Sometimes disorganization happens because...life. Life with full-time work, wrangling kids’, trying to put healthy meals on the table, and maybe even sleep in there somewhere. This small project used no organizing products (except a diaper box 😂), next to no decluttering, and took about 30 minutes start to finish. Everything was removed and categorized, a few items were re-homed to more appropriate places, and then things were put back with most frequently used items in the front. A more user-friendly space for this busy family!
People often ask me what I do with MY stuff. The truth is I often wear it out or use it up. I don’t buy new clothes just to have new clothes, I don’t jump on trends, and I force myself to use up products before buying more. I tend to buy stuff I love and am ok with paying more because I usually wear stuff till it literally falls apart 😂. I’d rather pay more for an item I’ll have for years than buy new shoes every year. In this case I had these @softinos.official and @coach shoes for at least 8 years each. That’s right - 8 years. I also extend the life of my shoes and clothes by having them repaired or tailored. If I looked at the cost per wear for these shoes, I probably paid about 10 cents per wear 🤑. Compare that to buying cute but uncomfortable shoes for $30 and wearing them once or twice. A lot of people say they can’t afford to buy certain brands or shop at certain stores. While the up front cost might be more, overall it can be more affordable to buy less but to buy quality. And side bonus - a more curated approach to shopping cuts down on closet clutter.
Another organizing task off the list - baby’s hospital bag! I grouped items by type, placed in labelled bags so helpers can easily help, and minimized to avoid overstuffing. Bag has been placed strategically so it’s not forgotten on the way out the door! 🤰🏼🙌🏻
I’ve been horizontal with back issues that last two days so I’m basking in the glow of my Sunday project to get my organizing fix 😜. We have baby clothes from newborn to 3T but (like my own closet), I didn’t want clothes in there that won’t fit. Having only clothes that fit reduces clutter and makes dressing easier. I folded all the clothes KonMarie-style, sorted by size, and stored in clear bins we’ll store until needed. The folding means the clothes take up much less space and containerizing allows us to limit clothes. What’s your favourite way to organize baby clothes? 🤰🏼
How does clutter impact your life? This brilliant info graphic from @makespace depicts the most common effects for my clients.
It can be hard to get the energy to take on organizing projects. But we often underestimate how draining it is to spend time looking for things, to live with clutter, to spend time looking for things, and to beat yourself up about what you “should” be doing or about not being able to tackle the problem areas. The next time you find yourself avoiding an organizing task, ask what will ultimately cost more energy? Avoiding or digging in? Where can you afford to spend the energy?
Sometimes organizing isn’t decluttering and sorting; my main organizing project lately has been all about bottling and freezing meals to prepare for the months ahead! How do you organize meals in your house?
Not all organizing before and afters are super pretty - but they can be super real. This client had an unpacked mountain from a move - in two short hours, we were able to unpack a ton of stuff, sorting and assigning homes as we went, so the living space is organized and functional. Sometimes organizing isn’t about the Instagram-worthy pantry. Sometimes it’s about progress - not perfection.
Happy International Women’s Day! Most of my clients are women, so I’m posting about a recent project for a female client - me! This space has evolved over time to meet my needs; click through the pics to see the progress. I can’t think of a better project to share on International Women’s Day ❤️
Sometimes it’s the little adjustments that make the biggest difference. For this downsizing senior, we tweaked the dreaded corner cupboard by creating zones (lighter bowls on bottom, heavier casserole and baking dishes on top), prioritizing placement of most frequently used items, moving unrelated items to more appropriate cabinets, and decluttering items that aren’t used. Now the cabinet is more aesthetically pleasing as well as being user-friendly!
So fun fact about me - I ❤️ miniatures! I loved doll houses as a kid - the kind that were so intricate and detailed (Ok, ok, I also loved Barbie’s dream home lol). Needless to say, this Marie Kondo Mini by @thecraftymillennial has me swooning on this rainy day! #Repost @dailymini with @get_repost ・・・ the life-changing magic of tidying up by marie kondo by @thecraftymillennial. 📖
May the odds be ever in your favour.
Sometimes the little spaces make the biggest difference! This utensil drawer was a pain for the client (and a classic “I can’t find it so I bought another”). We removed everything, separated by category, then chose the best of every category to keep. Some items (like the strainer) found better homes, and when the rest of the kitchen is done, more will be removed. The goal was to easily put your hands on the utensil the client wanted, and to make it easier to take things out and put them away.
Seems like everyone is watching @mariekondo on @netflixca?! What does everyone think?!
I’ve been working on taming my paper beast so this post by @cleanmama caught my eye - super practical approach by taking small steps toward a bigger goal. And if you want to follow an account for amazing cleaning tips, she’s your gal! #Repost @cleanmama with @get_repost ・・・ This isn’t a pretty picture but it equals progress in the Clutter Challenge. This is my shred pile from my office from 2018 - everything is filed and ready for tax time. My kids are home on break so they’re helping - they love using the shredder 😉. We’re also working away at taking down Christmas decor too. Slow and steady, little by little - that’s how real decluttering happens. Be easy on yourself and do a little everyday this month and you won’t believe how much you’ll accomplish! Grab you FREE printable checklist at the link in my profile and get started! #freeprintable #cleanmama #clutter https://www.cleanmama.net/2018/12/the-clutter-challenge-week-1-declutter-jumpstart.html