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Thank you to Melanie Dykstra from Simply Organized Solutions for contributing this article. Simply Organized Solutions is a locally owned and operated business that specializes in optimizing physical spaces within your home and business. Melanie is passionate about partnering with people to reduce stress and reclaim space in an approachable way. Call S.O.S today to get the help you've been waiting for!
Guests are coming soon, and we are all feeling the heat of the pre-holiday panic. Nothing is more motivating to finish those home projects than knowing that you’ll have visitors soon. But before you tackle that guest room closet, let’s discuss some of the common traps people fall into when they’re organizing.
Mistake #1 – Keeping Belongings in the Wrong Place
One important aspect of a well-organized space is making sure it’s simple and intuitive to access. Similar items should always be stored together, and their home should be near where they are used. For example, if you consistently walk into your house through the garage, make sure your drop zone isn’t near the front door. If your kids must walk from the garage to the front door to put their shoes in the proper place, what are the chances they’ll do it? If they can drop their shoes into a basket as they walk in, it’s much more likely that those shoes will stay off the floor. It’s tempting to store some items further away to keep them hidden, but if it isn’t easy to use, no one will use it consistently.
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Mistake #2 – Not Decluttering First
Have you heard the phrase, “Time is money”? Well, when it comes to belongings, “Space is money”. While you CAN organize without decluttering first, you’re wasting your time by organizing items you don’t need, and you’re wasting space and money by buying organizer after organizer to make it all fit. Simplifying your belongings will make your chores more efficient and your day less stressful. So, donate the shirts that you pass over every morning, and you’ll be able to get dressed faster and have a more beautiful closet.
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Mistake #3 – Purchasing Organizers First
Who HASN’T been tempted by the gorgeous basket and bin options at HomeGoods? The colors! The stacking! The deals! But let’s be honest... How many times do those organizers end up being clutter themselves?
There are two important steps before you head off to the store with glee: First, measure your location. Make sure you know the depth of your shelves and the height of your drawers. Write it down and keep it with you while shopping. Second, make sure that what you buy is big enough to do the job. It doesn’t matter how beautiful a system is if your items are spilling over the top. Before you shop, pile the similar items together and measure the volume of space that they occupy.
Once you’re ready to tackle that next closet during your spare time, make sure you take a few extra minutes to declutter and plan before you dive in. It will make your project go more smoothly and your work will be easier to maintain.
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