There’s actually some psychology around the “just in case“ clothes. For many, they symbolize a safety net, for others a self esteem issue. Let’s explore. When you see the bags full of “goal weight” clothes tucked away in the closet it’s a reminder to yourself that your current weight is temporary and before you know it, you’ll get back into those ‘skinny jeans’. No matter the reason, it’s emotional rather than practical.

There is even a psychology concept called enclothed cognition which examines why certain clothes can make us feel more confident or creative. For so many of us, the clothing we own reflects who we are or who we strive to be. The reality is, it can be very satisfying to de-clutter, leaving only the clothes that make you feel best or fit well in your closet. If you feel like you are ready, it may be time to let go of those clothes you don’t wear and purge.

There’s no magic number about the amount  of clothing in your closet, but a recent report indicates that most people don’t use 50-percent of what is stored in their closet. That is valuable storage space being wasted on clothes you don’t like or don’t fit anymore.

Organizational experts say if you have something in your closet that you haven’t worn in a year, it’s time to let it go. Or you can take the advice of renowned organizer, Marie Kondo. She is best known for her books, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy, which also inspired her Netflix series. Her mission is to get rid of the things in your life that don’t bring you joy. No matter how you approach this, it’s time to get it busy and lighten your load. And while it can be emotional, there is a great sense of peace when your life is organized, less cluttered and everything has its place.

Begin by making two piles: clothes to keep and clothes to discard. Be honest with yourself, if you haven’t worn an article of clothing in a year and it doesn’t fit…it’s time to let it go. Or if it is not bringing you joy and it’s not making your life better, it’s just clutter. But for those who have a really hard time parting with items, place your discard items in a bin or box and label it with the date.  If after 6 months, you haven’t gone back in the box to retrieve something you placed in there, you can feel confident you won’t miss it went it’s gone.

Those discarded clothes can be put to good use. You could take them to a consignment shop or donate them to the charity of your choice.  There are always people in need of gently used clothing in all sizes.  The end results? You now have a thinner closet with only the clothes you really wear and fit you well.

Since you’ve done all this great work, this is an opportunity to truly organize your new wardrobe. Consider a custom-built closet with the capability to arrange all your clothes just the way you like them. At Closets by Design®, we’re passionate about revolutionizing the modern closet so you’re always organized without sacrificing style. Schedule a free in-home design consultation.

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Does Living with Less Equal Happiness

You’ll find articles about this all over the internet; less clutter will lead to less stress. One of the most binge-able shows streaming right now is “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” After the show debuted on the streaming service Netflix, there were reports of surges in donations to thrift stores as well as throngs of people shopping for containers. People are being inspired, and Closets by Design can help them achieve their goals.

Expertise Meets a Helping Hand

We are not de-cluttering experts — we’ll leave that up to you. But, we can help you imagine what your totally organized spaces will look like. With a free design consultation, we can help make your minimalist/organized dreams come true, room by room. We’ll provide you with storage options designed specifically for your life. For example: if you’ve managed to pare down your unworn clothing but just can’t bring yourself to say goodbye to a single pair of shoes! Perfect! Closets by Design can accommodate your love with a beautiful wall of slanted shoe shelves. Maybe it’s a collection of cashmere sweaters? A cubby space specifically for those sweaters can fit the bill. That’s one of the things that makes Closets by Design so unique; our wide range of custom closet options and features made to order with quality top of mind.

A streamlined wardrobe is the perfect place to embrace the minimalist trend. If your day begins with one less decision about what to wear and no roadblocks in locating exactly what you are looking for, all the while you’re in a calm, clean, and beautiful environment, then your day is off to a good start. Leave the hassles to traffic and work!

Can Closets by Design be the Inspiration?

Like we said before — we are not de-cluttering experts. BUT, that doesn’t mean our beautiful products can’t provide the inspiration to minimalize. Just one look at our beautifully designed garage systems could motivate a weekend purging. Our garage systems look sleek and clean and are exactly on point. From garages to home offices, to laundries and pantries, Closets by Design offers more services than just closets! Providing whole-home organizing options makes Closets by Design a “one-stop shop” for all your organizing needs.

If you’re ready to embrace the minimalist trend and tackle all that clutter, Closets by Design can help. Contact us today and we’ll send one of our talented design experts to your home for a complimentary design consultation.

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With toys, shoes, sports and art supplies, the kids are turning your palace into a pit…who you gonna call? Camp Kid Clutter Busters!

The pros at Closets by Design came up with some ideas to help you transform messy Madison and Junkyard Jason into mini Marie Kondos.

Helping You Contain the Clutter

We help people put their mess to rest every day – designing and installing custom closets, pantries, garages – you name it. People usually focus on the adult spaces – but by putting some effort into your kid’s closet and play spaces – you can ultimately cut down on the clutter around the entire house AND teach kids organization and responsibility at the same time.

Here are some of the helpful Camp Kid Clutter Busters tips for busy families.

Hang Time

Two sets of hanging rods doubles your hanging space. The lower rod allows a smaller child to reach their own clothes without help. The accessibility also allows kids to put their own clothes away on laundry day. This teaches them responsibility and organization at an early age. Store clothes your child doesn’t fit into yet or out of season items on the top rod.

Bin There, Done That

By adding some open shelves to your closet, the space can be transformed with decorative bins and baskets; key components of clutter control. Bins and baskets hold everything from clothes to toys. Children can easily pull these containers out of the closet and put them back at the end of play time.

Kids Kicks

Kids tend to kick their shoes off anywhere and everywhere. This makes finding those shoes difficult sometimes. Designate a specific spot on one of the open shelves to neatly store shoes. You can also store shoes in a bin or a basket. If the closet has a hinged door, utilize an over-the-door shoe organizer.

Clutter Command Center

If the closet space isn’t ideal for the ideas mentioned above, consider creating a free-standing clutter command center. These can be customized to fit a child’s needs. Lots of books? Add more bookshelves. Need a place to read those books? Add in a bench seat with storage underneath. Lots of Legos? Custom cubbies can store these trip hazards in a snap.

Win the Chore Wars

In addition to the design tips, Closets by Design’s Camp Clutter Busters includes ideas to help parents win the chore wars:

• Make cleaning a game! Set a timer on a task and have kids try to beat the clock. Or, have them ring a bell when they finish a chore.
• Create a cleanup chart. As they finish a task, have kids mark a check in the box. Or, let them fill in the box with fun stickers.
• Offer incentives. If the kids do their share of cleaning, allow them to have more screen time with their favorite electronic device. Or, let them choose what to have for dinner or what movie to watch for a family movie night.

Are you a parent in need of Camp Kid Clutter Busters? Save your sanity and space! Click here to contact Closets by Design today for a free consultation.

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Step 1: Group items.
As you’re cleaning out your garage, shelves and closets, group any like items together in piles. You might have groupings of books, clothing, sporting goods, kitchen items, toys and décor, for example.

Step 2: Advertise.
In addition to signs you post around the neighborhood, go online to promote your yard sale. Take advantage of free avenues, such as local Facebook groups dedicated to yard sales. Post plenty of pictures of items ahead of time, as some people might offer to buy an item on the spot even before your sale.

Step 3: Plan your layout.
Use tables for smaller items, grouped by category, so shoppers can easily see what you’re selling. If you must place items on the ground, place tarps or blankets on your driveway first. It’ll look nicer than concrete!

If possible, display clothing on garment racks. Crumpled-up piles of T-shirts won’t sell, but a tidy row of ladies’ dresses and blouses might attract attention.

Lastly, leave enough space for shoppers to move around easily without bumping into each other or knocking over your displays.

Step 4: Price items to sell.
Don’t expect to earn a ton of money at your garage sale — people are there looking for a bargain. They’ll either try to negotiate pricing with you or will avoid anything that seems overpriced. As a general rule of thumb, price your items at around 20 percent of what you paid for it.

Step 5: Plug in electronics.
Do you want to keep answering the question, “Does it work?” Probably not — so avoid confusion by plugging in any electronics. Not only does it make it easy for shoppers to see items in action, but it also can add a visual draw for passers-by.

Step 6: Stay safe.
Put your money box in a nonvisible location and keep it manned. Lock your windows and doors, and avoid having anyone come inside your house. Take note of where the nearest public restroom is ahead of time so you can give directions if anyone asks to use yours.

Step 7: Designate free items.
Put any items you’re willing to give away in a box marked “Free.” When the yard sale is close to ending, you might start adding items to the box. The goal is to get rid of things you don’t need, not bring them back in the house with you. You can also schedule a donation pickup for unsold items.

What are some other ideas you have for running a successful yard sale? Post them in the comments below!

To brainstorm ways to add custom storage to your home, please contact us. We have lots of great solutions to help you stay organized from here on out!

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And you want to enjoy the time as well, so trying for a complete home renovation is probably not the way to go. However, there are a few things you can do that will enhance the experience of being the “hostess with the mostess” without breaking the bank.

Planning Ahead

With scheduled visits you have the luxury of time to plan ahead. Map out a schedule of tasks that will bring you to the day of guest arrival without going crazy. Don’t put everything off until the last minute; do as much as you can in advance.

• Tackle any deep cleaning like a Swiffer sweep of walls to catch dust or cobwebs
• De-clutter your porch and entryway; replace any burned out lights
• Get out any holiday dishes you’ll need and have them washed and ready
• Do your holiday/seasonal decorating early and pack away the storage boxes
• Do some menu planning and be sure you stock your kitchen with what you’ll need
• Have snacks and drinks to accommodate your guests’ tastes—coffee or tea, sweetener or sugar?
• Add a night-lite or two for safe trips to the bathroom at midnight
• Inventory bed linens and towels to ensure you have enough to accommodate everyone
• Figure out sleeping arrangements if the visit requires some shifting (i.e., grandparents in the kids’ rooms, get air mattresses for the cousins)
• If you have pets, bathe them and clean their sleeping areas
• Clear your yard of any unnecessary items or dead plants
• If the season permits, clean patio furniture and have it ready for use

The more you can do in advance, the less stress you’ll have when your guests actually arrive. You want to be able to spend the time with them, not spend time continually fussing and worrying.

Creating a Gracious Guest Room

The guest room is the designated space for your visitor’s use and comfort. Making that space as inviting as possible will add to the enjoyment of their visit. Whether you have a specific guest room or a room that doubles as an office or other-use room, here are some things you can do to make the guest room (or area) comfortable and welcoming.

De-clutter the area.

• If this room is generally used as a catch-all, clear it out for the visit. If it’s a dual-purpose room, store away the everyday “stuff” that fills the space, freeing up furniture surfaces and the floor so your guest will have usable space.

Have sufficient closet and drawer space.

• Make sure there is enough closet and drawer space so your guest doesn’t have to live out of their suitcase, and show them the space that is available for their use. A dozen assorted hangers in the closet should take care of any hanging needs, and dresser drawers or closet hanging cubbies can hold folded items. Free up closet space for their empty suitcase and shoes.

Provide a seating/reading area.

• Many people travel with their laptops, notebooks or kindles, so a comfortable reading space will be appreciated. A chair, desk and a strong reading light invite leisurely relaxation for time alone or winding down before bed. You may want to place books or magazines that you know your guest will enjoy on the night stand, along with some reading glasses—just in case.

Ensure adequate lighting.

• Along with a reading lamp, a bedside table lamp that can be turned off from bed is a good idea so your guest won’t have to maneuver in the dark after turning off a light switch. A night light in the room or bathroom is helpful in unfamiliar surroundings, especially if the bathroom is down the hall. Supplement natural light with enough lamps to brighten the room, one overhead light is usually not enough.

Use nice linens.

• To help your guests get a good night’s sleep, clean, fresh bed linens and pillows are essential. Providing both soft and firm pillows allows your guest to choose which they prefer. Make the bed up just before the visit; don’t have sheets that have been on the bed for months. Provide extra blankets for layering and a lap robe or throw to wrap up in when reading.

Have extra toiletries.

• Be sure the bathroom is stocked with extra toilet paper and tissues. You can also create a welcome basket with toiletries like shampoo, soap, new toothbrush, toothpaste, feminine products, shaving cream, a razor—things they might have forgotten. If they’re sharing a bathroom, this welcome basket can be in the guest room along with their towels and wash cloths so there’s no question that these items are for their use.

Additional thoughtful touches.

• Reflect on what you like in your own room, and add that little something extra to make your guest room feel like home.
  • • Holiday/seasonal decoration in the room
    • Fresh flowers
    • Scented candle
    • Alarm clock
    • Small TV, radio or CD player and selection of music
    • Standing mirror and/or makeup (magnifying) mirror

Extra special touches. Goodie basket with bottled water and favorite snacks in the room.

If you need help getting ready for the holidays, Closets by Design can help you get the most out of your space by maximizing utility and storage. Our talented designers are expert at planning dual-purpose rooms, custom closets, highly functional kitchens, pantries and utility/laundry rooms to make your life easier.

Just go online to www.closetsbydesign.com to visit our virtual showrooms, or call 1-888-500-9215 to find the designer nearest you and schedule a free, in-home consultation. Plan now to make the holidays more enjoyable and stress free for you, your family and invited (or surprise) guests.

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