Organization

My favorite sources for putting things in order.

We adopted a minimalist approach in our home and it has made me more thoughtful about what we bring into it, even when it comes to organizing. These storage solutions are multi-purpose, compact, and look great too.

Folding Shelves – They can be stacked and fold completely flat, making them easy to hide away and move when needed.

Linen Boxes – Beautiful organizers for the closet or office, these Marten boxes can be lined up on the folding shelf and hold anything from stationary, to scarves, to fishing flies.

Jewelry Organizers – If I can’t see it, I probably won’t wear it. Open displays of your favorite jewels can double as wall art and make your accessories easy to find. Get a unique, handcrafted organizer from etsy.

Decorative Bins – Soft storage in fun prints for corralling toys, clothes and other loose items. We keep two of these in the bedroom for those clothes “in limbo.” Also makes a good dropbox for those things you carry when you walk through the door.

Closet Organizers – The Real Simple line has reasonably-priced solutions for storing everything from shoes to xmas ornaments to gift wrap. I have one for sweaters and one for shoes hanging in my closet.

These days I consider the lifetime of a product and whether it will serve me in the years ahead. These organizational tools help streamline my life now and can be packed up easily for wherever the road leads next.

Here are my tried and true tips for getting started.

It’s that time of year for cleaning and purging. I’m the master of coming up with excuses for keeping things (i.e. “I could wear this to a 60s-themed party” or “My future child might need this someday”). To my fellow hoarders, here are some strategies that actually worked.

A Trial Separation. Raid your closets and store everything you want to give away in a bag for one month. During that time, maybe you grab several things you need or forget about them completely. When the month is up, donate what’s left.

Question the Closet. As styles and seasons change, our closets become filled with items we no longer use. As you sift through the hangers, ask yourself these questions…

Have I worn it in the past few months? If not, can I wear it this month?
Would it look better on a friend? Give it to them.
Does it fit perfectly? If not, give it away or have it tailored.
Do I want to upgrade/invest in a similar piece? If so, I can let this go.
Would I buy this again today?

Confront the Fantasy. We all have fantasy items from jet skis to quirky hats. These are the hardest because we attach an idea of who we want to be to them. If you aren’t using it and it’s sitting around with a “someday” sticker, post it on ebay or craigslist and make space for things that bring you enjoyment now.

Remember, at the end of the day, it’s just stuff. Free space can be way more valuable than a closet full of things.