Category: organizing tips

  • Staying organized during a renovation. And Sane

    Staying organized during a renovation. And Sane

    Renovating can quickly lead to clutter and chaos if not managed properly. Staying organized during a renovation requires organizing to stay on top of things and avoid clutter :

    Used with permission from Casework

    Create a Detailed Plan:

    Outline each step by breaking down the renovation into phases and set clear timelines for each.
    Designate spaces and decide where materials, tools, and items will be stored throughout the renovation.

    Declutter Before You Begin:

    Purge unnecessary items by sorting through belongings and get rid of things you no longer need before the renovation starts. Consider renting a storage unit for temporary storage or using a designated space in your home to store items that need to be out of the way.

    Used with permission from Casework

    Use Temporary Solutions:

    Procure portable storage containers like bins, boxes, or portable wardrobes for items that need to be temporarily relocated. Label everything! Clearly label all boxes and containers with their contents and room destination to avoid confusion later. Also check out this article on Porch with lots of tips on staying organized during renovation.

    Organize Materials and Tools:

    Set up designated zones and set up specific areas for materials and tools. Keep them organized and accessible to prevent them from being scattered around.Establish a daily cleanup routine for tidying up at the end of each day to maintain order.

    Used with permission from Casework

    Minimize Furniture and Decor:

    To protect and store your possessions, move large furniture and decor items to a safe location to prevent damage and reduce clutter. Cover remaining items with drop cloths or plastic sheeting to protect any items that can’t be moved.

    Set Up a Temporary Living Space:

    Create a functional area and designate a clutter-free zone where you can carry out daily activities away from the renovation mess. Keep essentials handy and store daily essentials in this area to avoid unnecessary trips through the renovation zone.

    Used with permission from Casework

    Stay on Top of Waste Management:

    Rent a dumpster and have a plan for disposing of debris and waste materials as the renovation progresses. Arrange for regular removal of trash and debris to keep the work area clean and manageable.

    Use Vertical Space:

    Shelving units and temporary shelving can be used to keep tools, materials, and supplies organized and off the floor. Hanging organizers and wall-mounted hooks or pegboards for hanging tools and supplies.

    Used with permission from Casework

    Protect and Isolate Non-Renovation Areas:

    Install temporary barriers, such as plastic sheeting, to separate the renovation zone from the rest of the house. Limit dust spread and use air purifiers or close off HVAC vents in the renovation area to prevent dust from spreading.

    Stay Flexible and Adapt:

    Regularly reassess as the renovation progresses, reassess your organization strategies and make adjustments as needed. Tackle clutter immediately and address any clutter or disorganization as soon as it appears to prevent it from becoming overwhelming.

    Staying organized during a renovation

    By following these tips, you can keep your renovation project organized, minimize clutter, and maintain a more manageable and stress-free environment throughout the process.

  • The ultimate garage organization checklist

    The ultimate garage organization checklist

    Yuck. The garage. Not a very fun one to organize is it? Unfortunately it’s one of those chores that must be done, and being that it’s a long weekend you might have more time to get it done.  Being that the American Home Buyer expects a garage in the single family home, it is easy to find a lot of organizing resources.  I found this amazing plan to tackle your garage in BHG, and added my own ideas to it. Here is BHG’s plan for organizing your storage in the garage.

    Create Task Kits. Create kits for various outdoors projects by filling 5- and 10-gallon plastic buckets with all the tools, products, and accessories you need to complete specific tasks such as car-washing, weeding, bicycle repair, and more.

    Addition from me:  My husband swears by this tactic and uses one of those 5-gallon bucket organizers that you can put over the bucket

    Stash Sporting Gear. Fill tall kitchen trash cans with large and odd-shaped sporting gear. Drill holes in the bottom of bins if drainage is important. Stabilize containers by securing to a wall with short bungee cords.

    Addition from me: Yes! get everything off the floor that you can.  It makes it easier to clean the floors and stops the hazard of your garage door hitting something thus saving you from garage door opener repair. Instead of trash cans, also consider laundry baskets so you don’t have to dig down too deep to find smaller items that might have sunk to the bottom.

    Organize the Trunk. Clean out your vehicle’s trunk. Toss every item that is expired or damaged. Place all trunk gear in a canvas bin or box. Make sure the container doesn’t slip by adding rubber or hook-and-loop tape to the bottom.

    Addition from me:  Make sure you have an emergency roadside kit in your trunk!

    Tidy Up the Tools. Hang hand tools on a wall near your workbench from hooks on pegboard, magnetic board, or a wall-mount strip system. Label each tool’s spot. Put extra tools in a tool box or clear plastic boxes and store on floor underneath workbench.

    Addition from me: Make sure often used tools are easiest to reach, and specialty items can be stored higher up

    I’ve rounded up a bunch of images that I hope you find inspiring and help you rally the motivation to organize the garage. Once you’re done, you can take a look at garage storage guides to help you get your garage organized as can be.

     

    The chalkboard cabinet and drawer fronts is a great idea.  You could always paint yours with chalkboard paint.

    A magnetic kitchen knife strip works great for holding drill bits too

    Use magnetic spice containers to hold small hardware in the garage

    This space has to be the prettiest garage I’ve ever seen

    In the garage, bins and hooks and boxes are our friends

    A rolling cart with most used cleaning supplies and tools is a great idea!
    images above via BHG

     
     

    Take a cue from Julia Child’s kitchen and do the same for your tools!
    via Martha Stewart

    To summarize, we almost all have a garage. Just check out Mississauga Real Estate to confirm. That being said, organizing it doesn’t have to be a miserable chore.  The peace of mind and ease it will bring to your life makes it all worth it! Thanks to American Home Buyer, ssbhg.ca, and Canadian Doors for consulting!

  • Why I’ve been away and organization eye candy

    Why I’ve been away and organization eye candy

    I feel really bad about my sporadic and/or non-exist blogging lately, but sweetums and I just put our first offer on what may be our first HOME last night. Needless to say, things have been chaotic around here…I promise that within the next week or so things will be back to normal…. In the meantime, if you are stressed like me, there’s nothing like a good organization fix!

    via BHG

  • Fall organizing inspiration…

    Fall organizing inspiration…

    I don’t usually get excited about garages, but considering most people have one, I don’t think it’s fair to neglect it forever…

    Since summer is wrapping up, it may be a good time to get your garage ready with equipment and tools you use in the fall and winter.

    You can do something as quick as sweeping up and putting everything back in it’s right place, to updating your garage doors to something more insulated.

     A system with ample buckets, bins, containers, and jars will keep things corralled, even if it isn’t as pretty as this one


    images above via Apartment Therapy

     via Country Living

    via Elle Decor

  • An awesome sale for all you crafters/sewers/organizers!

    An awesome sale for all you crafters/sewers/organizers!

    I am definitely a crafter/sewer/organizer…now I just need the time! This sale is great though, and it might just be the motivation I need to add sewing up a notch on my priority list!

     

    Love this oak table!

     

     

     

     

    All these goodies are on sale at Joss & Main – it’s one of those flash sale sites though, so these items will only be available for about another 2.5 days! If you’re not a member of Joss & Main – it’s free and instant to sign up. Click here to shop.

  • Uplifting and functional rooms

    Uplifting and functional rooms

    This home office is soooo pretty.  I love the muted colors, and the soft pink in the rug, yellow in the curtains, and green accents makes such a happy trio.

    Very bright colors are kept to a minimum in this rooms, which keep the rest of the colors from being too busy, but still cheerful.

    Another great mix of muted colors.

    The 4 images below are all from the same multi-functioning living room, that also serves as a foyer and home office.

    Effective layering makes this space look more expensive than it was.

    Wood in honey colors keep the space casual, and the art adds a whimsical touch.

    LOVE that little console!

    Everything has a pretty place to be stowed in the office nook, and an organized space is a happy space!  To read more and see all the pics from this room, click here.

    via BHG

  • Announcing the winner of the Sorting with Style giveaway and some organization inspiration

    Announcing the winner of the Sorting with Style giveaway and some organization inspiration

    The winner of the Sort with Style giveaway is Kate Cunningham, chosen by a random draw. Kate – congrats! Thanks to all who entered. I’m hosting another giveaway right now – for a gorgeous Stella & Dot necklace. Enter here.

    Below is some delish organization eyecandy…

    1., 2. Apartment Therapy  3., 4.  IHeart Organizing, 5. Real Simple, 6. IHeart Organizing

  • No time like the beginning of a new year for a fresh start!

    No time like the beginning of a new year for a fresh start!

    First off, I hope everyone had an amazing holiday, and happy New Year!  Usually, I don’t get caught up in the New Year’s traditions like setting resolutions.  This year however, I am determined to get really, really, organized.  I’m usually an organized person, but the last half of 2011 I started to really fall behind on a lot of my filing, exercise routine, and many other things.  So, it sort of seemed like fate when, just a couple of weeks before New Years, I received three books from organizing guru Jennifer Ford Berry.  The books are “Organize Now!,” “Organize Now! Your Money, Business, & Career,” and “Organize Now! 12 Month Home & Activity Planner.”

    There’s nothing quite as inspiring and exciting as a new organizing book that really speaks to you, and I think these definitely will.  The “Organize Now!”  and “Organize Now! Your Money, Business, & Career”  books literally break down the year into weeks, and assigns you tasks for each week that ultimately get your entire space in order.  I also like that, not only does she focus on the tangible things – like organizing your cupboards, entryway, social profiles, and email contact, but she also goes into a lot of depth and care to express the importance of taking time out for yourself, and streamlining your lifestyle to increase efficiency (therefore creating more time for yourself).

    Table of contents in “Organize Now!”

    I’ve already started the “Organize Now!” book.  The beginning is dedicated to the psychology of clutter, how it impacts us mentally and physically, and all the rewards one can reap by eradicating clutter.  Weeks 1- 4 are titled “Organize Yourself,” with week 1 being broken down further to “Organize your Mind & Life Vision.    Each week has a checklist of weekly goals (which helps keeps the ultimate goal of complete organization from being overwhelming), and a “Stay Organized” checklist that gives you tips to maintain your newly achieved organization goal of the week.  The “Stay Organized” checklist is broken down into what you should do once a month, every 3-6 months, and once a year.

    Several pages are dedicated to the psychology of clutter.

    Week 1’s “This Week’s Goal’s” checklist

    I’ve also already filled out my first week of the “Organize Now! 12 Month Home & Activity Planner.”  It give ample room to jot down to-dos for each day.  The beginning of each month features a list for holidays, bill due dates, and monthly events.  Each month also starts out with a monthly “focus,” tips, and a space to list goals for the month.

    The beginning of each month starts out with space to list the month’s events, due dates, and holidays.

    Lots of space for jotting your to-do’s!

    I haven’t started the “Organize Now! Your Money, Business, & Career,” book yet, but I hope to dive into it a bit tonight, as it undoubtedly covers the aspects of my life that need the most organizing.

    “Organize Now! Your Money, Business, & Career” table of contents

    The books can all be purchased on Amazon.
    Organize Now!
    Organize Now! Your Money, Business, and Career
    Organize Now! 12 Month Home and Activity Planner
    You can check out Jennifer Ford Berry’s website and blog here
    Do you usually feel inspired to start new projects or regimens on New Years?  What are your goals and wishes for 2012? Can’t wait to hear about them!

    *disclosure:  I received Organize Now!, Organize Now! Your Money, Business, and Career, and Organize Now! 12 Month Home and Activity Planner as a sample

  • Calling all neat freaks! (or those aspiring to be)

    Calling all neat freaks! (or those aspiring to be)

    So, this week I have been scouring the DC area for apartments.  After living in NYC for 3 years I figured every other city would seem inexpensive and abounding in square footage.  I was wrong.  The apartments in DC are less expensive, and slightly larger, but I guess I had my hopes up too high.  That’s okay though, because a smaller space forces me to be more creative with how I store, organize, and edit my belongings.  If there’s one thing I love – it’s solving an organization/space issue beautifully, functionally, and inexpensively.

    So the next month or so I might be throwing a lot of organization sales and ideas your way as I’m figuring our how to keep all my belongings in my new, down-sized apartment.

    If you have any ideas let me know!  All these goodies are from the fab. sale site Beyond the Rack.  You have to be a member, but it’s free and fast to sign up – just click here.

     canisters, $10.99

     I always use a folding dish rack like this, that way after I put away the dishes I can stow the rack under the sink and clear off counter space – important in small kitchens.  bamboo dish rack – $9.99

    We eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and hanging baskets will keep them from taking up valuable counter space. $5.99

    Once I know our exact kitchen dimensions we’ll definitely get a kitchen trolley.  They’re cute and super useful. $59.99

    I think city homes especially should be no-shoes indoors. One treads on pretty nasty stuff walking the city streets…it also keeps your floors cleaner. $17.99

    In my opinion you can’t have too many bins, baskets, and boxes.  $7.99

    shoe tree $49.99

    hamper $19.99

    I’ve never seen one of these before. It’s a boot storage shelf. Good idea if you have a lot of knee-high boots. $44.99

    sweater shelf $9.99


    metal cabinet shelves and racks – especially those that roll out – maximize your cabinet space. $21.99 – $74.99

    If any of these call to the neat freak in you head over to the sale at Beyond the Rack.  Here’s the free/fast sign up link.

  • A month by month plan to get your home storage organized: May is the garage

    A month by month plan to get your home storage organized: May is the garage

    Yuck. The garage. Not a very fun one to organize is it? Unfortunately it’s one of those chores that must be done, and being that it’s a long weekend you might have more time to get it done. Here is BHG’s plan for organizing your storage in the garage.

    Create Task Kits. Create kits for various outdoors projects by filling 5- and 10-gallon plastic buckets with all the tools, products, and accessories you need to complete specific tasks such as car-washing, weeding, bicycle repair, and more.

    Stash Sporting Gear. Fill tall kitchen trash cans with large and odd-shaped sporting gear. Drill holes in the bottom of bins if drainage is important. Stabilize containers by securing to a wall with short bungee cords.

    Organize the Trunk. Clean out your vehicle’s trunk. Toss every item that is expired or damaged. Place all trunk gear in a canvas bin or box. Make sure the container doesn’t slip by adding rubber or hook-and-loop tape to the bottom.

    Tidy Up the Tools. Hang hand tools on a wall near your workbench from hooks on pegboard, magnetic board, or a wall-mount strip system. Label each tool’s spot. Put extra tools in a tool box or clear plastic boxes and store on floor underneath workbench.

    I’ve rounded up a bunch of images that I hope you find inspiring and help you rally the motivation to organize the garage.

    The chalkboard cabinet and drawer fronts is a great idea.  You could always paint yours with chalkboard paint.

    A magnetic kitchen knife strip works great for holding drill bits too

    Use magnetic spice containers to hold small hardware in the garage

    This space has to be the prettiest garage I’ve ever seen

    In the garage, bins and hooks and boxes are our friends

    A rolling cart with most used cleaning supplies and tools is a great idea!
    images above via BHG

    Take a cue from Julia Child’s kitchen and do the same for your tools!
    via Martha Stewart