It’s a new year so we are all trying to get organized. I’ve done several Goodwill runs already but I’ve only scratched the surface of the cluttery mess that is our home. In my dreams, I’d love to have a house all pristine and organized a la The Home Edit or Marie Kondo. You know the kind. Everything is perfectly arranged on shelves in clear or wicker bins with labels. This is what my Instagram feed is full of these days. Must be part of getting older, that I’m 100% about all things HGTV and before/after renovations on social media.
But how to make it happen? If you guys are anything like me, you see these pictures, fantasize about how it would look in your home, but secretly in your heart think “that will never be my life. Where would I even start?”
Enter Elise from Organized Sanctuaries. She’s a professional organizer here in Seattle who is taking over the blog today to answer all your questions regarding getting our homes organized for 2020 and how to do it in a realistic way. Elise and I met via social media last year and finally had the opportunity to meet in person earlier this month. She’s absolutely lovely and full of advice, tips, and tricks for overhauling your home for the better.
Today she’ll be answering the questions you guys submitted so we can all get 2020 started on the right footing when it comes to organized homes and Pinterest pretty pantries.
So without further adieu, here are all your home organization questions answered by a pro!
I want to have a beautifully organized home like Marie Kondo or The Home Edit. Where should I start?
You totally deserve a beautifully organized home, so let’s get right to it!
Creating an organized home begins with making choices about what you want to value in your space, and the first step is always a serious purge. I know that might sound overwhelming, so start small by doing one space at a time. Don’t move onto the next area until you’re done: the motivation of seeing a clutter-free, organized space in your home will keep you on target to keep at it.
Once you’ve purged, be sure to sort like with like. A basic label maker will help keep things in their places long-term; if you want to take it up a notch, consider custom vinyl labels.
We all love a gorgeously curated space, so one tip to making your home look perfect is investing in matching – or complementary – bins. Materials such as bamboo, woven fabrics, and acrylic are on-trend and can elevate a look in any home while containing the visual clutter.
I live in a tiny apartment. How should I best utilize my space for maximum storage?
Consider vertical storage! The inside of doors is a great way to maximize space in closets and cabinets. Stacked containers also work well in small spaces, and come in a variety of sized to maximize the depth of all cabinets; consider using them under the sink to corral extra toiletries and personal products.
In your kitchen (after you’ve purged and sorted, of course!), consider decanting your food into storage containers. It not only looks pretty to have everything in uniform bins, but it allows you to see what you have, which means you end up buying less. And shelf risers give your shelves an extra bump up, magically adding space to your cabinets.
How often should I purge my closet?
On the regular! Keep a bin labeled “donate” in your closet so that you have somewhere to put the discarded items. Pull out a sweater and realize it’s only meh, and you don’t actually have something to wear with it? Drop it in the bin and when it’s full, bring it to your local donation center. Then, admire how your closet is filled only with clothes that make you feel gorgeous.
What’s the best way to store items in my closet?
Jeans: I personally file fold my jeans. If you’ve got drawers, use them. but if you only have shelves, it’s okay to stack them; just be sure to use those shelf dividers to avoid clothing avalanches. Need a reminder on how to best fold your clothes? Check out this helpful video from Marie Kondo.
Sweaters: Fold your sweaters, especially bulky ones. Like jeans, they work well on shelves with dividers.
Hung items: Velvet hangers are a must, since they take up less space in a closet and are slip-free. Plus, the uniformity of having all the same hangers takes your closet from looking good to Instagrammable.
Shoes: Take them out of their original cardboard boxes. To maximize your space, flip one shoe of each pair around so that they are stored toe to heel. That tiny bit of space saved between each shoe can make a huge difference overall!
Other items: for smaller bedroom items like underwear and socks, I love using drawer dividers.
I have a problem letting go of items. Help!
We all hold onto items for different reasons: guilt (it was a present from my best friend!), emotional attachment (my mother used to wear this!), or financial (this is worth so much money!).
To let go and keep your home tidy long-term, you need to understand what’s holding you back and internalize that it’s ok to say goodbye.
A real purge is hard and personal: making choices about all the STUFF we’ve lived with can be emotional and sometimes paralyzing if we do it alone, so ask a friend to help! She’ll totally be on board if you offer to do the same in her home.
As you purge, ask yourself some tough questions:
- Does it add value to your home, or does it just add clutter?
- If I saw it in a store today, would I buy it?
- Am I keeping it only because it cost a lot of money?
- Did I buy it because it was a good deal, but I’m not actually into it?
Having an organized and clutter-free home takes constant mindfulness about purchasing decisions. Once you’ve decluttered and said goodbye to the belongings that no longer add value to your home, take a look around: how does a clutter-free home make you feel? Can you channel that feeling when you feel an impulse buy coming along?
What’s the best way to get my whole family to help me keep things organized?
Motivate each other: have tidying challenges, weekly check-ins, and checklists to keep you on track.
For families with children, it’s about being an organized role model AND teaching them the skills to do it on their own. Learning to take care of their own belongings and respect the physical space around them is an incredible gift that parents can give their children, and is something that even young toddlers can get on board. My two year old loves putting away her laundry: it might not be folded to my (overly high) standards, but the value that she’s getting from learning to put her things away is worth it.
Do you have any favorite products for keeping your client’s homes organized?
Yes! I’ve got a full list of my favorite products on my website, but my top three that work in all areas of the home are:
Glass storage containers – Decant your bathroom, kitchen, craft supplies and more.
Divided turntables – Use them for toiletries, medicines, craft supplies… endless opportunities for these fun guys.
Stackable storage containers – These are perfect in closets of all kinds.
If it’s just too daunting of a task to take on myself, can I just hire you to come and do it for me?
Absolutely! I provide in-home and virtual organizing services and offer complimentary 30-minute phone consultations. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook (follow me for giveaways, deals, and inspo!), as well as on my website.
