Perhaps you attempted to leave the house today, but couldn't find your keys. And then ran back inside for your phone. Finally, you were set to drive away and remembered a package to mail or an item to return. At last!! You're in the school kiss-n-ride line but your son isn't wearing shoes. :) Sound familiar? If so, you need a landing spot, right now. Did you know in your lifetime, you will spend a total of 3,680 hours (153 days) searching for misplaced items? And on average, you lose up to 9 items every day—or 198,743 in a lifetime. (The Daily Mail) Let's stop the madness. Before decluttering, I was late for everything and struggled to get out of the door. Times have changed since I got the volume under control and set up a landing spot. This simple habit helps me feel more organized and starts the day off right! So, let's add some hours back to your life too. Exit Strategy Identify which door you use to exit the house. Is it the front door or through …
Organizing and Decluttering
A Minimalist’s Favorite Things
My favorite things are not things. They are people, places, and experiences. As a minimalist, I'm often accused of throwing everything away. Not true. And I do have a few really useful items that I plan to keep, as long as they serve my needs. Here are some of my favorite things and why they work for me. Minimalism doesn't mean owning nothing. It is different for everyone. And I thought you'd be relieved to know that I own some stuff. But more than that, there's intentionality behind each and every item and why I acquired it and also why I keep it. More importantly, I have chosen the best of the best because it's easier to identify what I love instead of weeding through a pile of stuff I don't. If you are struggling to downsize, write down your favorite things and then look around. You probably see a lot of things not on the list. But if you still feel overwhelmed, try tackling one drawer or one shelf at a time with the keep-approach. Experience the freedom of …
How Many Dishes Do You Really Need?
Only three people live in our house and yet we have a lot of dishes. Owning more dishes means more to wash and put away. Is a 12-piece place setting really necessary? What about all the entertaining platters and bowls? With a little work, and my step-by-step guide, you can downsize or better yet, rightsize dishes to serve the needs of your family on a day to day basis.CollectionsI’m embarrassed to admit we own three different types of dishes (everyday, china and Christmas). My husband loves our china so we use it often. But we reduced each set and agreed we won't keep the wedding or Christmas china forever. Neither of us wants our possessions to be a burden to our son. Dishes are a relatively easy place to start. The kitchen is the heartbeat of the home so keeping it clutter-free and organized saves time and money. With clean countertops and organized cabinets, it's also much easier to cook dinner and resist the urge to order takeout. Step-by-Step Guide to Downsize …
5 Effective Habits of Clutter-Free Families
Fighting clutter can feel like a losing battle. After all, there are 300,000 items in the average American home. But decluttering is more about habits than ones ability to get organized. My first piece of advice for clutter-free living is to stop shopping. Stop the inflow. Consider a Shopping Moratorium for 30 days. Experimenting with less reveals how little we really need. Living with less also creates a peaceful sanctuary in our homes. A calm environment at the end of a workday and a place where our eyes can rest, clutter-free from distractions. If you'd like to calm the chaos in your home, start with these 5 habits. Protect Flat Surfaces Flat surfaces attract clutter. And clutter attracts more clutter. The largest flat surface in your home is the floor. Don’t mistake it for storage. Adopt the habit that only furniture belongs on the floor. Pick up trash when it falls. If you have hardwood floors keep a dust mop handy for a quick sweep. Go through the mail outside by …
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Why a Disorganized Garage Costs Time and Money
I love a neat and organized garage. But in the US, 82% of homes have two-car garages or larger, but only 15% park the car inside. We use our garage as intended, to house and protect cars. Vehicles are typically worth more than anything stored in messy garages. Let's consider for a moment that our last car purchase, a used SUV, was valued at approximately $25K. This alone motivates me to keep our garage clutter-free but there are other benefits too. 3 Reasons to Clean and Organize Your Garage Curb Appeal - Spring is home buying and selling season. Extra cars and trash cans visible from the street ruin curb appeal and decrease property values. Do you have a neighbor selling their house? Help their sale and your property value by moving trash cans inside. And a late-night trip to the trash can in your pajamas is easier too! Protection from the Elements - In the mid-Atlantic, winters can be cold, rainy, and snowy. Cars parked inside are …
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7 Tips for How to Declutter Sentimental Items
The most common question I answer is "How do I declutter sentimental items?" As I learned the hard way, memory-laced stuff is the most difficult to let go of. And many people don't realize they are having trouble letting go because the item is sentimental. Through conversations with my clients I can quickly spot an item that is being held onto for sentimental reasons. What not to do I had a few childhood items that were sold without my permission. Understandably, the seller expected I would not want them. While this is true, we all need time and space to process sentimental items. Time to reminisce about the memories and take photographs. And the opportunity to decide where the items should go. Perhaps passing them on to someone or somewhere specific. So, I won't be selling my husband's Hess Truck collection anytime soon. I'm also accused of not being very sentimental which is completely untrue. I am just very intentional about the sentimental items I keep. The items that …
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