Basement Renovation Update

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Phew!  One week into our basement renovation and I’m already feeling the stress. In anticipation of the start of the renovation work, we successfully purged stuff we  no longer needed to store. Then there came of the question of where to put everything that we were keeping while the contractors did their work. With my need to be organized in our living space and keep my sanity I knew that bringing our stuff up to the main floor was out of the question.  Our single car garage was not going to cut it either.  I brought up the possibility of renting a storage pod to keep in the driveway but that was quickly vetoed by my husband. We do have one partially finished area in the basement where we currently have some workout equipment.  Since the contractors would not be working on that area for a while yet, we decided that space would be best to put everything.  As a result EVERYTHING that was living throughout our basement in now in one room!  Talk about disorganization!!! This is so incredibly difficult for me I cannot even begin to describe it. One aspect that does have some semblance of order is a long rectangular table I set up for only my organizing tools and supplies.  I am able to access this table through a narrow pathway flanked by luggage, toys, furniture and workout machines. although it is leaps and bounds away from the type of organization I need for these items it will just have to do for the time being.  I keep telling myself I have to relax, let go of some efficiency for the time being and allow myself not to be perfectly organized while the basement renovations are ongoing. However, if I trip over one more barbell or bang my knee into one more weight bar on my way to my supply table I am absolutely going to scream.  My legs are so bruised up it looks like I fell down the stairs a few times! With the renovations under way, I can actually see the basement taking shape and it gives me a sense of acceptance realizing that this frustration and disorganization will have a happy ending.  Now if I can just get through the next 3 weeks we’re laughing. See.  I am human! LOL

Basement Organizing & Renovations

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Basement organizing: To some of my client’s these two words bring out a bunch of random expletives, head shakes and utter dread in the mere thought of organizing  basement spaces.  We all know that the basement tends to be a dumping ground for random items that many people just don’t know what to do with, just can’t part with or just don’t know where to start in order to make decisions regarding with what items to part.   Our unfinished basement has been pretty well organized for the last 6 years.  Stuff has come in, stuff has gone out but more or less there is an order and a spot for everything to live. (My boys, adults now,  have come and gone a number of times, but that’s another story altogether). At the moment we have a designated spot for tools, household maintenance items, archived files, old toys for young ones to play with when they come over, as well as business supplies and stock items and of course our gym/workout equipment . (Most professional organizers would agree that one needs to be in good physical shape to perform this job so working out for me is a necessity.)   That is all changing as of now. Our basement is very soon turning into a state of chaos.  At least by my standards.

We have decided we need to have our basement finished to extend our living space and make the time we do spend down there more enjoyable.  However, this means reviewing and editing what we currently own to determine what we can probably let go of  and then ultimately determine where everything is going to live when the basement is finished.  That there is the key.  In designing our finished basement it ‘s imperative that we know everything that has to live in that space so we can accommodate and design the right size spaces for everything.  We have a lot of metal racking down there that has to come down and we’ll have a scrap metal company take it away.  The items that have been living on that racking now need a new home. That’s where some 5 tier black resin shelving units came into play.  At $39.00 on sale the price point was great! We popped those up in the workroom area (which we are not finishing) and found that 3 of those shelving units can just hold all the items that need a home.  The remainder of the items that used to live on the racking (toys, photo albums, files) will be repositioned in the new rec room area once the basement is finished.

The biggest road block we are going to face is with my business supplies and overstock that I need to perform the job of a professional organizer. At this point in time I still don’t know where all those sorting bins, marketing materials, etc. are going to live but I’m working on it.  It’s a work in progress people, a real work in progress.  Stay tuned for more on this basement reno.  I’ll either survive it or tear my hair out trying!  Wish me luck!!!

Gift Wrapping Centre & Craft Storage Organization

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So many of my clients request a wrapping centre and craft storage that I thought this would be a good opportunity to share what we did to organize one of our client’s storage rooms. With limited space, wrapping paper and craft products are often relegated to a closet making it difficult for clients to access and find what they need for wrapping or creative ventures.  This client in particular originally had quite a bit of craft and scrap booking products, as well as a large amount of gift wrapping and party items which needed to be contained and stored for easy access and return.  Budget played a major role in this re-organization and we were able to utilize the client’s existing storage units which is always a bonus.

It was essential that the storage was contained within a closet in the finished basement.  Hereare a couple of photos of the closet before we started the project.

Storage area Before OrganizingStorage area Before Organizing

As you can see, there was little organization and the closet was in a state of chaos.  Although the closet went quite deep under the stairwell, there was no access without moving everything out and then back again.  This system (or lack thereof) was not working.  After first sorting and editing the items we were able to see exactly what the client had to store in terms of volume.  With input from our client we were able to create a vision and solution that was workable for the way our client functioned within the space.  She specifically requested that her gift bags were hanging so she could quickly view and pick the right one for the right occasion.  Here is a photo of the closet after our re-organization. The gift wrapping centre storage unit is on the left and the scrapbooking storage unit is on the right. The second photo shows another angle so you can see how access to under the stairs is now possible.

Storage Area After OrganizingStorage Area After Organizing

Finding space can be challenging but with a little creativity, a vision and the right process of organization a workable system can be created and maintained.  Our client can now easily open these drawers, locate what is needed and return items with ease.  Don’t forget to label your drawers so that others in your household can also easily use the new system too!

Organize Your Kitchen Drawers

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I’m so excited to finally have the opportunity to freshen up and organize my own kitchen cutlery drawers! Although there wasn’t anything specifically wrong with the way they were originally set up, there is always room for improvement so when I went shopping for new ideas at Solutions I found the perfect products that I could fit nicely. My kitchen drawers are a bit of an odd size (which I also find is true for many of our clients) so I had to be creative in purchasing various components that would fit together in the space.

Here’s what I found for my general cutlery.

organized cutlery drawer

I really like how this maximizes the space by allowing to invert the utensils.  It even has removable spacers that can slide forward or backward or  simply take them out completely as I’ve done for our knives.

My second drawer is where I keep all my special knives and other cutting utensils.  As a result of the different lengths of the knives I had to go with a different type of system than I did for our general cutlery.  For this I purchased separate components that fit together well in the drawer and accommodated everything I had.

organized utensil drawer

Don’t be afraid to use two different products for two different drawers and remember to take measurements and take your tape measure with you to ensure proper sizing.  Your systems  don’t have to match as long as they are functional and efficient for your space. What do you use to create organization in your drawers?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Fave 5 Organizing Products

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There are certain organizing products that I find I utilize more often due to their functionality and efficient use of space.  I thought I’d share my favorite five with you today, in no particular order.

The first is the NEATKIDS Closet Max Organizing system by NeatFreak.  It’s designed specifically to hold kid-size items, is a very functional, hanging closet organizing system that’s fun, affordable  and even more important, it can grow with your child.  It’s made of durable nylon strapping, has two different patterns to choose from, there’s no tools needed for assembly and it`s super quick to put up, hanging from your existing closet rod.   You can customize and mix and match your pieces. You can check out their website and other products at www.neatfreak.com.

Next on my list is a 6 shelf hanging sweater organizer.  This product hangs from your existing closet rod and is made to hold sweaters neatly in your closet.  However, I like to use it in entry hall closets to hold dress boots.  It keeps them in good shape & off the floor. Retails for approximately $ 24.00 and is available at Solutions – Your Organized Living Store.  www.solutions-stores.ca.

I also love the DAY JA VIEW Recurring Events Calendar.  This calendar won the 2011 Parent Tested, Parent Approved Award. Based on a school year, it’s great for a busy family to track recurring events, activities,  appointments, meeting and projects in minutes and is easy to use for the whole family. Retails for approximately $29.00and is available at www.mydayjaview.com.

The RISE AND HANG Action Pak Duffel Bag by Rise Luggage is an amazing new invention which you will likely hear much more about in the coming months. I’ve talked about it before in one of my earlier blogs.  Born out of the frustration of keeping organized while travelling and not wanting to put clothes in a hotel dresser for fear of germs, bed bugs or mold, the Rise and Hang system effortlessly keeps clothes where they belong.  Shelves within the luggage hold all your clothes organized and in separate compartments and the bottom can be used as a hamper for dirty ones. Normally priced at $59.99, it is currently available at Evex Luggage,Mississauga, Ontario or available at www.riseandhang.com.There is an even better deal as well: On April 29th at the Stouffville Stilettos & Sneakers fundraising event, as a show special they are providing me with a number of these bags for sale for $49.99 so be sure to stop by and grab on.  At this price they will go pretty fast!

And then there is the CLOSETMAID closet storage components. I use these products frequently in closets. Especially the 2 shelf horizontal organizer which is great for organizing shoes on the top shelf or floor of a closet to maximize the use of vertical space. This particular item retails for about $17.00 and can be found at Solutions – Your Organized Living Store.  www.solutions-stores.ca.

I’d love to hear about some of your favorite things you use to organize spaces in your home or office.  Tell me about your creativity! Send me a message and share your stories.

10 More Items to Keep Indefinately

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In my last blog post I talked about the top 10 paper items you should keep indefinitely.  Here is an additional 10 items that I recommend you keep for an indefinite period of time.

  1. Settlement agreements, claims and any litigation documents
  2. Tax assessment notices including those for property tax assessments
  3. Mortgage and lien documents for your home or rental properties
  4. Loan documents
  5. Marriage certificates and licenses
  6. Investment records showing beneficiaries
  7. Education records and transcripts
  8. Licenses
  9. Military records
  10. Medical records and updates

Remember that laws are constantly in a state of flux and circumstances can change.  It’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when you are shredding documents. Therefore be sure to check with the appropriate legal or financial advisers before disposing of anything.

Top 10 Paper Items To Keep Indefinately

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Whenever I’m working in offices, whether home or business, the question always arises as to what to keep and for how long. Most people know that for income tax audit purposes you need to keep your tax returns and related papers for seven years.  But what about some of those other papers?  Here’s my top 10 paper items to keep indefinitely.

  1. Birth certificates
  2. Deeds for burial lots
  3. Inventory of household goods, updated periodically
  4. Divorce agreements and Decrees
  5. Citizenship papers
  6. Adoption and custody records
  7. Wills and Powers of Attorney (ensure someone knows where these are)
  8. Death certificate
  9. Record of Employment
  10. Insurance records for claims and payments made

Items that you do want to keep indefinitely should be stored in a safe environment, such as a safety deposit box. Safety deposit box rentals are often difficult to get from financial institutions because of the sheer demand.  Something new is on the horizon for the storage of your valuables.  Essentially a very tiny condo (square inches instead of feet) and fairly expensive, very soon you will be able to purchase one of these units to call your own. Complete with security and even your very own parking space, these mini condo safety deposit units will be on the market to purchase soon. The first one I am aware of is currently being developed in Markham, Ontario.  I’m sure many more will be developed as the demand arises. Will you be one of the first to buy your very own safety deposit unit for your valuables?

 

4 Valuable Travel Organizing Lessons

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I’m going to tell you something that I never thought I would say. On my recent trip abroad, I was not organized! There.  I said it. And it’s true. Although I knew we were going away,  I was so busy with the business that I lost sight of the fact that I needed to get organized for our trip.  Needless to say,  I felt rushed, forgot to pack some essential items and didn’t have time to handle certain household matters before we left.  As you can imagine, being a professional organizer this was not acceptable and I felt so utterly out of control the whole getaway felt chaotic and stressful.  This has never happened to me before but it has taught me some valuable lessons.

First lesson:  Forgive yourself for not being perfect!  In this crazy hectic life that we sometimes lead, the best of intentions can fall to the wayside.  It’s OK to not be perfect and sometimes good enough is in fact good enough. Sometimes it has to be.

Second lesson: Always pack your prescription medicines in your carry on luggage.  I knew this yet in my haste they made it to the wrong bag.

Third lesson:  If you’re leaving for a warmer or colder climate, make sure you try on your seasonal clothing before your leave.  In my case I had lost a fair bit of weight and much of my warm climate clothes were falling off of me.  Not a huge deal if you enjoy shopping in an unfamiliar place.  I generally don’t enjoy shopping at all and having to do so under duress is even worse.

Fourth lesson: Smile. Relax. Don’t forget to ask for help.

It will all work out.

And in fact, it did.  I survived, did a little shopping, even had time to check out some new organizational products along the way.  Smiles and relaxation were plentiful with the support and encouragement from those around me.

The point is, even professional organizers are not perfectly organized in their own lives.  So cut yourself some slack, do your best to be organized but give yourself permission to not be on the mark 100% of the time.    Life can (and will) get in the way sometimes.

 

 

 

 

 

Creating A Kitchen Office

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Let me say this right off the top:  I don”t advocate having an office in your kitchen.   Keeping your papers out of the kitchen, just as you would the food out of your office space, will ultimately make your like simpler.  Paper really doesn’t belong in the kitchen because every time you cook you have to organize and clear away all that paper.  Many a client has had dirty dishes over top their paperwork and sometimes the paperwork even ends up in the kitchen trash resulting in bills not getting paid.  The kitchen tends to be the most heavily used room in your home but that also means it can be a clutter magnet. In a perfect world everyone would have a separate space within their home for their office and paperwork. However some families cannot accommodate that ideal so we need to work around that.  In this case we need to create a boundary within the kitchen itself, in which to contain the office and the paper.

You need to start by designating one spot in your kitchen for your office. Then schedule about 3 hours to tackle those kitchen papers.  Start by sorting and weeding out obsolete papers.  Reduce the number of cookbooks. Donate those you no longer need. The remaining paperwork can be sorted into separate piles:  bills to pay, financial papers, office supplies, people to contact, things to read, kids’s school related paper, artwork, etc.  The next step is to set up a contained space within the kitchen for your office related papers, and a separate contained space for the kid’s school related paperwork. Have a bin for each child.

Make sure you create boundaries within the kitchen large enough to accomodate everything you need to process the daily paperwork. This boundary could be a single shelf or cupboard within which you place bins to contain different categories of items. Or perhaps you create a desk suface that can flip up and away when not in use. It may also be a 2 or three shelf movable storage unit that can act as your office containment space or your kid’s paperwork space.   In some cases it may not be the most attractive space in your home. Do your best to make it aesthetically pleasing with nice wicker or rattan baskets, using wood rather than plastic.  At least you will have taken control, created boundaries for where things live and activities take place and have established a spot for day to day living that is useful and efficient. Make life simpler, not harder!

Children’s Books To Help Teach De-cluttering

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With spring in the air it’s a good time to start working with your younger children to teach them how to let go of their unused and unwanted items.  In an earlier post I mentioned a book that is helpful when working with children in this regard.  There are a few other books that parents have told me have been helpful when they are talking to their children about editing some of their belongings. They are all from the Berenstain Bears collection.

The first one is The Berenstain Bears and The Messy Room.  In this book brother and sister bears’ room was a mess and they argue with each other quite a bit about who should tidy up instead of working together to get the job done.  This book is helpful in that it will teach children to do their fair share in keeping their spaces clean without arguing. It teaches children responsibility.

The second book is The Berenstain Bears Clean House.  In this book, during spring cleaning the bear family have difficultly letting go of things they no longer use (sound familiar to anyone?), so they decide to hold a yard sale.  I will admit that the ending of the book was surprising to me.  Rather than going through with the yard sale and let go of the items, they decide to keep the items and use the space in the attic for the storage of the items. Still is a good book to read with your children to help acknowledge their feelings about things.

The third book is The Berenstain Bears Think Of Those In Need.  As with all the books in this series, this teaches a timeless lesson and principles easy for little ones to learn. They also help parents in showing them a good way to handle sometimes difficult situations.

It’s never too young to begin to teach your children the basic principles of de-cluttering and organizing. In doing so, you are also instilling important values: one of which is that the important things in life are not things.