Organizing for the winter

I don't know about you, but at this time of year I get the urge to bake apple tarts and big batches of soup to freeze for the long winter months ahead. It is also the time of year I feel the need to organize my home for easy living in those long months of hibernation.

It's not hard to understand why organizing a home at this time of year becomes a priority. An uncluttered and organized interior pays you back in peace and reduces your stress and frustration. Whether you start out small with the kitchen gadget drawer or go large with sorting out the whole basement, here are some tips to help you complete your organizing projects successfully.

The 4 box method
Collect 4 boxes or containers. Label each as such: KEEP, STORE, DONATE and TOSS. Then simply go through each item asking yourself, where does this belong?

• If it is something you use everyday or often it goes in the keep pile.
• If you use it from time to time then it goes with the store pile. Keep in mind your storage can be split up into short term and long term storage.
• Items relegated to the donate pile could also be sold or given away to someone you know who could use them.
• The toss pile will usually be the items that have little or no value and you don't feel guilty about getting rid of.

A word of advise. Be ruthless with yourself, you won't regret it and it will help you keep your space organized for much longer.

Here's another simple strategy to use in organizing:
The C.O.P.E method
Cope stands for: Category, Order, Proximity and Ease of use. This method is especially helpful in kitchens and bathrooms. But can be used for every area in your home. Here's how it works:

• Category - first sort your items into categories
• Order - within your categories, put items into a logical order
• Proximity - Items that you use frequently should be placed within arms reach
• Ease of use - Frequently used items should be place where they can used easily

Here is an example of how I use the COPE method. I have a category (and dedicated space) in my kitchen related to breakfast. On the shelf in the cupboard I have an orderly arrangement of cups, bowls and small breakfast plates. On the counter top is the coffee machine and in proximity is the bread box. In the cabinet below, where they are easy to grab we store the boxes of cereal and other items we use at the breakfast table. In addition, this cabinet stores the snacks my kids need to pack each morning to bring to school. All this is adjacent to our small breakfast bar where we eat together every morning. Having this arrangement in our small kitchen has made the start of our days a stress free experience. Everything is stored in a logical, orderly place where it is within arms reach.

If you liked these ideas for getting your home organized, or would like a helping hand to get you organized, feel free to give me a call. I have organizing packages starting at 150€.