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Entries Tagged 'Home Organization' ↓
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Just follow these instructions:
1) “Like” my DIYorganization facebook page.
2) Click on “Deals” on the top, left side of page.
3) Click on “Skip” and enter your name, email address and then click on “Get This Deal.”
4) You are then entered!
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Thank you and good luck to you!!
Warmly,
Monika
Professional Organizer
Tags: DIY organization, Home Organization, Home Organization Blog, Kindle Fire, professional organizer
I have found that books tend to be a hard item for people to let go, there are some real book lovers out there! People often equate books with knowledge and they don’t want to get ‘rid’ of knowledge. I also love to read, but I have never felt compelled to have a large library as I don’t really enjoy re-reading a book. Anyone who knows me well, knows that most books that I read come from the library or occassionally I will purchase a used book through half.com (a division of eBay) if it can be used as a reference book for my business.
Books do give us knowledge, but it’s OK to let books go, you don’t HAVE to keep them forever. Here are 7 tips to help you let go of books:
- You can always take notes on pertinent points in a book and keep the notes in a folder on your computer instead of keeping the book.
- Determine if the information in the book is the most up-to-date that you can find. Perhaps you would rather google information on the symptoms and treatement for diabetes then read about it in an encyclopedia from 1976-I know I would!
- Most libraries will take your books to sell them to raise money through “Friends of the Library” for awesome programs in your community. This is a great way to contribute in your community and make space on your bookshelf.
- Ask yourself what is the worst thing that can happen if you let the book go and regret it? You can get it again if you need to by buying another one, borrowing a copy or checking it out from the library.
- Let books go that you don’t believe you will read again. Keep books that you will re-read or use as a future reference. Again, make sure the information will be accurate and up-to-date in the books you keep.
- You can make some money on your books. You can sell them at a garage sale, through a used book store or through half.com.
- You can always pass them on to someone else that will enjoy them. You can organize a trade with friends or donate them. Most parents enjoy receiving children’s books so their kids have something new to read.
There’s nothing wrong with having books, just be sure to keep the ones that you love, have space for and that you will read again!
Tags: books, DIY organization, Home Organization, Home Organization Blog, library
I’d like to think that if I totally lived alone, my house would be “just so” all the time. But I know that wouldn’t really be the case. I may be a professional organizer, but I still get busy and I still leave pajamas on the bathroom floor and make-up on the counter when I’m in a hurry. I leave clean clothes piled on my bed until I can get around to folding them and I leave dirty dishes on the counter until I unload the dishwasher. And that’s OK. Most people don’t want to live like their home is a museum, it makes them uncomfortable and it can make company uncomfortable too, like they are afraid to ‘mess’ something up. Company should feel like they can come in and sit down with a up of coffee in a real home.
How about just keeping a balance between clutter-free and comfortable with the goal being able to easily restore order by knowing where things go and not having too much of any one thing? I think that sounds reasonable! Here are some examples of “cool clutter” that can make our home feel like a home.
- Magazines & books that we are reading laying on a coffee table or bedside table, just not stacked to the ceiling please.
- Clean laundry on the couch or bed waiting to be folded.
- A puzzle or game in the process of play on the dining room table.
- Backpacks on the floor in the entry-who cares really? Pick your battles.
- A chair in the master bedroom piled with clothes that need to be hung up that you chose not to wear in a dressing frenzy.
- Small appliances out on the kitchen counter that you use regularly such as the toaster & coffee pot. Keep what you use regularly close at hand.
- A few toys out and about that your kids are actually playing with.
- A Lego masterpiece in the making.
Make sure you make your home a home so you, your family and company can feel good there. If you need some tips for controlling clutter to help you achieve a balance, please read more right here! 
Tags: clutter, DIY organization, home, Home Organization, Home Organization Blog, tips for controlling clutter, toys
Shining the spotlight on our pre-contest fun! Please follow me on facebook for an announcement in the next few hours for an upcoming contest before our really big contest begins!
Tags: contest, DIY organization, facebook, home, Home Organization, Home Organization Blog
Eeeeeeek, how do you KNOW if clutter is winning the fight for clear, uncluttered surfaces in your home? Take a good look at these 7 warning signs and see who’s winning in your home:
Clutter Warning #1: Emotional Upheaval
- Discord amongst your family members about how the house is kept
- Frustration, anger & depression over the clutter & condition of your home can be red flags
- Your “stuff” has crossed the line from being a source of pleasure to an unwelcome source of stress
Clutter Warning #2: Clutter Overwhelm
- You may feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of ’stuff’ in your home and not sure how to begin to tackle it
Clutter Warning #3: Embarrassment
- You may feel embarrassed that your home in in disarray
- You may be embarrassed that you let it get that way
- You may be embarrassed to invite people into your home
- Your family members may be embarrassed to invite friends over so they go visit other people instead
Clutter Warning #4: Duplicate Purchases
- You may not be able to find items that you just KNOW you have in the house because they just plain aren’t easy to find. This will cause two problems:
1) You will repurchase the item causing you to spend money you didn’t need to spend
2) You will add to the clutter because now you have duplicates
Clutter Warning #5: Damage to Your Home
- Can your home breathe easy or do you have piles going up the walls that are causing dangerous mold to manifest?
- Is your stuff creating nice, soft, warm, cuddly homes for creatures that should be living outdoors (aka rats)?
Clutter Warning #6: Paper Pain
- Do you have large (not just a few, but large) stacks of old newspapers and magazines piled high?
- What about junk mail from 2003? Oh snap!
- Paying bills late because you can’t find them can sure be a sign. You’ll know for sure when the electricity is turned off.
- Are you losing money (cash or checks) or gift cards because they are buried under piles of paper? My biggest client find so far: $500 cash, that was a good day!
Clutter Warning #7: No Clear Surfaces to be Found
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No table top is safe because you find a space and you fill it up
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You can’t sit on the couch or sleep in your bed without moving piles
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You trip over stuff on the floor (not just a toy here or there, real stuff)
We all may have one of these signs here and there, but you need to really look at whether or not you have a pattern going on here, whether your home is functioning well and whether or not you feel good in your space. For ideas on 20 easy things to toss to get you started, please read more here. And, I’ve also included some “after” shots here too.
Tags: Before & After Photos, clutter, clutter overwhelm, DIY organization, home, Home Organization, Home Organization Blog, house
Bamboo Drawer Organizer from Crate&Barrel
Do you have little bits of this and little bits of that stashed away in a drawer? Maybe a lotta bits of this and a lotta bits of that… paper clips, tape, rubber bands, super glue, it’s all good. Just make sure your ‘junk’ drawer doesn’t turn into a dumping ground free-for-all. You can have a junk drawer and still be organized; what a win/win!
So, let’s look at the proper anatomy of an effective junk drawer:
Junk Drawer Tip #1: Try to keep it down to just one junk drawer
Junk Drawer Tip #2: Take everything out of the drawer and sort through it. Discard things that are broken, things that don’t work, things that you don’t use or donate extra items if you have multiples.
Junk Drawer Tip #3: Organize what you are keeping. The bamboo drawer divider from Crate&Barrel shown here is a great way to keep the goodies you are keeping from turning into a big mess that slides about. And, bamboo is environmentally friendly to boot! Keeping your small items separated will keep them from getting mixed together and make it easy to find what you need when you need it.
You can go one step further by adding some small containers within the drawer organizer to contain really small items like paper clips and rubber bands.
Junk Drawer Tip #4: Items you may want to stash in your junk drawer:
1) Rubber bands
2) Flashlight
3) Glue
4) Tape Measure
5) Calculator
6) Matches
7) Stamps
Emergency candles
9) Batteries
10) Pens & pencils
11) Screwdrivers
12) Anything else that works for you
So, make sure your drawer isn’t overloaded, keep just what you need and then make it easy to find what you need by separating and storing your stuff in a drawer organizer! Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to show off your ‘junk’ drawer! Oh, yes it would!
Tags: bamboo, Crate&Barrel, DIY organization, drawer organizer, home, Home Organization, Home Organization Blog, junk drawer, organized
Here we go, we’ll just jump right into part 2 with awesome places to store your stuff that make sense!
Laundry Room
1) Keep a supply caddy filled with cleaning supplies up high, away from kids and pets. This also makes your cleaning supplies mobile.
2) This is a great place to store extra clothing hangers.
3) Use turntables for sprays and cleaning sticks, just spin and grab what you need so nothing falls over.
4) Store your iron and ironing board on the wall or door to save space
5) A drying rack on the wall that pulls out will be out of your way when you don’t need it
Keepsakes
1) Use an archival-safe box in a closet or on a shelf. Avoid the garage due to humidity, heat, cold.
Backpacks/Coats
1) Hooks or cubbies by door you leave from. Make it easy for kids to succeed by placing them at their level.
Dining Room
1) Stash place mats, napkins, napkin rings, candles close to the table so it’s easy to set for your family or for company.
Family room
1) Items for activities you do in this room: books, music, dvds, board games & throw blankets
Garage
1) Place paint & paint supplies all in one area
2) Store tools together so it’s easy to work on projects & repairs
3) Store camping gear and supplies in one section
4) Keep holiday decor safely stored in labeled bins
5) Keep sports equipment together so you can grab them and go when it’s time to have some fun
Make sure that you store items that you use the most in a way that is more easily accessible and items that don’t aren’t needed as often can be stored higher or lower so you have to work a little harder. For tips on what you can toss before you begin looking for storage solutions, please read more right here.
Tags: DIY organization, Garage Organizing, home, Home Organization, Home Organization Blog, Laundry Room Organizing, tips on what to toss
If clutter being a nusiance isn’t enough to get you motivated to declutter your home, how about if you think about it in terms of being hazardous to your health? Maybe that will light a fire. Of course it’s all going to depend on just how much clutter any given household has. One cluttered coffee table-probably not so bad. Every floor and flat surface covered with stuff, maybe more of a problem going on.
I’ve got 5 things that I’ve seen personally that I believe can be hazardous to your health and a great motivators to start the decluttering process:
Hazard #1: Animal feces. It’s much easier for animals to get away with using the floor as a potty when they can’t get out the door. It’s also a lot harder to keep up with cleaning it when you can’t see it or the floor.
Hazard #2: Rodents. What a nice, warm, welcoming environment for these friendly little critters to get come in from out of the cold. I’m sure they are very grateful for mounds of soft clothes and paper to shred for their homes. Rat feces and people are not a good combination for good health.
Hazard #3: Accidents. If your floor is covered with clutter, it’s an accident waiting to happen. You don’t want to trip and fall over your own stuff, nor do you want something to come crashing down on your sweet, little head.
Hazard #4: Fire. Talk about scary! If you have stacks of paper a mile high and trails to get around your home, you could really have a dangerous situation.
Hazard #5: Mold. I’ve worked with paper that was stored in a box so long there was black mold growing in there. That is not good and you don’t want to be breathing that in. The good thing though, there was $500 cash in that box! Your house needs to breathe and if you have your walls piled high with stuff, it’s not breathing properly.
It’s so important that you are happy in your home and that your home isn’t a hazard for you or your family. It’s definitely worth your time, energy and effort to declutter so you and your home can breathe easy!
Tags: clutter, declutter, decluttering process, home, Home Organization, Home Organization Blog
Have you ever moved into a new home, put everything in it’s new place and then realized about 3 months down the road that it wasn’t working? Sometimes we put things where we think they should go at the time, only to discover later that’s not efficient.
Here’s an example that happened in my own home. When my girls were little I placed their hairbows under the bathroom sink. Every day I would bend over and retrieved them from under the sink. Finally one day, a lightbulb went off and I thought, “Why am I going all the way under the sink when I have a drawer at the top of the vanity?” So, I bought some containers at the Dollar Tree, lined them up and loaded them in the top drawer. Now, why hadn’t I thought of that sooner? Who knows. Sometimes we just do something a certain way and get used it it, even if it’s not the best way. I’ve done the same thing with lunch sacks too, had them across the kitchen instead of right next to where I was making lunches.
Let’s start with the kitchen for some examples of best places to store stuff:
Kitchen
- Drink cups for the kids down low within their reach
- After school snacks in a bin for kids at their reach (more here on how to create a snack bin)
- Glasses by fridge instead of the sink if you get all your water and drinks from the fridge
- Holiday serving dishes can be stored in cupboards that are up high or low or even stored in with the holiday decor in the garage
- Keep lunch making supplies together in a kit where you make lunches
- Create a baking kit with your most common baking supplies so you can bring it to the counter when you want to get your Betty Crocker on
- Keep spices-dry and away from light, preferably close to your food prep area
Watch for part 2 coming up for awesome storage ideas for other parts of your home!
Tags: DIY organization, home, Home Organization, Home Organization Blog, Kitchen Organizing, storage
There is a book I’d like to recommend that you check out: ”Material World” by Peter Menzel. It will give you an awesome visual of how much “stuff” people have in their homes around the world. In so many parts of the world, families are standing by their meager belongings with big smiles on their faces. Then along comes the U.S. The family is from Texas, a nice family I’m sure, and their stuff is spread out all over the cul-de-sac, much like most of ours would be. The title of this one: “Moral Dilemma.” Wow. OK, we really do have a lot of stuff compared to much of the rest of the world. So, here’s my take on the 7 sins of our stuff:
#1) Money. We spend a ton of money bringing in more and more stuff and often accumulate large amounts of debt over it. We might not even use it, we may not even remove the tags, but we may get a high when we find a “great” deal. Not really such a great deal actually.
2) Stress: We end up with so much stuff that it crosses the line from being a source of enjoyment to a source of stress. It’s hard to enjoy it when you can’t see it and you can’t find it.
3) Safety: If you’re stuff is causing a hazard and you don’t have a clear path to get from point A to point B in your home without tripping, you may have too much.
4) Health: Too much stuff can cause stress and depression. It can be a tough cycle of feeling overwhelmed, but then not having the energy to do anything about tackling the clutter.
5) Discord: How does it look behind closed doors when there is too much clutter and stress in a home? It looks like family arguments, bickering, frustration and anger.
6) Embarrassment: Too much stuff can = embarrassement. Embarrassment over not having a handle on your spending, embarrassment over having your stuff be the boss instead of you being in charge, embarrassment to invite family and friends into your home. Now that’s no fun.
7: Time Suck. If we have to keep touching our stuff and moving our stuff and going through our stuff and digging through our stuff to find what we need, it takes up our time. It takes up our time and it usually adds an injection of stress too. This is valuable time that could be much more fun spent on relaxing, reading, family time or hobbies.
I imagine there’s more that I could add here, if you have input, I’d love to hear from you in the comments section. For tips on 20 Easy Things to Toss to get you started, please click here.
Tags: DIY organization, health, home, Home Organization, Home Organization Blog, stress, stuff
