Opening the Door on Closets

Closets tend to be catch-alls. According to Maholo, the key to de-cluttering closets is a serious purge, with three piles: keep, dump, donate. Once you’ve cleared the space, you’ll be ready to organize. Store sentimental items such as christening gowns and old family photographs in archival storage boxes (starting at $30), sized to fit on either a 16- or 20-inch shelf; the boxes resist dirt and limit light infiltration and are available with acid-free tissue paper. If sweaters and seasonal clothing are taking up too much space, consider an under-bed storage box with an easy-open, locking lid and wheels that can be installed to allow the box to roll in either of two directions ($22.50) and toss in a few cedar blocks ($3) to protect items from fabric-eating pests. Other closet-organizing gadgets can be found at Stacks and Stacks. You may even want to restore order with a closet-organization system. Do-it-yourselfers can find everything they need at retailers like Home Depot or Wal-Mart, where you’ll find this customizable storage kit ($65, left). If you’d prefer a custom solution, you can go with the contemporary or elegant designs from the Neat Freak Closet Solutions. ClosetMaid can help you get started with on-line visual planners. Prices for these closet organizing systems run the gamut, depending on your tastes.

Tidying Up the Office

A messy desk may indicate a creative mind, but it also means it takes more time for you to find what you need. Dumb Little Man recommends taking everything off the desk and piling it on the floor, then dusting the desk and start sorting through the drawers. That’s not so hard. Once you’ve done that, it’s time to sort through the paper. Deborah Crawford, the Small Office/Home Office editor for Bella Online, has an easy-to-follow check list for for cleaning the office, which stresses creating a paper-flow system for incoming documents. Crawford recommends using the in box only for material that hasn’t been reviewed yet. Avoid looking at documents and placing them back on the desk; instead, make a decision about each document and then follow through with it. File those business cards you’ve collected – if you really want to de-clutter, scan them and create a virtual business card file. For more tips on dealing with paper, see this excerpt from Let Go of Clutter, by Harriet Schecter. If you are sufficiently motivated, you can apply the same processes used for dealing with paper clutter to what’s stored in your computer. Unclutterer give you ideas on how to get started. Find a home for the paper that needs to be filed with a file cabinet from IKEA or a set of colorful translucent document boxes. Ensure your desktop stays pristine with this desktop work station (right), which includes a stapler, tape dispenser, and letter opener, along with storage for tiny items like paper clips and pens ($70).

Pages: 1 2 3 4