Maximize Your Closet Space

As featured in The Suburban

organized closet

Most of us don’t roll out of bed in the morning and stroll into our well-lit, meticulously organized, could-double-as-a-small-house, walk-in closet. Because of that I have developed some tricks and go-to products I use to maximize space.

Due to the ever changing seasons in our wonderful city chances are you have a much different wardrobe for the spring and summer months than you do for the fall and winter.  If you are lucky and have an extra closet that you can use to rotate your wardrobe by all means use it.  Try to declutter your clothes a few times a year and donate the ill-fitting and rarely worn items.  A great trick to see what you actually wear is to turn all the hangers around on the rod.  As you wear the item put it pack properly. At the end the year you can really get a sense of your go-to items.

If you only have one closet to work with I suggest trying to install a closet organizer. This can provided you with more hanging space and shelves than you already have.  They are reasonably priced and easy to install.  If the DIY thing is not for you try a “closet doubler”.  It’s basically a rod that hangs from your existing rod and.  .  .voila, double the hanging space!  Also try to rethink what you are hanging up. Items like tank tops, belts, scarves and jeans can often be hung together.  My favorite trick is combining a scarf hanger with shower curtain rings. So many items hung in the same amount of space!

One of the easiest swap outs is trading in your mismatched hangers for slimline ones.  They are significantly slimmer, and therefor take up less space than the average hanger and tend to be non-slip as well. No more shirts falling onto the floor!

The most important thing to remember is that the best way to have an organized closet is to routinely reevaluate your clothing needs and try not accumulate too much.

Happy Organizing!

5 Steps to Organize your Space

As featured in The Suburban

Getting organized doesn’t need to be complicated.  While there is no magic wand to turn your junk drawer into a beautifully organized, Pinterest-worthy space; there are a few steps you can take to make organizing easier.

As a Professional Organizer I’ve worked with many types of clients. As a result I’ve been able to zero in on the five steps I use to help me break down and organize virtually any space that comes my way.

  1. Like with Like: It’s always helpful to group your items together to get the full picture of what you’re facing.  You may have a hard time getting rid of a pair of jeans but you probably don’t need 20 of them.
  2. Declutter: Donate/recycle/throw out all the excess/broken/never-used. Ask yourself: Do I really need this?
  3. Put it back: Find the right means of storage.  This could be anything from the right type of hanger to a clear bin or a vacuum bag.  Try to keep frequently used items more accessible.
  4. Label it: Try a label-maker, chalkboard tag, post-it; whatever you like! Just make sure you use something that will stick. You may know where everything goes but the other people in your house probably won’t. The only way to maintain an organizational system is to make it easy for everyone.
  5. Live with it: Make sure the system you developed works for you and your lifestyle.  If it is not working then don’t be afraid to change it!

One of the most common complaints I get from clients is that the clutter overwhelms them and they don’t know where to start.  If that’s the case, try picking out one small aspect of the space you want to tackle.  If it’s a room you are dealing with start with one drawer or box. There is nothing wrong with dealing with the easy stuff first.  It may well jump start the process and give you confidence moving forward!

Happy organizing!

Top 5 Summer Travel Tips

Isn't packing for your trip the best part of vacation? Yeah, not for me either.

We travel quite often (like 5-10 times per year) and usually with both kids. As a result  I have learned some little tricks along the way.  So read on if you would like to make the packing process easier.

1. Packing Cubes

Using packing cubes is by far the easiest way to organize your travel.  Packing cubes are these awesome durable, zipable, smushable bags that fit into your suitcase, usually the top is made of mesh so you can see right through them.  I have been using them for quite some time for my family of four, but Mumi Design just sent me some new ones and they are wayyyyyy cuter than the ones I had.  I use one packing cube per person, that way everyone's clothes are divided before you go.  It makes the unpacking/sorting process way easier when you get to your destination, especially if you are staying in separate rooms. You can pop out each person's cube and give it to them. Smaller packing cubes can be used for shoes, toiletries, etc.

2. Roll it up

If you want the most bang for your suitcase-space buck you need to roll those clothes.  They take up a lot less space when rolled and they are less wrinkly when you arrive. Win win.

3. Don't over pack

I know we all like options, especially when on vacation, but try not to go overboard.  If you have access to laundry facilities while away (and it's either free or not crazy expensive) pack enough for 4 days and wash your stuff.  Most of the time when we travel we stay with friends or family, or in a place with laundry so this tip is key for us.  I pack all of our stuff in one large suitcase for a 7-10 day trip, or one medium suitcase for a long weekend.  Less stuff = less stress. Trust me.

If you can't wash your clothes while away try to pack very versatile, easy to mix & match pieces. And LOTS of underwear.  You CAN re-wear the same outfit.  People won't judge you (well maybe they will but who cares).  It's probably the minimalist in me talking, but seriously,  I have never run out of clothes while traveling and I'm always way happier to be pulling my one suitcase in an airport  than I am watching everyone else struggle to cart all their stuff around.

4.  Travel toiletries

Economically speaking travel products are a huge rip-off. Why on earth would you pay $1 for 1/10th the amount of product that costs $3???? That math just doesn't add up.  That being said, travel toiletries are super convenient.  Especially while traveling by plane.  I have a few solutions to this.  Save your samples & re-use your bottles: I end up with tons of free samples throughout the year.  Shampoo, body wash, face wipes, etc.  I save them all for travel.  I hate buying new travel sized products so I will save the containers my samples come in and re-fill them with the full size stuff.  Make sure the bottles close very well and they won't leak and you're good to go.  To be extra safe I usually put leaky, soap stuff in a plastic baggies and then into a packing cube.

Bonus tip:  Separate your travel toiletries by type and keep them separate from the rest of your stuff.  I heave ours in labelled bins in the linen closet. That way I can just grab and go as needed.

5. Don't bring what you can buy (within reason)               

Listen, when we're heading to an all inclusive in the Caribbean I am bringing enough of everything.  There is no way I'm going to pay $20 for $8 sunscreen at the resort or $30 for 10 diapers (okay, maybe it's a bit of an exaggeration but I'm not that far off).  If we are travelling within Canada or to the U.S.  I just bring enough for a few days and supplement as needed.  I'm not going to waste precious suitcase space to pack a week's worth of diapers, snacks for the ride home or anything else I can easily pick up while away.

 

Have a great travel tip? Get in touch and tell me about it (@organizer_alli/@EverythingInPlace/Everything In Place).  Happy travels everyone!