Organizing and Decluttering

Did you know that being organized isn’t really about stuff? It’s about the empty space between the stuff called margin. The magic of margin comes from the white space, breathing room, and buffer. No matter the name, margin allows our possessions to move in and out of a space freely and stay organized too.  When I design organizational systems in a closet or cabinet, I spend a lot of time planning how the items will be stored in the space. But I also consider how often they are used. I strive to create margin every time. No matter what space you’re working on, the key is to declutter first and organize second. It’s the margin in these spaces that has the most impact, especially when it comes to staying organized. Because when you reduce the volume, spaces have a way of organizing themselves.  Margin not only allows spaces to function better but also makes it more attractive. Did you know the margin on a piece of written work is approximately 37% of the page? …

[Read more...] about Unlock Your Home’s Potential with the Magic of Margin

This is my closet and my entire wardrobe. Yes, everything is in one normal-sized closet. I'm not hiding more clothing in bins under the bed. And I didn't commandeer the guest bedroom closet either. Just this one single space and it holds everything. Yes, really everything.  What if I told you that you could use just one closet and skip the seasonal clothing swap forever? At the same time, your closet would stay neat and organized with less laundry to do. Sound like something you'd like? You can do it. Here's how. Experiment with Less Most organizing problems are volume problems. So I started by experimenting with less. Going through my closet and donating items at the end of each season wasn't working. I had to get extreme. I accepted the challenge to wear just 7 pieces of clothing for an entire week; (inspired by Jen Hatmaker’s book Simple and Free, 7 Experiments Against Excess) And I still left the house for work, church, and social engagements, always in clean clothes. :) …

[Read more...] about How I Downsized My Wardrobe into One Average-Sized Closet

Empty Nesters We're officially empty nesters. We launched our son a year ago, and so far, so good. With this experience, I feel even more connected to my clients who are already empty nesters. And to those who can see that their kids won't be living under their roof much longer. I think I always knew that the "days would be long and the years would be short." But I guess I didn't realize how very short they are. I have sincerely loved every phase of raising a family and building a career, two careers actually. But I firmly believe that living a life with less stuff and more contentment made it all the better.  So as we embark on our third act of life, I plan to declutter and downsize even more. And help as many empty nesters and working women as I can along the way. Decluttering and downsizing is a daunting task, especially if you're just getting started. A few years ago, I moved my in-laws to a retirement community. They had to downsize 70% of their belongings. Like …

[Read more...] about Empty Nesters: 10 Simple Tips to Help You Declutter and Downsize