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How to Organize & Store Your Holiday Decor

by Filed Under: Uncategorized 1 Comment

Unfortunately, the holidays are over as quickly as they come, and after the excitement and cheer have passed, there’s always a big task looming—organizing and putting away holiday decorations.

This year, follow this 4-step guide to organize your holiday decorations and make next year much easier! With some planning, you can set yourself up for annual decorating success.

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Gather Your Supplies

When you’re armed and ready to organize, you’re more likely to finish with a job well done! Grab your supplies before you begin taking down your holiday decorations.

  • Boxes
  • Sticky Notes/Notepad & Pen
  • Permanent Marker
  • Containers (Don’t buy anything new yet!)
  • Label Maker (If you have one)

Now, let’s dive in!

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Declutter Holiday Decor as You Go

Considering all your freshly used decor, decide how much holiday decor you want to keep for next year.

Following our suggestions to organize your holiday decorations, ask yourself if you truly love an item. Does it bring enough cheer to justify storing it for a year? Or is it functional enough to store for 365 days?

If so, great! We’ll be sorting the things you’re keeping in the next stage. If not, grab one of your empty boxes and write DONATE in a big permanent marker across the side. Collect donation items as you go.

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Sorting Holiday Decor

When sorting your holiday decorations, use boxes to group them into categories like DONATE, TRASH (anything broken), and KEEP.

Here are a couple of options for organizing the KEEP category.

Organizing Based on Location

Now that you’ve decluttered your holiday decorations, it’s time to sort them into categories based on where you use them around your home. This will make things so much easier for next year because you’ll have everything grouped based on where it belongs.

Organizing Based on Category

You may prefer to organize your holiday decorations by category instead. This means putting all the lights together, all the greenery together, etc. If this feels right to you, then go for it! Remember to label things by location as you put them away so you’ll know where they go when you pull them out next year.

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Storing Holiday Decor

“Fit your container to your items rather than your items to the container!”

What do we mean? The most common mistake professional organizers see is people buying all their storage containers before assessing how much they have.

After you’ve sorted your holiday decorations into categories, it’s time to see what types of containers you need. That’s why we say to fit your container to your items — otherwise, you may be trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. And we all know how that ends!

We love to reuse containers you already have, so we suggest you shop your home first. Collect the available containers and see which ones work for your different categories.

Clear containers are our favorite because you can see what’s inside. However, cardboard boxes work as a budget-friendly option — clearly label the box on the top and at least one side.

Label the containers once you’ve contained your holiday decorations so you can easily find them next year! Choose a location in your home to keep all the containers together, and store them with the labels facing out for quick reference.

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Final Thoughts

Remember, organizing after the holidays is not only about putting things away but it’s also an opportunity to start the new year with a tidy and organized space. Take your time, involve family members if possible, and turn the process into a positive and productive experience so you can feel great in your home.

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If you’re overwhelmed just reading this post, remember that we offer post-holiday decluttering and organizing services. We can even do it all for you! Contact us to learn how it works.

Simple Ways to Get Organized for the Holidays: A Stress-Free Guide

by Filed Under: Organize, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

It’s the same story every year…as the holiday season approaches, we dream of cozy evenings by the fireplace, quality time with family, and flawless festive events. But then, November and December arrive, and suddenly, we’re thrown into a tailspin of planning, prep, and stress! There has to be a better way, right? Try a few simple ways to get organized for the holidays.

Quick Pre-Holiday Decluttering

It’s hard to organize anything without decluttering first, but who has that time during the holidays? That’s why a quick declutter is essential!

Here’s what I recommend:

  • Grab a trash bag for garbage and a box for donations.
  • Go from room to room and grab anything you know can go.
  • Get the family involved if possible!
  • Remind your family that to make space for new items, it’s time to let go of some old ones.

It’s also important to remember to declutter as you begin getting out your holiday decorations. When you can see everything in one place, it’s easier to realize that you may have more than you need. You may also notice a few items you no longer love, and this is a perfect time to donate them or let them go.

Organizing Holiday Decor

After you’ve done a quick declutter, it’s time to get out the holiday decorations! If you’re like most of my clients (before we worked together), you haul out the boxes each year and grumble about the tangled jumble of items. Maybe you’ll swear that this is the year you’ll get them organized. Then, January rolls around, and you’re in a rush, so everything gets dumped back in the boxes.

When organizing holiday decor, start by categorizing items into groups like lights, ornaments, wreaths, and garlands. Store each category in clear, labeled bins for easy identification, and consider using divided containers or padding for fragile items.

Take an extra few minutes to untangle and neatly wrap lights and garlands before storing them, saving time and reducing frustration next year. Label each box by location (living room tree ornaments, outdoor lights, etc.) to make next year’s setup a breeze. Well-organized holiday decor simplifies decorating and preserves items so they last for seasons to come.

Take an extra few minutes to untangle and neatly wrap lights and garlands before storing them, saving time and reducing frustration next year. See my post [insert title here and hyperlink] for a more detailed approach to organizing your decorations.

Create a Holiday Command Center

 When the holidays arrive, our brains are overloaded because we have a variety of schedules to juggle, tasks to complete, errands to run, and lists to keep track of. No wonder we begin missing details, and our stress level goes up.

Creating one space where you keep all the information improves your chances of maintaining everything. Choose something that works for your family, whether a digital hub, a three-ring binder, or a small corner of your kitchen.

After choosing a space for your holiday command center, use it to keep essential lists, reminders, and schedules so everything you need is in one central location. Keeping track of holiday tasks, such as shopping lists, baking schedules, and party plans, becomes much easier when they’re all visible in one place.

Organized Gift Giving

A significant contributor to holiday stress is keeping everything in your head. When you’re setting up your holiday command center, be sure to include a place for tracking gifts. Create a spreadsheet to note who’s receiving what, costs, and if the gift needs to be purchased, wrapped, or mailed. This helps you avoid forgetting anyone or accidentally double-gifting.

It’s also helpful to set up a dedicated gift-wrapping area and stock it with essentials like wrapping paper, tape, scissors, gift tags, and ribbon. Keeping everything together saves time and prevents the dreaded search for missing tape or scissors right when needed.

Make a Holiday Bucket List with the Family

It’s always disappointing when the holidays are over, and you suddenly remember a favorite movie you forgot to watch or a community event you missed. Spend ten minutes during dinner asking the whole family for input on a family holiday bucket list and write it all down.

Remember to divide roles and responsibilities so they don’t all fall on your shoulders. Asking kids to look up events and add them to the calendar helps them begin learning these skills while taking some pressure off you!

This ensures making the most of the holiday season and helps organize plans so everyone knows what to expect.

Don’t Forget Your Holiday Self-Care

Psychologists recommend making time for relaxation and self-care to manage stress levels and maintain mental well-being during the holidays. Remember to schedule small moments for yourself, such as coffee breaks, short walks, or quiet reading time. Taking a few minutes each day to recharge can help prevent burnout during this busy season.

Wrapping Up

The holidays are joyful and less stressful with thoughtful planning and organized systems. From setting up a command center to tracking gifts and creating a self-care routine, these organizational strategies can help you quickly tackle the holiday season. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection — it’s to create a holiday season that feels meaningful and joyful.

Even with these tips, you may need extra support. I love helping you get organized and prepared for the holidays! Contact me for a quick chat to learn how it works. If we’re a good fit, we can schedule your first session before the holidays arrive!

Happy Pre-Holiday Organizing!

Optimizing Your Home Office or Study for a Productive Back-to-School

by Filed Under: Kids & Family Organizing, Organize, Paper management, Productivity, Systems & Techniques, Tips & Resources 2 Comments

Keeping an organized home office or study area is hard when you’re tight on space. When papers are everywhere, you can never find something when needed, and the piles on your desk can be exasperating and overwhelming! Below, I’ve outlined seven steps to maximizing space in your home office or study area for a productive Back-to-School season.

Have a productive Back-to-School season in seven easy stepsproductive Back-to-School

1. Assess Your Space

Before rearranging furniture or buying new items, take a step back and assess your current space. The most common mistake people make when they try to get organized is running to the store and buying all the cute containers and systems before sorting through things. (That’s understandable because we see it everywhere these days!)

First, identify what’s essential and what’s not. You’ll need to sort through everything that’s in the space already. This might involve going through your books, papers, and office supplies to determine what you actually use and need.

2. Declutter

Decluttering is a crucial step in maximizing space. As you sort through each pile, stack of paper, or box of clutter, use boxes or bags to create categories like trash, recycle, keep, and donate.

I recommend eliminating as much paper as you can. With more and more online information, we no longer need as much paper as we used to. Be sure to shred anything with sensitive information.

The bottom line? Remove items that no longer serve a purpose or can be stored elsewhere.

~ Expert Tip ~ Stay Focused!
It’s easy to get off track when you come across things that belong elsewhere in your home. Instead of walking around and getting distracted in other rooms, keep a box nearby labeled “Elsewhere” or “Other Rooms” and place things that don’t belong inside. This helps you remember to take care of it later but keeps you focused on the space.

3. Consider Your Preferences

Do you like everything tucked away and streamlined? Or do you need to see certain things for fear of “out of sight, out of mind” problems?

It’s important to consider how you operate before you set up any space. There’s no ONE way to organize! (Darn, right?!)

What works for one person might be the wrong approach for another, so you must consider what works best for you and your habits.

 4. Create Zones

 Whether you have an entire room or a small corner to work with, it’s important to create zones in your space.

Room Zones

If your home office or study area serves multiple purposes, such as working, studying, and relaxing, it is important to create distinct zones for each activity. This helps your brain transition between tasks and makes the space more functional. You can use rugs, furniture, or dividers to create different spaces in the room.

Category Zones

Within your workspace, you’ll need detailed categories depending on your needs. Think in categories like:

  • Office Supplies
  • Craft or Art Supplies
  • Active/To Do Papers or Activities
  • Archive Information (Documents to file or reference. Remember, only keep what you’ll use!)
  • Reference Information

Once you’ve established your zones, you can use containers to keep them within their categories.

A quick note about paper!

Paper management organization is a huge topic about which I’ve written multiple blog posts; you can find them here. After you’ve recycled or shredded what you can, set up a simple filing system—label categories based on how you would look for items when needed.

5. Use Your Space Efficiently

Sometimes, seeing what is missing in one’s home is difficult, but I often see underutilized space when working with clients.

Hanging shelves on walls, installing furniture that stores things efficiently, and hanging lights from above are just a few ways to save space if you’re working with a small area.

6. Consider Environmental Factors

It’s also important to consider environmental factors that impact your productivity.

  • How is the lighting? Does your space have any natural light? Could you move your desk closer to a window?
  • How is the airflow and air quality in your space? Do you need a fan, space heater, or air purifier?
  • Does the space represent you? Consider adding plants, candles, or decor to help you feel at ease in the space.

7. Maintain Organization, Tips for Staying Organized:

Once you’ve maximized your space, maintaining the work you’ve done is just as important. A clutter-free workspace feels great and improves productivity!

  • Daily Tidy-Up: Spend a few minutes tidying up your space at the end of each day. This prevents clutter from accumulating and prepares your space for the next day.
  • Use Containers: Drawer dividers, file organizers, and cable management solutions can help keep everything in its place. Labeling items also makes it easier to find what you need quickly.
  • Regularly Reassess: Every few months, take some time to reassess your space. As your needs change, so might your setup. Don’t be afraid to rearrange or reconfigure your space!

For more ideas and support for back-to-school organizing, you can find additional posts about tidying up for back-to-school and meal prep here.

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Maximizing space in your home office or study area is about making intentional choices that work for YOU.

By decluttering, creating zones, and using your space efficiently, you can make a space that supports your work or studies and inspires and motivates you. Good luck!

If you’re short on time and need help getting organized, contact me to learn how it works.

Until next time, Happy Organizing!

 

 

Downsizing to Simplify Your Life

by Filed Under: Estate Planning, Move Management, Organize, Senior Organizing 2 Comments

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the work you do around your home, you are not alone. Between maintenance, cleaning, landscaping, and organizing everything (inside closets, cupboards, and cabinets), it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. All the work required for larger homes can lead many people to consider how to one day Downsize or Rightsize to simplify their life—it isn’t just for seniors!

Last month, I shared helpful steps for an organized move on the Creatively Organized Spaces blog. But when you’re moving to downsize, there’s much more to consider.

Before making big changes, it’s important to consider a few things first. Below, we’ll discuss the benefits of downsizing to simplify your life, the emotional toll it can take, and tips for caring for older relatives during the downsizing process.

Why Downsize?

Simplified Lifestyle
Downsizing has many benefits, but the common thread is a simplified lifestyle. And as a professional organizer, you know I’m a big fan of that! We simplify our homes and lives and make space for what matters most.

Financial Savings
One of the most significant benefits of downsizing is cutting costs. A smaller home typically means lower mortgage payments, reduced property taxes, and decreased utility bills. For retirees living on a fixed income, these savings can provide much-needed financial relief, which leads to less stress.

Less Maintenance & Upkeep
The American dream of a large home, sprawling lawn, and white picket fence sounds nice, but it’s a lot of work!

A smaller home means less surface area to clean, repair, and organize. For seniors, community living is a great option. Many senior living communities offer maintenance services, which means tasks like lawn care, snow removal, and home repairs are taken care of for you.

Safety & Accessibility
A big benefit for downsizing seniors is increased safety and accessibility with single-story layouts, wider doorways, and other modifications. Reducing the risk of falling and other accidents gives seniors and their families peace of mind.

The Emotional Side of Downsizing

It can be especially overwhelming for seniors to downsize because they often have a lifetime of belongings and memories that need to be faced and sorted. This leads to a lot of decision-making, which can be emotionally overwhelming.

I am deeply compassionate about the sensitive nature of downsizing and have worked closely with many seniors to manage the emotional and physical aspects.

Taking frequent breaks, drinking water, eating, and pausing when emotions run high are a few things that help.

Most people need support sorting and decluttering their belongings; a compassionate partner and helpers make all the difference.

It’s important to honor the memories and nostalgia that arise when sorting through the past. For more information about coping with the emotions of downsizing, here is a wonderful article by the Elder Care Alliance.

Caring for Older Relatives During Downsizing

Adult children often help their aging parents downsize, which is bound to stir emotions for everyone. Supporting someone from a long distance can create added stress. This checklist for caregivers from the Family Caregiver Alliance is a good starting point for getting your to-do’s in order. Here are a few other recommendations.

  • Find in-person professional support. Whether traveling long distances or not, working with a senior move management professional can reduce stress for everyone. Contact me to learn more about my downsizing services.
  • Start sorting and decluttering as early as possible (if you aren’t rushed). It takes longer than you think and requires compassion and a healthy dose of patience.
  • Get organized! This is no surprise, but you’ll save time and energy if you get organized early in the downsizing process. Create a notebook or folder to keep all your checklists, contacts, and other important information. Gather supplies like boxes and packing materials. Keep an inventory of belongings as you sort through and pack them. You’ll thank your future self if you do these things beforehand!

For more tips and support in long-distance caregiving, here is a helpful article from the National Institute on Aging.

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Move Like a Pro-Organizer with these 5 steps

by Filed Under: Move Management, Tips & Resources Leave a Comment

Whenever moving is mentioned in conversation, there are usually heavy sighs, groans, and eye rolls. No one likes moving, but below, I share 5 steps to move like a pro-organizer.

It’s often listed as one of the most stressful life events, and it’s no wonder — we have a lot of stuff in our homes! Getting organized before your move can make things run more smoothly and eliminate stress. And because summer is peak moving season, I thought I’d share a few steps to make your next move easier.

Plan Ahead

As with anything, a little planning goes a long way. Imagine what can happen if you do a lot of planning!

A plan reduces moving stress because you know what to expect when things get busy.

  • Keep Information in One Place — Create a binder or folder to keep all information in one place. You’ll want a packing checklist [hyperlink to yours if you have one as a lead magnet], schedule, utility information, contact information, and more inside your binder.
  • Plan Your Time — Well before your moving date, use your calendar to work backward from your move day and create a general schedule. You’ll want to save packing things you use often for the days right before the move, but you can begin packing infrequently used items early. Decluttering before you start packing is essential. You’ll also want to call the utility companies before your move. Mark these timeframes on your calendar to stay on track.
  • Gather Supplies — Create a tote with labels, Sharpies, scissors, packing tape, and other supplies so you can find them easily. You’ll use these supplies when decluttering. Begin collecting boxes so you don’t scramble at the end. Here are a few ideas for creating a moving kit. I share my favorite organizing tips, tricks, and supplies in this short post.

Declutter Before You Move

No one wants to move extra stuff they no longer use, but when you’re feeling overwhelmed, the move date can come quickly, and you end up throwing everything in a box whether you need it anymore or not. That’s why the planning step helps so much.

Go room by room and declutter as quickly as you can. Open closets, look under beds — get as detailed as time allows, and be ruthless if you can! Moving is stressful because we realize how much we actually have when we begin pulling it all out. Use this time as motivation to let go of unused items by donating or selling them.

Packing

It’s time to grab your packing kit! Pack your home room by room, starting with the spaces you use least often. It’s ok to move to the next room once you’ve packed a room and only items you’re still using remain, but don’t mix items from different rooms in boxes. Keep rooms separate so the unpacking process can go much more smoothly.

  • Label everything! It may feel like overkill, but you’ll be thankful when you’re unpacking. List the room the box belongs in and a few notes on what’s inside. Label boxes on the top and side so you can see what they contain when they’re stacked.
  • Expert Tip! Use luggage to pack essential items you’ll need right away, like toiletries and clothes.

A recent moving job with Professional Movers of Charleston. What a great team!

Moving Day

The day is finally here—try to enjoy the momentous occasion if you can!

  • Ask your movers to place boxes in their corresponding rooms to make unpacking easier.
  • Keep your moving binder accessible for any phone numbers or details you might need.
  • Celebrate! After everything is unloaded, take a moment to celebrate the move. A lot of hard work has led to this moment!

 

Unpacking

After the big day, it’s time to begin setting up your new home. The task can feel overwhelming, but think of it as a way to arrange everything as you’ve always wanted.

  • Reverse Order. You’ll unpack everything in the reverse order in which you packed it. Begin by unpacking your essentials, and then move on to the next most frequently used items.
  • Organize as You Go. Group things together, create zones, and label. This will help you and your family remember where things go as you adjust to your new home.

Describing how to organize your home requires multiple blog posts (search by category or space for more posts). Use this as an encouraging nudge to organize as you settle into your new space. You’ll thank your future self later!

Remember, moving doesn’t have to be as stressful as everyone thinks. You can do this!

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Ready to move like a pro organizer? If all this sounds like more work than you’re willing to take on, contact us to learn about our move management and unpacking services. We can take all of this off your plate!

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