Ten Ways to Declutter Your Home
By Peter Walsh
The Oprah Winfrey Show
February 07, 2007
Is clutter taking over your home? Peter Walsh has 10 easy ways you can de-clutter your home and your life today.
How to Keep Your House Clutter-Free
•Tackle messes one room at a time.
•When you buy something new, practice the "in-out rule:" For every one new item, get rid of an old one.
•Create intimacy in the master bedroom. Remember that improvements in one room can spread to the rest of the house.
•Make cleaning up fun for your kids.
•Create a vision for the room you're cleaning.
•Teach your kids how to sort.
•Use a hanger system to determine which clothes you wear most.
•Ask yourself if you really need something. If you hesitate, you don't.
•Establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen between the stove, refrigerator and the sink. Keep the items you use most in that area.
•Identify useful utensils with the cardboard box test.
MY THOUGHTS
i will challenge myself to practice the "in-out rule". which means that i shouldn't buy anything until after i've done a lot of "outs". i've no problme with my place in the city. my room in the province is another matter. it's such a mess i can't locate things anymore. time. i need time.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Closet organizing: conquer clutter
Conquering Clutter
.By Peter Walsh
The Oprah Winfrey Show
January 01, 2006
If you had to step over piles of clothes, papers and unidentifiable "stuff" just to get to your computer, you're not alone. Organizational guru Peter Walsh, host of TLC's hit show Clean Sweep, says millions of Americans are drowning in clutter.
Studies show that although families are smaller, homes are larger than ever. Even with more square feet of living space, many Americans still fill attics, basements and storage units with stuff. Peter blames overstuffed spaces on our super-size mentality. "We're in a culture that says more is better," he says. "We've been led to believe that things bring us happiness."
For more than 10 years, Peter has helped pack rats organize their homes and reclaim their lives. His techniques go well beyond color-coded boxes and plastic storage bins. Peter says he helps people uncover what's really going on underneath all that junk, which often leads to life-changing breakthroughs.
"[Stuff] robs people of so much," he says. "If your house is full of stuff, all the blessings that could fill your house can't get in. The stuff takes over. It robs you psychologically. You can't be at peace."
Don't distress over your mess—learn to conquer your clutter one room at a time.
Tip 1: Tackle one room at a time.
Don't let a manicured lawn fool you. Behind closed doors, many families are living with massive clutter. The Gavitt family hopes Peter can help them reclaim their Texas home.
Janet, a busy wife and mother of four, says the clutter started to get out of control when her twin daughters were born eight years ago. Now, with a 5-year-old and a baby to care for, she says she and her husband, Charlton, just can't keep up.
When Peter first arrived at the Gavitts' home, he noticed children's toys and clothes scattered throughout the house...even in the family room. "It doesn't look like a house that the parents run," Peter tells Janet. "You and Charlton have to get back in the driving seat."
Although Janet says she tells her daughters to put their things away, there's no designated place to put them. Plus, there are simply too many things to keep track of. Janet isn't lacking organizational skills. In fact, she works for The Container Store, a retail chain that specializes in space and storage solutions. "Talk about feeling like a fraud," she says.
Janet isn't the only person feeling the effects of the clutter. The mess is also starting to take a toll on Charlton. "I can't do the things I want to do with my children because there's stuff everywhere," he says. "I can't help them with their homework because there's not a place to do it. My job as a father is being compromised by the amount of clutter that we have in our house."
Everything's bigger in Texas...even messes. That didn't stop Peter from transforming the Gavitts' family room into a real living room in just 72 hours.
With the floor free of toys, the Gavitts' space looks more spacious and inviting. "We would actually use this room," Charlton says.
New furniture also doubles as organizational tools. Inside the leather footstools, the children discover board games. A coatrack in the entryway also has shelves for additional storage.
The papers that once covered the dining table are gone, and finally, the family can sit and enjoy a meal together. "I totally have gotten that now that we don't need the [stuff]-the stuff was hurting us," Janet says. "We need each other."
Tip 2: Follow the "in-out rule."
Peter and Janet tackle piles of the girls' clothes, which are scattered throughout the house. Peter says the secret is to take everything out of each room first and then sort it in a separate location.
All the clothing is placed on a tarp in the front yard. Now, it's up to Janet to sort the clothes into two categories—items to keep and items to give away. Each daughter gets a set number of bins, and once they are full, Janet must move on.
To avoid clutter, Peter says every shopper should follow the "in-out rule." Every time you buy a new piece of clothing, you should get rid of an old piece. He also makes Janet promise that she will not buy her daughters any new clothes for six months
Tip 3: Build intimacy.
When Peter sees Janet and Charlton's bedroom, he knows just what they need more of: intimacy. "When you are intimate, when your relationship is powering along, that will feed the rest of the house," he says.
With junk everywhere, Charlton says there's just no room to be romantic in the master bedroom. "You'd roll over onto a pile of clothes or a pile of toys and so we tried to take it to other rooms, but they were just as bad," he says. "There was no place to be us."
When asked what sort of bedroom they want, Janet says she'd like a romantic space, while Charlton wants a room that's just for him and his wife. Now that they have a shared vision, they can begin to declutter.
Peter tells the couple if they haven't used it in 12 months, it needs to go. That includes the dingy sweatpants Janet's been hanging onto since high school. "If it doesn't fit the vision you have for your space, it's got to go," Peter says.
Now, Janet and Charlton's bedroom oozes with intimacy. Soft lighting and a fresh coat of paint give the room a new look and feel. "There's a floor!" Janet says. "I feel a thousand pounds lighter. I feel like we can breathe now."
Peter designated a small space for their baby, Julia, and completely reorganized their closets.
Tip 4: Make cleanup fun.
Even though Miranda, Katharine and Audrey are young, Peter says they can learn to pick up after themselves. All it takes is a little creativity. Peter makes cleaning fun by turning it into a game. Each girl is given a type of thing—clothes, toys or books—to be responsible for. At the count of three, the girls scramble to fill bins with their items.
Miranda, Janet and Charlton's 8-year-old daughter, said she was embarrassed to bring friends over to her messy house...but not anymore! The once chaotic playroom is now an orderly place for the girls and their friends to read, play and paint.
Peter has designated a place for everything. There are bins for toys, cubbies for art supplies, and shelves for books and games.
How will they keep it tidy? "If we put everything back where it belongs," Miranda says. The Gavitt girls promise Peter that they'll keep the room neat and clutter-free
Tip 5: Create a vision.
Peter's method for attacking a messy garage is what he calls a "kick-start"—a high-speed, easy purge. Although it took years for the Gavitts to fill their garage with junk, it should only take them minutes to decide what they need to keep.
Peter says they need to create a vision and asks the Gavitts what they want from their garage. Charlton names four things: somewhere to work, park the car, refuge and storage. Now, they must rely on split-second decision making to identify the items that stay and the items that go. "You have to be tough as nails," Peter says.
Before Peter stepped in, Janet and Charlton hadn't been able to park in their garage for six years. After sorting through hundreds of items, Janet and Charlton drastically reduced the amount of stuff in their garage. Now, there is ample parking space thanks to new shelving units and clearly marked storage boxes.
"Incredible!" Janet says. Janet and Charlton say Peter's help has transformed their lives. "We knew we weren't happy," Janet says. "We knew it was something, but what?"
Now, Janet and Charlton have stopped hiding their home and started entertaining again. "We've had friends over several nights in a row for drinks because we can. So that's incredible," Janet says.
Peter's philosophies have even carried into different aspect of Charlton's life. He says he even decluttered his appearance by shaving his beard and cutting his ponytail! Charlton's also organized his work life. "I've cleaned out my office at school and it's going go even further," he says. "I teach theater so the prop room is next and we're going to purge all the stuff there, and I've been sharing it with everyone that I can talk to."
Although their home is clean and tidy now, Charlton says he fears things could go back to the way they were. "It's a big fear, and I won't live like that again," he says.
Tip 6: Teach your kids how to sort.
Just like millions of other moms, Ella, a Chicago wife and mother, has a few organizational problem areas in her house. She says her husband, Alberto, and her two sons, Ellington and Chandler, are the main clutter creators.
Peter says the secret to having clutter-free kids starts with teaching them how to sort. He gives Ella's boys one trash bag and two boxes. He tells them to fill the bag with garbage, and put anything they want to sell at a yard sale in one box and charitable donations in the other.
Peter also encourages Ellington and Chandler to make cleaning fun—even boring chores like putting away clothes. "Here's what you have to do every night before you go to bed," Peter says. "You have to shoot baskets with your clothes." The boys also get a lesson in using baskets and containers to organize their things and learn the important "in-out rule." With their very own label maker in hand and bins at their disposal, the boys start sorting!
After the boys did their jobs, Peter and his team work some magic of their own in the room to give the kids a fresh start. Bookshelves were placed in one section of the room to act as a library, and Ellington and Chandler organized bins for photos, toy cars and bags.
"You see how it's so clean now?" Ellington says.
"It's clean. Oh, my goodness! I am so proud of you. It looks absolutely beautiful," Ella says.
Tip 7: Use a hanger system to determine which clothes you wear most.
Peter says the single biggest problem he sees in homes is closet organization. Many of Ella's issues stemmed from having too many clothes, some with the tags still on. "I always tell her that there's always going to be a sale and not every sale you need to participate in," Alberto says
Peter says we actually only wear 20 percent of our clothes 80 percent of the time, and that there's a simple test to see which ones you wear most. "What you should do is take all of your clothes and hang them in the closet [facing one] way," he says. "And then every time you wear an article of clothing, you put it back in [the opposite way]."
After six months, Peter says to go through everything that's still hanging in its original position. "Ask yourself, 'Do I ever wear that?' Go through and anything that you haven't worn in 12 months, no longer fits, out of fashion, that you don't love, use as an opportunity to get rid of it," Peter says.
Peter's team organized both closets. Ella's happy to see those unworn deals cleared away and donated. Alberto is amazed at the hanging row of suits and shelves with neatly folded shirts.
"I can actually see what I want to wear before I even reach for it," Alberto says.
Tip 8: Ask yourself if you really need something. If you hesitate, you don't.
Now it's time to purge the rest of Ella's closet, which is overrun by shoes. "We have to do a quick run on shoes," Peter says. Peter forces Ella to make snap yes or no decisions on the shoes she wants to keep. "I'm telling you, if you pause for one moment, it's gone," he says as he holds up pair after pair.
As Peter flushes out unwanted shoes, Ella has a breakthrough. "I am certainly willing to make a change. I didn't realize how much I was going to be affected by the change, though," she says.
The blame, Ella realizes, doesn't just fall on her husband and children. She's also responsible for the clutter. "I have to look at myself as well and be very honest about my impact on this whole equation of things," she says.
After parting with many pairs of shoes, Ella leaves the master bedroom so Peter and his team can finish the transformation in her closet. The mountain of shoe boxes is gone, with a neatly organized shoe rack in its place. Ella and Alberto are amazed. "You just don't realize that things have accumulated and it just became overwhelming," Ella says.
"This looks good," Alberto says. "This looks great."
Ella says Peter's makeover has opened new doors for her family. "I didn't realize how many of my friends and family members had not been upstairs until after I decluttered mentally, physically and emotionally," she says. "Then I was able to open the door to the bedroom and open the door to my home."
Alberto says the family makes an effort to keep the house looking like it did when Peter and his team left. It's even carried over to Alberto's work. "The next week I went into my office and rearranged my office," he says.
The boys are even keeping their own rooms clean! "It just teaches all, it's [easy] after 20 years of marriage [to] accumulate a lot of stuff around the house," Alberto says
Peter believes that an organized kitchen can help you lose weight! It all comes down to the way you choose to live, he says. "You can't be a lean person if your house, especially your kitchen, is full of fat. And so as the master bedroom drives the house, the kitchen nourishes the house. Not just in terms of food but in terms of your whole mental outlook," he says. "I don't believe you can separate how you live from the vision you have for the life you want."
Tip 9: Establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen.
There are two strategies for keeping your kitchen lean and clean, Peter says. The first is to establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen between the stove, your refrigerator and your sink. "Anything you use most often, keep it in the triangle," he says. "Anything you use less often, outside the triangle. It will save you a ton of time."
Tip 10: Identify useful utensils with the cardboard box test.
If you want to see what utensils you're really using, Peter recommends the cardboard box test. "Take all the utensils out of your drawers, put them in a cardboard box," he says. "For the next month, whenever you use one of these utensils, put it back in the drawer. If after four weeks it's still in the box, you don't need it."
Declutter your home in only six months! Join Peter's Clutter Crew.
Find more organizing tips from Peter Walsh.
MY THOUGHTS
i'm so happy. i already have the magic triangle in the kitchen! that's all you can have when you live in a very small condo. in fact, i do not even have a stove. a microwave is the 3rd in that triangle. other than that, i have made the decision to follow 3 tips-the hanger principle, the "in-out" strategy and the vision. this will be easy to do with my stuff. with my mom's stuff, it's a prayer item. she doesn't mind her clutter.
.By Peter Walsh
The Oprah Winfrey Show
January 01, 2006
If you had to step over piles of clothes, papers and unidentifiable "stuff" just to get to your computer, you're not alone. Organizational guru Peter Walsh, host of TLC's hit show Clean Sweep, says millions of Americans are drowning in clutter.
Studies show that although families are smaller, homes are larger than ever. Even with more square feet of living space, many Americans still fill attics, basements and storage units with stuff. Peter blames overstuffed spaces on our super-size mentality. "We're in a culture that says more is better," he says. "We've been led to believe that things bring us happiness."
For more than 10 years, Peter has helped pack rats organize their homes and reclaim their lives. His techniques go well beyond color-coded boxes and plastic storage bins. Peter says he helps people uncover what's really going on underneath all that junk, which often leads to life-changing breakthroughs.
"[Stuff] robs people of so much," he says. "If your house is full of stuff, all the blessings that could fill your house can't get in. The stuff takes over. It robs you psychologically. You can't be at peace."
Don't distress over your mess—learn to conquer your clutter one room at a time.
Tip 1: Tackle one room at a time.
Don't let a manicured lawn fool you. Behind closed doors, many families are living with massive clutter. The Gavitt family hopes Peter can help them reclaim their Texas home.
Janet, a busy wife and mother of four, says the clutter started to get out of control when her twin daughters were born eight years ago. Now, with a 5-year-old and a baby to care for, she says she and her husband, Charlton, just can't keep up.
When Peter first arrived at the Gavitts' home, he noticed children's toys and clothes scattered throughout the house...even in the family room. "It doesn't look like a house that the parents run," Peter tells Janet. "You and Charlton have to get back in the driving seat."
Although Janet says she tells her daughters to put their things away, there's no designated place to put them. Plus, there are simply too many things to keep track of. Janet isn't lacking organizational skills. In fact, she works for The Container Store, a retail chain that specializes in space and storage solutions. "Talk about feeling like a fraud," she says.
Janet isn't the only person feeling the effects of the clutter. The mess is also starting to take a toll on Charlton. "I can't do the things I want to do with my children because there's stuff everywhere," he says. "I can't help them with their homework because there's not a place to do it. My job as a father is being compromised by the amount of clutter that we have in our house."
Everything's bigger in Texas...even messes. That didn't stop Peter from transforming the Gavitts' family room into a real living room in just 72 hours.
With the floor free of toys, the Gavitts' space looks more spacious and inviting. "We would actually use this room," Charlton says.
New furniture also doubles as organizational tools. Inside the leather footstools, the children discover board games. A coatrack in the entryway also has shelves for additional storage.
The papers that once covered the dining table are gone, and finally, the family can sit and enjoy a meal together. "I totally have gotten that now that we don't need the [stuff]-the stuff was hurting us," Janet says. "We need each other."
Tip 2: Follow the "in-out rule."
Peter and Janet tackle piles of the girls' clothes, which are scattered throughout the house. Peter says the secret is to take everything out of each room first and then sort it in a separate location.
All the clothing is placed on a tarp in the front yard. Now, it's up to Janet to sort the clothes into two categories—items to keep and items to give away. Each daughter gets a set number of bins, and once they are full, Janet must move on.
To avoid clutter, Peter says every shopper should follow the "in-out rule." Every time you buy a new piece of clothing, you should get rid of an old piece. He also makes Janet promise that she will not buy her daughters any new clothes for six months
Tip 3: Build intimacy.
When Peter sees Janet and Charlton's bedroom, he knows just what they need more of: intimacy. "When you are intimate, when your relationship is powering along, that will feed the rest of the house," he says.
With junk everywhere, Charlton says there's just no room to be romantic in the master bedroom. "You'd roll over onto a pile of clothes or a pile of toys and so we tried to take it to other rooms, but they were just as bad," he says. "There was no place to be us."
When asked what sort of bedroom they want, Janet says she'd like a romantic space, while Charlton wants a room that's just for him and his wife. Now that they have a shared vision, they can begin to declutter.
Peter tells the couple if they haven't used it in 12 months, it needs to go. That includes the dingy sweatpants Janet's been hanging onto since high school. "If it doesn't fit the vision you have for your space, it's got to go," Peter says.
Now, Janet and Charlton's bedroom oozes with intimacy. Soft lighting and a fresh coat of paint give the room a new look and feel. "There's a floor!" Janet says. "I feel a thousand pounds lighter. I feel like we can breathe now."
Peter designated a small space for their baby, Julia, and completely reorganized their closets.
Tip 4: Make cleanup fun.
Even though Miranda, Katharine and Audrey are young, Peter says they can learn to pick up after themselves. All it takes is a little creativity. Peter makes cleaning fun by turning it into a game. Each girl is given a type of thing—clothes, toys or books—to be responsible for. At the count of three, the girls scramble to fill bins with their items.
Miranda, Janet and Charlton's 8-year-old daughter, said she was embarrassed to bring friends over to her messy house...but not anymore! The once chaotic playroom is now an orderly place for the girls and their friends to read, play and paint.
Peter has designated a place for everything. There are bins for toys, cubbies for art supplies, and shelves for books and games.
How will they keep it tidy? "If we put everything back where it belongs," Miranda says. The Gavitt girls promise Peter that they'll keep the room neat and clutter-free
Tip 5: Create a vision.
Peter's method for attacking a messy garage is what he calls a "kick-start"—a high-speed, easy purge. Although it took years for the Gavitts to fill their garage with junk, it should only take them minutes to decide what they need to keep.
Peter says they need to create a vision and asks the Gavitts what they want from their garage. Charlton names four things: somewhere to work, park the car, refuge and storage. Now, they must rely on split-second decision making to identify the items that stay and the items that go. "You have to be tough as nails," Peter says.
Before Peter stepped in, Janet and Charlton hadn't been able to park in their garage for six years. After sorting through hundreds of items, Janet and Charlton drastically reduced the amount of stuff in their garage. Now, there is ample parking space thanks to new shelving units and clearly marked storage boxes.
"Incredible!" Janet says. Janet and Charlton say Peter's help has transformed their lives. "We knew we weren't happy," Janet says. "We knew it was something, but what?"
Now, Janet and Charlton have stopped hiding their home and started entertaining again. "We've had friends over several nights in a row for drinks because we can. So that's incredible," Janet says.
Peter's philosophies have even carried into different aspect of Charlton's life. He says he even decluttered his appearance by shaving his beard and cutting his ponytail! Charlton's also organized his work life. "I've cleaned out my office at school and it's going go even further," he says. "I teach theater so the prop room is next and we're going to purge all the stuff there, and I've been sharing it with everyone that I can talk to."
Although their home is clean and tidy now, Charlton says he fears things could go back to the way they were. "It's a big fear, and I won't live like that again," he says.
Tip 6: Teach your kids how to sort.
Just like millions of other moms, Ella, a Chicago wife and mother, has a few organizational problem areas in her house. She says her husband, Alberto, and her two sons, Ellington and Chandler, are the main clutter creators.
Peter says the secret to having clutter-free kids starts with teaching them how to sort. He gives Ella's boys one trash bag and two boxes. He tells them to fill the bag with garbage, and put anything they want to sell at a yard sale in one box and charitable donations in the other.
Peter also encourages Ellington and Chandler to make cleaning fun—even boring chores like putting away clothes. "Here's what you have to do every night before you go to bed," Peter says. "You have to shoot baskets with your clothes." The boys also get a lesson in using baskets and containers to organize their things and learn the important "in-out rule." With their very own label maker in hand and bins at their disposal, the boys start sorting!
After the boys did their jobs, Peter and his team work some magic of their own in the room to give the kids a fresh start. Bookshelves were placed in one section of the room to act as a library, and Ellington and Chandler organized bins for photos, toy cars and bags.
"You see how it's so clean now?" Ellington says.
"It's clean. Oh, my goodness! I am so proud of you. It looks absolutely beautiful," Ella says.
Tip 7: Use a hanger system to determine which clothes you wear most.
Peter says the single biggest problem he sees in homes is closet organization. Many of Ella's issues stemmed from having too many clothes, some with the tags still on. "I always tell her that there's always going to be a sale and not every sale you need to participate in," Alberto says
Peter says we actually only wear 20 percent of our clothes 80 percent of the time, and that there's a simple test to see which ones you wear most. "What you should do is take all of your clothes and hang them in the closet [facing one] way," he says. "And then every time you wear an article of clothing, you put it back in [the opposite way]."
After six months, Peter says to go through everything that's still hanging in its original position. "Ask yourself, 'Do I ever wear that?' Go through and anything that you haven't worn in 12 months, no longer fits, out of fashion, that you don't love, use as an opportunity to get rid of it," Peter says.
Peter's team organized both closets. Ella's happy to see those unworn deals cleared away and donated. Alberto is amazed at the hanging row of suits and shelves with neatly folded shirts.
"I can actually see what I want to wear before I even reach for it," Alberto says.
Tip 8: Ask yourself if you really need something. If you hesitate, you don't.
Now it's time to purge the rest of Ella's closet, which is overrun by shoes. "We have to do a quick run on shoes," Peter says. Peter forces Ella to make snap yes or no decisions on the shoes she wants to keep. "I'm telling you, if you pause for one moment, it's gone," he says as he holds up pair after pair.
As Peter flushes out unwanted shoes, Ella has a breakthrough. "I am certainly willing to make a change. I didn't realize how much I was going to be affected by the change, though," she says.
The blame, Ella realizes, doesn't just fall on her husband and children. She's also responsible for the clutter. "I have to look at myself as well and be very honest about my impact on this whole equation of things," she says.
After parting with many pairs of shoes, Ella leaves the master bedroom so Peter and his team can finish the transformation in her closet. The mountain of shoe boxes is gone, with a neatly organized shoe rack in its place. Ella and Alberto are amazed. "You just don't realize that things have accumulated and it just became overwhelming," Ella says.
"This looks good," Alberto says. "This looks great."
Ella says Peter's makeover has opened new doors for her family. "I didn't realize how many of my friends and family members had not been upstairs until after I decluttered mentally, physically and emotionally," she says. "Then I was able to open the door to the bedroom and open the door to my home."
Alberto says the family makes an effort to keep the house looking like it did when Peter and his team left. It's even carried over to Alberto's work. "The next week I went into my office and rearranged my office," he says.
The boys are even keeping their own rooms clean! "It just teaches all, it's [easy] after 20 years of marriage [to] accumulate a lot of stuff around the house," Alberto says
Peter believes that an organized kitchen can help you lose weight! It all comes down to the way you choose to live, he says. "You can't be a lean person if your house, especially your kitchen, is full of fat. And so as the master bedroom drives the house, the kitchen nourishes the house. Not just in terms of food but in terms of your whole mental outlook," he says. "I don't believe you can separate how you live from the vision you have for the life you want."
Tip 9: Establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen.
There are two strategies for keeping your kitchen lean and clean, Peter says. The first is to establish a "magic triangle" in your kitchen between the stove, your refrigerator and your sink. "Anything you use most often, keep it in the triangle," he says. "Anything you use less often, outside the triangle. It will save you a ton of time."
Tip 10: Identify useful utensils with the cardboard box test.
If you want to see what utensils you're really using, Peter recommends the cardboard box test. "Take all the utensils out of your drawers, put them in a cardboard box," he says. "For the next month, whenever you use one of these utensils, put it back in the drawer. If after four weeks it's still in the box, you don't need it."
Declutter your home in only six months! Join Peter's Clutter Crew.
Find more organizing tips from Peter Walsh.
MY THOUGHTS
i'm so happy. i already have the magic triangle in the kitchen! that's all you can have when you live in a very small condo. in fact, i do not even have a stove. a microwave is the 3rd in that triangle. other than that, i have made the decision to follow 3 tips-the hanger principle, the "in-out" strategy and the vision. this will be easy to do with my stuff. with my mom's stuff, it's a prayer item. she doesn't mind her clutter.
Monday, November 1, 2010
closet organizing: put order
Order in the Closet
Clothing-obsessed celebs such as Mariah Carey and Paris Hilton are famous for their luxurious closets with shelves of shoes that seem to stretch on for miles and boutique-like racks of designer apparel. While most of us have neither the square footage (nor the desire) to create our own wardrobe wonders, we could still strive for what those divas have perfected: the well-organized storage space.
"Every type of person" struggles with closet clutter, says Alejandra Costello, a co-founder of Arlington-based professional organizing service Color-Coded (866-612-6567). But learning to store your belongings in a neat, easy-to-maintain manner can help you spend less time searching for shoes and more time showing off the perfect outfit.
Even chaotic hallway closets can benefit from a face-lift; nobody wants to be digging through piles of first-aid supplies when they have a migraine or be assaulted from above by improperly stashed winter scarves.
Those "I've created a monster in my closet!" moments are just when professional organizers can swoop in to help. The pros charge between $50 and $100 per hour for their expertise, and their closet makeovers can take between six and 15 hours, depending on the size of the project, Costello says. But she's convinced this type of investment reaps long-term rewards.
"I always tell my clients, 'If you're going to spend money getting organized, you want to set up a system one time and do it right, instead of having to keep tweaking the system,'" Costello says.
Rehabbing your closet starts with an empty — not overloaded — space. "It's a lot easier to take everything out and go from there," Costello says. Color-Coded organizers often push clients to toss items that aren't in heavy rotation, in order to free up more space in small apartments or houses.
"We'll sort everything and go through each individual item asking, 'When was the last time you used this? Is it still good? Is it outdated?'" Costello says. After repurposing or donating any unwanted items, a complete makeover can commence.
We asked Costello to share some of her top tips for reorganizing any closet.
1) Shelve Your Issues
If blank walls make up a portion of your closet, consider adding custom shelving. While it's pricey, Color-Coded's Costello believes the installation is worth the money. She recommends the Elfa system, which is sold at The Container Store, because of its flexibility. "Once you install the shelving, you can always move shelves higher or lower depending on what you're storing," Costello says. "You can change a shelf into a hanging rod or a hanging rod into a shelf. You can add a basket. It's just very flexible."
2) Get More From Your Door
The back of your door — the side that faces the interior of your closet — is precious real estate. Hang up a door rack containing hooks or baskets to create a few extra storage nooks. Costello recommends using Elfa's Door and Wall Rack ($107) and attaching a few movable baskets. The installation is made for kitchens and living spaces but works equally well in closets, Costello says. "I love to use the baskets to store flip-flops, slippers, sunglasses, cosmetic bags and anything that you want to toss in, pull out or make easily accessible," she says. Another option to hang on your door: fabric pockets or shoe bag organizers. Try Christy Designs' versatile "Organizer" Gear Pocket ($35).
3) It's All About the Visuals
Sorting keeps a closet user-friendly. But all that order can get dull. Add intrigue with colored tabs that attach to the top of hangers. Costello recommends using the colored hanger snaps sold by Carlson JPM Store Fixtures ($3 for a bag of 50). "The more color you have in your space, the easier it is to organize," Costello says. "If you take a dress off a hanger that has a purple hanger snap, it's easy to say 'Purple belongs to dresses' and associate that hanger with the dress."
4) Label Liberally
If you have items to stash on shelves or in bins, keep track of everything with homemade labels. That's right, Costello recommends actually writing out "running shoes" for a bin holding your sneaks. It might be old-school, but "it makes a difference," she says. "A lot of people just put things back [into their closets] in a random order. If each item has a home in its section, I find that it's easier to maintain." Use pieces of Duct tape (in fancy new colors and patterns such as paisley and polka dots, such as the rolls above, sold by The Spoon Sisters; $9 per roll), covered with clear packing tape. Write what's inside each container or on each shelf using dry-erase markers — that way, you can re-label areas when you move things around.
5) Aim for Lots Of the Same
Most people amass a wide variety of hangers — it's hard to pass up free wire "We Love Our Customers" hangers from the dry cleaner — but an assortment of shapes and sizes encourages chaos. "Using uniform hangers is an absolute must in the closet," Costello says. She recommends sticking to wooden hangers ("The clothes hang off them really nicely," she says). Pick up a few sets at Ikea (five for $2).
MY THOUGHTS
good advice. i will need this in a couple of weeks as i attack my closets in my mom's house.
Clothing-obsessed celebs such as Mariah Carey and Paris Hilton are famous for their luxurious closets with shelves of shoes that seem to stretch on for miles and boutique-like racks of designer apparel. While most of us have neither the square footage (nor the desire) to create our own wardrobe wonders, we could still strive for what those divas have perfected: the well-organized storage space.
"Every type of person" struggles with closet clutter, says Alejandra Costello, a co-founder of Arlington-based professional organizing service Color-Coded (866-612-6567). But learning to store your belongings in a neat, easy-to-maintain manner can help you spend less time searching for shoes and more time showing off the perfect outfit.
Even chaotic hallway closets can benefit from a face-lift; nobody wants to be digging through piles of first-aid supplies when they have a migraine or be assaulted from above by improperly stashed winter scarves.
Those "I've created a monster in my closet!" moments are just when professional organizers can swoop in to help. The pros charge between $50 and $100 per hour for their expertise, and their closet makeovers can take between six and 15 hours, depending on the size of the project, Costello says. But she's convinced this type of investment reaps long-term rewards.
"I always tell my clients, 'If you're going to spend money getting organized, you want to set up a system one time and do it right, instead of having to keep tweaking the system,'" Costello says.
Rehabbing your closet starts with an empty — not overloaded — space. "It's a lot easier to take everything out and go from there," Costello says. Color-Coded organizers often push clients to toss items that aren't in heavy rotation, in order to free up more space in small apartments or houses.
"We'll sort everything and go through each individual item asking, 'When was the last time you used this? Is it still good? Is it outdated?'" Costello says. After repurposing or donating any unwanted items, a complete makeover can commence.
We asked Costello to share some of her top tips for reorganizing any closet.
1) Shelve Your Issues
If blank walls make up a portion of your closet, consider adding custom shelving. While it's pricey, Color-Coded's Costello believes the installation is worth the money. She recommends the Elfa system, which is sold at The Container Store, because of its flexibility. "Once you install the shelving, you can always move shelves higher or lower depending on what you're storing," Costello says. "You can change a shelf into a hanging rod or a hanging rod into a shelf. You can add a basket. It's just very flexible."
2) Get More From Your Door
The back of your door — the side that faces the interior of your closet — is precious real estate. Hang up a door rack containing hooks or baskets to create a few extra storage nooks. Costello recommends using Elfa's Door and Wall Rack ($107) and attaching a few movable baskets. The installation is made for kitchens and living spaces but works equally well in closets, Costello says. "I love to use the baskets to store flip-flops, slippers, sunglasses, cosmetic bags and anything that you want to toss in, pull out or make easily accessible," she says. Another option to hang on your door: fabric pockets or shoe bag organizers. Try Christy Designs' versatile "Organizer" Gear Pocket ($35).
3) It's All About the Visuals
Sorting keeps a closet user-friendly. But all that order can get dull. Add intrigue with colored tabs that attach to the top of hangers. Costello recommends using the colored hanger snaps sold by Carlson JPM Store Fixtures ($3 for a bag of 50). "The more color you have in your space, the easier it is to organize," Costello says. "If you take a dress off a hanger that has a purple hanger snap, it's easy to say 'Purple belongs to dresses' and associate that hanger with the dress."
4) Label Liberally
If you have items to stash on shelves or in bins, keep track of everything with homemade labels. That's right, Costello recommends actually writing out "running shoes" for a bin holding your sneaks. It might be old-school, but "it makes a difference," she says. "A lot of people just put things back [into their closets] in a random order. If each item has a home in its section, I find that it's easier to maintain." Use pieces of Duct tape (in fancy new colors and patterns such as paisley and polka dots, such as the rolls above, sold by The Spoon Sisters; $9 per roll), covered with clear packing tape. Write what's inside each container or on each shelf using dry-erase markers — that way, you can re-label areas when you move things around.
5) Aim for Lots Of the Same
Most people amass a wide variety of hangers — it's hard to pass up free wire "We Love Our Customers" hangers from the dry cleaner — but an assortment of shapes and sizes encourages chaos. "Using uniform hangers is an absolute must in the closet," Costello says. She recommends sticking to wooden hangers ("The clothes hang off them really nicely," she says). Pick up a few sets at Ikea (five for $2).
MY THOUGHTS
good advice. i will need this in a couple of weeks as i attack my closets in my mom's house.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Bump up your wardrobe by 'shopping your closet'
Bump up your wardrobe by 'shopping your closet'
Published: Friday, September 24, 2010, 10:00 AM Updated: Friday, September 24, 2010, 2:59 PM
By Kiley Kievit
It’s a true moment of terror for women: You have a dinner party or wedding or trip to the grocery store to make, and nothing that will work in your closet. Oh, it’s not empty, but the degree of difficulty in finding the perfect outfit there might as well make it as desolate as the Sahara.
But with a less-than-booming economy, the idea of “shopping your closet” has captured the attention of consumers determined to be careful with their hard-earned cash, supplying countless segments for morning-show TV and newspaper and magazine articles.
Americans determined to kick their shopping “addiction” have signed on for campaigns like sixitemsorless.com, which challenges people to wear just six items of clothing (not counting shoes or underwear) for 30 days. There’s even been a book written about the shop-your-closet concept.
But how to decide what to donate? And what to do with what you keep?
Think classic
That’s not to say that every closet is laden with treasures, but there are key pieces to be found that will fit today’s styles. “There are things in your closet you can adapt to the current trends,” says Peggy Syrowik, manager of the Coldwater Creek store at the Crossroads Mall. “Boxy blazers are out — wearing a well-cut blazer instead can dress up jeans. Long, bangled jewelry is back. When looking through your closet, just be
savvy about what you have and how you can make it work for you.”
Jackets, belts, leggings and accessories can update a woman’s everyday look, and are versatile enough
to work with most anything. “Right now, the look that’s in is long and lean,” says Syrowik. “Pair a long sweater with leggings or ‘jeggings’ (denim leggings). Just make sure you’re comfortable and that everything fits you well.”
Style mavens suggest thinking classic, rather than trendy.
“I definitely think a man’s white button-down shirt is a great piece to have, because you can either dress it up or down with jeans or a skirt,” says Lauren Worgess, owner of Loved Consignment Boutique on E. South Street in Kalamazoo. She says that a black blazer is also a great item to hold on to, since it can be thrown on over a white shirt, T-shirt or tank top — items “everybody has.”
Another top pick to scrounge the closet for: A black dress.
“A black dress is a great thing to have,” Worgess says. She suggests kicking it up with a pair of funky shoes, a belt, long jewelry or a jacket over the top.
One warning: Don’t over-accessorize.
“I’m really not a fan of the matching handbag to shoes to shirt,” she says. “Also, in the past 10
years, trends have really been picking up, and you want to avoid putting too many together.”
‘Shopping your closet’
It’s one thing to know what to look for in the closet and how to use it to the best advantage. For some, it might be a whole different concept to actually find those items. The book “Shop Your Closet: The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet with Style,” by Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, touts the benefit of clearing out the clutter. Simply stated, clutter takes up valuable closet space, mashing the good with the bad and confusing any efforts to shop your closet successfully.
“Anything that doesn’t fit you well should go, as well as anything that’s really, really dated,”
Syrowik says. “Get rid of things you wouldn’t miss, things you never wear, and look at the things you’re holding on to. A lot of times women will keep things in their closet, thinking, ‘I’ll wear it someday,’ but think about why you’re not wearing it now. It probably either doesn’t fit well or doesn’t go with any of your other clothes and needs to go.” (Getting rid of it doesn’t have to mean tossing it in the trash. Depending on the condition, items can either be sold on consignment or donated to a charity such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill.)
By sorting through a closet’s inventory, you’ll be able to see what’s worth keeping — accessories, a
great black dress, a fabulous coat — and what needs to head out the door.
Get rid of anything kitschy: “Kitty-head sweaters, Christmas-tree sweaters — they need to go. Unless
you’re a kindergarten teacher ... get rid of them,” Syrowik says.
Anything that’s too small, too big, really out of style or damaged has no place in the closet. Keeping — or worse, wearing — clothes that do little for the body or self-esteem should be avoided at all costs.
Most important, women should feel good about their clothes, wearing items that are comfortable and a
good fit, Worgess says, and they should keep this in mind while shopping for future items — in their
closet or at a store.
“I’m a big fan of seeing clothes that fit,” she says. “I don’t think enough people tailor their clothes, and tailors can do amazing things.” She adds that tailoring pieces that fit a little big means one more item in the closet — almost as good as brand new.
Related topics: Kalamazoo Style, Kalamazoo Your Home
MY THOUGHTS
i promise to do this next week. make some sense out of my closet again. i have so many things to let go of. it's time.
Published: Friday, September 24, 2010, 10:00 AM Updated: Friday, September 24, 2010, 2:59 PM
By Kiley Kievit
It’s a true moment of terror for women: You have a dinner party or wedding or trip to the grocery store to make, and nothing that will work in your closet. Oh, it’s not empty, but the degree of difficulty in finding the perfect outfit there might as well make it as desolate as the Sahara.
But with a less-than-booming economy, the idea of “shopping your closet” has captured the attention of consumers determined to be careful with their hard-earned cash, supplying countless segments for morning-show TV and newspaper and magazine articles.
Americans determined to kick their shopping “addiction” have signed on for campaigns like sixitemsorless.com, which challenges people to wear just six items of clothing (not counting shoes or underwear) for 30 days. There’s even been a book written about the shop-your-closet concept.
But how to decide what to donate? And what to do with what you keep?
Think classic
That’s not to say that every closet is laden with treasures, but there are key pieces to be found that will fit today’s styles. “There are things in your closet you can adapt to the current trends,” says Peggy Syrowik, manager of the Coldwater Creek store at the Crossroads Mall. “Boxy blazers are out — wearing a well-cut blazer instead can dress up jeans. Long, bangled jewelry is back. When looking through your closet, just be
savvy about what you have and how you can make it work for you.”
Jackets, belts, leggings and accessories can update a woman’s everyday look, and are versatile enough
to work with most anything. “Right now, the look that’s in is long and lean,” says Syrowik. “Pair a long sweater with leggings or ‘jeggings’ (denim leggings). Just make sure you’re comfortable and that everything fits you well.”
Style mavens suggest thinking classic, rather than trendy.
“I definitely think a man’s white button-down shirt is a great piece to have, because you can either dress it up or down with jeans or a skirt,” says Lauren Worgess, owner of Loved Consignment Boutique on E. South Street in Kalamazoo. She says that a black blazer is also a great item to hold on to, since it can be thrown on over a white shirt, T-shirt or tank top — items “everybody has.”
Another top pick to scrounge the closet for: A black dress.
“A black dress is a great thing to have,” Worgess says. She suggests kicking it up with a pair of funky shoes, a belt, long jewelry or a jacket over the top.
One warning: Don’t over-accessorize.
“I’m really not a fan of the matching handbag to shoes to shirt,” she says. “Also, in the past 10
years, trends have really been picking up, and you want to avoid putting too many together.”
‘Shopping your closet’
It’s one thing to know what to look for in the closet and how to use it to the best advantage. For some, it might be a whole different concept to actually find those items. The book “Shop Your Closet: The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet with Style,” by Melanie Charlton Fascitelli, touts the benefit of clearing out the clutter. Simply stated, clutter takes up valuable closet space, mashing the good with the bad and confusing any efforts to shop your closet successfully.
“Anything that doesn’t fit you well should go, as well as anything that’s really, really dated,”
Syrowik says. “Get rid of things you wouldn’t miss, things you never wear, and look at the things you’re holding on to. A lot of times women will keep things in their closet, thinking, ‘I’ll wear it someday,’ but think about why you’re not wearing it now. It probably either doesn’t fit well or doesn’t go with any of your other clothes and needs to go.” (Getting rid of it doesn’t have to mean tossing it in the trash. Depending on the condition, items can either be sold on consignment or donated to a charity such as the Salvation Army or Goodwill.)
By sorting through a closet’s inventory, you’ll be able to see what’s worth keeping — accessories, a
great black dress, a fabulous coat — and what needs to head out the door.
Get rid of anything kitschy: “Kitty-head sweaters, Christmas-tree sweaters — they need to go. Unless
you’re a kindergarten teacher ... get rid of them,” Syrowik says.
Anything that’s too small, too big, really out of style or damaged has no place in the closet. Keeping — or worse, wearing — clothes that do little for the body or self-esteem should be avoided at all costs.
Most important, women should feel good about their clothes, wearing items that are comfortable and a
good fit, Worgess says, and they should keep this in mind while shopping for future items — in their
closet or at a store.
“I’m a big fan of seeing clothes that fit,” she says. “I don’t think enough people tailor their clothes, and tailors can do amazing things.” She adds that tailoring pieces that fit a little big means one more item in the closet — almost as good as brand new.
Related topics: Kalamazoo Style, Kalamazoo Your Home
MY THOUGHTS
i promise to do this next week. make some sense out of my closet again. i have so many things to let go of. it's time.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Stylish Storage Solutions for Shoe Hoarders
Stylish Storage Solutions for Shoe Hoarders
You owe it to your fabulous footwear!
If You're a Hoarder
Fashionista, no one's judging you. You can buy as many pairs of shoes as you'd like. Our only request: store them in a cart with wheels. Try the 40-Pair Shoe Roller Closet Organizer Storage Chest Cart ($49.75 at Amazon) for starters. With this shoe-fiend must-have, you won't bury and neglect valuable twosomes -- all will be in eyesight and within reach.
If You Have an Artistic Side
When we saw these Pure Nomade Hotel Boxes ($25.50 each at Pure Nomade), we fell in love. They're certainly worthy of housing your priceless pairs and can stand alone as works of art with their unique designs. Some of them might even be -- dare we say it? -- more beautiful than some shoes!
If You're Discreet
Although fabulous shoes should be shared -- even when they're not on feet -- you might want to keep them tucked away for decoration's sake. Try the Hemnes Shoe Cabinet with 2 Compartments ($129 at Ikea). It will house some of your most valuable pairs, and no one will be the wiser.
If You Stack Up
Style mavens, who need a shoe-storage system that they can grow with (one can never have too many pairs), should invest in these Large Shoe Boxes ($8.99 per box at The Container Store). Not only will these clear stackables help you organize and find your fabulous footwear, you can also showcase them for visitors to see like works of art.
If You Have a Space Issue
Strapped for space but won't sacrifice a single pair in your collection? Maybe this Natural Canvas 20-Pocket Over-the-Door Organizer ($26.99 at Space Savers) will do. If you have more than 20, have no fear -- you can hang one on every door in your home.
If You're On a Budget
Want to spend more money on shoes instead of splurging on shoe storage? There are wallet-friendly shoe-storage options out there that will do your shoes justice, like this Gearbox Sport Underbed Shoe Bag ($9.99 each at Bed Bath & Beyond). Buy as many as you can fit under your bed and couch!
If You're Offbeat
Want to store your funky and colorful pairs of flats and sneakers in something just as fun? We suggest you get the Shoe Wheel Shoe Storage and Organization ($59.95 at HSN). It spins so you can find the perfect pair for any given outfit, no problem.
If You Like the Basics
You can't go wrong with the ($23.99 at OrganizeIt.com). Whether you're a shoe hoarder who needs something versatile or a plain jane who just wants something simple, this shoe organizer has all of your bases covered. Just adjust to fit.
MY THOUGHTS
love them all! but my fave is the roller coaster organizer.
You owe it to your fabulous footwear!
If You're a Hoarder
Fashionista, no one's judging you. You can buy as many pairs of shoes as you'd like. Our only request: store them in a cart with wheels. Try the 40-Pair Shoe Roller Closet Organizer Storage Chest Cart ($49.75 at Amazon) for starters. With this shoe-fiend must-have, you won't bury and neglect valuable twosomes -- all will be in eyesight and within reach.
If You Have an Artistic Side
When we saw these Pure Nomade Hotel Boxes ($25.50 each at Pure Nomade), we fell in love. They're certainly worthy of housing your priceless pairs and can stand alone as works of art with their unique designs. Some of them might even be -- dare we say it? -- more beautiful than some shoes!
If You're Discreet
Although fabulous shoes should be shared -- even when they're not on feet -- you might want to keep them tucked away for decoration's sake. Try the Hemnes Shoe Cabinet with 2 Compartments ($129 at Ikea). It will house some of your most valuable pairs, and no one will be the wiser.
If You Stack Up
Style mavens, who need a shoe-storage system that they can grow with (one can never have too many pairs), should invest in these Large Shoe Boxes ($8.99 per box at The Container Store). Not only will these clear stackables help you organize and find your fabulous footwear, you can also showcase them for visitors to see like works of art.
If You Have a Space Issue
Strapped for space but won't sacrifice a single pair in your collection? Maybe this Natural Canvas 20-Pocket Over-the-Door Organizer ($26.99 at Space Savers) will do. If you have more than 20, have no fear -- you can hang one on every door in your home.
If You're On a Budget
Want to spend more money on shoes instead of splurging on shoe storage? There are wallet-friendly shoe-storage options out there that will do your shoes justice, like this Gearbox Sport Underbed Shoe Bag ($9.99 each at Bed Bath & Beyond). Buy as many as you can fit under your bed and couch!
If You're Offbeat
Want to store your funky and colorful pairs of flats and sneakers in something just as fun? We suggest you get the Shoe Wheel Shoe Storage and Organization ($59.95 at HSN). It spins so you can find the perfect pair for any given outfit, no problem.
If You Like the Basics
You can't go wrong with the ($23.99 at OrganizeIt.com). Whether you're a shoe hoarder who needs something versatile or a plain jane who just wants something simple, this shoe organizer has all of your bases covered. Just adjust to fit.
MY THOUGHTS
love them all! but my fave is the roller coaster organizer.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
'Kick the clutter habit' with 'Unstuff Your Life'
'Kick the clutter habit' with 'Unstuff Your Life'
BY SANDEE SUITT • SUITT@DNJ.COM • August 27, 2010
If anyone is looking for me today, just check in the kitchen. I'll be there with my head in a cupboard, pulling out all the lid-less plastic containers and doing the sniff test on old jars of spices.
Any container missing a lid or herb that is old enough to have lost its scent will be out of there.
I recently read Andrew J. Mellen's "Unstuff Your Life!" and am determined to follow his advice, at least for organizing the heart of my home, the kitchen.
But then Mellen warns, "The kitchen is not the hub of the house if you're thinking 'war room' or 'command central' or 'Houston, we have a problem.'
"Rather, the kitchen is a workroom. ... It should also be foremost a room that functions well and serves its purpose without any unnecessary complications."
The kitchen, Mellen contends, is to be used solely for the preparation and consumption of meals.
While it's nice for the kids to do their homework at the table while the parents prepare dinner, "the homework doesn't live in the kitchen," Mellen says. "Neither does the checkbook."
Grab a pencil
"Unstuff Your Life!" is very much a workbook. Mellen intends for the reader to carry it with her into the area to be organized and follow his guidelines, circling priorities and marking off checklists.
In the kitchen, we start with writing down everything on the counter.
OK, I've done this, and was shocked at the amount of stuff residing there: "toaster, coffee maker, dead basil plant in pot 12-year-old son made in kindergarten, keys, checkbook, cell phone, bills, purse, school notes, spelling-word flash cards, salt, pepper, olive oil, real lemons, fake lemons, bananas, empty flower vase, wooden spoons, basket of breads. ..." The list goes on and on.
I could never fulfill my Betty Crocker dreams of rolling out the perfect pie crust on this crowded workspace. In fact, it's not even a workspace, I realized. It's a storage place for things that don't have a home.
Mellen's advice is to cull out what is broken or unused. The reader looks back at the list and then circles the items that are essential to have on the countertops. Seldom-used items, like perhaps the toaster, find a home off-counter. The rest of the stuff finds a home, either in the trash, in a donation or garage-sale box, or elsewhere in the kitchen or house.
In Mellen's plan, each item is assigned a logical home, and it stays there, except when in use. And the home is near where the item is used. He explains how to set up work stations in which like items are stored together and nearby, but not in the junk drawer.
The junk drawer? Mellen allows no room for no junk.
"Let's not have a junk drawer that contains all sorts of random things, some of which are clearly trash," Mellen writes. In other words, don't use the drawer as a trash can. Don't stuff receipts or papers into the drawer when they clearly belong in the garbage or an appropriate file. Just put them in the garbage or in the file.
Mellen writes of organizing the home into a world where missing keys and cell phones are not part of the daily stress, where mail does not pile up into an unsightly stack on the table and closets are not filled with unmatched shoes and out-of-style or ragged clothes.
The key? It's really simple. Organize your home and then keep it that way by making a habit of the act of putting things where they belong. You can either put things away immediately when you're finished with them or save a few seconds initially by just throwing your keys and receipts and school papers on a table. But like buying things on credit with interest accrued on your loans, as your clutter grows, interest grows in the form of your time, Mellen explains. Spend a few seconds putting things away in a timely fashion, or let the pile of clutter go and spend many more minutes looking for lost items.
Mellen's advice is methodical but he offers it with a tongue-in-cheek humor that encourages without criticizing. He's the best friend who can tell you honestly, "This place is a mess," without hurting your feelings because he then says, "Let me help you clean it up." He also asks pointed questions to help determine what needs to go and redirects the reader away from rationalizations.
If "elephant bell-bottom hip-hugger jeans" ever come back in style, "you'll buy them at the Gap like everyone else," he writes. As for that pair in your closet: "Let them go."
Sandee Suitt is Lifestyles editor at The Daily News Journal. Contact her at suitt@dnj.com or 615-278-5160.
MY THOUGHTS
the real culprit is the junk drawer. that space we reserve for things that should be thrown or given away. it's hard to let go. in the beginning. especially when you think of the possibility of needing these things again. before you know it, your desk, your room, your house is so cluttered there's no space for anything else.
BY SANDEE SUITT • SUITT@DNJ.COM • August 27, 2010
If anyone is looking for me today, just check in the kitchen. I'll be there with my head in a cupboard, pulling out all the lid-less plastic containers and doing the sniff test on old jars of spices.
Any container missing a lid or herb that is old enough to have lost its scent will be out of there.
I recently read Andrew J. Mellen's "Unstuff Your Life!" and am determined to follow his advice, at least for organizing the heart of my home, the kitchen.
But then Mellen warns, "The kitchen is not the hub of the house if you're thinking 'war room' or 'command central' or 'Houston, we have a problem.'
"Rather, the kitchen is a workroom. ... It should also be foremost a room that functions well and serves its purpose without any unnecessary complications."
The kitchen, Mellen contends, is to be used solely for the preparation and consumption of meals.
While it's nice for the kids to do their homework at the table while the parents prepare dinner, "the homework doesn't live in the kitchen," Mellen says. "Neither does the checkbook."
Grab a pencil
"Unstuff Your Life!" is very much a workbook. Mellen intends for the reader to carry it with her into the area to be organized and follow his guidelines, circling priorities and marking off checklists.
In the kitchen, we start with writing down everything on the counter.
OK, I've done this, and was shocked at the amount of stuff residing there: "toaster, coffee maker, dead basil plant in pot 12-year-old son made in kindergarten, keys, checkbook, cell phone, bills, purse, school notes, spelling-word flash cards, salt, pepper, olive oil, real lemons, fake lemons, bananas, empty flower vase, wooden spoons, basket of breads. ..." The list goes on and on.
I could never fulfill my Betty Crocker dreams of rolling out the perfect pie crust on this crowded workspace. In fact, it's not even a workspace, I realized. It's a storage place for things that don't have a home.
Mellen's advice is to cull out what is broken or unused. The reader looks back at the list and then circles the items that are essential to have on the countertops. Seldom-used items, like perhaps the toaster, find a home off-counter. The rest of the stuff finds a home, either in the trash, in a donation or garage-sale box, or elsewhere in the kitchen or house.
In Mellen's plan, each item is assigned a logical home, and it stays there, except when in use. And the home is near where the item is used. He explains how to set up work stations in which like items are stored together and nearby, but not in the junk drawer.
The junk drawer? Mellen allows no room for no junk.
"Let's not have a junk drawer that contains all sorts of random things, some of which are clearly trash," Mellen writes. In other words, don't use the drawer as a trash can. Don't stuff receipts or papers into the drawer when they clearly belong in the garbage or an appropriate file. Just put them in the garbage or in the file.
Mellen writes of organizing the home into a world where missing keys and cell phones are not part of the daily stress, where mail does not pile up into an unsightly stack on the table and closets are not filled with unmatched shoes and out-of-style or ragged clothes.
The key? It's really simple. Organize your home and then keep it that way by making a habit of the act of putting things where they belong. You can either put things away immediately when you're finished with them or save a few seconds initially by just throwing your keys and receipts and school papers on a table. But like buying things on credit with interest accrued on your loans, as your clutter grows, interest grows in the form of your time, Mellen explains. Spend a few seconds putting things away in a timely fashion, or let the pile of clutter go and spend many more minutes looking for lost items.
Mellen's advice is methodical but he offers it with a tongue-in-cheek humor that encourages without criticizing. He's the best friend who can tell you honestly, "This place is a mess," without hurting your feelings because he then says, "Let me help you clean it up." He also asks pointed questions to help determine what needs to go and redirects the reader away from rationalizations.
If "elephant bell-bottom hip-hugger jeans" ever come back in style, "you'll buy them at the Gap like everyone else," he writes. As for that pair in your closet: "Let them go."
Sandee Suitt is Lifestyles editor at The Daily News Journal. Contact her at suitt@dnj.com or 615-278-5160.
MY THOUGHTS
the real culprit is the junk drawer. that space we reserve for things that should be thrown or given away. it's hard to let go. in the beginning. especially when you think of the possibility of needing these things again. before you know it, your desk, your room, your house is so cluttered there's no space for anything else.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Rules for Rearranging
by Michele Miao
If you're having trouble getting your rooms to look the way you want, there may be a simple solution. Instead of buying new furniture or accessories, try rearranging what you have for a fresh, new look. Elizabeth Mayhew, decorating expert and author of Flip! For Decorating, shares her secrets for placing your furniture to make the most of your space.
Pick Your Room's Purpose
First, decide what purpose your room serves, advises Mayhew. Do you spend time in the room watching television, reading or having family time? Once you know what you need the room to do, you can arrange your furniture to help you get the most out of your space.
Find Your Focus
Every room has a special trait or feature that you can play up when you arrange the furniture, says Mayhew. It could be a great view, high ceilings, an interesting architectural element or a big-screen television. Figure out what's special about your room and you'll be able to arrange your furniture to show the room at its best.
Decorating Is an Evolution
You don't have to decorate the whole room in one afternoon, reassures Mayhew. Place your largest piece, like a sofa, first and live with it for a while. Lounge on the couch to see what your guests would look at if they were seated there. Walk through the room to see how traffic flows around the piece. Then decide if you like it there.
Don't Think Horizontally
Remember to look up when you're arranging your furniture. There's lots of space to decorate above eye level. Draw the eye up with a tall piece of furniture, a colorful piece of art or a cleverly placed light source, advises Mayhew.
Don't Forget the Lighting Fixtures
Lighting is one of the most overlooked elements in furniture arranging, reminds Mayhew. She uses it to create ambiance and draw the eye around the room. Use an assortment of standing lamps, table lamps and sconces to create a mix of light and shadow.
Think About Shape
If everything in your room is square, add something round to add interest to your decor, suggests Mayhew. That doesn't mean you have to buy a new table, though. If you're on a budget, see what's in your other rooms that could be moved before you make an expensive investment.
Think About Scale
Every room needs something big, advises Mayhew, but it also needs smaller pieces to balance out the decor. For example, mix a big sofa with smaller tables or chairs. The combination will make the room more harmonious.
Rugs Delineate Space
Rugs can anchor a seating area but they don't have to cover the entire floor, advises Mayhew. Use an area rug to separate a portion of a larger room for a special purpose
If It's Not Working, Don't Panic
Nothing is ever definite, assures Mayhew. There are numerous ways to correct your mistakes. If you don't like something, move it to another room or give it a coat of paint. A piece painted the same color as the wall will recede and look less prominent. If all else fails, simply put it up for sale on Craigslist or eBay.
MY THOUGHTS
i need to do something about my room in Laguna - get rid of stuff, repaint, some new cabinets???on the other hand, i was able to do it with s mall condo space. i can do the same with this room.
by Michele Miao
If you're having trouble getting your rooms to look the way you want, there may be a simple solution. Instead of buying new furniture or accessories, try rearranging what you have for a fresh, new look. Elizabeth Mayhew, decorating expert and author of Flip! For Decorating, shares her secrets for placing your furniture to make the most of your space.
Pick Your Room's Purpose
First, decide what purpose your room serves, advises Mayhew. Do you spend time in the room watching television, reading or having family time? Once you know what you need the room to do, you can arrange your furniture to help you get the most out of your space.
Find Your Focus
Every room has a special trait or feature that you can play up when you arrange the furniture, says Mayhew. It could be a great view, high ceilings, an interesting architectural element or a big-screen television. Figure out what's special about your room and you'll be able to arrange your furniture to show the room at its best.
Decorating Is an Evolution
You don't have to decorate the whole room in one afternoon, reassures Mayhew. Place your largest piece, like a sofa, first and live with it for a while. Lounge on the couch to see what your guests would look at if they were seated there. Walk through the room to see how traffic flows around the piece. Then decide if you like it there.
Don't Think Horizontally
Remember to look up when you're arranging your furniture. There's lots of space to decorate above eye level. Draw the eye up with a tall piece of furniture, a colorful piece of art or a cleverly placed light source, advises Mayhew.
Don't Forget the Lighting Fixtures
Lighting is one of the most overlooked elements in furniture arranging, reminds Mayhew. She uses it to create ambiance and draw the eye around the room. Use an assortment of standing lamps, table lamps and sconces to create a mix of light and shadow.
Think About Shape
If everything in your room is square, add something round to add interest to your decor, suggests Mayhew. That doesn't mean you have to buy a new table, though. If you're on a budget, see what's in your other rooms that could be moved before you make an expensive investment.
Think About Scale
Every room needs something big, advises Mayhew, but it also needs smaller pieces to balance out the decor. For example, mix a big sofa with smaller tables or chairs. The combination will make the room more harmonious.
Rugs Delineate Space
Rugs can anchor a seating area but they don't have to cover the entire floor, advises Mayhew. Use an area rug to separate a portion of a larger room for a special purpose
If It's Not Working, Don't Panic
Nothing is ever definite, assures Mayhew. There are numerous ways to correct your mistakes. If you don't like something, move it to another room or give it a coat of paint. A piece painted the same color as the wall will recede and look less prominent. If all else fails, simply put it up for sale on Craigslist or eBay.
MY THOUGHTS
i need to do something about my room in Laguna - get rid of stuff, repaint, some new cabinets???on the other hand, i was able to do it with s mall condo space. i can do the same with this room.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Organizing Tips for the Overwhelmed
Organizing Tips for the Overwhelmed
Where to start when you don't know where to start
by Jamie Novak, Professional Organizer (see more from this expert)
Why did your last attempt at getting organized fail? For many it's a matter of being overwhelmed.
Maybe you weren't sure where to start. Perhaps the thought of letting go of precious memories or objects was too unsettling. You might have gotten stumped by where to put something, so you put it back down and slunk away, dejected. But don't get discouraged. You are not alone. Together, we can solve your biggest clutter challenge with these simple organizing tips.
•Make a plan. Organizing without a plan is like driving cross-country without a map or working a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle without looking at the picture. Sit down and make a list of every area you'd like to de-clutter. It will probably be a long list, but this is no time to self-edit. Even if you're not sure how to do it or whether you can afford to, put it on the list.
•Pick your target. Your best chance for success is dealing with the area that will have the biggest impact. Do you always lose your keys or trip over shoes in the entryway? Start there. Do you pay bills late because you can't find them or you forget they're due? Start there.
•Make a date to conquer clutter. Put it on the calendar, in ink, and don't let anything else get in the way. An insider tip is to pick a block of time — all you need is 18 minutes — before a regularly scheduled event. Do you meet with a book club every Tuesday? Then schedule your clutter clearing for 18 minutes before you need to leave. Does your favorite TV show come on at 10pm on Thursdays? Plan to de-clutter 18 minutes before it starts, and you'll have an incentive to get busy and get finished.
•Get support. Share your goals with someone who will cheer you on, check on your progress and celebrate your success. Telling your spouse usually isn't recommended, because a spouse may be too close to the situation and is usually better off being surprised once you're finished. Consider using a message board to get quick feedback.
•Give yourself a deadline. Invite someone to spend the night in the spare bedroom you've been meaning to clean out. Hire someone to paint the playroom you've wanted to organize.
•Gather supplies. Take a page out of the professional organizer's book and keep everything handy so you don't waste time looking for things.
•Get busy. Set your timer for 18 minutes, and go to work. Put like things together, then put away what you use and love and give away or throw away what you don't.
•Reward yourself. Don't underestimate the importance of acknowledging a job well done. You will stay motivated if you have something fun to look forward to when you're finished. It could be a nap, a good book or lunch with a friend. Just don't go shopping and bring home more stuff to put away.
•Repeat. Organization is really just a habit. If you keep up with the daily stuff, it won't get the chance to overwhelm you again.
It all starts with a plan — once you know what to focus on, you can be clear about your first step, then the next step and the step after that. Keep in mind that done is better than perfect, so if that familiar overwhelming feeling starts to creep back in, just keep going and ask yourself, "What's next?"
Clutter-Busting Tool Kit
Put everything in a big tote bag, plastic container or laundry basket. Don't buy a new container — chances are you already own something to do the job, so shop at home first. Here's what you'll need:
•Three sizes of plastic food-storage bags. You can fit just about anything in them, and they're easy to see through.
•Trash bags. Don't forget to clearly label bags used for donations.
•Tape measure. This will help you avoid buying shelves or containers that won't fit your space.
•Kitchen timer. This will help you succeed, 18 minutes at a time.
•Label maker. I like the DYMO LetraTag 11944, which costs about $20 and is supereasy to use.
•Extra label tape and batteries. You don't want to run out of either in the middle of an organizing spurt!
•Notebook and pen. Keep these in one place to record ideas, measurements and a list of things you need to replace in your clutter-busting kit.
•Shredder. Save time by shredding as you go instead of making a pile to deal with later.
•Permanent marker. This is easier to read than pen or pencil, and it won't fade over time.
•Stack of boxes and laundry baskets. These will help you sort stuff into easily movable piles.
•Sticky notes. These are great for everything from labeling temporary files to identifying which pile goes where.
•Clear tape. You'll need this to attach signs to the sorting area so you know what to "keep," "donate" or "toss."
•Camera for before and after photos. There's nothing like the picture of progress—not to mention the mess of the past—to motivate you to keep up your organizing ways.
•Nail file and bandages. Even the most experienced organizers get hurt on the job.
•Cleaning wipes and dust rags. You can just imagine what you might find behind the file cabinet or desk.
•Rubber gloves. See above.
•List of local charities. This will make it easy to schedule pickup or drop-off of items you want to donate.
•Music. The right tunes can help you maintain energy and increase the fun factor.
•Water and snacks. Music isn't the only energy booster. Having snacks handy will also prevent you from getting sidetracked on the way to the kitchen.
MY THOUGHTS
my problem is not starting. my problem is maintaing or keeping things organized. i'll spend days organizing my closet. the next day, everything's a mess. i thought the culprit is that i haven't got the time - always rushing. the truth is i don;t manage my time - that's why i rush. that's why the clutter keeps coming back. of course, there's the shopping issue - but that's another story.
Where to start when you don't know where to start
by Jamie Novak, Professional Organizer (see more from this expert)
Why did your last attempt at getting organized fail? For many it's a matter of being overwhelmed.
Maybe you weren't sure where to start. Perhaps the thought of letting go of precious memories or objects was too unsettling. You might have gotten stumped by where to put something, so you put it back down and slunk away, dejected. But don't get discouraged. You are not alone. Together, we can solve your biggest clutter challenge with these simple organizing tips.
•Make a plan. Organizing without a plan is like driving cross-country without a map or working a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle without looking at the picture. Sit down and make a list of every area you'd like to de-clutter. It will probably be a long list, but this is no time to self-edit. Even if you're not sure how to do it or whether you can afford to, put it on the list.
•Pick your target. Your best chance for success is dealing with the area that will have the biggest impact. Do you always lose your keys or trip over shoes in the entryway? Start there. Do you pay bills late because you can't find them or you forget they're due? Start there.
•Make a date to conquer clutter. Put it on the calendar, in ink, and don't let anything else get in the way. An insider tip is to pick a block of time — all you need is 18 minutes — before a regularly scheduled event. Do you meet with a book club every Tuesday? Then schedule your clutter clearing for 18 minutes before you need to leave. Does your favorite TV show come on at 10pm on Thursdays? Plan to de-clutter 18 minutes before it starts, and you'll have an incentive to get busy and get finished.
•Get support. Share your goals with someone who will cheer you on, check on your progress and celebrate your success. Telling your spouse usually isn't recommended, because a spouse may be too close to the situation and is usually better off being surprised once you're finished. Consider using a message board to get quick feedback.
•Give yourself a deadline. Invite someone to spend the night in the spare bedroom you've been meaning to clean out. Hire someone to paint the playroom you've wanted to organize.
•Gather supplies. Take a page out of the professional organizer's book and keep everything handy so you don't waste time looking for things.
•Get busy. Set your timer for 18 minutes, and go to work. Put like things together, then put away what you use and love and give away or throw away what you don't.
•Reward yourself. Don't underestimate the importance of acknowledging a job well done. You will stay motivated if you have something fun to look forward to when you're finished. It could be a nap, a good book or lunch with a friend. Just don't go shopping and bring home more stuff to put away.
•Repeat. Organization is really just a habit. If you keep up with the daily stuff, it won't get the chance to overwhelm you again.
It all starts with a plan — once you know what to focus on, you can be clear about your first step, then the next step and the step after that. Keep in mind that done is better than perfect, so if that familiar overwhelming feeling starts to creep back in, just keep going and ask yourself, "What's next?"
Clutter-Busting Tool Kit
Put everything in a big tote bag, plastic container or laundry basket. Don't buy a new container — chances are you already own something to do the job, so shop at home first. Here's what you'll need:
•Three sizes of plastic food-storage bags. You can fit just about anything in them, and they're easy to see through.
•Trash bags. Don't forget to clearly label bags used for donations.
•Tape measure. This will help you avoid buying shelves or containers that won't fit your space.
•Kitchen timer. This will help you succeed, 18 minutes at a time.
•Label maker. I like the DYMO LetraTag 11944, which costs about $20 and is supereasy to use.
•Extra label tape and batteries. You don't want to run out of either in the middle of an organizing spurt!
•Notebook and pen. Keep these in one place to record ideas, measurements and a list of things you need to replace in your clutter-busting kit.
•Shredder. Save time by shredding as you go instead of making a pile to deal with later.
•Permanent marker. This is easier to read than pen or pencil, and it won't fade over time.
•Stack of boxes and laundry baskets. These will help you sort stuff into easily movable piles.
•Sticky notes. These are great for everything from labeling temporary files to identifying which pile goes where.
•Clear tape. You'll need this to attach signs to the sorting area so you know what to "keep," "donate" or "toss."
•Camera for before and after photos. There's nothing like the picture of progress—not to mention the mess of the past—to motivate you to keep up your organizing ways.
•Nail file and bandages. Even the most experienced organizers get hurt on the job.
•Cleaning wipes and dust rags. You can just imagine what you might find behind the file cabinet or desk.
•Rubber gloves. See above.
•List of local charities. This will make it easy to schedule pickup or drop-off of items you want to donate.
•Music. The right tunes can help you maintain energy and increase the fun factor.
•Water and snacks. Music isn't the only energy booster. Having snacks handy will also prevent you from getting sidetracked on the way to the kitchen.
MY THOUGHTS
my problem is not starting. my problem is maintaing or keeping things organized. i'll spend days organizing my closet. the next day, everything's a mess. i thought the culprit is that i haven't got the time - always rushing. the truth is i don;t manage my time - that's why i rush. that's why the clutter keeps coming back. of course, there's the shopping issue - but that's another story.
Friday, March 5, 2010
organize your desk in 8 steps
Organize Your Desk in 8 Steps
from http://www.lifeorganizers.com/
In almost less time than it takes to read this article, you can have an organized desk that fosters creative thinking and improves productivity. Wouldn't that be remarkable?
Organize Your Desk in 8 Steps
1. Remove everything from your desk. Place your phone on your left if you're right handed and on the right if you're left handed. Display personal items elsewhere.
2. Keep a spiral notebook by the phone for messages and phone notes. Write your voice mail messages in it and delete them from the system. Jot down reference notes before you make a call to reduce phone time.
3. Open your planner or turn on your PDA and place it on your desk. Use it to keep track of to-dos, follow-ups and ideas.
4. Keep office supplies in one drawer only. Buy a dozen of your favorite, inexpensive pens and keep them in a cutlery tray in the drawer. Keep back-up supplies in a plastic storage container with drawers
5. Sort through your desk files. Keep in your desk drawers only files you use weekly or those that are personal or confidential.
6. Place your computer at a 90 degree angle to your desk. Keep your desk work surface clear of everything except essentials and your current project.
7. Set up a system for active files either in a step file sorter on your desk or in your file drawer. Sort your paperwork into it: Do, Consider, Awaiting Answer, File, Hold, Read and Refer.
8. Take ten minutes at the end of each day to keep your desk organized. Place tomorrow's top priority project in the center of your desk. You're ready for anything!
MY THOUGHTS:
These tips sound sensible. I'm actually training myself to be paperless. I open the outlook calendar and put everything there - scheds, to-do's, instructions to staff. what helps the most is the task list - they get all red when unfinished. that's the signal for me to double-time.
from http://www.lifeorganizers.com/
In almost less time than it takes to read this article, you can have an organized desk that fosters creative thinking and improves productivity. Wouldn't that be remarkable?
Organize Your Desk in 8 Steps
1. Remove everything from your desk. Place your phone on your left if you're right handed and on the right if you're left handed. Display personal items elsewhere.
2. Keep a spiral notebook by the phone for messages and phone notes. Write your voice mail messages in it and delete them from the system. Jot down reference notes before you make a call to reduce phone time.
3. Open your planner or turn on your PDA and place it on your desk. Use it to keep track of to-dos, follow-ups and ideas.
4. Keep office supplies in one drawer only. Buy a dozen of your favorite, inexpensive pens and keep them in a cutlery tray in the drawer. Keep back-up supplies in a plastic storage container with drawers
5. Sort through your desk files. Keep in your desk drawers only files you use weekly or those that are personal or confidential.
6. Place your computer at a 90 degree angle to your desk. Keep your desk work surface clear of everything except essentials and your current project.
7. Set up a system for active files either in a step file sorter on your desk or in your file drawer. Sort your paperwork into it: Do, Consider, Awaiting Answer, File, Hold, Read and Refer.
8. Take ten minutes at the end of each day to keep your desk organized. Place tomorrow's top priority project in the center of your desk. You're ready for anything!
MY THOUGHTS:
These tips sound sensible. I'm actually training myself to be paperless. I open the outlook calendar and put everything there - scheds, to-do's, instructions to staff. what helps the most is the task list - they get all red when unfinished. that's the signal for me to double-time.
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