Re-thinking my jewelry

I am not much of one to accessorize with necklaces, but recently I acquired some pieces that I wanted to use on a more regular basis and was faced with the shortcomings of the current solution I used to store things.  I had been using a stand from the Container Store for both my bracelets and necklaces, and the delicate metal unit had become a jungle!  Even worse, I found I was not wearing anything I owned because I had a hard time seeing what was on the actual stand.  See what I mean?

My necklaces and bracelets before

I reached my wits end after my husband and I returned from vacation in June and decided I must make some changes.  I went to the store and tried to find a decorative rail of hooks but nothing caught my eye.  Then I remembered how much I loved Command™ Hooks by 3M.  I picked up a package of six clear hooks and mounted them on the wall next to my closet and full length mirror. 

Clear Command Hooks by 3M

The mounted hooks

All my necklaces organized onto the wall

All my bracelets organized onto the stand

With a little effort, I was able to re-organize my bracelets and necklaces in a visually appealing manner and make everything more accessible.  With this new change in place I have been wearing my accessories more often too!  Now to find a better solution for my earrings…

Do you have an organizing maintenance routine?

One way to keep clutter at bay and prevent a huge clean-out every five years is to put together a simple organizing maintenance schedule for your home.  If you follow a few rules and a rough routine you can eliminate a lot of time going through years of accumulated items and clutter.

1. Above all else, establish a one in, one out rule.  If you bring a new item into your home you must choose an item to donate or throw away.  This strategy works great for toys, clothes, tools, movies etc.
2. Do not exceed the parameters of storage you have set for a certain category.  For example, if you have chosen to store garden tools in a shed, do not let them spill over into the garage so you can keep collecting more.  Choose what to pare down until everything fits back in the shed.
3.  Establish a yearly maintenance routine.  Here is a rough example:

a.    Winter/Spring

                                          i.    Go through clothes

                                         ii.    Go through papers

                                        iii.    Go through main living areas

b.    Summer/Fall

                                          i.    Go through attic, garage and basement

                                         ii.    Go through bedrooms

                                        iii.    Go through toys (right before holidays)

Consistency is key to a good routine.  If you adhere to your guidelines and make a commitment to address every room in your home at least annually you will find yourself staying better organized and maintaining a better understanding of what is in your home.

Say goodbye to Stray Stuff

Sometimes things just disappear.  Socks, power adapters, an earring…at one point or another we have misplaced the mate to a pair.  I always encourage clients to have a spot to temporarily store things that have lost their friend.  Bins in the laundry room or utility area usually serve nicely.  But just like every other area in the house, these spaces need to be weeded every once in a while.

I once organized with a client who had two kitchen garbage bags full, and I mean FULL, of mismatched socks.  She had been stashing these wandering travelers away for two years.  She and I came to the conclusion that they were not worth the space they were taking up or the money she was supposedly saving by not buying new socks. 

If you are going to create a “Lost and Found” area in your home, weed through it on a regular basis.  Set a rule, that if after 6 months or a year the item has not been re-united with its counterpart, it goes out the door.  As much as we want to we cannot always wait indefinitely for the other half to appear. 

Here are a couple products that we have found useful in preventing separation:

Sock Clips

Sock Clips

Cable Tags

How to Enjoy Memories

As we go through life we acquire things that are precious to us for various reasons.  Unfortunately due to space constraints we often store our keepsakes away in a safe place but don’t ever look at them or enjoy them.  If we are going to make room in our hearts for items to keep for memories sake then we need to make room in our spaces.  A great way to do that is to display our prized items a part of our décor.

A friend of mine is very gifted with crafts but also loves keeping mementos from trips, concerts and other experiences.  Recently she created coasters out of ticket stubs to her favorite movies and stage shows.  Another friend of mine was given a beautiful framed shadow box with her wedding bouquet pressed and dried, framed by wedding invitations.  Yet another person I know had her wedding dress made into a baby blanket for her first born.  I personally use one of my wedding centerpieces as a candle holder on my dining room table.

There are many DIY websites out there and countless resources for ideas, not to mention services to complete tasks you don’t have time for.  If you are going to keep something research ways to make it a part of your everyday life instead of stowing it away to gather dust and not be enjoyed.  This creates clutter and defeats the purpose of holding onto a precious item.  You cannot enjoy memories if they are stored in a box!

Better utilization of garage ceiling space

Often in a garage I encourage clients to use the walls as storage for utility space.  This works very well for items that need to be accessed frequently, but can be near impossible if the garage is narrow and barely allows enough space for a vehicle to park.  In a case like this I like to recommend using the ceiling space in the garage if the height is tall enough.  This approach is ideal for long term storage and seasonal storage. 

Racks can be installed on the ceiling of a garage to hold bins and other large objects.  Typically ceiling storage is associated with skis and excess lumber, but it can also be an ideal spot for bulky items if basement or attic space is lacking or inaccessible. 

Here is an example:

Quick tips to an organized trunk

An organized trunk makes many tasks and unexpected events easier to handle.  It is wonderful to have a clear space to put groceries and know exactly where your jumper cables are.  If your trunk is a mish-mosh of items and needs a little TLC use the simple steps below.

1) Place a tarp on the ground and empty the contents of the trunk on the tarp.  Immediately remove and throw away trash, anything that is broken, ripped or dried up.  If you have not used an item in the last year get rid of it (this does not apply to seasonal emergency items like a blanket or small snow shovel).

2) Sort the remaining contents into categories based upon use.  You can try categories like emergency, car maintenance, seasonal tools etc.  Think about how and when you would use something, then place all items with a similar function or use together.

3) Once you have everything sorted give the piles one more look to make sure you did not miss anything that can be discarded or donated.  

4) Next you need to decide how you want to store these items.  If you want a low cost solution utilizing open cardboard boxes are best.  However, it is always a good idea to invest in quality containers that will last and are easy to move.  Anything in your trunk will take a beating so make sure the storage is sturdy.  Here are a few ideas:

Folding trunk organizer

Cases with handles

Sweater boxes

Smart store totes

Frosted totes

Solutions for storing spices

Here are a few of my favorite solutions for a spice cabinet.  Most people who love to cook also like to have their spices easily accessible.  Try one of these products to help make food preparation easier and more pleasant.

A two-tier turntable is helpful for tall cabinets and eliminates wasted vertical space:

The Swivel Store gives you the option to keep spices in a narrow opening:

Purchase a Swivel Store

This expandable shelf organizer provides tiers to store spices and make them more visible:

Purchase the expandable shelf organizer

Stacks and Stacks offers this drawer system to stack spices on their sides:

Purchase the Stacks and Stacks Drawer Spice Organizer

When all else fails you can always improvise with baskets or mop/broom holders!