The Expert Guide to Organizing Your Closet
Runway / News
by Sharon Feiereisen
August 02, 2011
http://www.thefashionspot.com/runway-news/news/168261-the-expert-guide-to-organizing-your-closet
I live in a duplex apartment with incredibly high ceilings, I have three closets, two of which are floor-to-ceiling and one of which takes up an entire wall. You’d think with all of that closet space I’d have ample room for my sartorial indulgences, but unfortunately, at least in my case, room breeds clutter. After returning from Super Saturday in the Hamptons with four new dresses, three new pairs of shoes, two new tops, two pairs of pants, and a to-die-for Zimmermann bathing suit, I decided it was time to clean out my closets. My boyfriend, whose “closet” has been relegated to two plastic bins underneath the bed, was thrilled. Before tackling my wardrobe, I spoke to two experts in the field to get their tips on how to best go about organizing closet spaces.
Myclean.com, a New York-based website which offers users the ability to schedule customized cleaning appointments, home repairs, and personal organization sessions just brought professional organizer Lisa Jacobs on board and she outlined her must-dos for us:
Remove all items from closet space. [note: this can be scary! If you’re like me and haven’t done this in years be prepared for dust tumbleweeds.]
Purchase slim velvet hangers; choose a color that coordinates with the room's color scheme.
Sort through all items to eliminate the unnecessary, so the necessary can speak. [note: this was the hardest for me — there’s nothing worse than getting rid of something with the price tags still hanging on, but if you’re never going to wear it, there really is little point in keeping it.]
Shelves above rod ought to be outfitted with containers to stack from shelf to ceiling and can be in a variety of sizes.
Left side of shelf ought be stacked with containers, right side with risers to maximize shelf space by creating double shelf. Use the area for handbags and larger items.
Purchase shoe rack for floor space. No clothes should be placed on the floor.
Discard all shoe boxes and handbag bags. [note: this one I have to politely disagree with; accessories should be protected and while dust bags and shoe boxes may not be space efficient, in my opinion, they’re essential for long wear.]
Purchase plastic cart on wheels with drawers, remove any clothing on the floor and place this cart in its place to serve as dresser. Use for smaller items, random toiletries and papers.
Purchase hanging bag with canvas shelves for t-shirts and sweaters.
If there are closet doors, maximize space on inside doors, hanging bag for random shoes, accessories, pocketed canvas bag.
Barbara Reich, of Resourceful Consultants, was also kind enough to share some of her tips for eliminating clutter. Reich has appeared on the Today Show, has been featured in the New York Times and New York Post, among other publications, and has been in the de-cluttering business for over a decade. She suggests:
Take it out and shake it out.
Take out all heavy winter coats and sweaters.
Take out any clothes/shoes that you didn’t wear last year and can’t see yourself wearing this year.
Take out any clothes/shoes that don’t fit, are in poor condition, will never fit, and are no longer in style. Be ruthless…
Maintain and move.
Assess whether any clothing maintenance is required on winter coats and sweaters…do buttons need tightening, do the coats need to be washed or professionally cleaned, are the sweaters pilled?
Consider moving heavy clothing to another closet (rack in basement, another closet under bed storage).
Make piles to donate, discard, take to cleaners, wash.
Group like things together.
Put all of your spring/summer sweaters together. Fold or hang by color.
Do the same for pants, short sleeve tops, long sleeve tops.
Hang as much as possible, it’s the easiest way to see what you have.
Put what you wear most in “Prime Real Estate.”
That means the things you wear most should be in the place that’s most accessible and easiest to reach.
Make a list.
Never buy without a plan.
Did you discard something that needs to be replaced (i.e. white button down that was looking gray, white cardigan)?
Is there something you really need?
Getting organized is a big commitment, but staying organized takes 10 minutes or less a day.
Take the time to fold clothes properly before putting them away in your drawers or closet. [note: this is a major problem for me because I tend to be lax with folding and ironing, but this is truly crucial – there’s nothing worse than rushing only to realize the outfit you wanted to wear is too wrinkled to be seen in.]
When you take something off a hanger, put the hanger at the front of your closet. That way you know where all of the empty hangers are, and you’re more like to hang clothes when you can easily find a hanger.
Maintain your clothes. Note when a button needs to be sewn or when a garment needs to be cleaned.
When you buy new clothes, edit what you have to see if there’s anything that can be eliminated.
If you’ve put something on twice and decided not to wear it twice, it’s time to say goodbye.
The floor is not a place to store things. Try to avoid having anything on the floor of your closet.
Now the big question – who’s going to help me take all of my discarded clothes to the Salvation Army?
MY THOUGHTS
Believe me-truing out these tips in closet organizing is more than just a challenge. Closet organizing is a test. It's a test of what you value the most. I've always been a stickler for closet organizing. I believe I have acquired the skills for making space available. But my real problem was not the lack of ability to organize closets. My problem has always been filling them up. It's so easy to buy and shop and load up your house with things. Giving them up is not as easy as that. There is one thing I tell myself when taking on the task of closet organizing- someone else can have better use of whatever it is I have not used for a long time.
Showing posts with label time management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label time management. Show all posts
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
THE URGE TO PURGE
The Urge to Purge
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the January 2007 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
Organize Your Stuff!
You know those closets and drawers and cupboards that are so full, they won't quite close?
It turns out they could be bad for your health: Every time you look around and feel anxious that the mess is getting out of hand, your body releases cortisol, one of the classic stress hormones, says Steven Maier, PhD, a neuroscience professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Arianne Cohen, the author of Help, It's Broken! A Fix-It Bible for the Repair-Impaired, asked top organizing experts to help us get a grip.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Purging: Even Emeril doesn't need six spatulas and four whisks; two of each will do, so start by tossing extras. While you're at it, check expiration dates on foodstuffs and pitch anything that's past its prime. Next, tackle seldom-used appliances like cappuccino and bread makers. "Those things don't need to live in the kitchen," says Ellen Kosloff, senior professional organizer at TaskMasters New York. "Put up a rack in the garage, or store them on a hallway closet shelf."
Prevention: The number one rule: Keep the counters clear. "Counter space is only for items you use daily," says Barry Izsak, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers. "Everything else can be stored in a cabinet or pantry."
Dust Off That Desk!
Purging: Begin by throwing away the no-brainers, including junk mail, expired coupons, brochures, and catalogs. Next, create desk zones. "Have a bill-paying zone, a stationery zone, a mail zone, and a reading zone," says Kosloff. "Keep everything you need for each activity in neat containers."
Prevention: Tackle your zones weekly, particularly bills and mail. For incoming papers such as children's art or tax information, keep one folder or container for each category, and at the end of the year (or month, if things really pile up fast), choose the keepers and purge the rest.
Liberate Your Library
Purging: Some people would consider it a sacrilege to ever get rid of a book, but if you've decided it's time to winnow, donate all books that don't meet any of these three criteria: books you love, books you read regularly, books whose content can't be found on the Internet.
Prevention: Librarian's rules: No stacking or double shelving allowed. "Group your books into categories like fiction, nonfiction, and travel, so you can see what you have," says Chris McKenry of Get It Together LA. And good news: "Regifting is perfectly acceptable with books."
Tossing Tchotchkes
Purging "You should own nothing that is not useful, beautiful, or loved," says Izsak. If a tchotchke can't pass this test, out it goes.
Prevention: When a new tchotchke comes in, Kosloff suggests immediately rejecting it if you already own something similar. Keep only the little objects you'll use (a vase, a pretty bowl) or that are uniquely meaningful (a handmade gift or travel memento).
A Picture Perfect System
Purging: Keep the gems, toss the rest. "Throw away or delete all the blurry, unflattering, redundant, or bad shots," says Julie Morgenstern, author of Never Check E-mail in the Morning. This strategy is especially effective if you or your partner is a lousy photographer.
Prevention: Don't feel compelled to label every photo. Instead, organize them into broad categories such as "Venice vacation" or "work events," and store them in a labeled photo box or digital folder. Weed out new shots as you take them or as soon as you receive prints.
Reclaim Your Garage
The Garage
Purging: The garage is not a warehouse! Begin by attacking one shelf or corner at a time, and tossing or donating all items you no longer use. Sports equipment your kids have outgrown, the gardening tools for the yard you no longer use—out! Then arrange items by category. "Your garage should be zoned," says McKenry. "You might have a zone for car equipment and a sports zone."
Prevention: Never pile items on the floor; buy new shelves or wall hooks as needed. Kosloff suggests keeping a large donation bin so that family members always have a place to put unused belongings.
Sort Through Makeup
Purging: "Sort through all your half-empty bottles of shampoo, lotion, and makeup, and toss anything you haven't used in six months," Morgenstern says. Group what's left in containers of like products (i.e., rather than having 18 kinds of makeup sitting out on the counter, put it all in one easily accessible container). Morgenstern also uses extra toiletries (unopened, of course) to make hostess baskets for overnight guests.
Prevention: Avoid impulse purchases by buying products only to replace those you're done with.
Cleanse Your Closet
Purging: "Remember that 80 percent of the time, we wear only 20 percent of our clothes," says McKenry. So go through your wardrobe and jettison anything that's one of the four S's: stretched, small, smelly (ew!), or stained (sure, you could clean the stained and smelly pieces, but the idea is to let things go). Another great tip: Turn all your hangers in one direction, and for the next six months, flip the hanger (and leave it flipped) when you wear something. Donate the untouched clothes.
Prevention: "The rule of thumb," says Izsak, "is that when something new comes in, at least one thing—preferably two—must go. And be realistic. If you're a size 10, hold on to the 8s but not the 6s."
MY THOUGHTS
Remember- purge only what you own!
O, The Oprah Magazine | From the January 2007 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
Organize Your Stuff!
You know those closets and drawers and cupboards that are so full, they won't quite close?
It turns out they could be bad for your health: Every time you look around and feel anxious that the mess is getting out of hand, your body releases cortisol, one of the classic stress hormones, says Steven Maier, PhD, a neuroscience professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Arianne Cohen, the author of Help, It's Broken! A Fix-It Bible for the Repair-Impaired, asked top organizing experts to help us get a grip.
Keep Your Kitchen Clean
Purging: Even Emeril doesn't need six spatulas and four whisks; two of each will do, so start by tossing extras. While you're at it, check expiration dates on foodstuffs and pitch anything that's past its prime. Next, tackle seldom-used appliances like cappuccino and bread makers. "Those things don't need to live in the kitchen," says Ellen Kosloff, senior professional organizer at TaskMasters New York. "Put up a rack in the garage, or store them on a hallway closet shelf."
Prevention: The number one rule: Keep the counters clear. "Counter space is only for items you use daily," says Barry Izsak, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers. "Everything else can be stored in a cabinet or pantry."
Dust Off That Desk!
Purging: Begin by throwing away the no-brainers, including junk mail, expired coupons, brochures, and catalogs. Next, create desk zones. "Have a bill-paying zone, a stationery zone, a mail zone, and a reading zone," says Kosloff. "Keep everything you need for each activity in neat containers."
Prevention: Tackle your zones weekly, particularly bills and mail. For incoming papers such as children's art or tax information, keep one folder or container for each category, and at the end of the year (or month, if things really pile up fast), choose the keepers and purge the rest.
Liberate Your Library
Purging: Some people would consider it a sacrilege to ever get rid of a book, but if you've decided it's time to winnow, donate all books that don't meet any of these three criteria: books you love, books you read regularly, books whose content can't be found on the Internet.
Prevention: Librarian's rules: No stacking or double shelving allowed. "Group your books into categories like fiction, nonfiction, and travel, so you can see what you have," says Chris McKenry of Get It Together LA. And good news: "Regifting is perfectly acceptable with books."
Tossing Tchotchkes
Purging "You should own nothing that is not useful, beautiful, or loved," says Izsak. If a tchotchke can't pass this test, out it goes.
Prevention: When a new tchotchke comes in, Kosloff suggests immediately rejecting it if you already own something similar. Keep only the little objects you'll use (a vase, a pretty bowl) or that are uniquely meaningful (a handmade gift or travel memento).
A Picture Perfect System
Purging: Keep the gems, toss the rest. "Throw away or delete all the blurry, unflattering, redundant, or bad shots," says Julie Morgenstern, author of Never Check E-mail in the Morning. This strategy is especially effective if you or your partner is a lousy photographer.
Prevention: Don't feel compelled to label every photo. Instead, organize them into broad categories such as "Venice vacation" or "work events," and store them in a labeled photo box or digital folder. Weed out new shots as you take them or as soon as you receive prints.
Reclaim Your Garage
The Garage
Purging: The garage is not a warehouse! Begin by attacking one shelf or corner at a time, and tossing or donating all items you no longer use. Sports equipment your kids have outgrown, the gardening tools for the yard you no longer use—out! Then arrange items by category. "Your garage should be zoned," says McKenry. "You might have a zone for car equipment and a sports zone."
Prevention: Never pile items on the floor; buy new shelves or wall hooks as needed. Kosloff suggests keeping a large donation bin so that family members always have a place to put unused belongings.
Sort Through Makeup
Purging: "Sort through all your half-empty bottles of shampoo, lotion, and makeup, and toss anything you haven't used in six months," Morgenstern says. Group what's left in containers of like products (i.e., rather than having 18 kinds of makeup sitting out on the counter, put it all in one easily accessible container). Morgenstern also uses extra toiletries (unopened, of course) to make hostess baskets for overnight guests.
Prevention: Avoid impulse purchases by buying products only to replace those you're done with.
Cleanse Your Closet
Purging: "Remember that 80 percent of the time, we wear only 20 percent of our clothes," says McKenry. So go through your wardrobe and jettison anything that's one of the four S's: stretched, small, smelly (ew!), or stained (sure, you could clean the stained and smelly pieces, but the idea is to let things go). Another great tip: Turn all your hangers in one direction, and for the next six months, flip the hanger (and leave it flipped) when you wear something. Donate the untouched clothes.
Prevention: "The rule of thumb," says Izsak, "is that when something new comes in, at least one thing—preferably two—must go. And be realistic. If you're a size 10, hold on to the 8s but not the 6s."
MY THOUGHTS
Remember- purge only what you own!
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.
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