| SPACE |
CALM THE CHAOS
Things happen behind closed doors -- in closets,
cupboards and drawers. What do you do about all
the excess clothing, shoes and other
"stuff" that consumes valuable storage
space? National Get Organized Week, publicized by
the National Association of Professional
Organizers (NAPO),
is celebrated annually, the first week of
October.
CATEGORIZE ALL ITEMS
Try on your clothing and shoes once again and
make decisions. Separate into piles: (a) wearing
now, (b) wearing next season -- store elsewhere
if necessary, (c) toss out or rag bag, and (d)
donate to charities. |
EMPLOY "DEAD" SPACE
When appropriate, a great way to increase storage is to
attach shelves to sides, bottom and top of closets.
Install double rods for shorter items. Doors and walls
can provide easy access and extra storage when you mount
shoe and towel racks, mug dowels and peg boards with
hooks. Fill empty luggage and trunks and place them in
the attic or garage.
VISIBLE AND TIDY
Are items stored in clear plastic boxes and bags? Extra
hanging see-through shoe bags hold smaller possessions,
such as scarves and gloves. Labels help you in locating
and returning items to their "home."
CONVENIENCE SAVES TIME
Your most frequently worn clothing, shoes, bags, etc.
should be in arm's reach. Store items used less
frequently in another closet or storage boxes out of
reach. Tape a list of enclosed items onto the end or top
of box to remind you what's inside.
According to California Closet Company, stains and scents
attract bugs, so clothes should be clean. Moth damage is
preventable; use cedar chips, sachets, lavender or
mothballs.
Over-stuffed drawers, closets and cupboards can cause
stress, loss and damage of possessions.
LIKE THINGS TOGETHER
Hang pants together, shirts together, and so on. Group by
color -- white items at one end and add pieces all the
way through to dark-colored items.
TO KEEP OR LET GO
Most of us keep too much -- paper, clothes, and more. We
consider some items to be our "treasures" or
keepsakes, and that's just fine. Okay, now where do we
display them? Depending on their value or importance,
mounting on walls, bookcases and tables will work if
space is available. If not, a fire-safe or bank's safe
deposit box is a secure solution.
It's common to procrastinate when it comes to letting go
of clothing. What practice should we use? How do we
decide? It's time to say goodbye if certain pieces ...
(1) won't fit now or ever, (2) can't be cleaned of
stains, (3) are not repairable, (4) are outdated, (5)
make us feel uncomfortable or (6) are not the
"right" color for us to wear.
UNIFORMITY IS CALMING
Becoming organized results in harmony and balance in our
life. A technique to create this is to remove the
"visual graffiti," a term used by Professional
Organizer Sally Hulem. She also says to replace all those
multi-colored plastic and wire hangers with clear plastic
ones with metal hooks, plus use small plastic pant
hangers, all the same color.
Various sizes of clear plastic boxes will contain all
sizes of items in different storage spaces. Tupperware
and Tucker are to companies that distribute these
containers.
Need help from a Professional
Organizer? Go to ... An Organized
Home
Copyright
© Donna D. McMillan. All rights reserved.
No part of these articles may be reproduced in
any way without written permission by author. |
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