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 …
organize
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 …
[Read more...] about 7 Tips for How to Declutter Sentimental Items
9 Tips to Set Up a Successful Yard Sale
I know what you're thinking, you hate Yard Sales. I have a dear friend who loathes them too. We have this friendly banter every year. She loves to sell items on the Facebook Marketplace. She's patient and invests the time to get her price. While I applaud her efforts, it's more time than I'm willing to give. My approach moves volume quickly, so to each their own! And there's another great benefit to Yard Sales which is the community with your neighbors. While decluttering is great, I look forward to hanging out with friends and neighbors during my Yard Sale. I talk to people perusing my sale and share a cup of coffee with buyers and sellers. Here's how you can do it too! Yard Sale Tips and Tricks: Collect Sale Items for Several Weeks - Designate a staging area in the garage. Collect a big pile of stuff to sell. Encourage the kids to their own items and allow them to keep the proceeds from their items. Set Up and Price Items the Night Before - It's hard to do pricing when …
[Read more...] about 9 Tips to Set Up a Successful Yard Sale
How to Increase Margin and Improve Organization in Your Home
Want to know a secret? Organizing isn’t about the stuff. It’s actually about the margin between the stuff. The more space, the better. I create margin in every space I declutter and organize. Eliminate the excess and keep the essentials. Margin represents 37% of a page of written work. Margin makes spaces look more attractive. As a decluttering coach, I help clients create margin in their crowded and cluttered spaces.Empty Flat SurfacesConsider the kitchen. Are you fighting to store a large piece such as a griddle or the Instapot? Open all the cabinets, take a step back, and find prime real estate for the items you use most and store them accordingly. This means getting rid of lesser-used items and rearranging.Margin also means empty flat surfaces such as clean kitchen counters. With clean counters, I unload groceries, cook dinner, and pack lunches without cleaning the kitchen first. Create a Playroom Not a Toy RoomMargin also means creating a playroom, not a toy room. Did …
[Read more...] about How to Increase Margin and Improve Organization in Your Home
5 Helpful Ways to Declutter Your Sentimental Stuff
One of the most common questions I answer is sentimental items. "What should I do with sentimental stuff?" Like baby clothes or grandma's china. I suggest a “some not none” approach. In my home, I display my grandma's decorative plate. I pass it several times a day and smile as I think of her. Some is also her silver locket, a timeless piece, inspiring questions when I wear it and an opportunity to share her story and influence. My grandmother and I were a lot alike. So, it was difficult to part with her Christmas sweatshirt. It wasn't the sweatshirt I loved, but rather the picture of her wearing it. I embrace life with less, but sentimental stuff is hard. Tips for Handling Sentimental Stuff Do This Last- Save the memory-laced items for last. Declutter other areas of your home first. Gain momentum and the ability to let go with other categories. Start with spaces you encounter daily to realize immediate benefits. Some Not None - If everything …
[Read more...] about 5 Helpful Ways to Declutter Your Sentimental Stuff
3 Important Spaces Where Margin Can Make You More Organized
Guess what? Being organized isn’t about the stuff. It’s about the empty spaces between the stuff which I call margin. Others refer to it as white space, breathing room, buffer or empty space. Regardless of the name, margin allows items to move in and out of spaces freely and stay organized. I strive to create margin every time I declutter a space. When I create organize in a closet or cabinet, I spend a lot of time planning how the items will live and be stored in the space.I consider what items are used most often and create easy access to those. No matter what space I'm working on, the key is to declutter first and organize second. When you reduce the volume, spaces have a way of organizing themselves. Because it’s the margin in these spaces that’s the real game-changer, especially when it comes to staying organized. Margin not only allows spaces to function better but also makes them more attractive. Did you know that the margin on a piece of written work is 37%? …
[Read more...] about 3 Important Spaces Where Margin Can Make You More Organized