Organize This// The Attic

IMG_0770My most recent client called me to help her purge and organize her attic space. Attics are like garages they quickly become the place that everything is thrown into with the intent of dealing with it later. Attics usually house holiday items, suitcases, memorabilia, kids old toys, ski equipment and many other rarely used items. There are three easy steps to get your attic organized.

  • Purge, purge, purge. Do not save anything that you have not used or plan to use. Broken christmas ornaments, kids toys, old crutches, broken suitcases and other never used items. If you don’t ski anymore donate old ski shoes, ice skates, hockey sticks and other sports equipment collecting dust.
  • Label, label, label! I can’t say it enough. If you have to go through every container looking for something you will never be able to enjoy all of the hard work you put into organizing.
  • Use open shelving to stack labeled bins and make use of vertical space.

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For the tech savy The Homz Smart Storage App is a complete inventory program for your iPhone that can help you keep track of what you have stored away in bins and boxes.

To give you a head start see the list from Real Simple magazine to begin transforming your attic space.

What If One Day It’s Worth Something?

One of the most common comments I get from clients when purging and organizing a home is “what if one day it’s worth something?

My reply is always the same “what day would that be?” If it is valuable to you, keep it, treasure it, or display it. However if it has been taking up space or stored away in a box it is time to sell it or donate it. These are a few simple steps to begin clearing the clutter in your life.

  • Make an appointment for an appraiser to come to your home and look at the items you feel have value. No better person to ask than an expert in the field.
  • There are plenty of resources to check the value of your item. eBay, Craigslist, Replacements LTD for china and crystal and many others.
  • Is the item worth the space and money it is taking to keep it?

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Use an antique piece of furniture for storage of various items.

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Take all of the matchbooks you have been collecting and display them in a frame.
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Put sports memorabilia and vintage pieces on a shelf.

If you are going to keep the things that hold value, sentimental or monetary, display them. These photos show you some simple solutions. It is difficult to seperate yourself from possessions you have had for many years but the memories will always be yours to treasure.

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Welcome to the Neatly Designed blog, where I share my favorite organization tips, and must-have organizing products.

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Simple Solutions//The MALM Dresser

One simple space saving idea for a small bedroom is to use a chest of drawers in your closet instead of the bedroom. If your dresser will not fit in your closet  an inexpensive option is the MALM dresser from IKEA.

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There are a number of options to fit your space. The price makes it affordable to use in dorm rooms, apartments and small spaces. If you are one of the lucky ones to live near an IKEA they are on sale thru August 26th.

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