One of the biggest hurdles we face as professional home organizers is actually getting into clients homes. One of the most common responses we get when we tell people what we do is "oh I’d NEVER have you to my house – it’s too much of a mess! People are often too embarrassed by the disarray in their homes to hire someone to help them fix it. Ironic isn’t it? Especially when we thrive on restoring order and creating systems that will work for our clients. Giving people a visual image in the form of before and after photos is often the most effective way to let them know that we aren’t going to judge them and to show them what a difference we can make in their lives.
So instead of giving you more organizational tips in this blog we’ll just review the basics and let the photos tell the rest of the story!
These built-in shelves in our clients’ basement were gorgeous but over time had become a dumping ground for the family’s books, photos and random odds and sods. Not only could you not tell how lovely they were but the unit was not being used efficiently. By simply taking EVERYTHING off of each shelf and out of each drawer and sorting like with like, we were not only able to make the shelves look nice but they became much more functional for the family.
The next area we tackled was a small space on the floor where the family’s four year old stored some of her toys. As you can see there was no real organization. By simply sorting like with like once again and using some an existing basket and a plastic storage unit, the toys are now more easily accessible for the little girl and no longer an eyesore when the family enjoys the space.
Sometimes all it takes to organize your space is moving items to where they make more sense within your home. If you stick to the basics of keeping like with like, only holding on to what you really need and love and implementing systems that work for your family, creating a functional well organized space is a breeze. And when in doubt hire someone to help you get the job done – you won’t be judged now matter how chaotic your space is!
that’s a helpful reminder to start with a clean slate and then put things back where you want them
curious as to whether or not all the items in the before pictures were kept in the after or if some items were purged
We moved to a larger home when I was 9 months pregnant with my second daughter Andie. Now that our son Beckett was born 3 weeks ago and I will away from my classroom for the rest of the year, my goal is to tackle one room per week in our home that we have been living in for 3 years. I will do this while my older 2 are at school and my loving yet pack rat of a husband is at work. That way things that need to go to The Salvation Army or Value Village, actually go, rather than being intercepted at the door.
One of my favourite sayings is an oldie but a goodie:
“A place for everything and everything in its place.”
I live by this saying – if there isn’t a place for something then it has to go, and everything that is left has to have a home. One of the biggest adjustments in parenting is all of the stuff that comes with them – giant plastic toys, huge strollers (we have 4 different ones, all with a unique use), 5 different pairs of shoes even for a 4 year old (we currently have indoor runners, outdoor runners, hiking boots for semi-cold days, winter boots for snow days and indoor dressy shoes), etc, etc. If I did’t pare down mercilessly, I would drown in all that stuff.
Wow. That looks great. I really think our problem is we simply have too much STUFF and the thought of sorting through it and figuring out what to do with it is overwhelming. As much as I want my house less cluttered I just can’t add it to my list right now. Maybe I’ll add it to my New Years’ Resolutions!