Five spaces to clear the clutter at home

The past four months of 2020 have been full of uncertainty and chaos, and some days I don’t know which way is up. Consequently, I can’t help but want to have control of something in my life. I mean, besides which bottle of wine I pick at night, it seems like I’m living in a shitty movie that’s dragging on way too long. So, I’ve been channeling my inner Marie Kondo and doing some major purging and organizing. If you need some room to breathe, here are five spaces to tackle to clear the clutter in your head and your home:

Bathroom

Master bath, kids bath, guest bath…it doesn’t matter. Open up the vanity and medicine cabinet and take a deep breath. Toss expired bottles of medication, the graveyard of beauty products that didn’t work and those Q-tips that have migrated in the back of the drawer. You can snag drawer organizers to keep your daily stuff easily accessible. Take anything off the countertop that can fit under the sink. If you don’t have shelves under your sink, this expandable shelf can be customized to hold the ugly stuff that clutters up your space. You should be left with toothbrushes, toothpaste, a box of tissues and hand soap on your countertop; now doesn’t that feel so much better?

Pantry

An organized pantry will not only look better, but it will help you be more intentional in the kitchen. First thing, look at expiration dates on the stuff that’s been lingering for awhile and pitch anything that’s out-of-date. It’s easier to see how much you have left of an ingredient if it’s in a clear container. I love these air-tight containers you can get on Amazon for cereal, dry rice, pasta, flour, sugar, whatever! Then — this is the best part — LABEL the containers! I love labels! You can get super cute chalkboard style or even pre-printed ones on Amazon, too. Try taking small packages out of their larger boxes and sorting in open storage baskets. It will help your kiddos to grab-and-go and you won’t reach into an empty box of granola bars and wonder who TF left it there. Don’t get me started on your spice drawer. I’m begging you…get these labeled spice containers: Life. Changing.

I love these baskets from Target! The kids can easily grab their faves.

Kitchen cabinets

Do you have a drawer full of utensils you have to dig through to find the one you actually need? I know the feeling. Empty one drawer at a time and sift through. Put all your daily use items together and the once-in-awhile stuff in another spot that’s not taking up prime real estate in your kitchen. That juicer you shoved in the back of a cabinet after the celery cleanse from 2016 – sell it or donate it. If you come across something you haven’t used in years, it’s probably time you let it go. And that junk drawer? Everyone has one (or two) that you’ll need to purge a little more often. Grab some drawer organizers to keep pens, paper clips, notepads and small electronic devices or cords in order. Clear your countertops from mail and paperwork with a cute letter holder and find a cute bowl or basket for keys.

Playroom

You can’t just go throwing all your kid’s stuff into a garbage bag and not expect an epic meltdown. I always do it with my kids. Prepare them a few days ahead of time that you’ll be sorting through their toys and choosing the ones they don’t use very often to donate to kids who might not have any toys. This way, it’s not a shock to them and they feel positive about giving to someone in need instead of angry that you took their stuff away. Then go through all the baskets, cubbies and drawers together and you’ll find it to be much more rewarding for everyone. Once the dust clears, be sure to keep like items together. Cars and trains in baskets, LEGO in boxes and board games in a cabinet. When everything has it’s place, it’s easier for you and the kids when it comes time to clean up.

Closets

When it comes to your closet, listen to Elsa and let it goooooooo! I can guarantee you have clothes and shoes that don’t fit. There are t-shirts from college with pit stains and maternity clothes that got shoved in a drawer and forgotten. Take it all out and sort it on your bed in three categories: keep, donate and throw away. Keep only the things that you love even if it means you only have a fraction of clothes left in the end. If something doesn’t serve you anymore, there’s no need to hang onto it. As far as organizing everything you decide to keep, built-in closets are going to make getting dressed so much more enjoyable. Unless you’re handy (I am not), I’d highly recommend hiring someone to install them for you. We used a local company recommended by a friend of mine, but you can also check into The Container Store for custom closet storage as well.

Finally, consider the storage space available in your home and how much stuff you have. Utilize your attic for things you might need one day but don’t want taking up a footprint. You may even think about repurposing rooms in your home, especially if it’s a historic home which can tend to have smaller rooms. I’ve seen people turn an extra bedroom into a beautiful closet! Because I can appreciate a well-organized space and love finding inspiration for my own home, I was browsing through the listings on JAX Historic Realty and found some drool-worthy closet spaces. If you’re looking for a home that can organize your chaos, check out the listings on Ortega historic real estate. Erin King is a Best of Zillow® REALTOR® who specializes in Jacksonville’s historic neighborhoods.  Historic homes feel a bit like kindred spirits. For the past two decades, he has been passionate about telling their unique histories and restoring them to new life. Today, he helps other old home aficionados do the same. If you’re looking for inspiration to organize a space in your house or simply enjoy looking at beautiful homes while sipping a glass of rosé after the kids go to bed, check out his site!

Where will you start first? I’ve given you five spaces to declutter and organize in your home to help calm your mind and reinvigorate your spirit. There’s no time better to take control of your safe space and make it happy and functional for your whole family to enjoy together. Happy organizing!

Double-hang bars, shoe storage and lots of drawers – my idea of a fabulous closet space! I found this one on one of Erin E. King’s home listings.