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Tip Tuesday: How to organize a guest bedroom

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Bedroom, Closet — No Comments ↓

Tip Tuesday: How to organize a guest bedroom

As a Boston-based professional organizer, many of my clients have friends and family from out of state visit New England in the summer. After all, Boston and surrounding areas are so picturesque. It’s hard to beat New England as a summer vacation spot. Have you looked at your guest bedroom space lately? With Memorial Day approaching, here are a couple of suggestions to make it feel comfortable and yet functional.

  1. Drawer space – Make sure you have designated drawer space for your guests. If you have a bureau in the guest bedroom, empty a few drawers for your guests clothing. Guests will feel more at home, and enjoy not having to live out of their suitcases.
  1. Closets and wrinkle releaser – Nothing is worse than having wrinkled clothes because you aren’t able to hang up your items before you have to wear them. I love having a spray bottle of wrinkle releaser for those occasions when I need to wear something but don’t have time (or desire) to iron. It magically takes away wrinkles (just test spray it on a hidden spot to make sure it won’t stain your item). Your guests will thank you when they see proper hanging space, hangers, and a bottle of wrinkle releaser.
  1. Toiletries – Hotels have the basic necessities in their bathrooms, and it’s a nice touch when your guest bathroom has the same. Toiletries to consider include shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, body cream, and other items you know your guests typically forget. Having these already out in the bathroom will also mitigate having to crawl out of bed to hunt for these items. One simple trick is taking a clear glass container with a lid, and filling it with sample size toiletries. Place this in the bathroom or in the guest room. When your guests see this container they’ll know they have access to those items.
  1. Suitcase rack – Some guests may prefer to not unpack and need a spot for their open suitcase to sit. As suitcase racks fold, it is not a big burden to have them available for guests. When not in use, you can tuck these in your closet or under the bed.
  1. Good reading light – I love to read before I go to sleep. Having a bedside table lamp is such a gift to me when I am traveling. Nothing feels worse than having the only light source as an overhead light. Even if you have a floor lamp near the bed, that will allow the person to turn the light off without having to get up out of bed and turn off the overhead light.

Do you have any tips for making a guest bedroom feel more comfortable and functional? If so, I’d love to see your tips below!

Photo: Sarah Jayne Photography

PURGE! Socks, Swimsuits and Undergarments

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Clothes, Family, Laundry — No Comments ↓

PURGE! Socks, Swimsuits and Undergarments

It took a while for the weather to warm up, but summer is around the corner. And that means, beach and pool weather! For this month’s PURGE! category, let’s look at your family’s drawers of swimsuits. Even better, let’s include socks and undergarments, too. Clear out the old, and make room for new items you might need this summer.

  1. Swimsuits – Most people can look into their swimsuit drawer and find swimsuits from five or more years ago, just sitting there wasting space. If worn frequently in chlorine-infused pools or at the sun-and-salt-filled beach, swimsuits can lose elasticity and fade quickly. Do the bathing suits from last year fit? When you tug on the elastic, does it stretch out? How many do you need? These are all great questions to ask yourself as you handle each family member’s swimsuits.
  1. Socks – This is an ever-challenging problem for a lot of my clients. How is it that we wear two socks, but end up with only one after the wash? Time to go through your socks to get rid of socks without a match, ones that have holes in them or are so dirty you would be embarrassed to have to take your shoes off in public.
  1. Undergarments – Like socks, there is no need to keep undergarments around that are dotted with holes, have no elasticity or don’t fit. Remember when your mother told you to make sure you are wearing clean underwear in case you are ever in an accident? Well, there’s no time like the present.

After you go through this exercise, you’ll find that your drawers are less cluttered, and you’ll never grapple with the agony of looking for that other sock. Now, make a list of any replacements you might need, and go shopping!

Photo: Good Housekeeping

A Big Cheer For Moms!

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Family, Time Management — No Comments ↓

Happy Mother's Day organizing tips

Being a mom is a tough job. Although I wasn’t blessed to be one, moms wear many, many hats. My own Mom was hardworking. Looking back, I see how hard she worked to fit in all of the tasks that came with motherhood, while working part time as a registered nurse.

In celebration of Mother’s Day, I’m focusing on my favorite organizing tips that I have heard from moms that I work with.

  1. Say no more often. This is hard to do, but it’s important to put you and your family first. We all have the same amount of time in a day, and you physically can’t do it all. Prioritize important family goals, and if you have spare time to give, then and only then, do you say yes to outside requests.
  1. Get up before the rest of the family. If you set your alarm for 15 – 30 minutes before everyone else, you have the opportunity to get yourself ready, and then make breakfast, help little ones get ready to leave the house, and perhaps even start dinner prep. The Fringe Hours offers great advice about how to make time for yourself, to ensure a proper amount of YOU time.
  1. Use a timer. You can use a kitchen timer, or you can use your smart phone to set a specific time to keep you on track. This will ensure you’re not late for appointments. When it’s chaotic in the home, a friendly reminder it’s time to leave is always helpful.
  1. Have a to-do list. Take advantage of your “fringe hours” to create a to-do list for the day or week. Whether it is on paper or electronic, managing a to-do list helps set priorities and clear your mind for other important items. Why try to remember what you need to do? The best part? Deleting or crossing off the tasks you get done!
  1. Schedule time for yourself. You need to recharge otherwise you won’t be good to anyone if you are running yourself ragged. Schedule ME time. Whether it’s an hour a day, or an entire day each week, you deserve time to decompress and recharge. Put yourself in your calendar for an hour of ‘me’ time and don’t let another appointment or request cause you to delete it. Go for a walk, get a massage, read in a quiet place or just veg. You and your family will benefit from this respite.

Photo: Sarah Jayne Photography

Do or Don’t: Automated deliveries of home supplies

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Family, Storage — No Comments ↓

Automated deliveries of home supplies

A lot of people are opting to sign up for programs like Amazon’s Subscribe and Save, automatically shipping home goods like paper towels, pet food and more on a regular basis, direct to your home. The benefit: you don’t have to leave your home to buy these essentials, and ideally, supplies will arrive on your doorstep when you need them. So, is it a do or don’t?

To help determine this, let’s look at the two different ways to buy in bulk as a consumer.

  • Costco or another warehouse store – A Costco membership costs $55/year and enables you to shop at their big box stores and Costco.com.
  • Subscription services like Amazon’s Subscribe and Save – This subscription is free and offers discounts to items typically bought in bulk. Shipping is free and your subscription agreement involves having specific items shipped automatically to you on your chosen frequency basis (shipping between 1-6 month frequency).

As a consumer, you know exactly how much you consume on a monthly basis and know how much storage capacity you have in your home to house items in bulk. If you have proper storage, it may make sense to have paper towels, toilet paper, kitty litter and other items delivered to your door on a regular basis. It may save you money and time. If you order at least 5 products to ship on the same delivery frequency, you will save 15 percent. That is a real savings.

However, if you run out and need an item before it’s next scheduled frequency delivery, you lose the free shipping and discount with the Amazon Subscribe and Save. On the contrary, if you don’t use the items enough, your storage will run out. With Costco, there is no frequency delivery. You just either shop at the store or order online, as you need an item.

Yes, there are pros to a subscription program, but personally, I am not in favor of them. I think it feeds into consumerism and can unnecessarily clutter up a home. If you’re thinking about signing up for a subscription program, weigh the pros and cons and see how it fits into your budget and lifestyle.

Photo: amazon.com

Tip Tuesday: 5 Home-Buying Tips from a Boston Professional Organizer

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Car, Closet, Family, Garage, Moving, Spring — No Comments ↓

Home Buying Tips

As the temperatures heat up, so does the housing market. Springtime is usually the hottest time to buy a home as school winds down and folks look to use their summertime to get settled into a new place. As a Boston professional organizer, I have a few home-buying tips to ensure you’re buying a home with sufficient storage and organization space.

Below is my short list of spaces you should look for as you’re looking for the perfect home:

  1. Two-car garage – There are many older homes in New England that do not have a two-car garage, but if you’re looking for a newer home, ensure the garage is attached is the home. This space will protect your car but allow for plentiful storage options as well. A deep garage is even better. Add a workbench or garden center in the back of the garage to maximize the space!
  1. Entryway – Think shoes, jackets, backpacks, pet leashes and more. An entryway with a coat closet helps to minimize the clutter that piles near the front door. If you are blessed with a mudroom, this is a bonus. Many people I work with do not have a mudroom, so a closet with available storage options is a necessity.
  1. Basement – This may sound standard, but make sure you have a functional basement, and ideally one that connects from the first floor of the home. You can create another customized living space, or create an awesome storage room to keep your home organized.
  1. Mudroom – As mentioned above, a mudroom is a dream come true, especially if you have animals and children. Ideally, the mudroom will also have closet space, and if not, ensure there is enough room to add cubbies for every family member.
  1. Linen closet – Again, this seems pretty standard, but you’d be surprised that some homes, especially older, are without linen closets. A linen closet in either the hallway or in the bathroom provide space to store linens, medicine, paper goods and overflow bathroom necessities.

Storage requirements really vary by family. Be realistic about how much storage you need, and when you move in, you’ll be thankful. Of course, there are other spaces like an outdoor shed and attic that make for a professional organizer’s dream home, however ensuring you have the basics will go a long way.

Photo: forbes.com

3-Week Spring Cleaning Challenge

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Spring — No Comments ↓

Spring cleaning

We’ve almost made it to those warm summer days. The garden is calling for attention. The deck is needing a few touchups for those fun outdoor dinners. Before you throw yourself into your outdoor space, do yourself a favor and finish cleaning and organizing your indoors. Specifically, tackle that one or two rooms you just can’t seem to declutter. To help you accomplish this, I want to issue a 3-week spring-cleaning challenge. After completing these tasks each week, you can feel good about giving the outdoor space much-need attention.

Week of April 4 – If you’ve been reading my blog, you’d know I’m a big fan of purging. If you’re staring at a room full of stuff on the floor, the first step is to find the floor. Start in one corner of the room and work your way around, removing any item that doesn’t belong in this room. If you have no use for the item, donate it. If you use the item, put it away in its proper ‘home’. This can take a while, and sometimes it can be hard to decide if you want to keep something, or donate it. Work as slow as you need to this week to clear the clutter! A little bit of progress each day will help accomplish your goal.

Week of April 11 – Once the surfaces are clear of clutter, it’s time to dust and polish. Get into the nooks and crannies that you may not tackle on a regular cleaning session. Wipe down the walls, tops and bottoms of furniture, and go underneath the bottom of all free standing fixtures.

Week of April 18 – After general cleaning is completed, it’s time for the once a year deep clean. Windows need to be cleaned at least once a year. It’s also a great time to bring out the paint, and touch up the walls. Vacuuming furniture and carpet shampooing are all great ways to really start the spring fresh.

Setting smaller goals each week will help you check off your larger goal of ‘spring cleaning the home’. Remember, realistic goals and expectations can yield a happier you and healthier home.

Photo: oprah.com

Book Club: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Books — No Comments ↓

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up

There’s an organization book taking the world – yes, the entire world! – by storm. The best-selling organization book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo, is bringing the field of organizing to another level. For that, I am truly thrilled.

Marie Kondo believes that you should only keep items in the home that “spark joy”. This is a philosophy that many organizers share, myself included, and I’m oh-so grateful she is spreading this message to the world. While I don’t use the phrase “spark joy”, I believe in overall happiness. If you have an item in your home, it needs to make you happy. You need to love it, it needs to fit or work, and it shouldn’t make you feel guilty.

The KonMari Method is taking storm as it advocates decluttering, not room by room, but rather category by category. This is a concept that many organizers use and it is not anything new. I am glad that the media is excited about organization, but remember this shouldn’t be a trend. This should be a lifestyle change, and we need to adapt to methods that work for us.

Organizing is a very personal process and therefore needs to be adaptable. Marie Kondo lists the order in which to ‘tidy’ your life. First up, clothing. For some people this is not the easiest area to start. She takes the ‘my way or the highway approach’ and this isn’t my philosophy when working with clients. There needs to be flexibility. Being organized is defined in many different ways for my clients, and the organization method needs to fit into their comfort level.

I am happy for Marie Kondo and her success. I am grateful that this is getting people to talk and think about organizing. I do wonder how many copies I will find next to the other organizing books my clients have purchased. Take the good parts of the book that resonate with you and be flexible in making sure your home and life are as organized as you want them to be. You are in charge.

Photo: MarthaStewart.com / Mike Krautter

Tip Tuesday: 5 Favorite Spring Cleaning Products

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Spring — No Comments ↓

Spring cleaning products

March is the gateway to warmer months, and also ushers in one of my favorite seasons – spring! When you think of spring, your mind can go many different directions – flowers, baseball, daylight savings, sunshine and, you guessed it, cleaning!

During the winter months a home can develop a layer of dirt and dust. The windows are closed. Sand and salt are tracked in from the snowy streets. The air can be stale. Enter spring, a time to pop open the windows, and elevate the home to a fresh, clean and organized status.

Last year I shared my favorite products to help with your spring organizing. This year I’m focusing on the must-have products to help you clean. Below is my list of spring cleaning essentials.

  1. Long, slim duster – There are many tight spaces in a home, and this handy contraption will ensure you’re able to get under your appliances and furniture, as well as reach behind your refrigerator.
  1. Rubber gloves – Don’t start a cleaning project without these! Rubber gloves will help keep your manicure perfect and keep your hands out of dirty water.
  1. Microfiber mitt – Did I mention dust? In addition to the long duster, the microfiber mitt will allow you to get into the crevices that you might have missed during the first round of dusting.
  1. White vinegar – White vinegar is a natural cleaning agent. Use this liquid mixed with water or straight out of the bottle. White vinegar can eliminate a majority of your cleaning products as it acts as a deodorizer, brightener, and all-purpose cleaner.
  1. Sponges – Yes, these are great for cleaning the bathroom and kitchen, but they are also useful to help remove hair from upholstery. Before you use them, cut them in half to save money. Sometimes a full sponge can be too much to get into crevices and grooves.

It can be hard to make time to deep clean and organize a home. Remember to schedule time to take on this project. It’s okay if you can only devote time to tackling a room a day. Set realistic expectations for yourself, and you’ll find these projects are easier to manage.

Photo: Real Simple / Sang An

Do or Don’t: Junk Drawer

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Kitchen, Mudroom — No Comments ↓

junk drawer organizing

There’s a guilty pleasure lurking in every home across the country. It’s something

most people don’t talk about, and most can’t live without. You know what? This

guilty pleasure is okay in my book. I’m talking about the good ol’ junk drawer.

 

How many of you have a junk drawer? Fess up. I believe that there is no crime in

having a junk drawer in either your kitchen or mudroom – or any other room –

located on the main floor of your home. I do, however, believe that it should NOT

be a dumping ground for items you simply want to shove in a drawer and forget.

 

Junk drawers that function well are, of course, organized, and members of the

family understand what belongs inside. Getting it organized is very simple.

 

Step 1: Empty out the drawer and place items on a clear countertop. Throw away

any obvious items that you simply don’t need. A great example of these are the

to-go chopsticks or packets of condiments from ordering food.

 

Step 2: Next, go through the remaining items to decide if there is another spot in

the house where the item belongs. Think hair accessories, tools like

screwdrivers, and batteries.

 

Step 3: Group the items in a pile based on the room they should be stored in.

When you are done getting the junk drawer organized, you can then distribute

these items to their proper homes.

 

Step 4: Finally, the remaining items are items that do belong in the junk drawer.

Below is a short list of things that you should store in the junk drawer:

-Spare keys

-Rubber bands

-Notepaper

-Pens

-Calculator

-Scissors

 

Group like items together and use a drawer organizer to help keep the items

separated and from sliding around. Once you’re done organizing, it’s going to

feel incredible. Regular weeding out will keep it remain orderly.

 

It may be called a junk drawer, but it doesn’t need to look that way!

Image: The Kitchn

 

PURGE! How to Organize and Purge Keepsakes

Posted on by Dawn Link Posted in Family — No Comments ↓

Organize and Purge Keepsakes

Many of us have been collecting keepsake boxes since childhood. Think boxes filled with memories from exes, and even high school yearbooks. After we close the lid of these boxes, these keepsakes find their way to your basement, attic, or garage. Can you relate?

If you had a flood, fire, or other event at your house, these treasured items would be destroyed. Would that make you extremely sad and upset? Having too many nooks and crannies with keepsakes can make it harder to know what to grab if you had to evacuate your home. It’s time to get this part of your life in order! Here are some keepsake organization tips to help you begin paring down your treasured items.

  1. Set aside time to go through the items. This is always the hardest part. It might take longer than you think if you are finding items that bring up memories of loved ones. If you aren’t sure whether you are ready to part with the item, create a temporary storage box to revisit after you have gone through everything. Some items will be a no-brainer, but with others, it might be harder to make a decision. By creating a temporary box, you can move forward in the process.
  1. Consolidate your keepsakes. Pare down your keepsakes to fit in one box or storage container that you could quickly grab if you had to evacuate your home. You will need to prioritize what keepsakes go in the box. If you need to keep others, put them in one location, labeled so you and others can easily find them. Also, think about scanning in or photocopying photos or other documents so that you have digital copies. This will ensure you have a backup in case the worst-case scenario happens.
  1. Revisit the temporary box. Examine the contents in your temporary box, and determine if it’s easier to purge any of these items. Make sure that you’re removing any duplicate or similar items. While these items are meaningful, knowing you have these memory tucked away elsewhere will make it easier to let go.

As we continue through these winter months when we’re cozied up at home, take some time to go through these boxes. It can be fun to sit in front of the fire, drink some hot cocoa, and go down memory lane. Remember, keepsakes are wonderful to have, but you don’t need the actual item to have the memory.

Photo: Sarah Jayne Photography

 

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