Start 2018 Out Organized! Key Resolutions for the New Year

Here are 3 Home-Related Resolutions to Consider for the New Year! Downsize The holidays come with lots of giving, which means many new things likely came into your home! Think about implementing this post-holiday rule for getting and staying organized at home: for each new item you receive over Christmas, take three of your current items you’re not using and donate them. If you’re not ready to part with them consider self-storage services as an alternative option. This will keep your house clutter-free and organized. As you’re putting away those holiday décor items it’s the perfect time to take inventory and see how you can pare some of that down as well. If you have items that you didn’t put out this year, there’s a good chance you won’t use them next year either. Place these in the pile for donating. Next up: your drawers and closets. Of course, you may want to hang on to a few cozy shirts and old jeans for weekend lounging or playing with the kids, but do you really need a dozen? Add any extras to the donation pile, and enjoy the extra space! Another great trick to keep you downsizing throughout the year is toflip all your hangers backwards until you use something. Once its been worn, washed, and dried, hang it the right way. At the end of a season, items still hanging on backwards hangers are great candidates for donation, thrifting, or yard sales. Separate, Conquer and Label With organization likely on your list already, here are just some quick tips to jumpstart this process and make it a success!  Now that you have gone through and downsized, there should be some newfound room to work with. You can now arrange items exactly where they belong without having to cram and overlap your things. How can you make the process even easier?  Simplify the process significantly with the use of labels. Clearly displayed labels make a huge difference when you’ve started to reorganize because it provides simple and clear directions for putting things back in their new homes. For instance: When you take down your tree and your Christmas decorations after the holidays, take a few moments to label each box. Include what is inside the box as well as a general category so you know exactly what you’re working with. Next, you’ll want to locate an open corner of the garage, basement, or attic in which you can keep all of your Christmas boxes together in one spot. Use the same storage approach to your entire house, beginning with closets and drawers, and finishing with your labeled storage boxes in the garage. Whether you’re organizing décor, your linen closet, a pantry, or the medicine cabinet, this is a great approach to take. Having a place for everything ensures that items are easier to find when you need them and it makes it easier for everyone to pitch in when its time to clean up… speaking of cleaning up…. Cleaner and Tidier Home Now that you’ve decluttered, downsized, and organized, a New Year cleaning will be super easy!  If you want to make cleaning a simple and ongoing process, you may want to think about designing a schedule of when everything should be completed; ie: Laundry is Monday nights; bathrooms are Saturday morning; garbage is Sunday nights, and so forth. A rough schedule will keep you on track and keep you accountable when it comes to managing these tasks throughout the week. Now that you have that weekly schedule in place, are you ready to deep clean those newly organized spaces? Start with one room in the house and pull everything moveable out to the halls: rugs, knickknacks, throws, plants can all be placed aside while you dust and vacuum. You’ll likely find items that don’t necessarily belong in that room, to begin with so it’s a great chance to get everything back in its proper place. Once you’ve cleaned the room, replace all the items and tackle the next space. As you’re taking down the Christmas décor, it’s a great time to really think about reorganizing and tidying up, since you’re already in “clean up mode.” Once the décor is down and the home is cleaned, you’ll be all set for a fresh start to the new year. If you’re  planning a move in the New Year, that’s our expertise! We’re here to answer all your questions and ensure that your move is as stress-free as possible. Call 706-793-0186!