves. Add to that most people have full-time jobs and other obligations they must take care of. That doesn’t leave much time for decluttering, cleaning, and organizing. Having friends and family help you is the right solution. An extra set of hands will make you more efficient, and the whole thing will be done much more quickly. And not just that, they might even be able to give you some helpful advice about home organizing as they have probably done it before.
They don’t utilize storage
One of your greatest allies when home organizing is storage. However, too often, people don’t utilize it. They think storage is used only when moving or doing an extensive home remodel. But that is not the case. Storage is perfect for those situations when you have items cluttering your house, but you don’t want to get rid of them as they are essential to you, or you need them but not immediately. You can rent a storage unit where your items will be safe until you need them again; in the meantime, they won’t take up space in your house.
In conclusion
These were the most common home organizing mistakes people make. As you can see, at first glance, they don’t seem so serious, they are actually really important for the success of the whole process. It is important that you are focused on this project and don’t stop until you are finished. Procrastination is the death of home organizing. And if at some point you get tired and overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to call your friends and family for help. Also, don’t underestimate the importance of decluttering, as it’s a crucial step in this process. Renting a storage unit is also very helpful for all those items you don’t have enough place for in your home. Home organizing may seem like a complicated process, you will be glad you did it once you see the results.
Click here to book a complimentary 30 minute chat to get started without any mistakes
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
Reading time – 1 minute
Three Steps to Organizing
- Consolidate items into groups
- Containerize groups in sturdy, proper sized containers that are labeled
- Condense items so you have the appropriate amount of items in each group
Remember to donate items to charity and not to put them in the garbage.
Follow Two Routines
- Do four things in the morning
- Do four things in the evening
Five Habits to Keep Clutter on the Run
- If you get it out, put it away
- Apply the 30 second rule – if it takes 30 seconds or less to do something, do it immediately
- Follow the camping rule – leave the room the way you found it or better
- Look, really look at your surroundings to see what is out of place
- Use “little minute” to clean – those few minutes while you are waiting for someone, on hold on the phone, watching a pot boil
Let me know your tricks to help you stay organized.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you in managing your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
