by Anne Lucas | Jan 28, 2015 | Big Projects, Clutter, mudroom, Organizing, winter
And for most of us, this can be a clean and organized home’s worst enemy. Slushy snow gets tracked over hardwood floors and carpets, while boots, jackets, and all kinds of snow paraphernalia pile up next to the front door. Having a dedicated (and organized!) mudroom space can be simpler than you think, and can save you from the messy headaches winter can bring to the indoors. Having an open storage space, whether this be in a designated mudroom or the entryway to your home, is crucial for wet winter jackets. Air circulation helps them dry faster and the open concept look makes everyone’s coats and snowpants easier to spot. This type of space can easily be achieved with plenty of hooks. For the more ambitious, cubbies are a great option too and can be found at most furniture stores. Make sure to stock up on baskets and bins. These look great on shelves or can easily be stacked or slid underneath a bench. Grouping similar items together makes finding what you need later simpler and quick! Stop the snow before it makes its way inside! Keep a rough mat outside your door and a tray for wet boots inside to help catch melting snow and stop it from spreading. As always, remember to declutter! Do you really need that winter jacket you haven’t worn in three years? How about those ratty and torn gloves? Donate what you can and throw away the rest, and you will be shocked at the amount of free space you have for the items you actually use. Kid-friendly tip: Make kids excited to...
by Anne Lucas | Sep 15, 2014 | Big Projects, Clutter, Organizing
More often than not, what keeps us from starting big projects isn’t that we just can’t do it—it’s that they are so intimidating! Follow these steps to get your morale up and keep “avoidance mode” at bay. That next big project will be done before you know it, and you’ll feel great, too! Mark a date on the calendar! Maybe a day when the kids are at school, or if weekdays are too hectic, choose a Saturday morning to get started. Getting started is the hardest part, but if you make room in your schedule any project will feel less daunting. Before you touch anything or make any decisions, just spend 5 to 10 minutes looking at the situation. Familiarizing yourself with what is there and envisioning how you want the space to look when you are done can help desensitize you to an overwhelming situation. Take some pictures of the project before your start—you’ll want them later! Start with a 15 minute de-cluttering spree. Set a timer and grab two boxes or bags: one for trash, and the other for donations. Look for items you no longer use or need. You know better than anyone what’s just taking up space and what needs to stay! Working in 15 minute cycles helps compartmentalize the process. Commit to spending 15 minutes a day on this de-cluttering phase until you are done. Focus on small areas at a time to keep from feeling overwhelmed or pressured. Once the de-cluttering is done and you have successfully sorted into piles of trash and donations, create a task list. Write down a check-list of...
