Having a Clear Kitchen Counter - It's Possible!

Let’s be real, not everyone has the time every night to keep a cleat kitchen counter. Keeping kitchen counters clear can be a challenge, especially in a busy household. But, a clear countertop can help to create a sense of calm and organization in your kitchen. Here are some tips to help you keep your kitchen counters clutter-free:

1. Designate a home for everything: Make sure that everything in your kitchen has a designated place, and make sure that everyone in the household knows where items belong. This will help to keep counters clear and prevent clutter from building up.

2. Get rid of items you don't use: Take a good look at the items on your kitchen counters and get rid of anything you don't use regularly. This could be appliances, decor, or other items that are taking up valuable counter space.

3. Use storage solutions: There are many storage solutions that can help you keep your kitchen counters clear. Consider using a kitchen cart, under-cabinet organizers, or shelf risers to maximize storage and keep items off the counters.

4. Use a "one in, one out" rule: When you bring something new into your kitchen, make sure to get rid of something old to keep the counters clear. This will help to prevent clutter from building up over time.

5. Keep a clear surface for food preparation: Dedicate a portion of your countertop for food preparation, and make sure that it stays clear of any other items. This will help you work more efficiently in the kitchen and keep your counters clutter-free.

6. Put items away immediately: Make it a habit to put items away immediately after using them. This will help to prevent clutter from building up and will keep your counters clear and organized.

7. Make a daily habit of decluttering: Make a daily habit of decluttering your kitchen counters. This will help to prevent clutter from building up and will keep your kitchen looking tidy and organized.

Spend less time cleaning and organizing, and more time enjoying your kitchen!

Why do you want to get Organized? Here are some Benefits.

So there are a lot of benefits to being more organized than just knowing where your items are kept.

Saves you money:

Being organized keeps you from buying items that you already have, but might have forgotten about or lost. Raise your hand if you’ve ever gone to the store and came back home with ingredients you already had unopened, hidden at the back of your pantry. 

Saves time:

No more running around, looking for that lost document you needed. Know where everything is kept, so you can find it when you need it.

Boost energy and productivity.

Productivity is all about efficiency -- doing more, faster and with less. When you are organized, you have your whole day somewhat mapped out. You know which tasks are high priority, and you can schedule them into your day.

Brings peace into your life

Outer order brings inner calm. Unfinished projects, pending to-do’s, cluttered environments can all add stress to our lives. When our area is cluttered, it is a lot of for our brain to process. We see clutter and are then reminded of all the things we need to do. Being organized can help cut out that noise and bring tranquility to our lives.

Helps you sleep better

A messy bedroom can lead to a poor night’s sleep and increased anxiety.

A study, conducted by St. Lawrence University showed that people who have clutter in their bedrooms take longer to fall asleep than those with neat and tidy rooms

Decrease overwhelm

When things are not in order, it can cause overwhelm. Clutter is just basically reminders of things you have yet to do. It’s the one word my clients come to me to express how they are feeling in their space.

Increase time with family

Disorganization distracts us by drawing our attention away from what our focus should be on. 

Who wants to spend every weekend tidying and putting things back using a system that won’t maintain the organization long term? No one. It’s a waste of time and you could be doing so much more. By finding the perfect system, tidying won’t take as long and you can do more with your time.

Mudrooms can be both Stylish & Functional

Did you happen to catch the Gazette last week? I was featured, along with another organizer! So exciting. Here is the link to read the full article.

How To Refresh Your Home for Spring

Spring is in the air! Spring is such a wonderful time. It is the season for new beginnings. Temperature is getting better, we’re getting more hours of sunlight, everyone just seems to be in a better mood. The change in seasons is also a great time to make changes in your home.

Here are some things you can do during this season to refresh your home for Spring.

Spring Cleaning
There’s something about opening up the windows, letting the fresh air in that feels so refreshing. I get so motivated to deep clean my home. I did create a printable on spring cleaning, areas we often forget so don’t forget to check that out.

Switching out your Wardrobe
Time to put back those dark, thick winter clothes and bring out the lighter, spring outfits. It’s a great time to assess what you didn’t wear during the winter and consider donating them. If a whole season went by and you didn’t wear it, chances are you won’t wear it next year either. I also do a deep clean of my winter boots and coats and tuck those away as well for next year.

Setting up your outdoor patio.
The first bbq of spring is always a big deal for us. We sweep our deck, clean and bring out our patio set, and deep clean the bbq.

Change up your decor for Spring
Wake up those tired interiors. A simple swap of cushions, throws can really change the way a home looks and feels. Put away some of the thicker textiles, and opt for light ones that will help make the home feel airy.

Flowers and Greenery.
A simple vase full of fresh flowers and indoor plants can really freshen up the home and be the perfect pick-me-up. For those who can’t keep plants alive (me!) you can always opt for artificial.

Lighten the Load
If you want that light and airy vibe, then a good declutter is needed to ensure you only have what you need, use, and love. Go through your belongings, room by room, space by space and let go of the things that no longer serve you. Welcome that white space.

Are you feeling energized? What a difference these small changes can make! Do you have anything else you like to do in Spring? Leave me a comment below.

Week 10: Maintenance & Routines

We come to the end of our 2021 Home Organizing Challenge. It has been a wonderful 10 weeks and I hope you have all made progress in your spaces.

This week we won’t be focusing on a specific area in our home, but I want to talk about Maintenance and Routines.

Being organized is not a one-size-fits-all. If you’ve set up a new organization system in your home, give it a few weeks to get used to. After, take a step back and assess. What is working, what isn’t? If it didn’t work for you, try something new. Think of spaces in your home that are working and try to recreate that in your other space.

Maintenance is the key to keeping things organized. To set yourself up for success, properly label your newly organized spaces. This will not only help you remember, but it can help the rest of the household stay on track as well.

Start your day with Intention:

Pick 2-3 top priorities for the day by urgency, and start with the task you’re dreading the most.

Further break down the tasks into manageable steps. Set up short uninterrupted time blocks to complete those tasks. During this time switch off all distractions and focus on the task at hand.

If anytime you are starting to feel overwhelmed, take a break. Walk around, get a glass of water and take a deep breath to clear your mind. When you’re feeling better, come back to it and continue on.

Before you start preparing for bed, take 10 minutes to do a final tidy. Put anything out of place, back to its home. 

Week 9: Playroom Organization

Spring break just ended here in Montreal and I spent the weekend doing a reset of the house. So what perfect time than to discuss kids toys organization!

Kids have a lot of ‘stuff’ and it’s always all over the place unless you have a proper organizing system but let’s face it, it might still be all over the place!

Years ago, I set up the playroom in our basement because it has the most open space. I did not realize that their idea of a playroom is being in the room that I am in, and not where the toys are! They started dragging their toys to the living room because it’s right next to the kitchen and that’s where they were happy playing. This made me rethink my space, and create a corner in the living room to hold some of their toys (without it being an eye sore)

Organizing kids toys can be tricky.

It has to be easy for them to access.
Easy for them to tidy up afterwards.
Have clearly labeled bins for the different categories (pictograms work great for those non readers!)
Whether you are a fan or not but ROYGBIV (rainbow) organization just works so well in a playroom.

Within a playroom, I like setting up zones.

• A space for creative play

• Imaginative play

• Educational toys

• Reading nook

Kids often don’t need as many toys as we think. In fact studies have shown that Fewer toys at once may help toddlers to focus better and play more creatively. I remember when my kids were younger, I would rotate the toys so they didn’t get overwhelmed by all their choices.

To start decluttering kids’ toys, start by removing everything and grouping into similar categories, All the barbie dolls separate, their accessories together, lego sets together, playmobil together etc. Find appropriate containers to hold the items together.

Evaluate their toys, in fact, get the kids involved. Ask them if they still enjoy playing with them. Every few months we do a walkthrough of our playroom and the kids pick out the toys that are no longer bringing them joy but might make another child happy. We go through those toys and keep aside for donation. Not only does this teach kids to be considerate, but it teaches them to be mindful of their belongings.

Here are some of my go to playroom organization items:

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Labels for Toy Storage

The ever versatile Kallax from ikea is my go to unit for organizing a playroom. a kallax on its side allows kids to still access the top surface. Use it for toys and books!

Ikea Trofast is great for some of the bulkier items.

Week 7: Bedroom Organization

This week we focus on a space where we spend almost half our lifetime. Our bedrooms.

The bedroom should be a space where we go to relax and unwind. Having a cluttered bedroom does nothing to help with those feelings. Outer order brings inner calm. So if your bedroom is out of order, how can you expect inner calm?

Let’s break our bedrooms up into zones, just like we did with the kitchen (insert link here).

• Nightstand for personal items.

• Clothing (closets/drawers)

• Memorabilia and Sentimental items typically also go in the bedroom.

Before starting, look around and focus on the area which is giving you that heavy feeling. Are there piles of clutter anywhere? Is a zone being used for something that shouldn’t really be there?

If that heavy area is not really obvious to you, let’s start with the nightstand. It’s small, easy to accomplish, and will help motivate you to tackle the other areas.

Empty out your night table and keep only the items you would need while you’re in bed or preparing to go to bed.

Phone charger, tissues, hand lotion, lip balm, a book/journal, pens/pencils for taking notes, cream etc. Avoid keeping odds and ends in this drawer, or it will soon turn into a junk drawer.

Drawer dividers are great for keeping the categories separate.

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Moving on to the next category: The closet. Yes, technically the closet is still a bigger space than your sentimental items: But that can be a little tricky. We might get caught in a rabbit hole and start reminiscing, and the task will just take longer than we thought. So lets’ knock out the closet first.

Organizing your clothes can be tricky. Let’s break down the steps. Create mini zones within our closet. (Again, this depends on the size of your closet, but still achievable)

Here are some of the different categories:

• Workout clothes

• Work clothes

• Pj’s/Lounge wear

• Undergarments

• Formal wear

• Seasonal clothes

• Everyday clothes

Now working with what you already have, figure out the best space for these zones.

In my closets, I like to group by category, and then within the category group by colour.

Now for the sentimental items. I don’t actually have physical steps on how to store your sentimental items. Everyone’s situation and items will be different. So I will only offer you this piece of advice: our memories are within us, not within our things. Now, repeat that. You don’t need to keep the physical item to keep those memories. If you do feel the need to keep the object to remember the moment, how about taking a picture of it? It will take up less space and the memories will always be there!

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Now let’s move on to some of my favourite items for organizing the bedroom.

These fabric bins are pretty sturdy and can keep things contained in your closet.

No closet organizing job is complete without matching velvet hangers. Keeps things from falling off and gives a more streamlined look.

Drawer dividers for the win! These keep your categories separate and help keep your drawers from getting messy.

What I do with my kids' artwork and papers?

My daughter loves drawing, and I mean loves it. Every picture she sketches or colours in is special to her. Being the daughter of a professional organizer means she knows she needs to set limits for herself. She cannot keep every one of her creations or she will soon be drowning in her own artwork.

The way I deal with her projects is quite simple and it still allows her to make her own choices.

I allow her one space, just one space. It can be one drawer, one storage container, or even one file folder.

She is allowed to keep anything and everything that fits that one designated space.

Once things start becoming too full, we pull out her papers and it is time to assess. She then sorts through and separates her favourites from the ones she is ready to let go of. Letting go of the item doesn’t decrease its value, in fact it just makes the ones that she keeps a little extra special.

Any paperwork that is ready to be stored longterm: report cards, school awards, and special crafts all go in my clear storage container. It has hanging file folders that I use to separate per grade.

Why Hire a Professional Organizer?

Organizing and decluttering your home can be a daunting task for anyone. Now imagine that task combined with any of the above situations.

Here are some reasons why you might look into hiring a professional organizer:

1. You want to regain control of your home but you don't know where to begin. A professional can help you plan the entire process and provide direction. They also teach you new and creative ways to declutter and organize your home. 

2. You are moving to a new home or downsizing. Moving can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Hire a professional to help ease this new transition. An organizer can help with decluttering your space so it’s ready to be listed, as well as efficiently pack your belongings. An organizer can also be there when it is time to unpack so you can quickly feel right at home in your new space.

3. You are going through a major life transition; be it a new addition to the family, the death of a loved one, merging families, a divorce, or becoming empty nesters. A life transition forces us to step out of our comfort zone and face a new way of living. Making sure your space is functional is especially essential during this time. With everything going on, an organizer can be there to facilitate this process.

4. Your surroundings can influence your mood. Your home should be a refuge - a calm, inviting place to unwind at the end of the day. If your space is cluttered, you may feel stressed or have difficulty feeling productive. Let an organizer help turn your home into your haven.

5. Organizing a space is time consuming and let’s face it, you have things you’d rather be doing with your time. Sometimes it may be best to delegate certain tasks so it frees up your schedule. This way you can spend more time doing the things you love without your home getting out of control.

Managing a household is hard work. Often times you’re juggling a career, family, friends, and that never ending to do list. There never seems to be enough hours in the day. Don’t burden yourself with yet another task. Call in for help before you become too overwhelmed. Let a professional help.

Maintain a sense of routine

Is 2020 over yet? How surreal is this situation we find ourselves in? Self-isolation, social distancing, quarantine – all these terms have become the new norm.  Whatever you may be feeling now, just remember you are not alone.

 Many cities have gone into lockdown with bans on social gatherings, travel, as well as work and school closures. While we may not have control over when we will be allowed back into the real world, what we can control is how we spend our time while isolating.

 As far as possible, try to maintain as much of a routine as you can.

Wake up and go to bed at healthy times to ensure you get enough sleep. Even though you are at home, get out of those PJ’s so your mind knows it is time to get started for the day.

 A healthy routine will require you to try and schedule tasks/activities throughout the day. Make sure to include these key points:

• Fitness. Get your heart rate up, even though you are at home and unable to go to the gym. YouTube has some great Zumba and yoga videos you can follow along as well. Most gyms are even posting daily online workout videos on their social media.

• The state of your home directly effects how you feel. I strongly believe in outer order brings inner calm. Keeping a neat and organized home will make you feel tranquil and energized. A little bit a day is all you need.

• Remain connected with family and friends. Have an online coffee date with them. We need each other more than ever now.

• Go outside for some fresh air. Go for a short walk around the block or even in your backyard.

• Click “next episode” on your shows, read that book you’ve been meaning to get around to, or take on a new hobby – when else will you have this much free time?

 Finally, test out your schedule. It’s not written in stone. Go along with it for a few days, see what works, what doesn’t and make the necessary changes.

See below for the schedule I’ve created for my kids and it’s working well so far.

 At the end of the day, do your best, but cut yourself some slack. This situation is not something we expected or prepared for. We’re all struggling but this will all be over soon.

Don’t forget to follow me on my social media. I’ll be posting more tips and tricks to keep you motivated.