In our next session, Jennifer, Simon, and I returned to his bedroom to clear his bookcase and dresser. As ever, using my professional organizer’s method of working top-to-bottom, we started on the top left. We used the left side of the bookcase to display a variety of items. We sifted through books on the right side, keeping some, and setting others aside for his little brother, or for recycling, or for the trash.
BeforeAfter
Next, we cleared the dresser. Now, Simon will be able to enjoy his room much more. Both he and his mother smiled as we finished. Success!
BeforeAfter
About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced, and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.
For our next project, Michael and I returned to the basement. One of its rooms includes built-in shelves, holding lots of medicines and natural remedies. He has an ailment that requires some of the items for treatment. It had become hard to see all of what was there.
As ever, using my professional organizer’s method of working top-to-bottom, we started on the top shelf. Working our way down, we pulled some medicines to return to a pharmacy, and dumped others into a paper bag, while saving their containers to be recycled. We would pour out others.
We even consolidated holiday wrapping, putting them on one shelf together. They will be much easier to see, when the time comes to use them.
BeforeAfter
On the lowest shelf were some bottles of wine, produced by Michael’s third cousins in France! We put them on the top shelf.
BeforeAfter
As we finished, there was empty space on the shelves! Bonus points!
What’s next? Maybe more in that room, but there also is another basement room to de-clutter, and a shed, too!
About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced, and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.
A room in Willow’s house is intended to serve several functions. It’s her home office. It stores art projects and supplies. It also could be a place for guests to sleep. That would require moving heavy furniture, which we would do at a later time.
As we got acquainted, I suggested that we start in one area of the room and work our way around it. It’s my professional organizer’s tried-and-true method. It keeps us on task and on track.
We started by the door. A low table with paper storage, which had been a “freebie,” was partly used. We put some more paper in it, then Willow changed her mind. Out of the room completely! It might be used elsewhere in the house, or maybe it would end up by the side of the road, for someone else. We put its notebooks into a bin. We cleared the dresser, put some art supplies into a corner bookcase, set other items in the trash, and still others into recycling. We repeated the process with a stand in the corner, which Willow set aside to place in the interior green house. We also removed the white cubbies, which also might be used elsewhere in the house. We cleared the floor, too. I placed a tall stool in the corner.
BeforeAfter
Our next focus area was a low bookcase, which held a few plants, including a decades-old jade plant! On its lower shelves – bins and papers. We went through the papers, putting some into recycling, others into the handy bins. Willow would review others.
BeforeAfter
With our remaining time, we cleared the sleeper sofa. We removed the “TV tray” and a small table. We cleared the table next to the sofa. Breathing room! Willow still would be able to reach items needed for her work, which might be enhanced by the cleared space.
BeforeAfter
Next time, we will continue on our way around the room, as its transformation takes shape.
About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced, and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.
Two young brothers share a bedroom in a stately house dating from 1830. They were there to help part of the time, while their dad Yoshi and his partner Jessica were more present.
First, their two beds. When getting into bed at night, I asked if they care if their beds had been made in the morning, or if it feels okay if not. They didn’t respond much. Saying that I much prefer to slip into a made bed, I added that it’s a strongly affirmative morning action. It also feels more respectful to the self.
BeforeAfter
Starting to move around the room, we focused on a trunk and the items on top of it. First, we moved the chair, empty boxes, and portable plastic file box. Then, we pulled many Legos pieces from around the room, and added them to the trunk, which was now about two-thirds full with them. Hopefully, any wanted pieces could be found and, maybe equally important, not stepped on. That hurts!
BeforeAfter
Our next focus was a set of shelves on the wall. We changed it to better display some toy tractors, small stuff animals, and books. Below the shelves, we put some more stuffed animals in a basket, and also placed a miniature hot air balloon atop a toy bus.
BeforeAfter
Moving around the room, we turned our attention to a low red chest. We closed its doors, and removed empty boxes.
BeforeAfter
As we finished what was visible, Jessica and I looked at bins stored in the closet. One held a funny surprise. Her partner Yoshi, a high school teacher, paints houses during the summer. The bin’s contents – three painting shoes. Not two or four. Three! Where was its “mate?” We laughed.
For a laugh!
About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced, and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.
You know how it is with moving and getting settled. It’s tiring and stressful. Add physical ailments, and it can be downright overwhelming, too.
Kristin moved into her new apartment, and part of her outer porch became a dumping ground. We set to turn that around. We consolidated craft and sewing supplies, set aside frames with broken glass to be carefully thrown out, and other items, like cardboard boxes, to be recycled. Into another box – items that her friends might want.
BeforeAfter
Now, Kristin can sit in her outer porch with some measure of comfort. Sure, there’s more work to do there, but it’s not overwhelming. Porch progress! She was happy.
About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced, and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.
For our next project, Michael chose an outdoor storage space next to the house front door. It’s like a mini garage, though without a door. It held bikes, summer sports equipment, his daughter’s stilts, a folding chair, and more. Up top – an extension cord, car rack parts, a screen.
Using my professional organizer’s method of working top-to-bottom, we started up top. I suggested hanging the extension cord. We placed the rack parts below. We stored the screen vertically. (It’s used for garlic!)
Below, we used the rack for the two adult-sized bikes. I recommended hanging them, to save space. We hung bike helmets on hooks already there – yay!
We put summer toys into the bin already there, including badminton rackets and a plastic bat. When the summer season ends soon, it will be easy to put the bin in the basement, then bring it back up for next summer.
As we worked, Michael asked me to name the space. The first name that popped into my mind was Alphonse, for no reason at all. Not a good choice. Now, I think Minnie is a better name, for the mini garage! I hope he laughs at the suggestion, then agrees.
BeforeAfter
About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced, and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.
Michael and I devoted a session to one of the basement rooms. We would use my professional organizer’s tried-and-true method of working our way around the room, and top-to-bottom.
We would start on a set of shelves which he called the “toy library” – a delightful surprise! We looked at each item, and he decided if it was a keeper, or should be tossed, or donated. Of course, we also cleared the floor in front of it, too.
BeforeAfter
Next, the set of shelves to the right, which held camping gear. We made sense of it, better arranging items so they’ll be easier to see, and then pack for family fun.
BeforeAfter
How many families have cribs that have been used for three generations of babies? This one does! We removed some items from inside and around it; again, to toss or donate.
BeforeAfter
Moving to our right, there was a set of shelves “calling out for attention.” Again, working top-to-bottom, we cleared the general disorder. Now, some fun, too. We placed a small art piece by Michael’s mother on the top shelf towards the left, and tucked into the corner an old photograph of a rather stern-looking man. Who is he? Michael’s great-grandfather in Russia!
BeforeAfter
With a cleared wall that now seemed empty, I suggested that we hang a kite. Of course, I asked about the pipe running the length of the room. It was okay. It may surprise anyone walking into the room for the first time!
The kite!
About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced, and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.
In many families, closets can become dumping grounds. In this family, Elizabeth and her two teenaged sons lead busy lives. Those two “conditions” meant that the closet closest to the garage and the kitchen could use some attention.
Suggesting my tried-and-true professional organizer’s method of working top-to-bottom, Elizabeth and I pulled everything off the closet shelf. We “assigned” a bin for each family member so that, when winter returns, gloves and hats will be easy to find. A couple of other bins were for extra items.
BeforeAfterBeforeAfter
After we thought through, and organized some of the family’s winter warmth needs, we turned our attention to those hanging below them. Elizabeth and I carefully looked at all of the items, deciding that some were too “past their prime” to donate, and set them aside for the trash. Others were collected for donation. Others, both hers and some still likely to fit her very tall sons, were re-arranged, so they will be easy to pull and wear.
BeforeAfter
But wait, there’s more! Like all above, we went through the shoe bins below. We matched some sandals, shoes, and boots that were without their “mates,” kept some pairs, and set aside others for the trash or donation.
Success!
About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced, and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.
Jess and John lead a busy life. Both working professionals, they also enjoy a wide variety of activities. Time can be tight, including for keeping things straight. We decided to tackle the living room.
The long view…there were several areas “calling out for help.”
Before
First, a set of decorative shelves, which looked okay at the top. The middle and bottom areas, though, had become a crafts materials storage area, with spill-over onto the floor. As ever, we started at the top and worked our way down. We left some free space, set aside the crafts for storage elsewhere, and cleaned up the floor.
BeforeAfterBeforeAfter
Our next focus was the TV area. We moved their dog Blaze’s bed, placed some of Jess’s rocks collection treasures under the wide screen.
BeforeAfter
With COVID-19, Jess has worked at home much of the time. The couch became her primary workspace. We separated papers to either go back to her “real” office or upstairs office, returned salt and pepper to the kitchen, folded throws and other small blankets,
BeforeAfter
As we finished, John said that he didn’t think we would get it all done. I admitted to having privately thought the same way. We finished it, though! There were smiles all around.
After
About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced, and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.
Jess is a busy professional. She also loves crafts of many kinds. As has been true for many other people spending more time at home during COVID-19, her workspace became cluttered. She, her dear friend Lisa, and I started on its transformation.
Where to begin? The room has a large worktable, a desk, shelves, two beds, and more. We chose the worktable. We would work from one side to the other. With Jess looking a bit apprehensive, I reassured her that all would be okay. We moved the little flower pots to the window sill. We added pens to the cubby holes on the far right corner, added yarn to other storage in the room.
As always, it was a matter of carefully considering each item – how often used, how easy to reach. It’s a process, which sometimes calls for later tweaking. There’s more to do in the room.
As we finished, I suggested a homework assignment for Jess. A somewhat tough one, I asked her to decide which bed to remove from the room. It would allow for more badly-needed storage. Onward to next time!
BeforeAfter
About De-clutter Me!
De-clutter Me! offers non-judgmental, competitively-priced, and confidential assistance to help clear clutter in your home and/or business. We’ve been changing chaos to calm since 2013.
