Organized Office Desk

3 Tips to Organize the Desk Drawers in Your Home Office

in

The drawers of your office desk can quickly become disorganized, and while that might not seem to matter at first, it can soon become a headache. Rather than taking a few seconds to reach for a pen and an important document, you now must spend precious time combing through a slew of things in drawers to locate them. That can slow down the workday and add stress to it too. To help you organize the desk drawers of your home office, try these efficient tips.

1.      Set Functions for Drawers

Begin by assigning a function to each drawer. Doing so will help you immensely with getting the desk organized and keeping it that way.

Some categories that often make sense for the home offices of people we work with are pens/pencils/highlighters, work papers, and cables/chargers. Depending on the size of the drawer, you can add sticky notes, paper clips, and rubber bands to the pen drawer.

Keeping like items together makes it much easier to know where things are so you can quickly access them. Typically, our organizers suggest that the top drawer holds the supplies that you access the most often, as this location puts them quickly within reach when sitting at the desk.

Organizing Desk Drawers

2.      Decide What to Keep or Toss

Now that you know which drawer will hold which items, it’s time to decide what to keep or throw away. The toss pile includes broken and items no longer useful for other reasons, such as pens that are out of ink.

You may also find old papers no longer needed, which you can then shred or recycle. Also, items that are not meant for the home office can sometimes creep into the room so that you can move these to a better-suited spot elsewhere.

Often, it is best to remove everything from the drawers and then make the “keep or toss” decision. Doing so helps you get a good look at the length and depth of the drawer so that you can best decide how to arrange the needed supplies, and it ensures nothing gets missed. It also is an excellent opportunity to wipe down dusty and dirty drawers with the appropriate cleaning solution.

3.      Add Storage Solutions

If the drawers do not have built-in dividers, consider adding some yourself. Containers and sections help keep items from rolling around and getting intermingled when you open or close drawers.

There are several options here, depending on drawer dimensions and functions. Office supply trays are readily available at local office supply stores, or you can DIY them if you do not have the budget for it.

Wood, cardboard, and plastic are all great materials for drawer dividers. You can even make them out of cereal boxes!

Home Office Upkeep

We encourage you to go through the desk drawers to tidy up routinely. Otherwise, the risk is that it will quickly become disorganized again.

This activity doesn’t have to take long. It can be as quick as five minutes a week to return items to their correct location and toss what is damaged or no longer needed.

Our professional organizers have many more tips to help you in the home office, from organizing the desk surface to creating a filing system and arranging computer files. Reach out today to talk with a team member!

Unpacking after Moving

Unpacking after Moving: A Timeline to Keep You on Track

in

Moving is an exciting time as it means the start of a new chapter. It often involves stress, though, as you plan out how best to get through the process. After all, it’s not likely something that you do regularly. To help you after move-in day, when you find yourself amidst boxes, refer to this timeline to start to settle into your new home.

The First Day

While it is tempting to set out on the first day to unpack all or most of the boxes, that puts a lot of pressure on your shoulders. As soon as you get into the new place, unpack any perishables from your previous home and put them into the fridge or freezer.

Also, unpack some basic items, such as plates, cups, utensils, a can opener, and a pot. That way, you will be able to fuel up on breaks while unpacking.

Focus on getting the main beds set up too. If you have beds for guest rooms, those can likely wait. But putting together the frames for the beds for you and your kids now is essential. If you have pets, put their beds in place too.

Add soap and towels to at least one bathroom too. Also, unbox essential toiletries too for that night and the following morning.

Unpacking after Moving

The Next Day

Next on the priority list is the closets and kitchen. Unbox the clothes that are likely to be worn that season. The garments for the rest of the year can wait.

Hanging them up or folding them as you go is ideal, rather than just throwing them into the bottom of the closet. Otherwise, you will be stuck sorting later, which only creates another task.

In the kitchen, put away the non-perishable food items. Also, unpack any everyday things that you have not yet put away in drawers or cupboards, such as the rest of the plates, drinkware, pots, and pans.

Over the Next Few Weeks

Now that the essentials are put away, you can unpack what you want over the next couple of weeks. For example, the TV room might be next on the agenda if you want to start having family movie nights together. Or maybe your home office needs setting up next so that you can begin to work again after taking time off for the move.

What is important here is that you only tackle one room at a time when it comes to unboxing and organizing. Otherwise, you risk becoming overwhelmed and not being as productive.

When unpacking each box, find a suitable place for each item, rather than haphazardly putting them on a shelf or the floor. If you decide certain things are no longer needed, sort them into piles for garbage (if broken), donation, or sale. Some items may also go best in storage areas in the basement or attic.

Making Your House a Home

Creating a space that is feels uniquely like your family is a process. As you unbox more things and find places to put them throughout the interior, it will begin to feel more like home.

If you are finding it difficult to carve out time to unbox or decide how to organize a room best, reach out to our friendly organizers for help. Our unpacking and move-in professionals make it easier for you and your family to settle in and help you do so in less time. Getting organized sooner helps you start to enjoy feeling at home!

Clutter-free Nursery

How to Create a Clutter-Free Nursery

in

Nursery organization IS possible, rather than just being something to dream about one day. How you select the furniture and organize it is a personal decision and depends on how much you want to use the nursery. Whatever that looks like, here are tips for a clutter-free nursery that enables you to spend more time with your newborn and less time worrying about tidying it.

The Essentials

A secure crib with a safe mattress, a diaper-changing area, and a comfortable chair for feeding are must-have pieces for most new moms. Expanding the furnishings and changing the organizational system can naturally happen as the baby gets older and their needs change.

Of course, there is no incorrect way to organize the space. The main point here is to begin with the basic furniture and supplies you will use. Rather than the room being cluttered, maintain an orderly area that provides the desired functionality.

Keep the Crib Empty

An easy way to maintain a clutter-free nursery is to keep everything out of the crib except the mattress and baby. That includes bumpers, toys, pillows, and blankets.

Doing so will also help to protect your newborn. There is no risk that they might wiggle around in the crib and get into a position where they cannot breathe.

Maximize the Closet Space

If the room is small or you want to make the most of the closet, install a double-hang closet rod to add more hangers for baby clothes. Another idea is to add more shelving to the closet for storing containers of toys, seasonal clothing, and more. To make it easy to find what you’re looking for, clearly label each bin.

Clutter-free nursery

Organize Every Few Months

Your baby will outgrow many things within a short time, from certain toys to clothing. Keep on top of what they need by going through nursery items every couple of months.

To make organizing easier, put the clothes into piles, separating them according to what fits, what they will grow into soon, and what is too small. For the outfits, toys, and books they have outgrown, donate, sell, or give them to a friend. If anything has not been used since the last time you organized, that is likely to be something you can part with too.

Choose Multi-Functional Furniture

A smart way to make the most of the nursery is to choose pieces that can do double duty. For example, the crib may have enough space underneath it for boxes or bins.

Also, storage cubes are an easy way to organize shirts, pants, and toys. Consider using matching bins in the cubes to group similar items together and keep the space looking tidy.

Organize the Baby-Changing Station

This station can be either a table designed specifically for changing diapers or a piece of furniture, such as a dresser, that has a stable surface to attach a changing pad. Some parents choose a dresser because a changing table will no longer serve a purpose when the baby outgrows diapers.

Whichever one you prefer, ensure the changing station stays organized by using easy-to-access storage solutions for supplies, including the wipes and diapers. A large basket is one idea or, if you don’t have enough space on the changing area, consider hanging a shelf.

Team Up with a Professional

Our professional organizers understand post-maternity organizing and are happy to help you create a clean, tidy nursery. A nursery free of stressful clutter is one where you and your newborn can bond and create many happy memories.

Desk is a Mess

If Your Desk is a Mess, Here’s Why

in

Does your desk at home always seem to be messy, and you’re unsure why? Figuring out the reason for the clutter will help you figure out how to tackle it and implement solutions that keep the paper from piling back up again. Below are five possible reasons why the desk in your home office is messy.

Your Desk is Too Small

Desks come in various sizes, and yours might simply not be big enough for what you do. If your job requires a significant amount of room for office equipment, supplies, and more, it could be that you need more surface space. But be careful here as a larger desk might just wind up getting filled too. The key is finding a desk that is big enough so you can be productive.

No Physical Inbox

While you have email and may also use collaborative solutions like Slack, there are sure to be some papers to process. For the physical documents that need attention, make sure you have a physical inbox on the desk at home. Plus, this inbox can function as a central place to store paperwork until you get to it, rather than having piles spread out around the office.

Lack of Storage Space

Storing pens, paper, and other supplies becomes difficult when there are not enough drawers and cupboards to a desk. So, when it comes time to pick out a desk for the home office, make sure it has enough storage for your needs. When supplies well-organized and out of sight, they enhance your job, rather than being an eyesore.

Miscellaneous and Extra Items

As with the home in general, an overcrowded office can happen when there are unnecessary things there. For example, your desk and the surrounding area may have become a place to put items that would be better suited elsewhere, such as a bedroom or closet. You might also have duplicates of things, such as two staplers, so eliminating the extra ones will create space in the office.

Not Tossing Anything

Do you have a hard time parting with things that you haven’t touched in a while? Many of our clients share this difficulty. We encourage you to look at what you have right now and what you still need or use. Doing so will reduce clutter significantly and help you organize what is essential to your home office.

organized work space

Clearing the Desk to Clear Your Mind

When your desk is disorganized, your mind is likely to be too. The clutter can be distracting and stressful. You also may find that it takes longer to do some work tasks because you must shuffle through mountains of paper to find what you need. A disorganized desk is also one that is likely to lead to misplaced documents.

Keeping your workspace organized does not have to be overwhelming. Taking just a few minutes each day to clean up your desk can go far toward clearing your mind so you can focus more on work. If you aren’t sure quite where to start, we’re happy to help. Reach out to one of our professional organizers today.

loved ones belongings

What to Keep When a Loved One Passes Away

in

Losing someone close to you is never easy, and it’s best not to rush the grieving process. If you inherited a home or are responsible for allocating their belongings, it can be overwhelming to decide what to do with the personal effects. This guide can help you through the decision-making process.

Documents to Hold Onto

While you know certain documents are necessary to keep, what about others? It can be confusing to decide.

Among the essential documents are tax forms and ID. Keeping a loved one’s tax returns for six years is necessary, just in case the CRA decides to run an audit. Identification, such as a passport, might be needed to prove your family member’s identity, so hold onto and store them with the death certificate.

Did your loved one have a business? The associated papers are ones you will likely want to keep. If in doubt, contact a business lawyer to confirm what to keep.

If your loved one was retired, retain the associated paperwork. That way, you can take care of any payments when dividing assets. Finally, collect their household bills and go through each one to close the respective accounts.

loved ones belongings

What about Personal Items?

Personal belongings are another area that you will have to decide what to keep after they pass away. Photographs are among the most important things.

Hanging onto the photos or giving them to someone who appreciates them is a way to honour your loved one. The photos may be ones given to them by their elders and be family heirlooms that continue from generation to generation.

Jewelry is another item that people often hold onto, and these items can help you feel close to the loved one. Even if you do not wear the brooch or other object, it can be something that you give to your kids at some point to keep in the family.

Antiques and fancy glassware or dishes are also something many people and use as a remembrance of the deceased family member. Keeping special items like these can help you keep them close.

You may also notice shelves, tables, and other surfaces with ornaments. Selecting those that remind you of them can make these seemingly ordinary items take on extra meaning. Perhaps you display them in your home or include them in a memory box.

Making Decisions about What to Keep

While you might consider keeping everything, that is not practical, and having all your loved one’s effects in storage where you don’t see it is not honoring them. Instead, the best thing to do is choose the items that hold the most meaning for you.

For example, if your grandmother’s teapot collection reminds you of the cups of tea shared, hold onto one of the teapots rather than all ten of them. You may feel guilty for letting go of some items but be gentle with yourself and remember that your loved one would not expect you to keep everything. Keep what makes you smile and divide the possessions with family and friends who want keepsakes too.

Bringing in the support of a professional organizer can help make the process easier and less emotionally overwhelming, especially if there are a lot of possessions. The expert can help you break the process down into manageable steps and short organizing sessions. We never force you to go faster than you want; instead, we are here to help you decide what feels important and meaningful to keep.

emotions of downsizing home

How to Deal with the Emotions When Downsizing

in

Moving to a smaller home makes sense for many seniors and others, and the best time to do so is often when the property upkeep becomes more of a burden than anything else. The transition can bring up several emotions, including sadness, stress, and anxiety. This guide intends to help you cope with the feelings when downsizing.

Home Sweet Home

A home is an emotionally charged place. It is where you may have raised kids, and it no doubt holds many memories. Thus, it makes sense that dealing with emotions relating to the space can be difficult.

As the Memories Come Flooding Back

To help you overcome emotional challenges that hold back the downsizing process, consider thinking differently about the memories. When deciding whether to keep or donate belongings representing the past, an array of emotions is likely to surface.

As you look at each thing, take the time to reminisce. Recognize that letting go of the item will not fade the associated memory. Some people find that taking a photo of the things they do not keep is helpful, especially when printed and put into an album to look at whenever they want to recollect past times.

It is also okay to grieve what has happened over time as you go through the belongings. Being authentic with yourself is crucial.

Coping with What Others Think

Some people we help with downsizing have worried what those around them will think of their moving to a smaller house. Feelings of inadequacy and incompetence in others’ eyes might arise.

If this sounds familiar, think about what is best for you now, not what others think of you. Living in a smaller space can be necessary for many reasons, such as mobility and finances.

Moving Stress

Moving can be stressful. From packing items to cleaning rooms and signing papers, there is a lot to keep track of in your mind.

To help you manage the stress better, a checklist of what needs to happen and an associated timeline of when each task needs to be done is helpful. Also, recognize you don’t have to do it alone. Enlist the help of your partner, friend, or professional to help you through each step.

Afraid of What is to Come

When looking at the next chapter, the unknowns can feel scary. You might be downsizing to a senior home, for example, where you’ve never been before.

To help ease the associated anxiety, consider working with an organizing expert at ClutterBGone. We have helped many people downsize over the years. When the emotions become overwhelming, we can help guide the process according to a timeline that works best for you.

For example, we can create a clear plan with you and break it down into small steps. One by one, the organizer will go through the steps with you to help you stay on track and feel in control.

Having an objective person involved can ensure you maintain the focus to downsize successfully. While closing a life chapter means leaving behind a specific time, starting a new phase in a smaller space can be liberating and bring a sense of hope. Contact us today for a free consultation about decluttering and downsizing your home.

kids organizing house

Fun Ways to Get Your Kids Organized at Home

in

Teaching your kids how to stay organized at home can be difficult for many parents. To help them be more interested in cleaning their room and keeping it that way, make the activity more fun with these ideas.

Laundry Basketball Hoop

An over-the-door basketball hoop turns cleaning up from a chore into a game. Putting an affordable hoop on the bedroom door lets them dunk the dirty laundry into the hamper below it. Swoosh!

If they have fun doing this task, they are more likely to do it. That helps eliminate piles of clothes on the floor and makes doing laundry easier as it’s already in the basket.

By the way, the hoop doesn’t have to go on the back of their bedroom door. Instead, you could mount it on the wall or the closet door.

The ‘How Fast’ Game

Toddlers love playing with their toys, but when it comes to putting them away afterward, they’re likely more resistant to it than you would have hoped. Try the “How Fast” game to get their help if you’re tired of cleaning up by yourself.

The game is exactly how it sounds. It involves kids picking up their toys and putting them into a bin or other storage area as fast as possible. The excitement of trying to do it quickly is surely enough to entice them to follow your lead and put the scattered items away.

home organizing with kids

Turn On the Tunes

Music has a great way of energizing the spirit and lifting moods. So, helping your kids get more involved in organizing at home might be easier when you turn on (and up) some upbeat songs.

Just make sure that they are songs that your children want to listen to. If you’re not sure, ask them! Getting them involved in creating the family music playlist helps them feel they are contributing to the family, and then listening to the tunes will be extra special for them.

Once the music is on, start on the project together. Perhaps you want to declutter and organize your kid’s stuffed animals or the clothes they’ve grown out of in the closet. If your little one starts to get bored, remind them of a favourite song that hasn’t been played yet, to help them keep going.

30-Minute Cleanups

Rather than continually asking your children to cleanup, you might find that scheduling 30-minute cleanup sessions with them once a week makes more sense. It might be Saturdays, for example, when you’re all home from school and work.

With the whole family cleaning up at home simultaneously, the activity can go much quicker than doing it alone. Explaining this logic to the kids can help them put in the effort as they know it won’t be that long.

Then, the rest of the day is for fun activities, such as soccer in the backyard, baking cookies in the kitchen, or something else.

Getting Organized

Are you looking for more ways to get your kids involved in decluttering and organizing the home? We have a lot more creative ideas to help you. Organizing is a great habit to instill in kids that will help them greatly as they grow up.

organizing small spaces

5 Ways to Get Organized in a Small Home

in

A small space is cozy and easier to clean than a bigger one, among other benefits. But organizing a small home can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, these five ideas can help make getting organized much easier!

1.      Go Vertical for Storage

When there is not a lot of floor space, the good news is that there is likely a lot of vertical space. That means that vertical storage when it comes to storage, it’s time to look up (literally).

Creating storage solutions is one of the things that we love doing! Finding what works well with your lifestyle and unique home is a must, and we totally get that.

Adding shelves to closet walls or elsewhere can quickly create extra storage areas. Add baskets and boxes to hide items you don’t want everyone to see and create a cleaner look while keeping things accessible.

2.      Look Low Too

Another creative place for storage is low areas, such as under the bed. So, after looking up, look low.

There are many ways to store items under the bed, by the way. It could be using clear plastic containers, for example, to easily see what is in each bin to find what you’re looking for.

Or repurpose an old dress drawer by adding wheels to the bottom, and use it to hold shoes, games, or out-of-season clothing. Simply slide it out by the handle from beneath the bed when you want something.

3.      Declutter Regularly

You knew this one was coming! In a small house, it’s easy for it to feel overcrowded. To make the most of the limited space, decluttering is a must, and doing it regularly will help you stay in control of the living area.

Rather than taking on the whole house on a weekend, break up the decluttering process into rooms and schedule certain days and times for it. For instance, one day you might sort through a shelf in the TV room, while another day could be for going through the kitchen utensils.

Breaking up the tasks like this will make decluttering the home easier to take on, and each accomplishment will motivate you to keep going.

4.      Make Creative Use of Space

In addition to paring down possessions, another great idea is to maximize the functional space in your house. One example is adding room dividers to create different zones. You might put a desk behind a divider in the living room for a home office, and the room divider adds privacy.

Using a divider can make a room feel bigger, too, as it adds dimension. You could even use a divider to create storage space.

We also encourage you to make use of corner space. It could be a breakfast nook that looks out a corner window. A corner bookcase is another idea; it can provide useful storage.

5.      Use Dual-Purpose Furniture

Furniture that serves multiple functions is great to have in tiny houses! For example, the footrest in the TV room could open to hold extra blankets or sheets. Or look for a floor light that has shelving at its base where you keep books and decor.

We are happy to suggest other ways to organize your house. The changes can keep you organized, helping you in your small home in BIG ways.

Decluttering Sentimental Items

What to Do with Sentimental Items when Decluttering

in

Organizing and decluttering possessions is a great way to reduce stress and improve the look of your home, along with many other benefits. But some things are more difficult to remove, such as the box of memorabilia tucked into a closet. Our professional organizers know that sentimental items can be the hardest to part with. We also understand that you don’t have to say goodbye to all of it. Here are suggestions for dealing with sentimental items while decluttering at home.

Why Sentimental Objects are Hard to Part With

A common fear among our clients is that tossing something that stirs up memories will somehow erase those recollections and the attached legacy. But those memories will not disappear when you let go of items that hold sentimental value. You will still remember the past, and those people, even without the memorabilia sitting in that box in the closet.

We’ve also heard people say that keeping their mementos is harmless. And that’s true if it were only one or two. Often, though, there are many small things, and when put together, they take up a lot of space. Your home becomes a storage space and holding onto numerous sentimental items can detract from their specialness.

You Don’t Have to Throw Everything Away

Let’s make that very clear. We are certainly not saying to toss all the memorabilia. Instead, we suggest:

Choose One Item per Event. Let’s say that you have five items from your college graduation in a box. We suggest choosing the one that means the most to you to symbolize the event, rather than keeping all five. This process pairs down the belongings while keeping a sentimental item per event.

Use the Item. Yes! You might be waiting for a special event to use the crystal wine glasses you received years ago from your grandmother. But what better way to honour her and her memory than by using those glasses often?

Donate to Help Others. For those keepsakes that you don’t use, think about whether it might mean more for someone else to use them rather than having them collect dust in your closet. If another person can love something the way you once did, or the way the person who gave it to you did, that can be comforting and special.

Take Photos. Consider taking photos of mementos and printing them to put into a keepsake book. Then, give away the physical objects. This way, you can look at them any time you want to reminisce, and the book takes up considerably less room than all the items.

storing sentimental items

Letting Go is Empowering

When you let go of excess items, you embrace a minimalist lifestyle. It can feel like a weight is lifted when an excessive number of items no longer surround you at home. Last of all, we want you to remember that the memories associated with the sentimental objects still exist in your heart.

If you’re not ready to give up something, we suggest putting it aside for a year. Then look at the item again and see if you’re ready to let it go at that point.

Our organizers offer support and suggestions for decluttering but never pressure you. If you are finding it difficult to organize the home, reach out to us today for a free consultation.

family meal planning

Clever Ways to Organize a Busy Family

in

When it comes to organizing the family, the ultimate objective is to bring people together, and it’s important not to lose sight of that. Planning is essential to get there with less stress, as you’ll see in each family organization idea below.

Set a Weekly Family Meeting

This one is a great place to put in place before or soon after the start of the school year. Begin the first meeting by saying that this is a safe place for everyone to share their thoughts and ask questions.

Then, begin to discuss the family goals, such as getting homework done or getting enough sleep. From there, figure out the priorities to reach those goals, such as everyone sleeping a certain number of hours per night.

At the start of the next meeting, ask what went well the last week and what didn’t go as planned? What will your family work on this week? The activity helps families connect and organize their time together.

family organizing app Make Lists and Maintain a Calendar

These tools – to-do lists and a calendar – are essentials for organizing your family. There are several apps available that make it easy for each person in the household to add items to the shared grocery shopping list and add events to the shared calendar.

When people rely on you, and you need them, too, collaborative apps are convenient and valuable. Share them with those whose input you need and want and explain how to add tasks or mark them as done.

Or, if you prefer pen and paper for the lists and calendar, that works too! Just make sure you keep them in a place where everyone in the family will see them, such as on the fridge or pinned on a corkboard in the entranceway.

Organize Chores Too

You didn’t think we’d skip the household chores list, did you? Getting everyone involved is important as it can instill a sense of pride in kids, and they learn to appreciate their home more.

A great place to start with children is cleaning their rooms. Young kids can become responsible for picking up their toys after playing with them. To help instill a positive connotation with chores, talk about how wonderful their room looks when it’s clean and how putting away toys keeps people from hurting themselves stepping on them.

When teaching the importance of maintaining a clean house, you must lead by example. If your child feels they do chores only so you won’t have to, they may start to resent it. Instead, they will see the tasks in a better light if you are organizing the home alongside them.

Menu Planning

Another area of family organization is meal planning. Taking the time to think about meals for the coming week and the shopping list based on that plan will help save your family money. Including everyone in the house in this task brings you all together, and people can also speak up about what they like or don’t like.

For each meal, write out the ingredients you need to prepare it. Look at what else is needed too, such as paper towels, and add them to the list.

By making a list of what is necessary, you can avoid impulse purchases at the store. Stick to the list and notice how much money you save!

A Few Last Words

Organizing the family involves much more than only physical items, as you can see above. Organizing time and people is also important. Reach out to our professional organizers to learn more! We are happy to share more suggestions with you and customize them to your unique family.