3 Common Household Items You Should Toss

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It happens in every household. We accumulate so many possessions (food, makeup and otherwise) and then have so much trouble letting go of things. There could be a multitude of reasons. Perhaps you spent a ton of money on something, or maybe you just “love” it so much or maybe even you think that one day you will eventually use it.

One of the challenges with this type of thinking is that some things have a ”best before” date. This doesn’t necessarily mean it expires before that date or that you “best consume it” before this date. But for many items, food and makeup in particular, it speaks to a shelf life. Once you open the product that best before date goes right out the window.

Food – Does it need to smell funny?

packaged foods

Take foods for instance. That best before date we see on the pre-packaged foods means its taste, nutrition and safety are pretty much guaranteed before that date. But once opened, that date is irrelevant. Even if something doesn’t have a foul odor or still tastes fine, it doesn’t mean it’s safe to consume. Bacteria and other organisms can still be growing in the food before any foul odor or foul taste is detected. So if you are ever in a position when you are wondering if something is still okay to eat, it probably isn’t. Toss it and be safe.

Cosmetics and clutter

Makeup is another challenge. The amount of money the average woman spends spends on cosmetics makes it very difficult to toss that foundation bottle you bought last year that still has some left, or that mascara that you’re pretty sure you could get another few weeks’ use of. The issue is that liquids go bad pretty quickly once opened and exposed to air. Even those little samples you get at the store can go from nice to nasty pretty quick.

cosmetics

Pump style containers that hold your moisturizer or foundation tend to last longer than ones in a jar because with jars of liquid your fingers (that hold bacteria) are constantly being dipped into the container thus lending to faster contamination. The general rule of thumb is 6 months for moisturizer or foundations in a container, up to a year if you have a pump mechanism for either. Of course, if the product seems to smell a little funny all of a sudden, then it’s time to toss it.

Powdered makeup last the longest provided you keep your brushed clean.  You can usually count on two years for powdered products.

Mascara is the worst. Once you open that tube you should toss it after 3 months tops! Don’t play the chance game with your eyes! If you have ever had pink eye you know exactly what I mean.  Use a Sharpie and mark the date of that sucker so you don’t take the chance of keeping it longer than you should.

Bed pillows bacteria

This last one is something we see in almost every home we work in. Bed pillows. They have a shelf life as well, especially if you are not protecting them in a thick pillow protector. Without protection, your pillows should be tossed out after one year. The reason for this is that grease from your scalp and oils and bacteria from your face and mouth soak into the pillow leading to bacteria growth which yellows the pillow and is a wonderful breeding ground for dust mites. Yuck! Do you really want to take the chance that you sleeping companions are dust mites?!

bed pillows

With more expensive pillows you should be getting them professionally cleaned every couple of years. But if you see any yellowing on your pillow or have had it over a year without a pillow protector, toss that baby in the trash and give yourself and your family a nice gift of a fresh, new pillow to sleep on.

If you have any questions about the shelf life of any other items you may have in your home, just contact us and we will answer your questions.
In the meantime, play it safe and don’t risk your health and safety!

Organizing Your Home Based Business

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Congratulations! You have taken the plunge! You have left the security of an established job and have branched out on your own to open your own business, become an entrepreneur and conquer the world. Good for you!

I know you have done your research on launching a business and have talked to all the professionals that you need to and you have all the experience to make this new adventure a success. Let me give you a couple of tips that will save you some time and keep you organized because we all know that time is a seriously precious commodity in any small business.

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The basics

First, get the right basics. A comfortable, ergonomic chair and a desk as well as a printer, recycle basket, waste basket and filing cabinet are a must and your desk must stay free of all clutter.

A cluttered desk is owned by someone with a cluttered mind.  Keep in mind the precious time that you may be wasting by repeatedly looking for the same item or file. Time truly is money when you are an entrepreneur.You need to have efficient organization in your home office such that you can put your finger on any one item at any time no matter what.

Will you be having clients in to your home office? If so, you will impress them with a neat, organized and welcoming work space.

Cabinet is critical

Your filing cabinet is a great and necessary assistant but it can also be something you yell at – a lot.

Especially if you do not take the time to set it up in a functional manner for the way you operate your business. Your initial set up should include hanging file folders, files and labels and have a system ready when you do start filing for easy access and filing back in the cabinet. You need to have lots of room in your cabinet so that files move freely and easily within. This also makes filing documents a breeze.

If your home business involves retaining sensitive material you will need to consider a locked cabinet and perhaps even purchasing a fire proof cabinet.

Desk top desires

organized-office-toronto

On my desk I have my computer, a printer, lamp, electric pencil sharpener, telephone, external hard drive for my computer backups and cell phone charger. All of these require an electrical cord and unless these were not all neatly tied together I would constantly be getting my feet tangled in them.

Take the time to organize your wires and cables underneath your desk and save some frustration down the road.  If you can, work with wireless devices to reduce the cable clutter.

Action Files

Paper clutter is definitely the main source of frustration in most offices we are called to work in. Paper should never be lying loose on your desk unless it involves the task you are directly working on at that moment in time. And never should you have piles of paper on the floor in your office or otherwise!

A vertical file folder holder is a desk accessory that can be a life saver. I call this my “Action Centre” that contains my action folders that I use on a regular basis. I am a visual person and require my action items in sight on my desk rather than inside my desk.

In my Action Centre I have a file folder for each of the following…..1. QuickBooks entries 2. Client Intake Forms 3. Business Practices to Update and 4. Marketing Ideas. My vertical holder also has space for current client files that I will be working on that day. Once completed, those particular  files go back in the filing cabinet.

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When it comes to paper you need to reduce the FAT.  If you need FILE it, take ACTION on it or shred or TOSS it into the recycle bin. You will be surprised at just how quickly paper can strangle you and your new business if you do not have a system in place to effectively manage it.

By getting and staying organized you will have more time, less stress and more success. Good luck in your new venture!  If you need assistance in organizing your home office contact us here for your free telephone intake and we can answer any questions you may have.

How To Organize Your Kid’s Bedroom

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Keeping your child’s bedroom organized and clutter-free can sometimes feel like a fulltime job. There’s no need for it to be that way though if you just follow a few of our handy tips below.

1-Look through the eyes of your child

Like a photographer, you should take a different view of your child’s room to realize what it’s like through their eyes. It’s a good idea to get down to their eye level and take a good look at the room from their vantage point to see what they see. It’s important to remember that your child is smaller and adult organizing systems may not be suited for them. Many small children have a hard time reaching coat hangers, pulling out dresser drawers, and opening and closing large closet doors etc. You need to put yourself in the child’s shoes and use systems which are suitable for children rather than adults. You may want to take the doors off of the closet, purchase children’s-sized coat hangers and lower the clothing rods.

kids under bed storage

2-Work your way up

Unless your child’s already six-feet tall you should organize their room from the bottom to the top. Keep all of their most popular toys and clothing items closer to their level and the floor. You can do this by storing these things in lower-level drawers and containers. The higher levels should be reserved for the items they don’t use as much. This will make it easier for them to put things away.

kids organized wall unit

3-Ask your child for advice

Since your child is going to be asked to do his or her part to keep their room clean you should also ask their advice on how to do it. Listen to their input and ask them for ideas. If you just enter the room like a drill sergeant and start hollering orders your method may not be too effective. You’ll both be a lot better off in the long run if you can teach your child some lifelong organizational skills. Try to make room-cleaning a learning and fun activity. You can help do this by creating a daily checklist for the child to tick off after each chore is done. Ask your child how they’d like to keep the room clean and then go from there, incorporating some of your own ideas along the way. Since the child will feel they came up with a system that makes sense to them there’s a better chance they’ll stick to it.

Neat Kids Closet

3-Sort things out

Most children’s rooms are relatively small and there’s not a lot of natural storage space. But you’ll soon find your child wants to keep everything they own, especially when it comes to toys. Take the time to sort through their toys and clothing and get rid of the things that are no long used or needed. You could always give them to the needy or a charity at the same time. If you have enough storage room elsewhere in your home you may also want to sort things out seasonally. For instance, your child doesn’t need to store their winter clothing in the room during the middle of summer. If possible, store these items somewhere else and then make a change in sync with the seasons. When it comes to the toys you may want to take just a few things at a time instead of hauling them all away at once. This will help keep the peace.

organize Kids Desk Room

4-Provide enough storage containers

While we’re on the subject of toys, you can’t really complain about clutter if there’s nowhere for the child to store them. Make sure your son or daughter has a specific storage area for each toy. You may want to provide them with shoebox containers and/or larger bins for storage. You can also use supply them with specialty organizers for items such as DVDs, comic books, magazines, and video games etc. Also, it’s a good idea to tell the child they’re welcome to play with another toy once their current one is put away in the proper place. Just make sure the child can easily put something away without any hindrances. If it takes little effort to put their toys away there’s a better chance they’ll do it.

kids storage bins

5-Use labels

That label maker you received as an anniversary present may actually be useful after all. You can make labels for your child’s belongings and place them where their items are supposed to go. If the child isn’t reading age yet you could use a computer printer to create pictures of items such as socks, sweaters, shoes, and toys etc. Simply place the labels on the storage containers that are to be used.

kids labels organizing

6-Create a daily routine

You can make cleaning chores easier if they’re incorporated into a daily routine. For example, the morning routine could consist of making or straightening out the bed while the evening routine sees the child putting his or her dirty clothes in the laundry basket before going to sleep. Toys can also be put away at bedtime to keep the room clutter-free.

Have an organizing question?  If you have an organizing question or would like the help of a professional organizer, you can contact me here.

3 Tips to Organizing a Closet

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The closet is normally the first thing we see and use when we enter the home. If a builder does it correctly, most homes have the main coat or entry closet right at the front entrance which obviously makes a lot of sense. But with our busy lifestyles this closet in particular can be a primary source of a lot of grief and frustration as we rush in from a busy day or rush out to make it to school or work on time.

winter-closet-near-front-door

We all like to have this closet neat and organized at all times not only to help us start or end our day with some calm but also because friends and family will typically see this closet when they enter our homes and your front entry hall becomes the place of first impressions.

If your entry and closet looks like a bomb went off you can feel terribly embarrassed. Here are three tips to help you organize it for greater efficiency and functionality for your whole family…….and keep it organized.

Too much stuff

Sometimes the front hall closet can be extremely small. If you have a larger family it can be extremely challenging to keep this space neat and organized. Therefore, if space is at a premium only keep the items that are essential and that you require for the current season you are in. You then need to find some space elsewhere (even the basement if you must) to keep items that will not be used for a season or two.

Why keep a jacket or a pair of shoes in a closet when they will not be used for four to six months? Most children’s’ bedroom closets have sufficient space to house your children’s off season outdoor wear.

Buy the right products

When putting a system in place it is important that you have the right products that you will use for storage. My must haves for a hall closet are bins or baskets and shoe racks. Assign a basket to each family member and hold them accountable for placing their gloves, hats, scarves, etc. in the basket each time they come home. This will save a lot of time looking for items when they are in a rush to get out and the inevitable “Mom, where is …?”

Shoe Shelf Organizer

Shoe racks are invaluable in freeing up space to stack shoes and opening up the top shelf for the baskets. If you buy the right products you will maximize the vertical and horizontal space in your closet.

De-clutter first

Start this process by emptying out the entire closet. Once you have separated the items that are to go back in the closet from the items to go elsewhere take a serious look at the items to go back in. Do they all fit the owner? Are they so far out of style that they won’t be used? Are they torn or damaged?

Now is a good time to purge these items and pass them on to other family members or donate them. This time of year in particular coats are badly needed for the less fortunate. Repeat this every time you rotate the items in and out of the closet.

Follow these simple guidelines to avoid stress in the morning and that embarrassment when guests come to visit. If your closet is just too much for you to tackle and you want a system of organizational that will not fail, contact us for a free telephone intake and have us tackle this project for you.

Year End Organizing Checklist

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Another year has come and gone. It feels like we just started 2014 and here we are entering 2015 already. If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to either get or to stay organized here are a few things you can do to start the New Year in an organized state.

2015

Out with the old

The New Year is a great time to purge old files and make space available for new files. No need to hang on to the monthly hydro, cable, etc. bills (unless you are a business owner). Just keep the last bill or year-end statement and purge the rest. If you have legal or tax implications you would be advised to check with your lawyer or accountant before tossing any document that you may require but most monthly bills can be safely tossed. This would also be a good time to review your files and see if the categories are working for you and either delete or add as required.

Do you really need those presents?

This is a time of year that we receive a lot of gifts that are meant well but maybe just are not our style or fit in with our decor. Rather than putting them away where they will never be used why not re-purpose them now.

regift

Charities are always looking for donations and can find a good home for that item you know you will never use but you just couldn’t hurt the feelings of the giver. Now is also a good time to create a new “gift centre” for gift giving later in the year (but not to the original giver of course!).

Holiday decorations

Now is a great time to review the decorations as you pack them away. Do you have damaged decorations that did not get used but are holding onto for sentimental reasons?  Decorations that you “may” just use one year. How about the decorations that you just have too many of?

broken holiday ornament

The kids may want those to get a good start in their own home or for sentimental reasons themselves. In any case, now is a great time to take stock of what you have versus what you want or need and be prepared and organized for next season.

Start the New Year off right with an organized outlook and you will be surprised how it will transfer over to other aspects of your home and life. If you feel anxious getting organized for the new year or need some assistance, contact us here for your free telephone intake.

5 Tips for Keeping Order & Organization in Your Bathroom

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Bathrooms are typically the smallest room in any house. I wish mine was larger but I have to work with what I have. Being small rooms they can only hold so much so you really have to keep things organized in order to work productively in this space.

Bathrooms are one of those places where we seem to lose control over how much we accumulate. I bet you have multiple containers of shampoos, mouthwash, lotions, make up, creams.. etc.

Bathrooms are used for bathing, grooming, medicine, cleaning and laundry……that’s a lot of stuff needed in a very small space!

Bathroom clutter

As well, drawers are normally at a premium in a bathroom and once you have your make up, shaving gear, dental aides, etc. put away there won’t be much room for your hair appliances such as hair dryers and curling irons.

There are many great storage items that can keep these within easy reach rather than pulling out a lot of things with the appliance when you take it out of a drawer.

 

Here are 5 tips to keep order and organization in your bathroom:

1.  Pocket organizers installed on the inside of the cabinet doors under the sink can be a real clutter saver. There are a multitude of styles that can hold everything from makeup and hair accessories to bathroom cleaning supplies.

Pocket-organizer-Diy

2.  If our team has been in your home there is a good chance that we have created an under sink organizing system.

Whether it is the kitchen or the bathroom there is a lot of wasted space under those sinks and being creative is key to turn that wasted space into an area that is great for storing cleaning supplies or those seldom used items that we all have.

Consider clear plastic shoe boxes or plastic drawers placed underneath for easy accessibility and they can actually triple your capacity!

3.  I am a big proponent of baskets. I love to use them whenever I can and wherever it makes sense. They keep items off of surfaces and can help decorate almost any room. In the bathroom I like to place them on the counter to contain brushes, wash cloths or even make up.

I also like to install them on the wall in particularly small bathrooms or where a decorative touch is needed.

bathroom baskets

4.  Consider installing either free standing or wall mounted cabinets or carts around the sink area.

5.  If you have a free standing sink, attaching a fabric skirt is a great way to store supplies or even laundry baskets under neath and out of sight.

And here’s a common pitfall to getting your bathroom organized.  I know it will probably kill you to have to part with all those lotions, cosmetics and shampoos that you may have spent a ton of money on even though you never use them.

But that is the exact reason why they should go.  Keep focusing on the positive.  It will minimize cleaning time, save you money, make you feel more relaxes and lest frantic.

Try these tips to keep your bathroom neat and organized and everything within reach.  You can thank me later.

5 Tips to Organize Your Linen Closet

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With the seasons changing it’s time to think about switching up your linens to something warmer and that means opening up your linen closet. A linen closet may be one of the last places you may think to organize solely because it is one of those out of the way places where the door is almost always closed.

messy linen closet

Besides linens, we tend to store a lot of other items such as toiletries and other stuff that may get used in that part of the house.

It is therefore easy for it to become a very disorganized mess taking a lot of time to find what you need. Or you may end up purchasing items you didn’t require because you couldn’t find them.

Here are 5 tips to keep your linen closet neat and organized.

Baskets & containers

Use baskets or containers to keep corral smaller items and label them for easy identification and locating. Separate all of your toiletries, dental items and first aid supplies. Keep them in separate containers and label them so when you need that bandage you are not searching through other items to find it.

Bundling

organized linen closet

Bundle sheet sets together keeping sheets for different bedrooms separated.

When doing laundry fold the top and bottom sheet and one pillow case.

Stack them or bundle them together and place them inside the second pillow case.

Now you can easily see what you have and you won’t have everything topple over on you when you are removing them from the closet for use.

 

Label shelves

Label the shelves that the linens are placed on.Once labelled everyone will know where the sheet sets are for their own beds and if you have help doing laundry or putting laundry away there are no questions as to where something needs to go.

labels for linen closet

 

Seasonal switch

Keep your seasonal linens (heavier bed spreads and comforters) up high. The larger and warmer bedspreads or maybe even flannel vs. linen sheets tend to get rotated only once every six months or so.

Therefore, if you have the space, keep these on the top shelf as you only need access to them a couple times a year.

basket linens

Face cloth frustration

Facecloths are always the most trouble. We all have a lot of these and they tend to fall over when they are put away.

Try putting them in a wicker or cloth basket to contain them or roll them up rather than fold them to prevent toppling. Besides, they will look neater when you open the linen closet door.

Try these ideas to keep a neat and organized linen closet and if you need assistance with this or any other project, simply contact us here.

Your chaos. Our solution. Your peace of mind.

Tips for Organizing the Kitchen Junk Drawer

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If I asked you what the most disorganized place in your house is you would probably tell me your basement, your bedroom or maybe even a closet. Not too many would think about the kitchen junk drawer even though many of you have one. And where did we get this term from? I don’t recall picking out a “junk drawer” when we picked out our cabinets for our home.

junk drawer

The kitchen is the focal point of the home with constant activity. With meal preparation, entertaining, school work and other activities all taking place there it is an area that needs to be clear and organized at all times.

It’s no wonder it’s so easy to designate a drawer and toss everything into it when tidying up.

Neat and organized

But trying to find something in there can be a challenge at best! To organize this drawer we first have to take everything out and sort it. This is a great time to look at what you have, when you used it last and decide whether it goes back in – neat and organized – gets tossed, or finds a new home.

Those screwdrivers, 3 pairs of scissors, batteries and shoelaces can all be assigned a new home. You know I am a proponent of “if something has not been used then it isn’t needed” so take an honest look at it before deciding you need it.

Containers are essential

junk drawer containers

Now make sure you have some containers to store like items with like items before placing everything back. Rubbermaid and Ikea are great at supplying these types of small containers as are the dollar stores.

Have separate containers for writing implements, pads of paper, magnets or paperclips, etc. It will make the world of difference when you are looking for something.

Dunk the junk

Once you have done this you are left with a pile of miscellaneous items. Hey! Let’s call this junk. You should be able to pare this junk down to almost nothing once you give it a final review. If you still have items you wish to keep get another container and place these leftovers in it. Now you have one container with true junk and the rest of the drawer is truly required items.

organized junk drawer

Upkeep is important. Go through this one “junk” container periodically and the rest of the drawer at least once every three months and you will find retrieving items from your “junk drawer” a lot easier.

If you need assistance with getting your organizational task started, contact us for a FREE telephone consultation to get you on your way!

How To Maximize The Space in Your Condo

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There’s no reason you can’t have it all in your condo if you’re smart about it. True, a condo usually isn’t as big as a house, but this just means that you need to be a little more creative. Living in a condo involves making the most of the space you have. Here are a few ideas to help you do just that.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

If you are accustomed to lots of space for your stuff you might find that your smaller space is bursting at the seams. Condo living includes setting priorities for what you really need, not just hoarding things. Sort it out, send stuff to the thrift store and sell those things that you’ve been clinging on to. Look at new ways to store the things you want to keep.

Toronto Murphy Bed for Condo

No Wasted Space

Every bit of your space must be used wisely. If you have stairs, use the space beneath for storage, an office or even an extra bathroom. Add shelves that span the length of the walls and above doors. Put a bookshelf under a window, in a hallway or in an unused corner. If you are a do-it-yourself type, use some of the space in between the studs in the walls for built-in shelving.

The need to store things has created an entire industry dedicated to ingenious devices such as rolling pantries for the kitchen, hidden storage behind pictures and mirrors and fold out cabinets that can double or triple your storage area. Get online and do some research if you have a particular problem area that you need to work on.

Toronto wall organizer

 

Look Up

Don’t forget to look up too. If you have decent ceiling height you can build a loft to increase your square footage dramatically.  Stack books vertically, hang plants and utilize the space above your head for pots and pans in the kitchen.

condo-organizers

Hide Your Stuff – Everywhere

Your sofa, coffee table, end tables, bedside table and seats should all have built-in storage too. Units on casters are a great way to make a room multi-functional so that when you have guests you can adapt your room to suit the occasion.

Don’t forget the space under your bed. There are rollaway boxes available for storing clothing, blankets and larger items that you rarely use.

Choose Furniture That Morphs

Your tiny retreat needn’t have a bulky piece of furniture taking up valuable space. Today, there are endless options for tables that expand only when you need them, furniture that folds flat against the wall when not in use or modular pieces that can morph into something new when you need it. For example, a sofa might split into two chairs. A chaise lounge is also an option instead of a sofa or loveseat as it takes up less space than a sofa and it is more useful.

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One Unit – Two Purposes

Storage is paramount in a condo but so is defining separate areas in your home. Choose pieces that help you to do two things at once. Put low bookcases along a sofa back. They will double as a sofa table.

clean-condo
Keep It Neutral and Open

Even you have a lot of things in your condo you can make it feel bigger by using open shelves and light, neutral colours. Stow the ugly stuff in your furniture and showcase your artsy things where everyone can enjoy them.  Keep window coverings neutral too and add extra fixtures for light. Consistent floor coverings also create visual continuity.  Stretch you space to the outdoors if you can. Continue your interior style to the outdoors and place more storage units outside for your hardier things.

As you can see, there are many ways to use the space in your condo wisely. Once you start to get organized you will likely find you have more space than you ever realized.

 

 

Organizing for Winter – Get Ready Now

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Oh, how I dislike winter. I am not one of those Canadians that enjoy the cold. I do not skate, ski, snowboard or toboggan. I look awful in winter hats. My feet are always freezing.

people in winter clothingSo, I hibernate on my couch under a cozy blanket and stay warm. The only thing good about winter in my mind is that it’s followed by Spring.

With winter and the onset of cold weather it seems to me that things are more cluttered and dirty everywhere.

The colder weather has already settled in here in Stouffville so I hope you have started to get ready for the next 5 months of boots, mitts, scarves and heavy coats.

Get your winter gear ready

If you don`t have the closet space to keep all your seasonal wear in one front hall closet (most people don`t), or you haven’t already rotated the summer and fall coats and footwear and have the winter goods into the closet by the door, now is definitely the time to do so.

pets in winter

The front hall closet, which is where most of us keep our seasonal outerwear, is not normally the largest of spaces and keeping 4 seasons of coats and footwear in there will typically lead to a lot of overcrowding and frustration.

Winter coats especially take up a lot of room due to their bulk.

Help always needed

Despite small front hall closets, many of my clients try to keep all seasonal clothing in the front closet and wonder why it is such a chore to find the coat they need, why it took so long to get the kids ready to go outside and why the closet and front entry way is always such a cluttered disaster area. In fact, this is the one area in the home that almost every one of our client`s asks us for help with. We are the closet masters!

Switch it up

If space is an issue I recommend switching it up twice a year – once in the spring to put spring and summer items in the closet and again in the fall to switch it to fall and winter items. Keep everyone’s coats together so they know to go to the same spot in the closet and not have to search through many other coats to find theirs.

Keep it separated

Wicker baskets are ideal to keep everyone’s hats, scarves and mitts separated and prevent them from falling on to the floor. Another option is a hanging shoe bag. One for each child can hold their own gloves, hats and scarves and also make it super easy for them to access and put away as well. front entrance closet

Mom and dad can each have their own bin or basket to contain their items separately.

Don`t forget a bin for your pets as well.

Pare down properly

And while we are making the switch this is an excellent time to take stock of the items that don’t fit any longer or are out of style or you just don`t seem to wear and know will not get any more use.

At this time of year there are many charities looking for warm clothing for the less fortunate and rest assured they will go to good use. So stay warm and stay organized!

If you find you just don’t have the time or skill to handle this project on your own, just contact us here for a free telephone consultation. We can achieve order with any organizational challenge!