I have had many people tell me they want to simplify their home, but they don’t know where to start. The truth is, you just have to begin by setting small goals for yourself each week. I am hoping to put a little pep in your step with my “Sort and Simplify” sessions that will kick off at the beginning of 2021. A new task will be posted every Sunday. Before you tackle a space, I want you to truly assess the items that you are storing. Do you need them? Do you use them? Do you have duplicates? Does the item bring you joy? Does the item create stress? I organize (sort) all of the items in my home, but I also use the “less is more” mentality….. which is where simplicity comes in. There is no reason to organize items that serve no purpose. You’d be wasting your time and it’s difficult to create the crisp and clean space you are all striving for if you have excess “stuff”. Once you begin the process, the relief you feel from finally letting go of “stuff” becomes addicting, and the process for each space after that will get easier and easier. We all have different things that make us happy. I am by no means telling you that you have to get rid of every single thing in your home in order for this process to be successful. I just want you to be logical. There was one point in my life that I probably had 97 coffee cups. It’s revelations such as this where I want you to ask yourself if that’s necessary. So the point I am trying to make is this: I want you to honestly assess each space before you begin. You will need to start with a clean slate, so you will be removing every item from that space and creating 3 piles. Keep. Trash. Donate. Set some empty boxes and bins aside right now, so that as you tackle each space, you already have an area that you can place all of your donations in. I think it is easiest to use cardboard boxes that you receive from orders that have been shipped to you. That way, once they are full, you can easily drop them off at a charity/donation center without worrying about getting your bin back. Easy peasy. Who’s excited to begin??
Before you begin, I want you to think about storage bins and containers. You do not need to run out and buy everything brand new to get started. You can use what you have on hand; I did that for most of my life and I was still able to maintain an organized home. About 3 years ago, I made the decision to invest in what I like to call “life-long storage solutions”. If you are at the point in your life where you would like to start investing in storage solutions for your home, please think about a theme for your bins/baskets before purchasing. I personally like to stick to bins and baskets that are white, black, clear or neutral in color (or lack thereof 😆). Doing this gives a crisp, cohesive look throughout your home and you will be able to repurpose any of the bins/baskets in any space if needed without having a mismatched mess. I also think color-clutter is a real thing, so keep that in mind before you begin. There are also lots of colorful prints and patterns on boxes and baskets and I always stay away from those. There obviously isn’t a right or wrong choice; we all have different tastes and styles. Do what will make YOU happy!! I just wanted to address this in case it’s something that you’ve never thought of. Bins and baskets don’t have to break the bank. I love using these photo storage boxes for many of my projects. If I use a coupon when they are on sale, I can usually get them for $1.25-2.50 each…… Michaels and Hobby Lobby being my favorite place to find them. Do you have a favorite organizing bin, basket or accessory that you use throughout your home?
If you have any questions, please let me know. I love good “before” and “after” pics. Please message me your photos so I can share your results to inspire others. You’ll have 7 days to complete each task before a new task is announced. Have fun and enjoy the transformation!
~ Colette
