Friends, a couple of weeks ago I wrote a blog about getting organized and getting rid of old stuff to make room for new stuff. If you recall, that is my resolution for this year. Here’s the catch though, we don’t want to get organized and then get disorganized all over again! There are areas of our home (and as some of you pointed out in your comments, perhaps even areas of our internal lives) that once de-clutter, do not need to be bombarded with other stuff.
What’s the point of getting rid of old things if we continue to bring in more stuff? Yes, there are some areas that need to be revamped (like that hideous love seat we’ve had for 18 years, collecting enough coffee stains and pet hairs to last a lifetime!) and/or thrown out to bring in a new something, but the main focus should be on gettign organized.
Following on that trend of thought, I thought it would be cool to try a little experiment. Here’s what I propose…
I’m going to tackle organizational projects around my home and I will document and even post photos of my improvement weekly (except for the weeks between Feb. 10 through the 23 because I will be out of the country at that time). I’m going to set a deadline for May 31st, 2011 to get all my projects completed. Now, that gives me less that 5 months to get my home organized for the summer.
This is a huge undertaking, but it has to be done and I have to force myself to do it. You can follow me and work on the same project in your own home at the same time (if you like), but remember, only one project per week because let’s face it, who has time to do it all in one day?
Since I’ve just started with my closet (yes, believe it or not, I am not done yet!), that’s where we will focus on this week. Choose a closet in your home that needs extreme organization and get to work. Leave comments on the blog and share your progress and tips. The idea is to be done by May 31st of this year.
These organizational projects do not include romodeling or construction jobs in your home. I am strictly talking about organizing and de-cluttering only.
So, closet…here we go!
Tip: Sometimes you need a little help getting started. You can google home organizational sites to help you get started and in seconds you will have a library of all kinds of resources to get you on the right course. Here is one, I personally like to go to:
My Home Ideas is a great “go-to” website for everything home related. I read this great article; 10 Tips for Closet Organizing that you will find very helpful for this week’s challenge. Click on the following link:
http://www.myhomeideas.com/healthy-home/organizing-cleaning/how-to-organize-closet-10000001747241/
Comments 6
One thing I have found helpful in de-cluttering (I have way more clothes than I have closet space) are huggable hangers. They are not bulky and get rid of a lot of the extra space you take up with plastic hangers. They also don’t make indentions in your shirts which is a huge plus! Happy organizing!
Author
Ashley,
Great idea. I don’t think I have ever used huggable hangers. Where would one find those?
Author
Ashley, I think you can find them at either Target, TJMaxx, Ross, Marshall’s And sometimes at Aldi.
In terms of life organization, I recommend building margins in your life. In a piece of paper, we use margins to separate the text and make the reader comfortable.
Yet, if I am reading the same research paper for a period of time, I’ll begin to mark in the margins, take notes, make commentary, and before you know it, it’s marked all to pieces. It’s fine for me, but when someone else tries to make heads or tails of it, they’ll struggle.
Build margin in your life. Don’t schedule every moment of the day. Leave margin between appointments. Purposely leave major chunks of time to unscheduled to accommodate emergencies and life!
It would make sense it seems in home organization. If you have enough room in your closet to fit 24 pairs of shoes, reduce it to 20! If you have room on your coffee table for 20 magazines, only keep three.
If you can barely fit your entire summer wardrobe in your closet, keep only have.
Build margin…
I love this post and will selfishly benefit from your endeavor! Go, Beba, Go!
Author
Brian,
I love the margin analogy! However, I am a girl and to stop at 20 pairs of shoes is unthinkable! (I did throw away 2 pairs yesterday-it was painful…) Never the less, thanks for the wisdom. It really is very good advice not just for getting organized around the home but for all areas of our lives.
Have you started on your closet?
Author
Friends!
Guess what? I finally orgnaized my closet! Yes, it is all done and it looks great. I could actualy use that space as an office or a nursery now that I have enough space (of course, I already have an office and don’t plan to have any more children…). I have to tell you that when it was all said and done, I threw away 5 x-large size bags of stuff. Feels good!