WRITTEN BY KATIE SMITH
Does the thought of cleaning out cupboards, organizing your garage, and revamping the closets to make more space get so overwhelming you walk away just minutes after you get started? That’s what happens to 95 percent of people when they start the daunting task of figuring out what to keep, what to donate, and how they are going to stay organized. Everyone dreams of opening up a closet and finding the exact shirt they’re looking for or having a special place for every necklace.
As a professional personal organizer, I’ve seen it all: food stored in the bathroom because of a lack of pantry storage, clothing stored in the garage, and shoes kept under the coffee table. Of course there’s nothing wrong with any of these methods, but the thing is, most people don’t enjoy living this way. It bothers them to not have a rough room and too much clutter because let’s be honest, no one has the time to manage it all.
If you’re committed to getting and staying organized, I can help. And I promise, it doesn’t have to be painful. Here are tips that will make your cleaning and organizing journey pain-free.
1. Ask a friend for help
Doing something you’re dreading is so much better when done with a friend or family member. Maybe you have someone in your circle who is brutally honest and will push you to get rid of some things. Or maybe they’ll just lounge on your sofa or bed to keep you company while you do all the work. Even that can be better than going it alone. It’s always helpful to bounce ideas off another person. Don’t forget to provide good snacks!
2. Scan Pinterest or your favorite magazines
Nothing gives us inspiration like looking at another amazing space. It can give you fuel to tackle your main closet, get those glass jars with the bamboo lids for your pantry, or order shoe organizers. Start a vision board of organized spaces you love, and look at it often. It will ignite your inner-organizer. I promise.
3. Analyze each room and make a list of all the things you don’t want to see
This step is so important because it will keep you focused while you work. Look at each room before you get started. What’s your vision? What do you want the room to look and feel like? What items do you want to hide or keep somewhere else? Maybe you have a finished basement that’s a home gym, but it’s become a catchall for old furniture. Make a list of everything you don’t want to see any longer, and a list of what you would like in that room.
4. Start in one room and complete it before you move to the next.
Trust me on this. I know it’s easy to get sidetracked. But the number one reason I see people lose steam when they are trying to organize is because they start in one room, pull another room apart, feel like they aren’t making progress, then they quit. Yes, you will make a bigger mess before you see progress, but the trick is to stay focused on one room and complete it so you will see the difference your hard work is making. That will motivate you to move to the next room because you’ll love how you feel when you’re in your organized space, and you’ll want to carry that feeling in every room of your house.
5. Make 4 piles: keep, store, donate, trash
Go through your things and put them in piles first. Don’t go through things one item at a time. Pull it all out so you can see what you have. This helps because you may have duplicates of something you don’t need, and if you don’t have it all in front of you, you may forget and you’ll spend precious time backtracking and looking for things. Once all the drawers, closet, or shelves are cleared off, scrub them down, then organize and put away all the things you want to keep. If you have a storage unit, or another place where you want to store items, get that done, then drop off all items you’re going to donate, and throw all trash away.
6. Invest in some pretty containers and organizers.
This helps make the project more fun. Who doesn’t love pretty containers or baskets to hide their stuff in? That pile of mail you can’t seem to get rid of looks much better in a sleek organizer, and finding utensils is so much easier when you invest in a flatware organizer.
Need more help? Find Katie’s Kozy Homes on Facebook.
