This is the time of year in which I perform my seasonal swap of clothing. No more sandals and summer time dresses taking up room in my closet. Now is the time I grab my two seasonal bins from storage and spend a couple hours to bring out the winter wear and put away the spring summer fashions. Next year I will be excited to do the swap again and look forward to taking back some of my favorites to enjoy.
 
I suggest everyone try this, and give your closet some breathing space. Enjoy the stuff that you really love and use often. All you need is a few clear bins as shown in the picture and some safe and dry space to store it. As you see, my needs are covered with only two bins. The box on top represents a portion of donated items from my household and my mothers too.
 
Cost to you, about $20 per bin and a few hours of your time.
And you can do this with things like kid’s toys and books too. Doing a seasonal swap each year gives your children a chance to focus more on the few favorites they own and each year see the old as new again. It beats shopping for new stuff when you can get a thrill from un-boxing some almost forgotten favorites. 

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Too many bake trays, not enough baking going on? 

Need a way to keep the wet shoes and boots at the door from ruining your floor?

Tired of trying to coral and contain the many little spice jars and sticky bottles of oil and vinegar in the cupboard?

 Let's rethink the possible uses of those extra baking trays...  

1. Try using baking trays or pans as cabinet organizers. 
Gather up those small items such as small spice jars, pouches and small bottles and place them in a spare baking pan. Then treat it as a drawer, carefully sliding it in and out of the cabinet when you need to get items stored near the back. You can also use small to medium sized baskets if you have those instead. What ever you use the beauty of using baking pans or leak proof baskets is that it will catch drips and small spills thus making clean up a lot easier. Tip: For taller glass bottles use deeper trays.

2. Give your old baking pans the 'boot'.
Rectangular baking sheets and pans can make wonderful receptacles' for wet boots and shoes. Again the pan or sheet can help catch muck from the street and when it's dry the pans can be washed and replaced easily. If they fit you can even slide them into existing cubbyholes at the doorway, taking their contents out of the way.
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Running out of room in the closet?
Finding that you have more stuff than space?

There is a growing need to utilize or maximize your hidden space and the closet area is a good place to start. That standard "one rod and shelf" just does not cut it. It lacks function and reduces your available cubic space by 25% to 40%.

Step1 - Maximize your space.

Closet organizers give you a significant increase in functionality in these important hidden areas. Installing one, you will be amazed by the transformation. My suggestion is to go with quality, and I have just the man to help you get one at factory direct prices too.

Step2 - Decide what stays in this new "prime real estate" area of your home. 

Once you have selected the closet organizer it is time to take a look at what you are going to keep and what you can do with out. That is where a professional organizer can help.

Sorting and purging are important steps to getting organized and staying organized. We all hold onto items we will never use or wear again but are afraid to let go. An objective view can be a big help when working through our belongings and having to make the right choices about what we really need or ads value and meaning to our home, and what is just holding us down like dead weight.

Organizing takes a little time, it takes effort and it can be overwhelming, yet we are here to help you so don't worry you don't have to do it alone anymore. 

Get your closets and your home organized, you will be glad that you did!

To learn more about finding just the right closet organizer, see www.arbutus.com and talk to Neil Magee. You can also reach him by email at neil@arbutus.comor call 604 734 1949.

To book a no-cost consultation to see how Michelle can help you organize call 778-866-6942.

Wow ..what a feeling going into your closet finding exactly what you need ..JUST PURRRR-FECT!
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 Opportunities are always available when you keep an eye out for them. When it comes to your living space here are some ways to build in a little extra room where you may need it most.

  • In the Kitchen, try expanding your counter space buy using an open drawer to rest a cutting board across the runners. You can also try placing a board across the sink. Use this extra space when cooking to hold prepared foods while you cook.  
  • Another idea to help find more space in your kitchen is to use cup hooks under the upper shelf of a kitchen cabinet. Great for small teacups, coffee mugs, small utensils and can even help out in a work room to hold small tools etc. 
  • In the Closet, try adding a closet organizer that will allow you to hang twice as many clothes. Shirts and tops only need half the height as long items so why try using the same space for both? Maximize!  
  • For those deep, oddly placed cabinets you just can't seem to reach the back of, try extending our reach by using a lazy Susan or a pullout shelf to access its full depth.  
  • Try to get more than one function out of your furniture. Consider furnishings that perform more than one function. For example; an entry bench that doubles as a storage container or has shelving underneath. You multitask, so why no your furniture?  
  • And keep in mind this last tip. In just about any room you can ad shelf space for keepsakes, books and more by positioning a shelf just a foot and a half below the ceiling. 
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7 Steps to a Functioning Closet

1. Consider visibility, accessibility ad flexibility when planning your closet design. 

2. Measure carefully the height, depth, width, and also for the entrance to the closet too.

3. Inventory what you have and what you need more of. Hanging space, shelves, shoe racks, etc.

4. Remove the things you can do without and put seasonal clothes away, preferably in close and accessible storage.
 
5. Shop for what you need. Talk with a closet designer to get ideas and determine costs for special installations.

6. Put it back together, containerize and label any baskets or show boxes properly.

7. Respect it, maintain it and love it.


4 More for the Kitchen Drawers

1. Designate just one drawer to be a "Junk Drawer." For items like batteries, flashlights, tape measure, paper pad and a pen for example. 

2. Sort and Purge the contents once every 6months to a year. Try to keep it for truly important things, not just a free-for-all junk collection as the name would suggest. 

3. Use drawer organizers to separate and store "like" items. 

4. Keep your flatware near the sink or dishwasher and your cooking utensils near the stove.
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