Let's talk donations.

When you're getting organized this Spring season, you'll likely want to get rid of quite a bit. Some people struggle knowing how or where to donate & get overwhelmed, especially with odd items like old cellphones, electronics, music instruments, etc. This can lead to just trashing it but there's always someone who can use most of what you can't. Below you'll find three quick tips to help you out.

1. Sort items into a bag that is a separate color than your trash bags, then immediately place into your vehicle.
2. Find a home you're willing to take your donations to that will make you feel like they can have a second life and give you a sense of happiness to let go. i.e., conservative work clothing in good condition to Dress for Success or old linens to an animal shelter, etc.
3. Recognize they served you well for a time and as Marie Kondo says "thank them for their service".

If your looking for more in-depth information on donating and where to donate specific items (cell phones, partially used gift cards, old computers, etc. HERE is a great detailed post from Brad Aronson.

Ahhh...Spring. The birds are chirping, the warm breeze is wafting through the window, the flowers are blooming... 

and...

your closets are overflowing, drawers won't close, and you're tripping over stuff everywhere! 

It can be overwhelming to have too many items everywhere in your home, and it affects your daily routine (where are those... soccer cleats?? We are already late!), your mental well being, and peace of mind (I can't look at these piles one more second!)

First thing to remember is, it's going to take a little time, and progress is better than perfection. I've found that most people don't make time to declutter and organize their homes, and end up feeling overwhelmed after months (or years) of accumulating belongings. Schedule an hour or two at a time, set a timer, play some fun music and let's get started!

1. Start with storage spaces. You have to address the areas you want to be functional for storing your belongings first. Take everything out of one closet or dresser drawers, and examine the items for functionality and fit. If you're taking on the whole house, sometimes this means working "backwards" and organizing the garage and or attic first so your infrequently used household items have somewhere to live.
2. All space is not created equal. Don't store something you use once a year in a "prime real estate" area. For example, Christmas plates shouldn't be on an easily accessible shelf in a kitchen cabinet & ski socks shouldn't be in your everyday sock drawer. 
3. Hit the store after the clutter. Purchase organizational items AFTER you've completed the purging process, not before. Take time to carefully measure and examine exactly what you need and what will fit where. This will save you time and money. 
4. Get in the Zone. Store things in categories or "zones"... i.e., in the kitchen, baking items go together in one area. In a closet, all short sleeved casual tops together, then long sleeved, etc. Plan your storage for what is easiest for you and or/your family to maintain. Will you use color coding or will just sleeve length be enough for you? Do you want detailed drawer organizers, in your kids' rooms or will a picture label on the drawer be enough for them to maintain the system?
5. Label Label Label! Get creative - use pictures for young children who can't read, design your own labels on your computer, or use fun paint pens. Just don't forget to label so everyone knows what goes where.

Let us know if we can help you along the way. From a master plan, working with you side by side, & or accomplishing your organizational tasks while you're at work, Kate Larkin & Co. has you covered.
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This is the perfect time of year to think about organizing those feared and dreaded spaces- the attics, garages, and basements.  For one, the weather is (somewhat) conducive to being in non-temperature-controlled environments. Hot weather will be here before we know it, especially here in the mid-south.  We basically have two seasons: HOT and RAIN.  For those of us northern transplants, the "winter" is pretty mild.  

I always tell my clients that the ideal organizing situation is to start backwards- start where things from your home may need to move into- which means attics and garages.  You'd be surprised that likely 50% or more of what is in your attic is probably trash.  By tackling this space, you make room for other things infrequently-used in your home like luggage and Christmas décor. 

Garages are also a place that sometimes needs some TLC and space planning.  Ceiling- mounted racks and wall organizers with specialty hooks can make pulling into your garage a calming experience every day, not a stressful add to your mental to-do list for the "future."

If you'd like to see your home organized in the springtime (as most of us do when the weather starts warming up), start now with your lesser-visited spaces and you'll make way for progress inside your home. 

Feb-March Special: 15% off total attic or garage project completed by March 31.  Mention this blog to participate!

Kate