I NEED TO ORGANIZE! I HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF.

 We all have things that we hold dear and can't let go of. When we accumulate too much they won't let go of us!
Yes, clutter can hold you back, pull you down, and sometimes make you sick.
If you are sick of your clutter it is time to get hold of reality.

I get called to organize peoples homes, garages, kids rooms, living rooms, you name it.
But when it comes to compromise, I get this: " but I love that" so I give them this: "take a picture of it, file it on your computer under -stuff i love- and let them go to a good home where they may even be used some day.

Here are some tips on how to organize your room:
1. start in small manageable areas. Feeling good about an accomplishment will make you want to do more.

Attack a closet or small room in the house where things are to be used regularly. Take everything out and pile them in 3 categories:

a. " I will use four times a year or less" --- move these out of here to a garage or storage. But keep them in a box labeled and easy to find again: " Christmas", "picnic", etc.

" I will use this at least once a month": Keep these in your closet. Create or invest in some shelving system and boxes to keep these organized. (confession: I am a big fan of IKEA! affordable and good looking storage solutions and available online.)

"I will never use this": if the item is useful, donate it. If the item is broken, can it be recycled?
If the item truly belongs to the garbage, then that is where it will go.
The goal is to end up with 2/3 of what you started.

A clutter free area means less dust and prettier to look at. But more importantly it saves time, it is easier to find things.
Pick an area today and plan your attack!

Creating storage where there is none: think vertical

When short of storage, take advantage of your vertical space.

This bedroom was in desperate need of storage. It was very tight and had a small closet. There was really no place to put a dresser.

Instead of using side tables, I opted for creating vertical storage on both sides of the bed and a headboard to fill the space in between. Custom built-in cabinets were not in the budget. Fortunately, I found two units with perfect width and height at Ikea! at a fraction of the cost of custom cabinetry. The clients are pretty handy with a staple gun, she and her husband built the headboard for the cost of materials below $100.

All the drawers in the cabinets serve as two HIS and HERS dressers, there is room for bedside necessities, the closed storage at the bottom make the space look uncluttered and open shelves provide some display space to add interest. A perfect solution within their budget.

Planning for a successful makover!

If you are going to make over a room, think about what you would use it for first.

This unattractive breakfast/family room was right next to the kitchen. The client never really ate breakfast here. But when she entertained the guest chose to linger about this room.

So the logical choice was to make a comfortable seating area near the window. The room was cleared, painted in a soft butter cream.

Old items: Worn out, broken, and unusable furniture pieces were recycled at the local recycle station. Usable items were donated.

New items: Two identical small convertible day sofas, two drapery panels, drapery rod, and a small coffee table purchased at the the local discount stores cost under $1000. The Sofa arms unfold to create more seating (or serve as extra beds) if needed.

Client's existing lamp was placed here for additional lighting in the evening. Her Moroccan brass tray was placed on top of the small coffee table to make a larger table space. Her textile art previously folded in a drawer was framed prominently to create visual interest and speak to her personality and style.  The kitchen peninsula counter is used as serving station for parties.

A wool rug from another room grounds the space. Wool rugs are inherently stain resistant. Perfect for an accidental party spill. Every guest loves to spend time in this room!

Need a zen space, convert an underutilized space

If you own a lot of "things" chances are some land in one room with the door closed.

A friend of mine also a designer wanted to create a meditation space in the "catchall" room upstairs. We took everything out. Painted walls in a beautiful color, used a few existing objects, rug, pillows, and lighting to create the ultimate meditation space.

What happened to all other stuff? The craft and jewelry tables were de-cluttered and found a new home in the office area. Many storage boxes were labeled and stacked in the garage, in the office or other appropriate rooms. Old papers and magazines were recycled. Unwanted, usable items were donated, and some craft items were given to kids to get creative.

Everyone is happy!

Before and after photos show how much space you can gain by spending a couple of days repurposing a catch-all area.