6 To Do(nt)s When Organizing Your Home
The before & after pictures may seem to show all this fabulous sparkle, but only those who have actually attempted to de-clutter and re-organize a space on their own truly know - all that sparkle & shine is sometimes just... well… dust.
Organizing can tire you out that way, so much that you just start seeing things.🥴
I don’t want you passing out from any fumes, or exhaustion, ‘cuz organizing can be a #fail waiting to happen if you go in with the wrong mindset.
So here are 6 common pitfalls to avoid when going it alone.
1. Don't organize before de-cluttering.
Baby giiiiirl please resist the impulse to run out and buy (or sit at home & order online) a bunch of shiny, fancy, fascinating-but-useless organizing products - before you've decided the things that are staying in your space & those that are going. That is what I mean by de-cluttering.
Give me all the things. Even if I don’t know what I’m going to do with them yet… Give them to me. Now.
I hate to break it to you, but [organized] clutter is still clutter.
Take the time to sort through your things before you attempt to organize them.
You don’t want to waste valuable space storing things you no longer need, and waste valuable energy finding places to store things you don’t need.
What usually happens is that once you get rid of all the junk you end up finding that you already have more than enough space, and more than enough storage containers, baskets and gadgets to store all the things you decide to keep. You don’t need to go out and buy as much as you think - your problem may just be that you don’t have a sufficient system to utilize it all.
2. Don't organize your space for HGTV... or anyone else.
The goal is to create a system that is convenient & functional for YOU, that caters to YOUR needs, your habits and your daily routine.
Ask yourself what items YOU need/love to have in your space, and create “homes” for them. You can easily avoid clutter and unnecessary work during cleanup time by designating "homes" closest to where you most often use the items, even if its not the typical location for them. (Yes, I’m saying where you choose to handle your chin hairs is your business and your business only. Grab your tools and put them where you use them most.)
Just because you saw something in a pretty magazine layout or in someone else’s home doesn't mean it will work for you & your home.
Even if it means abandoning organizing concepts you learned growing up. Your parents’ systems were exactly that: your parent’s.
You'll abandon your pretty new organized system quick-fast and be right back at square one if it isn't conducive to your style of living.
3. Don't try to attack it all at once.
You don't scarf down a whole square of lasagna in one bite right? (Hope not.) The same way, chunking an organizing project down is key. It can get overwhelming so allot yourself a few timed sessions (think 1-3 hours), put on your favorite playlist, and knock it out. You’re not going to organize your whole entire house in one day and that’s okay.
Organizing is a lot, physically, mentally, and emotionally. There’s a lot of choices to be made, a lot of thinking, planning, crying, dusting & cleaning along the way, walking back & forth finding/relocating stuff, heavy lifting, taking out trash, etc.
Once you get started, what you assumed would be a 45 minute organizing session may turn into a 2 hour one. Give yourself room for that, you don’t have to be Superwoman.
Go from this
to this real quick…
Start with one room, or section of a room and go from there. Even if it means organizing just your dresser drawers, or one set of cabinets at a time. Or maybe just de-clutter today, getting rid of the trash, putting all your “keeps” back (un-organized) - and then waiting until next week to focus on organizing everything.
You’ll learn so much stretching out the process and be able to better plan what things you need to complete the project if you move slowly - as opposed to making a bunch of rash decisions and/or impulse purchases, just in the name of getting it done.
Don't focus on perfection (ie: making it Pinterest-worthy) and do feel free to just come back to it when you have more energy.
It’s your home baby, take your time, get to know it.
…Or you can always just move. 🥴
4. Don't ignore good storage potential.
Some of the most overlooked storage spaces are right underneath your nose, literally. For instance, your bed is taking up some prime organizing retail space in your home. Use the space under your bed for things you don’t need to access often like:
bulk purchases (the 17 deodorants you bought ‘cuz they were on sale)
out-of-season clothing
sentimentals & memory boxes
extra linens & things specifically for guests.
(Just make sure its all organized, no mess where you rest, okrrr? Here’s an idea for an underbed storage container.)
Also, utilize not only the horizontal space in your home but also the vertical space, with:
hooks (I love Command’s line of hooks, you can find them in various styles to match your aesthetic😌)
wheeled racks & caddies
tiered turn tables (also known as “Lazy Susans". And no, idk why they callin’ Susan out her name like that, she ain’t did nothin’ to nobody that I know of..)
shelves & shelf extenders
over the door hooks
over the door pocket organizers (I know, there’s so many styles to choose from)
and cubbies
Wheeled caddies work wonders for using vertical space - being able to store & retrieve items in tiny corners. Via www.instructables.com | www.thekitchn.com
The back of a door is great for storing & organizing things. My favorites are pocketed shoe organizers, I use them for everything but shoes, and over the door hooks. Instead of throwing things across the back of a chair, you can hang it up on the back of your door.
5. Don't hang on to anything simply because:
a.) "I paid a lot for this." b.) "I may need this someday.' or c.) "So-and-so gave this to me."
Sis no amount of money is worth more than your peace of mind, and constantly seeing & living with things in your valuable home space that don't benefit you - is draining. It can be an eyesore, and its headache-inducing without you even realizing it. It’s amazing just how much better you breathe when your space is clear.
If you don't use it, don't love it, or it doesn't look good on you, honey, it's not worth the space it rests on. Give it up and make space for the things that do serve you to come into your life. And if you haven’t had any use for it thus far - chances are that you won’t moving forward.
***
When asked how she deals with the guilt of parting with things that were gifted to her, Oprah says, “the gift is in the giving.” Snap a photo of it (for the memory) & pass it on to someone who can use it.
By clearing out the bad stuff you give yourself better access to all that deliciously good stuff you own and love. Ask yourself "Would I buy this item again today?"
"Have nothing in your [palace] that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." - William Morris (Hello.)
Tip: If you just can't bare to toss it right now, just put it aside for some time and see what happens. Put all your “Maybes” in a box, put it in the basement, or way back in a closet somewhere. If you don't look for it in the next 6 months or so, then you know for sure you really don't need it. Let it go girl.
6. Don't leave anything unfinished.
Don’t let all your hard work be in vain, tie the ribbon on this gift you’re giving to yourself.
That bag of clothes you do still want but can’t wear right now because its all dry clean only? Drop it off to the cleaners. That box of old kid clothes you put aside for your sister and her kids? - Take it to her. At the very least, just get it out of your house. Put it in your trunk, now you’re one step closer to getting it handled.
Fix the things that need to be fixed, drop off the donations, add needed items to your shopping list, etc. Create a mini To-Do list if needed. Don't leave any loose ends from the session.
Finishing up those little tidbits is like the cherry on top, it’s that -👏🏾Okay Self. 🏄🏾♀️Check me out. 💅🏾I did that. 😎Killin’ this Adultin’ thing- feeling that we all love.
💜 Don’t cheat yourself.
There you have it.
Have you done any of these common DONT’s before? Are you doing them NOW?😫 Tell me all about it - Leave a comment!
Then book a 1-on-1 session with me so we can make it allll better.🧞♀️
Talk soon suga💋