Kids and parents have their own idea about what “organized” means. Usually, I tell parents to relax if their children can find what they need with relative ease, even if mom or dad hates how “messy” the room looks.

On the other hand, when children start to complain that their stuff is lost or that they can’t tell the clean clothing from the dirty ones, then it’s time to take action. These pics from a recent client project really showcase the dramatic change that can be made…and maintained!

Goals: See more floor + decide what to keep and what to discard. Both parent and child were open to repositioning a few items. Notice that the green & pink cubes are now…

…stacked vertically and being used as a night stand. Why not repurpose something you already have instead of buying something new?

Children’s clothing & shoes can be color coordinated, too. For younger kids, this will be easier on mom or dad and older kids will be able to find what they want when they want it (read: leave on time for school).

Just like any other room in your home, the home office can get neglected and breed clutter like rabbits. Especially the paper kind. If you bring work home from your office-office, that’s a double whammy.

These pics from a recent client project shows that you can actually kick paper and other kinds of clutter in the arse. 

Goal: Get the floor back. It was great to be able to open the door fully, and now another desk can be added to the office.

You’ll want to be careful not to yank everything out so that you don’t get overwhelmed. Instead, pick a starting point, work for a few minutes/day (read: 10, 15, 20, 30 minutes) before moving on to the next area.

Don’t forget to clear your desk and the area behind your chair. No clutter behind the chair means your can maneuver more easily.

Do you have a shed?  You might think that since a shed is outside, it doesn’t need to be treated with the same love and care that your “real” home needs.

Sheds and garages need a bit order, so if yours is out of control, it’s time to make hay while the sun’s shinin’! …and when it’s not too hot outside. If the temps are high where you are, pick a time of day when the steam isn’t coming off the driveway. And wear sunscreen. And a hat.

Gloves would help, too…you don’t know what’s in there. I’m kinda picky about what I touch.

1. Figure Out What You Have

What’s in there anyway? Do you still need all that stuff?? Is that thingamabob that you were looking for in that mess? There’s only one way to find out. Yank it all out.

• Look for things you know you can definitely trash or recycle.

• Yes, those old paint cans and broken lights need to go. Kiss the broken plastic containers goodbye, too.

• What’s in that garbage bag? How about the boxes in the back?

• Do you really need that bucket? …and will you still use that weight bench?

• Say “Yes!” when any breathing body offers to help!

2. Put it All Back With a Touch of Organization

Some things to consider:

• Can you walk up to any area and easily access what you need?

• Did you put your like items together?

• Do you need to add labels (for the folks who don’t go in there very much)?

• Do all your containers have lids…that fit…properly?

In the madness of everyday life in our house, I tend to overlook household organizing. A few spots in particular seem to collect old mail, receipts, pamphlets—just about anything. In a moment of clarity, I recently reclaimed an area in my kitchen— ironically the central hub for household management (cooking, planning, scheduling, bill paying, etc.)—that had become one such clutter “hot spot”. The mound of clutter was growing by the day as it became a catch-all for any miscellaneous items.  Pulling cookbooks became a game of Jenga – one false move and the entire pile came crashing down.

I cleared away some piles, created a separate space for some books, sorted and created a binder for recipes I had torn from magazines and newspapers, tossed unnecessary papers, and I now have an uncluttered space of my own. It really took less time and energy than I thought, and with a simple cork board I now can make a grocery list, find a gift card, and remember an invitation. Hopefully, this will inspire me to organize the rest of my house.

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Get Inspired

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• Printable Household Planner Keeps Your Home Running Smoothly [Printables] (lifehacker.com)
• Five Housekeeping New Years Resolutions to Make (blisstree.com)

Do you have a “before” that’s looking for it’s “after?”

Here’s a before:

…and another…

…and another…

Need a little accountability?  Share your “before,” and I’ll follow up with you in 1 month to check in.

• E-mail me your “before” –>  deb [at] dallisonlee [dot] com
• Leave a comment on this post with your twitter handle, facebook page, or e-mail address (spell it out like this: deb [at] dallisonlee [dot] com)
• Include in your comment the one thing you’re going to do to improve your space

You’ll hear from me in 30 days.  Promise.

Your “After” Here

Got office clutter? Drowning in a sea of papers? Don’t worry you won’t sink (well, not too much) if you tackle it a little bit at at a time. Invite a few friends over to help or hire a pro if you want to get more done in less time. 

Before                                                                               After

Related Articles

• Declare Your Independence from Paper Clutter! (creativeorganizing.typepad.com)
• Organizing, getting it scheduled. (multitaskingmoms.com)
• Quote for the Week: On Goals (stacksandstacks.com)

Before

After

Related Information

• Lowes: Organize Your Garage
• How to Organize Your Garage
• Organize.com: Garage
• How to Organize Your Garage In No Time (Barry Izsak)

“Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.” ~Walt Disney

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin.”
~Walt Disney

*Walt Disney quotes found on http://thinkexist.com.