Clear the Clutter With Christine…7 Tips to Organize a Small Bathroom

As an organizer, I’m often asked questions about getting organized whether through social media or in my daily life. I love being able to help others clear the clutter and get organized so I have decided to do a question and answer post appropriately titled Clear the Clutter with Christine. This week’s question is “how do I organize a small bathroom?” Small spaces can be a challenge so it is important to use every bit of space especially if you share it with someone. Remember it is rarely about not having enough space it’s having too much stuff and not using the space properly. These are some tips to get your bathroom organized and start making mornings a bit less stressful.

PURGE
When you have a small space keeping only what you need, use and have space to store is essential. The less you have the bigger the room will feel. Bathrooms are damp and humid which can lead to mildew so less clutter the more room to breathe.

SORT
In a bathroom, it is important to sort like items not only for easy access but to prevent overbuying which is something you want to avoid in a small space. Some examples of categories are hair, makeup, everyday essentials, and first aid.

VERTICAL SPACE
The easiest way to create more space in a bathroom is to use vertical space under the sink and the back of the door. This is one of my favorites because it gives you added drawers under the sink which is helpful in small spaces. This will give you added storage on the back of the door and can be customized to fit your needs.

LAZY SUSAN
You expect to find a lazy susan in a kitchen but this one comes in very handy in a bathroom. Keep hair care products, lotions or other items you want to keep accessible and organized.

STORAGE CART
A storage cart is multifunctional because you can use it for makeup, hair care and to store towels. I like to use these clip-on labels to keep it looking neat and organized.

MEDICINE CABINET
The key to an organized medicine cabinet is to use a cabinet organizer like this. You can keep smaller items and everyday essentials for easy access.

DRAWER ORGANIZERS 
How do you keep drawers organized? Purge often, sort like items and use drawer inserts so everything has a place. You will love opening a drawer and finding exactly what you need when you need it.

I hope this was helpful for those who are struggling with a small space dilemma and if you have a question regarding organizing that you would like answered leave it in the comment section below and I will feature it in an upcoming blog.

Organizing The Kitchen With Cape House

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is speaking to groups about purging and organizing areas in their homes. Last nights event at Cape House was not only an amazing turnout but a beautiful shop to share tips on how to organize your kitchen. I brought a few of my favorite things to show the guests how to simplify and organize the Kitchen. Are you ready for a kitchen refresh?

PURGE
Remove everything from all drawers and cabinets. Yes, EVERYTHING!
Get rid of expired food and food items you bought and never used that are taking up space. Donate usable food to a local food bank.
Let go of broken, chipped and mismatched dishes and glasses.
Remove items that don’t belong in a kitchen.
Purge multiple utensils and keep only what you need. Who really needs 5 ice cream scoops?
Small appliances that are broken and cannot be repaired or have never been used.
Tupperware that won’t close properly, has a missing lid or has just seen better days.
Pots and pans that are not in good shape and the extra lids that don’t fit on anything.

KEEP COUNTERS FREE OF CLUTTER
The first thing you see every morning when you wake up to get your cup of coffee and breakfast is the kitchen countertops. If your countertops are covered with unpaid bills, dirty dishes, wallets, keys, purses I think you know where I’m going with this it is a stressful way to begin your day. Kitchen counters are for preparing food all items should have their own area in the home. If you have items that you use on a daily basis a simple tray will keep them neat and organized and looks good too!

REWORK THE SPACE
Now that you have purged look at the space with a fresh set of eyes. What changes can be made to utilize every bit of space? Do you have shelves where the vertical space can be used better? Do you want to add pull out drawers? Now is the time to make these changes.

SORT LIKE ITEMS
After you have decided what to keep it is time to sort like items including food items. Keeping like items together saves money because you are not repurchasing what you already own. Stay away from buying in bulk unless you have the room to store the items. An example of like categories in a kitchen is pasta, snacks, baking, paper products, breakfast items and all of the items you need for your morning shake.

MEASURE
Before you buy containers to organize measure the space. I have seen containers become clutter when they do not work and are not returned.  Measuring allows you to buy exactly what you need and fit the space perfectly.

CONTAIN
There are so many choices on containers so my advice is to keep it simple. My preference is clear or white containers that can be easily labeled. Baskets also look great in pantries.

REFRIGERATOR
The refrigerator is often forgotten when decluttering and organizing the kitchen. A good clean out should happen once a week and I prefer to do it the day before garbage day. This is one of my favorites because you can see items that normally get lost on side shelves. These keep like items together and allow easy access.

JUNK DRAWER
We all have a so-called junk drawer in the kitchen. The problem is when the junk gets overwhelming, the drawer can’t open and it becomes a useless waste of space. Keep only essentials in the drawer and purge it often to keep it that way. What are some essentials? Tape, scissors, extra set of car keys, notepad, pens, tape measure and anything else you deem necessary.

UNDER THE KITCHEN SINK
Underneath the sink is still part of the kitchen and it can become cluttered quickly. This is a favorite because it comes in different sizes and utilizes the vertical space under the sink. Caddies are also helpful to keep cleaning supplies organized.

SET UP A COFFEE STATION
If you want to make your mornings run smoothly keep your coffee essentials located in one area of the kitchen. Purge your coffee mugs and keep only what you use and have room to store.

MAKE A LIST
Keeping a list of the items you need saves time and money. I have mentioned this App in previous posts but it really is my favorite for making and keeping lists.

The kitchen is the hub of the home and keeping it clutter-free and organized makes cooking, entertaining and everyday living easier.

Images | Cape House 

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Tips To Prepare Your Home To Sell

One aspect of my job as an organizer is working with realtors to help clients purge and prepare their homes for sale. In my opinion, if you want a prospective buyer to envision themselves living in your home the first place to start is to simplify the space. Without a doubt, it will make your home more inviting and can really make a difference in the sale of a home. If you are ready to put your house on the market here are some simple tips to get you started.

START EARLY  If you have time on your side get organized for a move as soon as possible it is the key to avoiding stress and aggravation.

PURGE  When you are selling your home not only is purging a must for resale but it is important that you only bring to your new home the items you need, use, love and have a place to store. You will feel better starting with a clean slate.

SORT  Sort items you are keeping, donating and are junk! If you want to determine what is junk this previous post will help you. Sorting items will make the process faster and easier which is what most sellers are trying to accomplish.

SIMPLIFY  You are probably thinking purging is the same as simplifying but when it comes to selling a home it has a different meaning. Simplifying the space is about minimizing what you have displayed. Personal photos and objects should be kept to a minimum so a potential buyer can imagine themselves living in the home. Less is always more when selling a home.

DONATE  Schedule a donation pick up before you begin the purging process. I like to schedule at least two when preparing clients for a move. If you don’t need it you can cancel it. It’s better to be over prepared when it comes to moving.

MAKE LISTS  Keeping ongoing lists on what needs to be accomplished and checking off what has been completed is the key to an organized move. Your notebook will become invaluable during the moving process.

LABEL ALL CONTAINERS  Labeling your containers and boxes is the key to a smooth move. It not only helps you but if you are hiring movers it makes unpacking easier for you both.

Selling your home doesn’t need to be an emotional roller coaster if you’re organized from the start. Plan ahead, purge unnecessary items and enjoy the transition into your new home.