Monday, August 9, 2010

Items in Transition

Items that need to be taken elsewhere, fixed, or put away become clutter unless there is a transition spot for them. Do you have a place for…?

  • Library books – shelf or basket where you read.
  • Dry cleaning – bag in closet or laundry room.
  • Items to donate – bin in trunk of car or convenient closet or laundry room.
  • Items that need repair – bin in garage or kitchen.
  • Purchased items that need to be returned or exchanged – bag in car or "launching pad" - a spot designated for all the items you'll need when you leave the house.
  • Borrowed items that need to be returned – bag in car or "launching pad".
  • Items that need to be returned to their "homes" in a different area of the house: a spot for items to take downstairs or upstairs, a spot for items to go to the garage, etc. – basket, bag hanging on doorknob, or bin near the transition area.
  • Items that your children have left out and need to put away – basket or shelf in living room/family room.
  • Clean laundry for family members to put away – shelf in laundry room, laundry basket in child's bedroom.

What transition spot could you not do without?

Professional Organizer’s Closet

I've been asked what my closet looks like. Here it is.
  • Top shelves: Off season clothes and seldom used items.
  • On the Shelves: commonly worn folded items and shoes. Dress shoes and off season shoes are on the floor at the back of the closet.
  • Shelves on right: pajamas.
  • Long Hanging: dresses & dress skirts, pants, robe, and clothing I've worn for a short time that can be worn again before washing. Behind are belts and necklaces.
  • Top hanging – items worn more often: casual tops & jackets, purses (looped on hangers)
  • Lower Hanging – items worn less often: t-shirts, blouses.
  • All the clothing is in the closet – no dresser. This way everything can be seen at a glance.
  • The wastebasket is for laundry. Because it's full in two days, it's a reminder go throw in a load of laundry.

Suggestions:

  • Organize your closet in a way that works for you. The important concept is that you can see and easily reach what you'd like to wear.
  • Keep enough space on hanger rods that you can easily hang clothes. The rod is not meant to be packed full.
  • Keep a small container for garbage in the closet – for clothing tags and emptying pockets.
  • Remove from the home what you do not wear.
  • If there is enough space, keep a container for items to donate. When you put on an outfit and think, "I hate the way this looks" or "This is uncomfortable", put the clothing directly in the donation container.
Your clothing closet should contain items that you love and you feel comfortable and confident wearing.