Ask the Expert: Home Organization Recap
We had a great turnout for our Ask the Expert session on home organizing with Jeanne Rizzi. Jeanne is such a practical resource – and during this coronavirus season, we definitely need practical!
Here are a few key takeaways from our Q&A with Jeanne:
Start simple. Don’t try to tackle your master closet right away. Start with your kitchen junk drawer or an office drawer.
Process is important. Pick a starting point. Then, measure and plan. Sort items. Return them to their new “homes.”
Rome wasn’t built in a day. There are places in the home that can be “hot spots” for clutter, like the pantry or refrigerator and other items like email and snail mail that can cause stress. Set up processes to help, but also give yourself some grace, especially during this season.
Be intentional. Keep your end goals for reorganization as you go through the process because it will help you make smart choices as you go. Organization is a financial investment, but one that pays dividends. When you can find the things you need and set up appropriate processes that help your family function better, life can be a bit easier.
With those things in mind, Jeanne offered these tips:
Email/Snail Mail
Set up email folders for things like tasks, taxes, family matters, work projects, etc. Only keep items that haven’t yet been handled in your main inbox.
Unsubscribe from emails that come from companies you don’t really engage with.
The time to sort snail mail is when you bring it in the house.
Assign a home for bills, coupons, etc. and put mail in those places immediately.
Kitchen
When organizing your pantry (or other spaces), take out everything first.
Clean the space. Decide what needs to be thrown out (expired products, products that only have a little left, etc.) and donate food you know you won’t eat.
Measure the space and purchase decanting items or baskets that fit your needs. Recommended brands included The Container Store and Made By Design found at Target.
Reassign a home to every item. Consider your kids’ snack needs and make sure you’re putting items where you can easily see them.
Keep only the plastic bags you need…recycle the others.
Replace your Tupperware every few years so you have a matching set. It makes cabinet and refrigerator organization much easier when things are stackable and fit together.
Bathroom
Keep your countertop clear by using drawers and baskets.
Use risers under the sink to give you more space.
Put a basket in the front of your cabinet that contains all your daily use items. Pull it out when needed, then replace it immediately when done.
Make use of drawer dividers.
Closets
Organize shoes and clothes seasonally and by color.
Keep the floor clutter free. The only item on the floor should be a shoe rack if possible.
If you choose to use an over-the-door hanger for shoes, make sure it’s a sturdy one because they can break easily with the weight of shoes.
One extra note was about kids’ artwork. Jeanne suggested using a plastic bin for reach child to collect items that are meaningful. Another option is to use a service called Artkive that creates high-res picture books of your child’s work.
If you want to learn more about Jeanne and see her incredible work, check out her company, Done. Jeanne is offering a buy one, give one virtual special as a way to help those affected by COVID-19. Her hope is that this will be helpful for medical professionals, essential workers or those who could use a pick-me-up as a result of our new way of life.
Thank you, Jeanne, for sharing your skillset with us – we’ll all be tackling home organization projects this weekend!