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New Hampshire Home Stager's Secret To Home Organization

By
Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

For most people being "organized" is something to achieve, something they wish they were but never seem to make happen.

Organizing your home can be overwhelming, and even seem impossible at times.   Being more organized is one of those New Years resolutions that always seems to get broken.

Here's the thing about organization: 

 It's all about taking small bites.  Divide and conquer. 

closet

 

You don't have to organize the whole house at once.  Choose one room and then choose one small part of that room.

Start with a closet, or start with one desk drawer.

It doesn't matter where you start.  Once you start, you build momentum.

The act of organizing creates a sense of accomplishment which propels you on to the next area to conquer. 

Get that ball rolling and it is actually hard to stop.  

 

Organization is simple - It's getting started that is so difficult!  

  TIP   Sort items into three piles.  Items to Keep, Toss, and Donate

 

Organize your small "keep" items by grouping them together in decorative containers.  Containers not only make it easier to store the items, they make for a much cleaner look.

 

baby boys

 

 

Comments (28)

Tessa Skeens
Hampton ReDesign, Home Staging and Redesign - Grand Junction, CO
Staging For Realtors, Builders & Investors

Great tips Sharon. You are so right. Getting started is the stumbling block for most of us.

I find if I just focus on the first thing I need to do and not even think about how long it will take I can get the ball rolling :)

Love your little organizers!

Jun 18, 2010 04:39 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Cute post and photo -- I'm guessing your two adorable little helpers are staying in the KEEP pile!!  :-)

Jun 18, 2010 05:36 AM
SHARON CHARBONEAU
UPSTAGING YOUR HOMES - Sechelt, BC

Oh Sharon!   I am struggling with this task right now.  I leave for the East Coast on Thursday, my brother-in-law arrives on Wednesday to visit,I have laundry & packing to do, and I have two businesses to run and my back aches........in other words, this is one task I hate.

So send some positive vibes my way, I need them. 

Jun 18, 2010 06:31 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Sharon, you are so right. Homeowner/sellers should work at the project over time instead of leaving it to the last minute.

If that's your closet I don't know whether to hate you or envy you LOL. Keep those grandkids organized ;).

Jun 18, 2010 06:50 AM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Sharon, I took your advice and I got ONE shelf done in that dreadful linen closet.  Yippeee for small bites!

Jun 18, 2010 07:15 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Sharon

If you can organize the closet and the kids you get the job.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jun 18, 2010 08:48 AM
Mary Kay Hopkins
Mary Kay Hopkins, LLC e-PRO, GRI, CRS, CRB - Lake Charles, LA
e-PRO,GRI,CRS

Sharon,

It is obvious that you have not seen my desk drawer!

Jun 18, 2010 10:31 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Sally and David:  Oh come on...if you did one floor, you certainly can do the other.  Wand or no wand...let's get moving!  You will be so glad you did!

Sam:  Baby steps!

Roger:  I appreciate it, thank you!  Zack and Jack enjoyed posing for me, and it never occurred to either of them that I was using them to further enhance my blog!

Gabe:  If I could do that, I would be a very wealthy woman!

Julie:  Thanks!  Yes, they are absolutely keepers!

Jun 18, 2010 01:25 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Kathy:  We can do anything, if we take it one piece at a time.  Thanks for stopping by!

Marianne:  And that is my motivational speech for today!

Ginger:  Take a big bad bite out of that closet!  You will feel empowered!

Tessa:  Once you get started, it doesn't seem as bad.  My little organizers are more like little mess makers right now...but future organizers maybe!

Maureen:  You guessed right!  KEEP!

Sharon:  Positive vibes have been sent!!  You are woman...you can do anything!

Janice:  It is my closet, but let's be real...staged for the photo and returned to normal within a very short time!  No, you cannot see a picture of it now.

 

 

Jun 18, 2010 01:34 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Ginger:  You go girl!! Awesome!  Now I expect you to report back here daily with a progress report until that closet is done.

Lou:  That's not fair!  The closet is a piece of cake compared to the babies!

Mary Kay:  Maybe it was your desk drawer that inspired the post...

Jun 18, 2010 01:37 PM
Christine Hooks
Pino Agency - Pennsville, NJ
Celebrating 25 Years in Real Estate!

Being organized is something that often escapes me but I never give up the fight!

Thanks for the post.  Very helpful!

Jun 18, 2010 03:33 PM
Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Adorable photo and great post..so useful and helpful....I need to do this in my own office. :)

Jun 18, 2010 05:05 PM
Mary Lou Teague
HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN
Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN

Great post, love the phrase divide and conquer, taking baby steps. You are so right !! love the babies do they come with the totes ?

Jun 18, 2010 11:28 PM
Judy Colburn
ProStaged Homes - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Glendora, San Dimas Covina, Home Staging

Love this post Sharon. Great motivational tips. Since you're keeping your basket of goodies, can you please tell me where I may buy the same ones? Content included. :)

Jun 19, 2010 04:32 AM
Anna Dovger
Add Value Home Staging LLC, 281-704-6607 - The Woodlands, TX
Home Staging -The Woodlands, TX

Great post Sharon! This is the way that closet should look like when you house is on the market. For the rest of us one step at a time sounds easy. I just did one area yesterday and after your post I will keep going. Thanks for baby stepsidea. It is a good way to teach my 6 years old how to clean. Now both of us will be successful in it :)

Jun 19, 2010 05:02 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Chris:  Don't ever give up!  Creating a place for everything and putting stuff away right after you use it, instead of putting it off until later (which may not happen) will make a huge difference. 

Cathy:  Thanks!  Reorganize your office and then write a post about it with before and after pictures. 

Mary Lou:  Sorry but these babies are for my totes only!

Judy:  Has nobody told you where babies come from yet? 

Anna:  My biggest regret with my three children is that I didn't have the patience to teach them to put their toys away.  It was easier to do it myself.  Big mistake.  Teach that 6 yr. old to be organized...it is a great gift!

Jun 19, 2010 01:30 PM
Nancy Maurer
Whitehall Interiors & Home Staging LLC - Sparta, NJ
Home Stager - Serving No. NJ
You're so right, Sharon! It's easy to get overwhelmed (and paralyzed) by all the things that need to be done around one's house. Chipping away at the tasks makes a lot of sense.
Jun 20, 2010 11:21 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Nancy:  I know even I get overwhelmed at some tasks.  "Chipping away" is a good way to describe how to handle them.

Jun 20, 2010 02:37 PM
Leslie Helm
Tennessee Recreational Properties - Jamestown, TN
Real Estate For Trail Riders

Hi, Sharon. I was wondering if that was your closet! It's very rewarding to achieve your goal so, you're right, make it reachable and the sense of satisfaction will encourage you to do more.

It is shocking how much STUFF people accumulate!

Jun 23, 2010 01:01 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Leslie:  Yes, it is one of my two closets.  The photo was "staged" for the shot to be an example and is by no means what it looks like in my real life. 

Jun 23, 2010 01:36 AM