Keeping your Kids Organized!

If you can't see the floor of your children's rooms (or are to afraid to open the door) then it is time to take action! Help children organize their rooms in a way that make their space fun and easy to keep clean. Reassure them that putting their room in order doesn't mean they have to throw away any of their good stuff.

Organizing a Kid's Closet

Organizing a kid's closet presents a unique challenge, mainly because most children's clothes are smaller than standard hanging systems. In addition, the space often needs to double as a place for toys and games storage. Below are top tips for organizing a child's closet space:

• Keep in mind children grow so adjustable shelving and poles are important
• Make it kid friendly. Use baskets to hold odd shaped toys and low shelving to put their favorite toys.
• Consider safety. Make sure that the shelving is secure and that it can't easily pull out from the wall.
• Don't forget a laundry basket. Wire laundry baskets allow for ventilation to the dirty clothes and easily removed to bring to the laundry room.

New Year New Organized You!

Did you know that 48% of American's Adults say they are at least somewhat likely to make a New year's Resolution this year? What made your list for 2010? If getting organized and making more time to spend with family and friends tops your list, here are some ideas to get you started and help you find more time.

Closet Organization Tips

• If you haven't worn it in the last 12 months, it doesn't fit, if it's out of style or you don't feel good about yourself when you wear it, get rid of it!



• Store your clothes according to season you can keep your "off-season" in a different part of the house if you run short on space.



• You can organize your clothing according to purpose (formal, casual), type (shirts, pants), style (short sleeves, long sleeves) and color (light to dark).



• Seperate out catagories of clothing like men's / women's, pant/shirts by assigning each section a different part of the closet.



• You can hang just about anything from hooks or racks attached to your closet walls: purses, belts, ties, jewelry, ect.

It's a Wrap!

Gift giving is an exciting part of the holiday season, but the wrapping can sometimes be a little tricky. Here are some creative ways to add a little pizzazz to your gifts this year:

• Wrap wine bottles with dish towels
  
• Wrap a gift in plain colored paper towel and add an ornament on top
  
• Use holiday print paper table clothes for extra large packages
  
• Tie up gifts with Ponytail Holders
  
• Use plain white paper and address it as if it were a letter with the recipient's address
  
• Use a brown or white paper bag and decorate it with candy canes and a bow
  
• Place the gift in a holiday print gift bag

Holiday tips

Holiday Organization Tips:

It’s hard to believe, but the countdown to the 2009 holiday season has begun and planning is undoubtedly at the top of your mind. Here are some ideas to get you off on
the right foot this holiday season.

Make a list & check it twice. Don’t risk your meal planning or holiday list to memory. Great lists to have around this time of year are gift lists, budget lists, meal planning lists, holiday card lists, lists to remind you where you stowed your gifts.

Planning a party? Forget the stamps, send an online invitation! Websites like evite.com make it simple & time efficient. You can capture all of your replies in one section & even find out who has/hasn’t viewed your evite.

Send Holiday cards just in time for New Years! It will be a nice surprise for everyone & definitely stand out from the masses, plus it gives you more time to prepare.

Another important part of the planning process is simply finding last year’s decor. Searching for those extra lights, candles, stockings or outdoor decorations can be time-consuming & frustrating. An organizational system that identifies a place for everything can help relieve this added stress.

Scarey!

Are you feeling like your house fits more into a Halloween scene than a Norman Rockwell paining? As a space designer, I see more situations where the space is not utilized correctly in a home and as a result, there is no organization. Add some kids into the mix and you have a recipe for chaos. But the good news is there is hope! I have worked with many clients and this the basic plan that helps them get started:
1) Pick one room or area in the home to get started
2) Designate a half a day or a whole day to finishing the space (get a babysitter - trust me it is worth the money)
3) Start in one corner and start sorting the stuff into three piles: Throw away, Give away and Organize
4) Clear the area and look at where you can best utilize the space (baskets, shelving, drawers, etc.) If you are stuck in this area then call an expert for advice.
5) Make sure that you are utilizing all space. Think vertically not only horizontally. How can you utilize the floor to ceiling in a way that represents your style and is clutter free?
6) Put everything into a home and label any bins, baskets, etc. so you know where to find everything
7) Sit back and admire your first organized, clutter free space.

Fall into a Routine

When it comes to organization, developing a routine can be the key to success.
Below are a few quick tips that if done repeatedly can lead to an everyday organized lifestyle.

1. Plan ahead - Choose your clothes for the next day the night before.

2. Go through your mail daily and divide it into separate categories* Action required
(Pay, call, RSVP)* File* Shred and toss (keep a shredder near your waste/recycle)

3. Invest in a custom organizational system complete with a built-in jewelry drawer, laundry
basket or ironing board (select from dozens of accessories!)

4. If it's dirty-throw it in the hamper! Get your family accustomed to this routine and finding
favorite pieces might get a little easier

5. Designate a space for everything. Start with the essentials (keys, ties,earrings, belts, etc).

Fall is in the air!

The fall chill is in the air. The days are getting shorter and the kids will soon be inside most of the day instead of outside. What does that mean for parents? Kids are going to be inside, toys scattered everywhere and more chaos inside the home instead of in the backyard.

One of my clients recently called me about this dilemma. Wondering what she should do about the clutter of toys and small parts that land all over the house. The solution is to find any space (an open wall, an entertainment center, a closet) that can be transformed into an organizational haven. I took an empty wall (lined with toys) and designed a wall unit that could easily be used for storage of toys. The baskets are great for the odd shaped toys that don't fit neatly into the shelves. The doors help conceal anything you don't want out and keep a neat appearance to the room. Making the unit floor to ceiling helps utilize the space to its maximum.