Many of us are using our quarantine time to get projects done around the house.  Going through closets, garages, and other storage areas to purge excess stuff, doesn't cost a thing, and doesn't require a trip to the store.  But the places we would typically take things that others could make use of, are closed.  Since the whole point of "decluttering" is to get things out of your house, what do you do when you don't have an outlet for these items?

One thing we don't want to do, is delay these projects.  Tackling storage spaces when you're in the mindset to get it done is the best way to be productive.  So don't let the closure of donation centers stop you!

Another option we want to avoid, is simply throwing everything in the trash.  Of course anything that is broken, stained, or unusable in any way needs to be recycled in the best way possible, and not donated.  But there are probably many items in that closet that someone else could absolutely make use of.

Before you start working on your storage area, try to designate a spot in your home where donation items will be stored.  You can use painter's tape to draw a square on the floor, use the bottom of a certain closet, or a corner of the bedroom, whatever works for you.  By having everything all together, it will be easy to load up once you can make the trip to drop it off.

We also want to make sure that whatever we decide to donate, doesn't end up back in your home.  To achieve this, we'll have to make sure that all your decisions are final, even though you know your items will still be in your house.  Try to make sure that no "maybes" go in the donation pile.  Be confident in your "donate" decisions, and don't look back.  It can also be helpful to not use transparent containers such as clear trash bags or clear bins.  Opt for black trash bags or cardboard boxes for your donate items.

Here is what my donation pile is looking like so far.  I'd love to hear updates on how your decluttering is going!

As our country attempts to quell the spread of COVID-19, and more and more states across the country issue stay-at-home recommendations, the rhythm of our daily lives & schedules becomes disrupted.  It can be easy to get overwhelmed thinking about everything that we can't change, and can't control.  But just because we are stuck at home, doesn't mean we have to be bored!  Let's keep our minds occupied and use this time wisely by tackling some projects around the house.  Included below are some ideas, and if there are other areas of the house you'd like to hear about, send me a note and let me know!

Clean out the closets

Bedroom closets: Take stock of different categories you may have in your bedroom closets & dressers.  Choose one category to start with, and gather everything in that category into one space.  Examples of categories would be shoes, dresses, suits, active wear, etc.  Try things on and evaluate what can be donated or sold.  This is also a great time to evaluate your storage usage and rearrange anything needed!

Kids closets: This is a great time to go through the kids' closets and dressers.  It's about time to pack up the heavy winter pajamas and sweaters, and the kids are home to try things on for size.  Bring out all the short sleeved shirts to see what will fit this summer, and make a list of items you'll need to purchase.

Entryway: Take a look at your entryway storage, whether it is a coat closet, garage, or mudroom.  You probably have some winter items hanging around that are not needed anymore this time of year.  Depending on your storage options, get these items packed up or placed on higher shelves to make way for spring items.  Gather all spring entryway items and get them stocked and ready for this season's use.  Ideas include rain coats, bug spray, sunscreen, and umbrellas.

Organize & clean out the kitchen

Utensil drawers: Empty out utensil drawers onto the counter.  Once they're empty you can wipe down the insides of drawers and dividers.  Before you put everything back, see if you have any duplicates, or items that don't ever get used.  You may even spot an opportunity to rearrange the drawers to be better utilized!

Appliances: Give small appliances a good wipe down, inside and out.  Crumbs accumulate in toasters so fast, and they can cause a fire hazard.  Take apart the bottom of the pitcher on the blender and clean each piece.  Staying on top of these small cleaning jobs can extend the life of your appliances!  Clean out the fridge & freezer, and take note of foods that you'll need to eat before they spoil.  You can plan tonight's dinner and use up these odds & ends.

Categorize: A great way to take on a portion of the kitchen, without taking everything out at once, is to focus on one category.  So for example, you could choose tupperwares to start with.  Go around the whole kitchen and gather all the containers and lids.  Match & stack everything that you can, and discard anything that doesn't have a match.

Touch up paint

Windows & trim: Nothing freshens up a windowsill like a fresh coat of white paint.  And really who has time to go around and do this on a regular basis?  Crack open a can of trim paint and go around the house touching up doors, trim, and windowsills.  Your rooms will look renewed in no time!

Clean up walls: Walls in high traffic areas such as hallways and entryways can be hit hard with fingerprints and dust.  If a good cleaning doesn't quite do the trick, it can be helpful to just give the wall a fresh coat of paint.

Outdoor spring cleanup

Remove leaves & debris: No matter how much time you spend raking and cleaning up in the fall, there always seem to be straggler leaves and fallen branches come springtime.  Now is a great time to get the remaining debris out of garden beds and off of lawns.

Tend to the garden:  There are a lot of spring bulbs that can be planted this time of year, for summer blooms later on in the season.  Instead of making a separate trip to a garden center, just check the grocery store when you do your regular food shopping and see if they have a display there.  Some garden centers are also offering pickup options to maintain social distancing.  This is also a great time of year to split hostas & distribute them evenly in garden beds, and spread mulch if you have some bags of it leftover from last year.

Fertilize your houseplants: The days are getting longer, and your houseplants are probably waking up due to the extra light.  This is a perfect time of year to give them a little energy boost for all the new growth that will be coming up.  There are many different fertilizers you can use; examples include gradual release granules, water soluble food used during your regular waterings, and even fertilizer spikes.  You can also customize your nutrient mix to the type of plant you are feeding, so they get the perfect balance.

Need more detailed help?  I'd be happy to take a look at your space, and make personalized recommendations.  Contact me anytime for ideas or to schedule a virtual session!  I'd also love to hear from you if you complete a project on your own, and see the results!

The prospect of moving into a new home can be exciting and daunting all at the same time.  You've finally gotten past the hurdles of making an offer on a home, getting through financing and inspections, and are in the "home" stretch (see what I did there?).  But now you have to get all your things from one place to another, and that requires some planning.  Keeping things organized from the start of a move can prevent so many headaches later on.  

Keep it simple

There are countless ways you could create custom color coded labels, moving folders, and tabbed binders to keep everything organized.  Many of these methods could be effective, but could also take more time to prep than they'll actually save, especially if the process is not intuitive for you.  The following tips are a basic process that will keep you organized, but also help you stay efficient!

Clean the house

There's a lot going on, so it can be difficult to find the time to keep up with dishes and laundry and clutter.  But having everything in its place will make packing up so much easier.  Straightening up and getting like things together is a crucial step to complete before packing up.  This will enable you to pack boxes that make sense, and avoid having numerous "miscellaneous" boxes.

Pack the essentials in luggage

Think about everything you'll need access to during your move.  Clothes, toiletries, important documents, etc.  Every member of the family should have a packed bag as if you are going on a trip.  This ensures that essentials don't get packed in boxes, and keeps everything you need close at hand.

Compile all artwork & home decor

Artwork, picture frames, and other decor pieces can be gathered up from all over the house, and brought to one designated area.  These items will need to be packed with a little extra care so they don't get damaged, so keep the bubble wrap handy in this area as well.  It's also easier to pack up artwork when you can box it up with similar sized pieces.  Another plus - you can get these boxes done early since home decor can be packed up well ahead of time, and they can be left among the last boxes to unpack over in the new house.

Label boxes with contents and destination

Unloading a truck is so much easier when every box is labeled with its destination in the new house.  You can use markers, pre-printed labels, or color codes for rooms, whatever works for you.  Just make sure to label all 4 sides of the box, and including a short list of contents on the top of the box can highlight important items that are inside.

Name every room in the new house

Everyone will be getting used to the floor plan of the new house, and labeling all the rooms is so helpful.  If the label on the door of the room matches the destination written on the box, all the guesswork goes away and boxes get where they need to go the first time!

Many of us have been following her methods and career for some time now, but if you haven't gotten to know Marie Kondo yet, it just got a whole lot easier to do so.

With her new show, "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo", Marie introduces the methods she describes in her 2012 book, in a version that can be digested in 30 minute episodes.

Image credit: Netflix

She meets with different families and homeowners, all with what appears to be differing sets of circumstances.  But what they all have in common, is that they have too much stuff, they are overwhelmed, and they don't know what to do about it.

What I have always loved about Marie's methods, is that she does not require clients to emotionally disconnect from their belongings.  In fact, she encourages them to spiritually connect with their home and their things in a way that helps them to understand why they might be holding on to things in the first place. 

As a sentimental person myself, I have always empathized with my clients when they are going through items that have great meaning for them.  By prioritizing things that hold the most meaning and that are the most special to us, we can highlight and make room for those things, while letting the rest go and freeing up space.

Another point that is important to mention, is that this show is itself produced in a very "tidy" way.  Of course everyone's personal journey will not cleanly wrap up in a 30 minute episode.  In several episodes, it was mentioned that the elapsed time was as much as 6 weeks. 

What about the concept of "spark joy"?  It may take more time for some of us to grasp this concept if it ever resonates with us at all.  If you are not as connected to your things, you can also choose to focus on the amount of storage space you have.  Focus on keeping only items that fit within their allotted space. 

For example, keep only as many books as can be contained on the living room built-in shelves, or as many clothes as there is room to hang them in the closet.  Over time, you will find that you are prioritizing certain items over others, and this will help you discover what sparks more joy, or what is more valuable to you.

It is such a great feeling when the weight, guilt, and stress is lifted off your shoulders.  When people realize that they can be successful and create real change in their homes, they can take that energy with them to create long lasting habits and routines to keep it that way!