Organizing Tips

FEELING UNORGANIZED?
Use these organizing tips to help you achieve a better life balance in your home.

1. Before you start any home organizing process create 3 bins and label them as follows: KEEP, TOSS and DONATE.
When the Toss and Donate bins are full schedule a donation drop off and put the toss pile out for garbage or recycling. Start with one room at a time so you don’t get discouraged. If you’re unsure of letting go of an item create a SAVE bin as well and visit it 6 months later. If you haven’t needed it, it’s time to go.

2. Bedroom Closet Clothes: The rule of organizing is it’s time to go when......
a) you haven’t worn it for one year
b) it looks faded or extra worn
c) it’s not comfortable/too big or too small

3. Bathrooms: It’s time to create a calm spa feeling and a simple way to do that is to declutter. Toss old lotions and cosmetics and check all medicine expiry dates. Wipe down all surfaces and add fresh soft hand towels only remember to toss or donate the old ones.

4. Kitchens: The hub of the home needs to be organized and fresh. We spend a lot of time in the kitchen by ourselves, with our family or friends so be real on how you use it.
Go through your cutlery drawers, if you don’t have a cutlery organizer you should. Go through your fridge and rid yourself of all old condiments. Make sure to go through the freezer as well. In your cupboards put similar items together and whatever you don’t use on a daily basis goes in a separate cupboard.

5. Back to Closets: Ok now that you’ve rid your closets of all those unwanted items it’s time to maximize your space and make it more efficient. The best way to do that is to add a closet organizer. They can double or triple your space! Don’t run out and buy one just yet though. Take at least a week and write a list of everything you’d like to put in that closet. Once you’ve completed that list call in a professional to help coordinate and install or purchase on your own the pieces you need accordingly and have a short term install goal. Be sure to measure twice.

6. Front Hall: This space is a high traffic area and greets you when you arrive home each day so make it function for your family’s lifestyle. Here are a few important items you may want to have.
a) A wall coat rack to hang up jackets quickly
b) A bench or chair to sit on while putting on or removing your shoes
c) A bin or two to place seasonal items in such as gloves
d) A place to hang your keys

7. Home Office: It’s time to go green and the office is the perfect place to start. Get the paper shredder out and rid yourself of any old, unnecessary documents. Start a new habit where instead of printing items off the internet simply tag it to an interest file on your computer with a title and when you finally have time to sit down and read ,turn your computer on. This helps save your time and the environment.

8. Kids: Create a kids file folder for all of your children’s’ artwork, school reports and personal information that way it’s right at your fingertips. Keep the files labelled separately for each child. Visit the files every so often and update any outdated information.

9. Garage: Do this area after you’ve gone through the interior of your home because some of those items will have been sent to the garage. The key here is creating efficient wall space and going vertical. Add shelving units, hooks and bike racks to get large items off the floor. Create zones for all items. Some suggestions for zones are Vehicle Zone, Recreational Zone, Tool Zone and Seasonal Zone.

10. Memory Box: Your good memories deserve a special place. Create one! Purchase a nice large clean/clear tote box and label it “My Memory Box”. Place all your tangible memories here.
Instead of having them stuffed in corners of your home collecting dust and being forgotten they are all safe and in one spot for you to visit and enjoy.

Organizing is a process that is proven to help you achieve better life balance.
GET STARTED TODAY!

*This article was featured in the Spring/Summer 2010 Hire The Gardener Newsletter*

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