Spring is in the air

It's official, today is the first day of Spring! In honor of this yearly event and to help you get into the mood, here are 5 ways to welcome the season into your home.

1. Shed the layers: Do you still have that fuzzy throw over the back of the sofa and candles on your end tables? Now's the time to put away those warm reminders of winter. Try some bright throw pillows for the sofa or change your curtains out for lighter, sheerer ones. Even small changes like rolling up your rug and exposing the floor for the warmer months will lighten the feel in your room.

2. Rethink your room: Do you have the itch to rearrange your rooms? Go for it! Think of ways to open the space and reduce clutter areas that seem to grow over winter.

3. Clean sweep: Spring is naturally the season when we tend to deep clean. Windows get washed, fireplaces get cleaned out, and drapes get dry cleaned. Why not also take the time to de-clutter your rooms. Clean out cupboards, drawers, shelves and go threw any piles that have accumulated over the winter. Spring is also the season for flea markets and what a great opportunity to get rid of the stuff you don't need anymore and make a bit of money.

4. Surface makeovers: While dusting off your shelves, why not give your eye a change of pace for the season. Display your china, crystal or glass. Buy a couple of small green plants or a fresh bouquet of flowers to adorn your mantel.

5. Bring the outdoors in: Even if the temperatures are still too cold for T-shirts, you can bring that sunny feeling indoors. Incorporate garden furniture into your home, replant your houseplants in terracotta pots. Use floral fabrics to brighten up your rooms and by all means open up those shutters and curtains and let the sun shine in. (photo: Designer Dad)

Happy Spring relooking to you all.

Tackle your Spring cleaning in 5 steps

Most people dread Spring cleaning. True, for some it is a daunting task to take on. But, the benefits of living in a well arranged and organized home are priceless. No more frustration over not having enough room or not being able to find what you need, when you need it. A bit of time and effort now will certainly pay off for the rest of the year.

Here are 5 simple steps to motivate and help you concur your Spring cleaning projects.

1. Pick your battles - Choose a room, area or storage space you feel confident to start and finish cleaning out. You may decide this is the year you tackle a big project like the basement (cave), garage or attic. Or, if your time and motivation doesn't allow, try a smaller space like a closet or the bathroom cupboard. Every little bit helps move one step closer to organized and stress free living.
2. Sort it out - Using 3 boxes and a garbage bag as tools, look at each individual item and decide whether you will keep it, store it, give it away or sell it, or throw it away. Items you want to keep should be arranged by what you use on a daily basis. Items in your storage box should be sorted by what they are (clothes, souvenirs, etc.) and the box labeled accordingly.
3. Cleaning and repairing - Once your space is empty you can give it a good cleaning or repair any damage. You may decide to repaint or install more shelves or make other improvements.
4. Take action - Pay close attention to what you put back into your space. Items you use regularly should take precedence over items you use occasionally. Your storage box or boxes should be taken to your storage immediately so you are not tempted to let those things creep back into your space and items you want to give away or sell should be taken care of quickly for the same reasons. The trash bag is the easiest to deal with - simply dump it and be happy to be free of "stuff" you don't need or use.
5. Beautify - Coordinating your storage space to your style will help integrate that space as part of your overall interior and keep you better organized. Accessories such as hangers, storage boxes, baskets and shelves can be personalized for every style and everyone in the family. Think color, motif and practicality when choosing your organizational accessories.
   

I hope these 5 tips will help motivate and make your Spring cleaning projects easier. Happy cleaning!!

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€.

You need an interior professional if...

Do you need the expertise of an interior professional?

That depends largely on YOU. Do you have the time and patience, creativity, resources and interest to take on a decorating or organizing project? Here are some common interior dilemmas that lead to people hire a professional.

• You have little or no free time to take on a relooking, staging or organizing project.
• You need to prepare your home to sell, but don't know how to give it the "model home" look.
• You need help with lighting.
• You want someone else to deal with the hassles of organizing your home.
• You need help choosing furniture that is ideal for your room.
• You want to have quality work done, but don't have your own list of reliable workmen.
• You want to get your home organized once and for all.
• You've tried to decorate your home and have purchased some nice items, but really need help pulling it all together.
• Your move date is coming up quick and you feel overwhelmed by everything you need to pack.
• You want to create a cohesive style in your home that reflects you.
• You've just moved in and need help getting installed
• There is something not right with your rooms, but you can't get your head around how to improve it.
• You and your partner can't seem to agree on anything for the home.
• You're tired of buying things here and there without an overall plan.
• You have pack-rat tendencies and need help deciding "what stays and what goes" in your home.
• You want to add some color into your interior, but you're not sure what will look the best
• You've just inherited furniture and need help incorporating it into your existing decor.

Perhaps one or many of these sound familiar to you. Relook Interiors specializes in relooking, organizing and staging solutions that respond to your dilemmas. Don't put it off, give us a call - make your home livable again.

Resolution - Get organized!

Getting organized is usually at the top of new year's resolutions lists everywhere? Whether you want to restore general order in your home so you can invite someone over on a whim, or are brave enough to tackle those piles of papers that have been collecting dust, here are some tips and resources that will give you a jumpstart for 2010.

Here's what you'll need:

Supplies - For any proper organizing job you will need: trash bags, markers, labels, cleaning supplies and boxes or storage containers adapted for what you are organizing.

A place to start - Professional organizers suggest you look through your home to find the area that drives you the most crazy - and start there! The junk drawer, for example, is a good place to get your feet wet. It is a small and manageable area, and one that can be done quickly. Once you have conquered this project, the sense of accomplishment will be just the motivation needed to take on larger projects.

Organize for how you live - Spend some time reviewing how you live in your home. Where do things pile up on a regular basis or gather dust for months? Once you have determined these things, then you can explore how you want to organize or store them.

Make a list - Write out your tasks then arrange them by theme, date or importance. Use a listing system that works for you. The important thing is to get your projects onto the list and then enjoy marking them off as they get done.

Staying organized
The key to keeping your home organized is to make a commitment. Set aside time each week to engage in an organizing project or maintain a space you have already organized. The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) conducted a poll of 400 people to see how being organized directly impacts your life. 45% responded that they could save up to an hour every day by becoming more organized at home. Wouldn't we all love to have an additional hour added to our day.

Hire a professional
A Professional Organizer is someone who creates personalized solutions to help you get organized. Their input and expertise help you restore order, reduce stress and save time. Hiring a professional may seem like an extravagance, but their ideas and solutions may be all you need to get organized and stay that way. Once you get a handle on your disorder with the help of a professional, their methods can be adapted to other areas of your home or office, making your investment well worth it.

Resources
Here are a few places to check out to help you with your organizing resolutions.
Smead offers a great site with products, information and tips on organizing. www.smead.com
Jennifer Ford's book is filling with useful solutions: Organize Now!: A week by week guide to simplify your space and your life.
Franklin Covey offers information, training and a whole range of organizing tools. www.franklincovey.com

Whatever your choose to organize and conquer this year, I wish you the best of luck and success in 2010. Happy new year!!

photo: John Blais

Calendars to keep you organized

With 2010 being right around the corner, it's time to think about what type of calendar you are going to choose to keep you organized in the upcoming year.

Finding the right calendar system can help you be more productive and efficient, but how do you choose one that is best suited to you?

Here are some tips to help...

• Think about what type of events you need to keep track of. Are they daily, weekly or monthly? Is your schedule repetitive or do you have to keep track of multiple tasks?

• Consider what type of support works best for you. Electronic, mobile or paper? If you work in front of a computer, perhaps having an electronic calendar is best. Most companies have systems that link their employees calendars with each others to help meeting planning. If you are always on the move, perhaps a mobile calendar is easiest for you. Especially if you have a tactile telephone or a PDA. Then there are the paper models of calendars. These can range from pocket size to wall size and with very configuration possible. You may even choose to have ALL of these.

• Don't be afraid to test different types and formats of calendars at the beginning of the year. Sometimes our lives change and the type calendar we have always been using will become ineffective. There was a time in my life when the format of a standard wall calendar was all I needed, however, now I need a format that allows me to keep track of hourly appointments and has room for my "to-do" list.
  

I hope these tips help you find a calendar that keeps you organized in your daily life and don't forget to "pencil us in" for future postings on organizing.

Organizing AT HOME - Kid's rooms

Ask any parent and they will tell you, the messiest room in their home is their kid's room. So how do we help these little people develop a sense of organization? There are methods like making it into a game, "the first one that finishes picking up their room gets a treat" or a punishment "you are not to come out of your room until it's CLEAN" or the default "just wait till you go to school and I come in here with my big garbage bag". Yes, most of us as parents have been there. Try as we might, the room inevitably gets messy again and again. The best we can do is:

1. Give them furniture that is adapted to their needs (quantity and functionality)
2. Limit on a daily basis what goes in their rooms and get them thinking from day to day
   
3. Regularly sort through their things with them and let them discover how best to organize their things. (your method may not be the same as theirs).

To elaborate, a child needs "kid-friendly" furniture: a dresser that can be easily opened and closed, hanging space for clothes that is not too tall, storage shelves or cupboard that is at their height, a desk and chair that is comfortable and has room for their materials. A basket or bin for their dirty clothes and a garbage can.

Look for organizers that make their daily routine easier. This one from Verbaudet is excellent for helping them pick out their clothes.

Avoid letting their rooms become the dumping ground for everything they bring into the home. Sort through their school bags and pockets when they come in. It is easier to deal with their influx a little each day, than to have it accumulate over time with the results looking like Hiroshima.

Despite your best efforts to stop clutter at the front door you will need to spend time helping your kids sort, clean and arrange their rooms. Let them tell you how they like to arrange their things. Don't expect logic to reign here. Everyone has their own organizing style. Case in point, my daughter has a book shelf in her room, but she likes a small pile of books next to her bed because that is where she reads. That is her organizing style, not mine. Whatever she is not reading at the moment is however arranged on her book shelf.

These are just a few ideas to help you "Kontain Kiddy Klutter". Enjoy and good luck!