Editing Your Space

The weather is cooling as the fall season kicks off and we’re heading back indoors. If you’re heading inside and feeling overwhelmed or cluttered in your space, it might be time for a little seasonal sorting and organizing. This can feel monumental if it’s been awhile since you’ve taken a closer look at your space. But never fear! We have some (painless) tips to help you simplify and organize your space!

Simplify & Assess 

Decide how you want to begin. We recommend thinking about your intentions for each room in your home. What are your goals for your space? What is the current state of things? Is the space working or is it cluttered and overwhelming you? Are there stress points or clutter spots in your home that might need a better system? Are there overflowing piles of shoes by the door? Maybe a basket is needed to gather them in one spot. Are teenagers leaving wet towels around the bathroom? Maybe each family member needs a dedicated hook for a towel. Jot down your goals and envision your ideal space. Set aside a section of your planner or notebook to take notes on your space. What are your needs? How can you improve your space? We recommend going room by room. Once you’ve assessed each space, it’s time to edit. 

Pare Down 

It can be difficult to get rid of things. We hold on to items for lots of reasons. Maybe you spent a lot of money on something. Maybe you received an item as a gift from a loved one. Maybe you imagine needing the item someday in the future. Chances are if you haven’t used it, it has collected dust, or has never fit properly, you probably don’t need it. Let your guilt go and focus on the future vision you have for your space. You should love the items that surround you and know where and how to get to them. As you go through your items, assess whether the item is adding value or stress to your life. Is it worth keeping and taking care of in your home? Ask yourself, “If I were moving to a new home tomorrow, would I pack this up and take it with me? Would I pay full price for this item? Do I use this item and does it make me happy? These questions will help you weed out the items that aren’t serving you anymore. 

Sort & Organize 

Decide how much time you want to spend organizing and set a timer. Dump out your drawers, closet, boxes and bins. Sort your items into categories. We like: Keep, Sell, Donate, Fix, Trash/Recycle, and Another Room. Try to move quickly! Go through your space and sort each item into categories. Box or bag up your donations and schedule a time to get them out of the house. If you are recycling or putting items in the trash, do so responsibly. Look into electronic recycling, compost compostable items, and follow the recycling requirements for your area. 

After you’ve finished sorting, it’s time to organize the items you are keeping! Think about organizing by type of item and giving every item a dedicated space. If you are organizing dish towels into a drawer and the drawer won’t shut, you might need to edit out a few more towels. Don’t get overwhelmed! Keep at the process! It will all pay off! 

Appreciate 

After you’ve finished paring down and organizing your items, tidy up and enjoy the space! Cultivate a grateful outlook and appreciation for the items you have. Utilize your planner or journal to record your daily gratitude. When it’s time to buy items, consider the less is more idea. Instead of buying three cheap versions of something, maybe save for one higher quality item. Fewer, better quality items can be a smarter long term investment. 

Keep it Up 

You’ve put in the hard work simplifying and organizing your home. Now is the time to adjust your daily habits and shopping practices to ensure your space doesn’t edge toward the cluttered, overwhelmed place again. Take a couple minutes each day to declutter and put things away. Now that things are organized, this should be relatively painless! If you are buying new things, consider keeping to the “one in, one out” policy. Keep a donation box in a central spot in your house. When you are decluttering and come across an item you aren’t using any more, you can easily set it aside for donation. Think about scheduling a seasonal deep clean of your space every quarter to ensure your clutter doesn’t reach overwhelming heights again! Utilize the Home Planning pages in your planner to keep your goals on track! 

We want to hear from you! What are your tips for keeping your space organized and tidy?