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February Madness - Time to Organize and Declutter

By
Home Stager with Rearrange with Style

I don't know about you but I'm tired of all this snow!  Did you know that in February, 2010, forty-nine states received some amount of snowfall? Yup, it's a true fact. That's enough to create a little madness in us all.  So, while we are stuck in our homes let's take the opportunity to  organize and declutter our homes.  This dreadful but important task, with a posiitive attitude, will help us to feel liberated and free to embrace new style changes.  My best advice to make this task manageable are:

  • Define your priorities.
    Identify which areas need the most attention.  Should you begin with your clothes closets, your stack of magazines piled on a shelf or on the floor, or perhaps your office?  Focusing on one area at a time will help you from becoming overwhelmed.  Don't tackle another space until you have completed the area you are working on.  Once you see the positive results, you'll be energized to begin the next area until your home is clutter-free.
  • Reacess you storage space.
    You can never have enough storage space so look for creative ways to additional storage.  Need another closet? No problem..A curtained-off niche with lots of shelving creates a closet where there was none.  A freestanding cupboard or amoire set perpendicular to a wall can also act as a room divider.  Baskets are a great way to organize and hide items you don't want to leave exposed.  Line them up in bookcases or stack them in a home office to hold supplies or extra printer paper.
  • Find a new home for your discarded belongings.
    Sometimes it's easier to part with your stuff is you know it's going to be put to good use or appreciated by someone else.  Consider holding a yard sales in the spring.  Charitable donations help someone else in need and also give you a nice tax deduction.  If you have a number of valuable things that you no longer want or need, you may decide to consign them to an auction house to sell or auction them yourself on e-bay.
  • Trash it!
    This is where emotions come into play.  If you know you should throw an item away because it's broken or lost it's usefulness but can't bear to part with it, take a picture of the item and put it in a scrapbook.  You can savor the memory by looking at the scrapbook.  Then take the trashed items to the dumpster on trash day so you're not tempted to remove it from the trash. 

Comments(3)

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Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Deb, I can tell you from experience, letting go of all those things that you don't use can be freeing.

Feb 17, 2010 02:42 AM
Deborah Byron Leffler BzyBee Real Estate Lady!
Keller Williams Realty Boise - Nampa, ID

Great post...lots of good ideas...how come I can organize others but not myself??   LOL  I will say that when I get rid of stuff and I simplify I feel so refreshed!  I have a large yard sale every year and have never run out of stuff to sell yet!  LOL

Feb 17, 2010 02:43 AM
Li Read
Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC
Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

Excellent advice!    Last year, we on the "wet coast" experienced the winter that the northeast has "enjoyed" this year.    (Not so good for the Olympic Games, but we're now having an unseasonably early Spring!).    I did "clean up the house", and you're right, it helps to jumpstart the rest of the year.  

Feb 17, 2010 02:55 AM