A Step-by-Step Guide to Organizing your Bedroom

Clothes all over the floor, magazines sliding out of their tidy stacks and into slippery piles, unused gifts from the holidays still in boxes littering the perimeter of the room ... Does this sound like your bedroom right now? Maybe this week (or month, or year) has just been way too crazy to give much attention to the clutter that's slowly building around you. But your bedroom should be a retreat of sorts, a place of rest and respite that somehow squeezes itself between the margins of your crammed schedule. That's why for week four of our Simplify Challenge, we want to help you reclaim this sacred space in just a few simple steps.

As always, if you need help at any point during this process, feel free to contact us. We have a team of awesome professional organizers who are always happy to help!

Organize Your Floor Space and Furniture Surfaces

Maybe your floor is littered with so much clutter you can't even remember what color the carpet is. Maybe you're just tired of tripping over the books that constantly find their way off the bookshelf. Whatever the case may be, we're going to tackle the clutter that won't stop hanging out on your floor in three simple strategies: PURGE, ORGANIZE, and MAINTAIN.

PURGE – Get two boxes in which you can put things you want to donate or sell, as well as two trash bags for things you need to throw away or recycle. Next, go through each item in your room individually, beginning at the doorway. Ask yourself – Do you really need this item? Does it make you happy? Is it something you want to look at every day? If you answer no to more than one of these, consider getting rid of it.


ORGANIZE – Now that you've downsized, it's time to organize and repurpose the items that will enrich your life and make your bedroom a happier and healthier place. Put back only your favorite decorative pieces and functional items. To get an even more streamlined, de-cluttered look, you should also re-think your storage space. Try installing under-the-bed storage organizers, for example. This under-utilized space could be perfect for things you need but don't necessarily use every day, like extra linens, blankets, or workout gear. You could also try replacing a side table with an attractive vintage trunk, which will both look unique and create additional storage space.


MAINTAIN – Having a place for every item in the bedroom, and putting each item back in its designated space daily, is key to keeping a stress-free atmosphere. Also consider investing in organizational tools like drawer dividers so you're not tempted to dump everything from your pockets into the nightstand at the end of the day. 

Organize Your Closet

Organize Your Closet

It's easy to shut the door to your closet and ignore the cluttered stacks of clothes, shoes, and accessories you probably haven't worn in ten years. But having a functional, organized closet will not only make your morning routine more pleasant, it'll also help you feel less stressed the rest of the day as well. After all, who wants to begin their day with clutter?

PURGE – Grab several trash bags in which you can place items you want to donate, sell, or discard. Go through each item individually, asking yourself if you'll ever really wear it again. Try to be as honest as possible, and get rid of anything you think you won't wear. If it's too big, let it go. You don't want to give yourself the option to regain weight. If it's too small, you'll only feel guilty for your weight gain each time you see it. If you do lose weight, you'll mostly

likely treat yourself to some new clothes anyway, not the old clothes you wore ten years ago (or more). If you find clothes you haven't worn yet, pass them along to someone else. This will not only free space in your closet, but also relieve you of the guilt associated with purchasing something you never wore. Do the same for shoes, purses, belts and anything else you find.



ORGANIZE – Now that you've pared everything down, arrange your clothing by style and color for easy access. Next, try to get as much as you can off the floor, as it will help maximize your space and minimize the time you spend digging for things. You may want to get new hangers and discard the miscellaneous ones that tend to get tangled together. Consider buying a hanging shoe rack as well, so you can clearly see your collection. Lastly, put purses on shelves and hang belts.


MAINTAIN - To keep your closet manageable, use the one-in-one-out rule – If you buy something new, something old must go. Keep only a certain number of hangers. This will keep your closet from becoming overstuffed again.

Organize Your Dresser

We all know that things have a tendency to hide in dressers. If it fits in the drawers and it's out of sight, all is well - right? Not really. Storage space in your bedroom is valuable, and we want to help you make the best possible use of it.

PURGE – Grab several large trash bags for items you want to donate, sell, or discard, and go through each item individually. Get rid of anything you no longer wear or that doesn't belong. Let go of items you haven't worn and let someone else enjoy them. Keeping them in your

drawer is not only a waste of space, but also a constant reminder of your bad decision in purchasing an item you don't need or like.



ORGANIZE - Assign each drawer a category of clothing – Underwear, socks, t-shirts, shorts, pajamas, bathing suits, workout clothes, sweaters, etc. Neatly fold each item of clothing and put it away in its proper drawer. If you have other clothes laying around the room that didn't fit in the dresser before, incorporate them into this system. Make sure the drawers are not overstuffed; if they are you might need to revisit step one and do another purge.


MAINTAIN - Clothing seems to take over our lives. Keeping up with laundry helps you maintain a manageable amount of clothing, as you'll tend to buy more when you don't have any clean clothes available. Also make sure to fold and put away clothes as soon as they're dry. Using the one-in-one-out rule we used in the closet also helps maintain a manageable amount of clothing. For every item you bring in, get rid of an item. It's that simple!

We hope we've helped you de-clutter and reclaim your space this week! Don't forget to post photos of your newly clean bedroom on Twitter using the hashtag #SimplifyIn40Days, and on our Facebook page.

Until next week, happy organizing!

We Receive So Much More When We Give

During our Simplify Challenge Workshops we talked about how to replace behaviors that bring us a quick high, but lead to accumulation (shopping, collection, dumpster diving, etc) with behaviors that bring real, lasting joy (giving of time and resources).

I was asked by a friend to host some orphans from Ethiopia and India who were on tour to help raise awareness for the needs of orphans in other countries. I intended to help them, but instead I was the one who received the blessing. All of these children had lost one or both of their parents and most had suffered abuse, hunger, disease and things we can never imagine yet they had joy. Somehow instead of caring for them, they encouraged our family. I have never had so many hugs in one 24 hour period!

Next time you feel like going shopping, instead research something you have a passion for and give of your time or resources to help those in need. It will bring lasting joy and not give you a thing to organize.

Helen, MSA, Davida, and Laia are from India. Biruk is from Ethiopia and Sam, one of the leaders, is from Upstate New York. To check out their organization go to www.hislittlefeet.org.

How to Organize Your Living Room

Organize Your Home in 40 Days – Week 3

Living rooms are often one of the most cluttered areas in the house. If you have children, at some point during the day there are probably toys strewn about the room, odds and ends shoved haphazardly between sofa cushions, and books and magazines scattered across the floor. If you don't have children, you might struggle with endless paper piles or unwieldy stacks of DVDs instead.

We get it. It's difficult to create a calm, perfectly tidy environment. But your home doesn't have to look like the cover of Better Homes and Gardens to be a more functional, organized, and cheerful place. And once you get organized, the easier it will be to stay organized, as well as more productive and healthy in other areas of your life. That's why for week three of the Simplify Challenge, we're challenging you to get rid of your excess living room clutter! If you're not able to tackle all the tasks we've outlined by yourself, don't worry. Just contact us to get some help from one of our awesome professional organizers!

Organize Your Living Room Surfaces

Let's get started on living room using the same strategical steps we used for week one and two –

PURGE, CLEAN, ORGANIZE, and MAINTAIN. First, we'll focus on living room surfaces, especially the entry table, coffee table, end tables, and sofa tables. These areas have a tendency to get pretty cluttered. Here's how to change that:

PURGE - Grab a couple of bags for trash and recycling, as well as several boxes in which you can put items you want to donate, sell, store, or move to another area of your home. Start sorting items, getting rid of as much as you can. Ask yourself if the item is functional. If it's not, do you enjoy its decorative qualities enough to look at it every day? Donate items you know you'll never use again, such as old magazines and books. Let someone else enjoy them instead!


CLEAN – Now that all the surfaces are clear, dust them off and clean them if necessary.


ORGANIZE - Put back only your favorite decorative pieces and functional items. Also sort through assorted electronic accessories. Consider repurposing a basket you have around the house to hold items like remote controls. Also, make sure to take action on all of the items you put into boxes so they don't take up space and create more clutter. When you're all done, enjoy the clean simplicity of the space!


MAINTAIN - Having a place for every item in the living room, and putting these items back in their designated spaces daily, is key to keeping your surfaces clear and clutter-free.

How to Organize Your Living Room Furniture Drawers

Now that your surfaces are clear, let's tackle the cabinets, drawers, and shelves in that living room

furniture. Most of the items you have in these nooks and crannies right now probably aren't used that often. However, furniture storage can be very useful, so you'll want to optimize this space.

PURGE - Grab your boxes again! Pull everything out of the drawers, then sort everything you don't use frequently into the boxes, or into the recycling or trash bags.

CLEAN – Dust and clean all cabinets, drawers, and shelves.

ORGANIZE – Put back items that you've decided to keep, and organize them by function. Hopefully now you have extra storage space for items that actually need to be in the living room!

MAINTAIN - As always, put items away in their proper place each time you use them. Also go through these cabinets, shelves, and drawers periodically to purge and straighten their contents – That way, you won't get overwhelmed by clutter later.

How to Organize Your DVDs

Do you have a collection of DVDs that's collecting dust? Let's organize it so your time relaxing and

watching movies is a stress-free experience again!

PURGE - Grab your boxes again! Then sort through your DVDs one by one to decide if you're realistically going to watch them again. Also take some time to re-evaluate your tape collection. Do you even have a working VCR anymore? If not, it may be time to donate or recycle your antiquated technology. Consider purchasing your favorite videos on DVD instead, or just getting Netflix. If you have old home videos, consider transferring them to DVD at a local photo processing center.

ORGANIZE – Make sure all your DVDs are in their proper cases. Arrange them by genre on a shelf or in a cabinet. If you're short on space, they can be stored in a binder with round slots instead.

MAINTAIN - After watching a movie, put it back in its proper case and location. Not only will it look much neater, but it will also be easier to find next time you want to watch it.  

How to Organize Your Kids' Toys

Get your kids involved in this project! Toys can easily take over the house, especially after the holidays when there's a fresh inventory. That's why it's especially important to create good habits for keeping them organized now.

PURGE - Encourage children to give toys they no longer play with to children in need that may not have toys. Once they make the decision to get rid of a toy, put it in a black trash bag so they don't rethink the decision. Rather than making the decision for them, help them make their own decisions. Guiding them through this process will help them develop lifelong organizing skills.

ORGANIZE - Sort toys by category. Place them in appropriately-sized containers and label each one (or use a picture for kids who are too young to read). Teach your children to put away items in the proper container.

MAINTAIN – You may need to show your children how to properly put toys away and enforce the new rules, but eventually they'll maintain your labeling system independently. Teach them to put toys away after they're done playing and before they get a new toy out.

After you've finally met your organizing goals in the living room, put your feet up and relax – Maybe pick out a DVD from your well-organized stack! If you weren't able to get everything done this week, or if you feel overwhelmed with any tasks, please contact us to assist you. We're always happy to help!

Also, don't forget to post photos of your newly clean living room on Twitter using the hashtag #SimplifyIn40Days, and on our Facebook page.

Until next week, happy organizing!

How to Organize Your Kitchen

Organize Your Home in 40 Days – Week 2

It's week two of the Simplify Challenge, a 40 day detox program designed to rid your life of excess clutter! We hope you're enjoying your clean garage after reading last week's blog post. If you weren't able to get it all done, don't worry! Simply contact us to get assistance from one of our professional organizers – We're always happy to help!

This week, we're challenging you to tackle your kitchen clutter. The kitchen is one of the most important areas of the home, as it's often the hub of activity. Household members also tend to drop whatever they're carrying here after a long day. As a result, surfaces become cluttered and dirty, creating a chaotic, disorganized environment. But it doesn't have to be like this! Here are a few ways to transform this important space into a tranquil area in which your family can enjoy preparing and sharing meals together:

Organize Your Pantry

Now that the holidays and their sweet and salty treats are behind us, it's time to start eating healthy again. Unsurprisingly, an organized pantry goes hand-in-hand with healthy eating habits. So here's how to get back on track and stick to those resolutions just by cleaning out your cupboard:

PURGE - Get rid of any expired food, or food that you won't or shouldn't eat. Donate items that are still within their expiration date to your local food bank.
ORGANIZE - Place similar items together. For example: Put cereal with rice and pasta, place oils, vinegars, dressings, and sauces together, and group healthy snack items on the same shelf.
MAINTAIN – The most important action you can take to keep your pantry organized is to put items away in their designated spots as soon as you get home from grocery shopping. You can also label containers and shelves so you don't forget where the items should be grouped.

Read about how to organize your refrigerator next! 

How to Organize Your Refrigerator

Just like the pantry, an organized refrigerator lends itself to healthy eating habits. So, it's time to get rid of those lingering holiday leftovers and make room for healthy, fresh food.

PURGE – Get rid of expired leftovers, food that you won't or shouldn't eat, and old condiments. After you're done, make a list of healthy items to purchase on your next grocery trip.
CLEAN – Get rid of sticky spills and stains. Remove everything from the shelves and put it on the countertop. Then scrub the empty shelves until they sparkle.
ORGANIZE - Put items back by category – Place leftovers that are still good on the top shelf, drinks on the next shelf, and dressings and condiments on the side shelves. You get the idea!
MAINTAIN – Take stock of what's in your refrigerator before each trip to the grocery store. Throw out old items that you'll never use. It'll help you decide what you need to purchase, and create space in which you can put your groceries when you get home.




Read about how to organize your kitchen countertops next!

How to Organize Your Kitchen Countertops

Often one the first places clutter accumulates is the kitchen countertops, making the environment feel chaotic and unmanageable. Reclaim your space simply by organizing and finding new homes for items you rarely use. 

PURGE – Grab a trash can and recycling bin. You may also want to find some boxes in which you can drop items that don't belong in the kitchen, items you want to donate, and assorted papers you find. Start sorting items into these boxes until the countertops are clear from clutter.
CLEAN – When your countertops are clutter-free, wipe them down with a clean washcloth.
ORGANIZE - Keep only what you use frequently on the counter surfaces – The rest can go in one of your designated boxes. Items that you use infrequently can be stored in the cabinets or another storage area in your home, like a shelf in the garage. If papers tend to accumulate on your countertop, set up a nearby mail processing center that includes a shredder, recycling bin, and filing system. Clearly label your files into actionable items such as "to do," "to file," "to call," "offers to consider," etc. This filing system will most likely save you a lot of time, and lessen your late bills and feelings of frustration.
MAINTAIN - The key to taming the paper tiger is to make sure you deal with it daily before it gets overwhelming – Three papers are always easier to deal with than thirty. Make it a habit to keep your surfaces clear and clean on a daily basis.

Read about how to organize your kitchen drawers next! 

How to Organize Your Kitchen Drawers

Are you tired of rummaging through your drawers? Usually certain items don't belong there, creating clutter and causing frustration. Cut back on the time and emotional energy it takes for you to find something by cleaning out your kitchen drawers.

PURGE – Clear out any items that don't belong in the kitchen drawers. Limit yourself to one junk drawer, and don't let the rest become a go-to place to put disorganized clutter that's on your countertop. Also, remove any items that you no longer use and place them in a box to be donated or sold.
CLEAN – After you've removed all the items from your drawers, wipe them out with a clean washcloth.
ORGANIZE – Categorize items by function before putting them back in drawers. Place cooking utensils near the stove, dish towels near the sink, and flatware between the dishwasher and table. Some drawers may need dividers or containers to streamline functionality and efficiency.
MAINTAIN - Make sure to always put back items in their correct space as soon as you're done using and cleaning them, and straighten them from time to time so they don't become jumbled and disorganized.

Read about how to organize your kitchen cabinets next! 

How to Organize Your Kitchen Cabinets

Cooking can be fun and easy if your kitchen cabinets are organized! When cabinet shelves are de-cluttered, it's easy to find the pots and pans you need, making your time in the kitchen more productive and enjoyable.

PURGE - Go through each cabinet and pull out items you no longer need. Place them in a box to donate or sell.
CLEAN - Take everything off the shelves so you can wipe them down with a clean washcloth.
ORGANIZE - Categorize items by function before putting them back on the shelf. Place glasses between the dishwasher and the sink. Put pots and pans near the stove. This will create a more efficient, organized kitchen.
MAINTAIN - As soon as the dishes are clean, put them away in their proper spots. It might take a little extra time, but will help you maintain the hard work you've done.

After you've finally met your organizing goals in this often cluttered area, put your feet up and take a break before next week's tough-to-tackle project – The living room! And remember, if you feel overwhelmed with any tasks, please contact us to assist you. We're always ready to help.

Also, don't forget to post photos of your newly clean kitchen on Twitter using the hashtag #SimplifyIn40Days, and on our Facebook page.

Until next week, happy organizing!

Organize your Home in 40 Days – Week 1

Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed the holiday season and are ready to get organized in 2016!

As part of our Simplify Challenge, a 40 day detox program designed to rid your life of excess clutter, we're offering a step-by-step guide to organizing your entire home. We'll send you one email per week, each of which will focus on a different area of your home. Don't worry if you fall behind schedule or become overwhelmed – Simply contact us to get help from one of our professional organizers to guarantee

your success.

This week, we'll focus on cleaning up one of the most forgotten areas of your home – The garage. But before you get started on that, make sure to:

• PUT YOUR DECORATIONS AWAY- If you haven't already done so, put away all holiday decorations so that you're ready to start organizing. As you find items you no longer love and enjoy in your decorations, donate them instead of wasting space storing them yet another year.

• PURCHASE SUPPLIES - It's hard to know what you'll need until you get into the project, but it's always helpful to purchase some general organizing containers in a variety of sizes so that you have what you need on hand. Make sure to keep your receipt so you can return what you don't use.

• GET SUPPORT - Follow us on social media to find others following this program. That way, you can give each other encouragement and support! You can post photos and comment on our Facebook page, and on Twitter using the hashtag #SimplifyIn40Days.

Once you've taken care of these preliminary steps, you're ready to start de-cluttering and organizing your garage! Here are a few steps to help you tackle this cumbersome task:

• PURGE - Pull anything you no longer need out onto the driveway. These items can be sold or donated. If they're too large to carry to the donation center, call Salvation Army or a donation center in your area that offers pick up services.

• ORGANIZE - Now that you've pared everything down to the essentials, it's time to organize. It's best to pick up everything off of the floor, so you may want to install some shelves, hooks or other helpful organizing tools. Put items into categories such as sports, tools, auto, etc. Place small items like nails and screws in labeled containers with individual compartments. Holiday decorations can also be stored in plastic tubs that are clearly labeled. As you sort through items, continue purging items you no longer need.

• MAINTAIN - Always make sure items get put back in their designated spot after you use them.

After you've finally met your organizing goals in this difficult area, pull in your car and enjoy your now-spacious garage! Also, as you're working this week, don't forget to take a break. You'll need to keep your energy up for next week's tough to tackle project – The kitchen! And remember, if you feel overwhelmed with any tasks, please contact us to assist you. We're always ready to help.

Don't forget to post photos of your clean garage on Twitter using the hashtag #SimplifyIn40Days, and on our Facebook page.

Until next week, happy organizing!