It's time to think outside of the box!  There are so many items that can be re-purposed in a new way.  Now, I am not suggesting that you hold on to everything you own for this reason.  That would be hoarding!  

However, below I have created a short list of seven items you can use in a new and different way.  Let's be creative!  

1. Coffee Filter - The original use is to keep coffee grounds out of your coffee cup.  A new use is to put a filter at the bottom of a flower pot to prevent soil from draining out of the pot.   

2. Paper Shredder - The original use is to protect against identity theft by shredding confidential documentation before disposing of it. A new use is to create decorative tissue paper filler in a gift box or gift bag without having to purchase bags of already shredded filler at the store. 

3. Tissue Box - The original use is to hold tissues for running noses and watery eyes.  A new use is to store plastic grocery bags under the kitchen sink or bathroom vanity to save space.  

4. Toothbrush Holder - The original use is obvious - to store the household's various toothbrushes in an upright position and separate them from each other.  The new use is to hold individual flowers.  Fill the holder with water, cut the stems so they are only a few inches above the top of the holder and slide one flower into each slot.  This is idea for a small arrangement of flowers.

5. Dried Spaghetti -  The original use is a staple in most households to accompany the meatballs.  The new use is to light multiple candles when extra-long matches are not available.  

6. Ice Cube Tray - The original use is to make ice cubes.  The new use is to organize earrings.  Use the separate compartments to sort out pairs of earrings for easy storage and retrieval.  (And they stack nicely in a drawer.)

7. Dental Floss - The original use is to clean in between your teeth for good dental health.  The new use is to unstick photographs that are stuck to an album page by working the floss in between the two surfaces without damaging the picture.

Now that I have provided you with some ideas, do you have any of your own?  If so, please comment below and share with others.  Let's all be more green this Spring!

If you are overwhelmed with the contents in your home and need help deciding what to keep, toss or donate, don't hesitate to give me a call at A Better Space.  I am an expert in interior redesign and can help you utilize items already in your home in a new way.  

In the meantime, have a great week!  

Happy April Fool's Day!  

I am so excited that April is here and, hopefully, the Winter weather is finally behind us.  We are all getting ready for the upcoming holidays, Easter and Passover, which both are being celebrated this coming weekend.  Before we know it, the flowers will be blooming and the warmer temperatures will be here to stay.

In preparation for the warmer temperatures and more time spent outdoors, this is a great time to seriously think about what clutter issues you may be contending with in your home.

Sometimes the Winter months can make us feel a bit sluggish and less productive.  We go into hibernation mode and tend to be less motivated to get things done.  Since this past Winter was particularly challenging, with severely cold temperatures and, for some of us, tons of snow, this is even more true. 

Well, no more excuses! It's time to get moving and get organized!

Do yourself a favor and look around your home and be honest about the areas that need some organizing attention.  Is your bedroom floor filled with clothing, is your linen closet stuffed with sheets and towels, are your kitchen counters crowded with papers or other items, does your home office contain piles of paperwork that does not have a home, is your family room no longer welcoming to the family, is your garage so filled that your car doesn't fit in it?

Do you walk through your front door and the first thing you see is clutter?  How does that make you feel?  Just imagine coming home at the end of the day and having your home bring you a sense of calm instead of dread.  I have always believed that your home is your haven and should be a safe and happy place, leaving the chaos of the world behind.  

Eliminating your clutter and getting organized can help to bring that to fruition.  It has a very powerful impact on all aspects of your life.  Here is a comment I received from one of my clients:

"Audrey, I wanted to let you know how much I am enjoying my home now.  It is much more relaxing.  You helped me create a peaceful place.  There is a place for everything and it is easy to keep things organized.  I was a little nervous when we first started working together.  I wasn't sure about someone having opinions on items that were important to me but I knew I needed to organize and downsize. You really listened to me and helped me donate things I really didn't need.  Now I have a much more manageable home.  I enjoy entertaining more.  You were such a help and I enjoyed the time we spent working together.  I thank you for helping me in such a caring and professional way.  It was such a pleasure to meet you. Many thanks, Karen A., Newtown, PA"

My intent here is not so much to toot my own horn, but rather to show you what an impact getting organized can have on your home and your life.  

Don't be "April foolish"!  Take some time to evaluate what is truly going on in your home that is keeping it from being what you envision it to be.  If you need a fresh set of eyes to help you evaluate your situation and get you on the road to organization, don't hesitate to contact me.  As always, I am here to help.  I am only a phone call or email away.   

Have a great week and a wonderful holiday!  

Spring is finally here.  The cold temps seem to want to hang around, however.  The time is now to start Spring cleaning your wardrobe and start putting your Winter wardrobe away.  The warmer temps are just around the corner, I promise.  

Do you have bulky items hanging in your closet that are taking up the space you could use for lighter weight clothing? 

Do you have items that you bought and intended to wear this past Winter season but never did?

Are your drawers stuffed with articles of clothing that are now too warn out to be used again next year?  

Do you have pieces in your wardrobe that no longer fit?  

Now is the time to clear them out.  

Here are some steps you can take to Spring clean your wardrobe:  

1.  Start in your closet.  Eliminate the articles of clothing that should be thrown away because they are now worn out. 

2.  Eliminate articles of clothing in your closet that you did not wear this past Winter season that can be donated.  Bag them up and make an appointment with yourself to either have them picked up or dropped off at a Thrift Store or non-profit organization that takes clothing.  

3.  Pull out and store bulky items from your closet elsewhere which you think will take up too much space in your closet.  Clothes need to breathe so make sure they have enough room in your closet to do so.  You can use an under-the-bed plastic container, a cedar chest, a garment bag or plastic 18 gallon container for storage in your attic or basement.

4.  Take out the items that no longer fit you.  If your weight tends to go up and down, store that size in a container.  Keep only the clothes in your closet that fit you now.  You can always retrieve them later if need be.  Do not keep more than one size larger and one size smaller.  You are not a department store!  

5.  Go through your drawers in your dresser and do the same thing.

6.  Pull out clothing that you might have stored away during the Winter months for use in warmer weather.   

These steps will get you ready for Spring so that when those warmer temps hit, you will be ready with a wardrobe that suits your needs.

If you are overwhelmed and need help, don't hesitate to contact me.  I am here to help.  

Happy Spring!

Tupperware was developed in 1945 by Earl Silas Tupper in Leominster, Massachusetts.  He developed plastic containers used in households to contain food and keep it airtight.  Since 1945, those colorful containers are a staple is most homes.  Over the years, there are more sizes and colors to pick from, but the concept remains the same. 

Now, along with Tupperware, there is Rubbermaid, Glad and other similar type containers for us to choose from.  Great, right?  That is true, however, it comes with a problem.  

As a a society that tends to keep purchasing like-items over and over again, we are setting ourselves up for the "Attack Of The Tupperware"!  

A friend of mine informed me yesterday that when she went to open her cabinet, she was attacked by her Tupperware!  She simply opened a cabinet and it jumped off the shelf.  Was it trying to escape?  

I cannot even count the amount of times I have organized a kitchen and Tupperware (or other similar containers) are ready to jump ship every time you open the cabinet.  I find a jumble of containers in all shapes and sizes and most without corresponding lids.  Some have stains from tomato sauce, some are warped from being washed in the dishwasher and most are missing matching lids.

Honestly, it is rather quick and easy to resolve this problem.  Do yourself a favor.  Empty the cabinet or shelf where you Tupperware lives and take a few minutes to sort through your collection.

1.  Group similar sizes together.

2.  Eliminate the containers in poor condition.

3.  Limit the amount you want to save. (They tend to multiply in the cabinet, don't they?) 

4.  Make sure you have a matching lid for each container.  

5.  Eliminate the containers that do not have matching lids or the ones you have too many of in a particular size or shape.

When storing your containers, I recommend that you keep the lid with the container so you don't have to waste time later trying to match them up.  This will also enable you to limit the amount that you want to keep.  

Nowadays, you can purchase sets that stack and snap together to conserve space.  You might just want to start over with a set like this if your collection is so mismatched and you don't have enough to meet your needs.   

Store all of your containers in one location for easy access.

These simple tips will help avoid the dreaded "Attack Of The Tupperware" in your home!  Good luck! 

If you should find that you are just too overwhelmed with any area of your home when it comes to getting it organized, don't hesitate to contact me.   I am here to help!  

Have a great week!

Being a professional organizer and having a home office such as I do, I know how important it is to keep it clutter free and organized.  

Paper clutter as well as computer clutter are both problematic for most people.    It is vital to feel good about your home office environment in order to be productive.

Here are some tips you can use to get and keep your home office functional and enjoyable to work in:

1.  Clear your surfaces.  Paper tends to pile up on any flat surface such as a desk if it does not have a home.  It can be overwhelming to get it organized and under control.  So, the first step is the clear the surfaces of all paperwork and office supplies. Start with a clean slate.  

2.  Provide yourself with sufficient storage space in your filing cabinet.  You need to have enough room to store active files and reference/archival files. If you do not have enough space for a good filing system, your paperwork might end up piled on a desk or even on the floor.   

3.  Keep it separate.  Do not co-mingle your personal paperwork with business-related paperwork.  They should each have their own zone.  If it is not possible to have separate filing cabinets, then designate certain drawers in the cabinet for personal and for business.  

4.  Create sufficient room to work.  If your PC is taking up a lot of space, consider using a lap top computer instead.  Designate a portion of your desk for computer work and another portion for spreading out paperwork.  Be sure to designate space for your printer, scanner, etc.  A good option is to purchase a multi-functional printer/scanner/copier to save space.  Make sure your equipment is placed where you can easily reach it from where you are sitting.  

5.  Out with the old and in with the new.  On a regular basis, you should go through your files to clean out old, unused paperwork to make room for new materials either monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually.  This is vital to staying organized as your paperwork will always have a good home.  This applies to your computer as well.  Eliminate old email, folders or programs you no longer need or use.

6.  Create an environment you enjoy spending time in.  It is important to have the furniture, lighting and items that reflect your personality in your home office space so that you enjoy being in the space.  This will help you to be more productive.  Create a space that is functional and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.  Be sure to incorporate items that will not only be functional, such as a desk with drawers as opposed to just a desk surface and select a comfortable office chair to sit in.  Add artwork or photographs to the walls that you enjoy looking at.   Incorporate bookcases or shelving for added vertical storage.  

The less you have out on your desk and work space, the better.  You will be able to think much clearer and be much more productive when there is a place for everything and everything is in its place.  Of course, you know, that is how you create A Better Space!  

By using the tips mentioned above, you will be well on your way.  If you are just too overwhelmed and need assistance to get it under control, I invite you to contact me.  I can help.  

In the meantime, Happy National Organize Your Home Office Day!    

Last night I was watching the Academy Awards Ceremony a/k/a The Oscars and it got me thinking of the stage.  The stage can be set for homeowners who are looking to sell their homes, as well.  

I am well aware that we are in the midst of the winter season, but, before you know it, Spring will be here and that tends to be the time of year when people are looking to put their home up for sale.  It is a little more complicated than just putting a sign on your lawn.  You need to prepare - and what better time to begin the process than during these cold winter months.  

Over the years, I have helped realtors and home owners alike, "set the stage" to get their home ready to sell. Although there are many aspects to staging your home for sale, I would like to provide you with a quick overview of some areas to focus on.

1. Closets -  If packed tightly, closets will make a home appear to lack closet space.  It is vital that you eliminate the unnecessary clutter in a closet and organize it to maximize the amount of open space you want to show to the potential buyer.  Using matching hangers for clothing will create a nice visual impact, as well.

2.  Bedrooms -  The bed should face towards the doorway and be the focal point of the bedroom.  Eliminating the excess furniture will provide plenty of space in the room for navigation and clear surfaces on end tables and dressers will be pleasing to the eye.  

3.  Bathrooms - Be sure the surfaces are clean and clear.  Remove soap scum and redo any grout that has discolored over time.  A clean bathroom is a great way to stage your bathroom.  Create a functional but relaxing environment, especially in a master bathroom. The display of white or cream colored towels will open up the space in the bathroom and provide a spa-like feel.  

4.  Kitchen - A simple and inexpensive way to update your kitchen is to use a new coat of wood stain or a good sanding and a coat of paint.  Replace the hardware for a fresh new look and, as always, clear your surfaces of clutter.  Lastly, remove area rugs from in front of the sink to open up the visual appearance of the kitchen.  

*On average, most sellers will spend an average of $1950 on their bathroom and kitchen renovations with an ultimate return of approximately $3250, which is about a 65% on their return.  Bathrooms and kitchens are essential spaces in the home and where most buyers are either won over or lost. 

5.  Living Room - Providing plenty of light in this room is a major source of approval by a potential buyer.  Be sure that the shades are open and use lighter colors where possible to give the room a more spaceous look.  Create clear paths to navigate and avoid having the back of a sofa face the main pathway.  You want to open up the room to visitors and not block them off with misplaced furniture.

A few simple steps can increase your home's potential for a higher selling price.  Removing clutter is one of the most important ways to do this.  

If you are overwhelmed with the prospect of staging your home for sale or considering downsizing, don't hesitate to contact me.  I can help you to "set the stage" for sale.  

In the meantime, have a great week!   

This blog is geared for those who have already gone through the process of eliminating their clutter and have organized their home and/or their life.  

It is very important that once you go through this process, you are able to easily maintain it.  Of course, from time to time, we need to tweak some areas, but it should not become a large project.  That would defeat the purpose of the work you have already done.  

Maintenance can come in many forms.  When checks bounce or bank accounts are overdrawn, it's because we didn't balance our checking account properly to always know what we have available to use.  When we run out of clothes to wear, it's because we failed to do the laundry.  

Home and office clutter tends to result in the "no maintenance" approach to living.  It tends to be the "toss, pile and deal with it later" approach that gets us in trouble.  Avoid dumping and you will avoid procrastinating (putting off what can be done now for later).

It is not difficult to maintain your "organizing mojo".  If this is a problem for you, here are some tips to help:

1. Put items away in a pre-designated location, each and every time.  When you initially organized a particular space, such as a drawer, closet, shelf or an entire room, you created places for your items that should make the most sense for them to be.  If you should discover that the place you selected is not working for you and you "dump" your stuff elsewhere, I recommend that you re-evaluate the location you selected to see if it is, in fact, the right place for the item to be.  If not, change it.  

2. Some items require more maintenance than others.  Items such as paperwork, dishes, food items, clothing, etc. are examples of items that might require daily maintenance.  If systems are not created to control your clutter, you end up creating more work for yourself in the long run. It could be as simple as creating a basket that is designated for magazines near the coffee table in the living room and making a point to read the magazines on a weekly basis.  Clearing off your desk at the end of each day will help to control your clutter and avoid creating a larger project for later.   It is vital that you have the right organizing tools in place.  

3.  Make it convenient.  If you commonly use a particular item, store it in a place that is easily accessible.  Less oftenly used items can be stored high up on shelves or in a storage area as opposed to the main living space.  

4.  Create a routine.  On a daily basis, schedule 15 minutes or so at the end of the day to put away items that are laying around. Sort your mail daily.  Do your filing weekly.  Determine what routines work best for you and your family and stick to them.  

5. Consider hiring help.  If the idea of maintaining your organizing mojo is overwhelming to you, consider hiring someone to help you. From time to time, your needs change.  Items have a way of building up in the home and you need to bring some balance back into your life.  Consider hiring a professional organizer who can tweak certain areas of your home or office to get it back to the way it should be or create a new, updated system for you and your family to help you regain balance.  

Remember, your home or office does not need to be perfect.  It needs to be functional and feel comfortable and maintaining your organizing mojo can help make that happen.   

Contact me if you want to talk further about maintaining your "organizing mojo".  Have a great week!   

Have you heard of the concept of having a Memory Box?  I personally feel that everyone should have one (or a few).  Everyone goes through life and gathers fond memories of people they have met, places they have gone or things they have done.  You should have a designated place to store those memories, hence...A Memory Box.

The first time I created a Memory Box was back in 1998 following the passing of my husband the previous year.  To this day, it contains fond memories of photos, letters and other items I collected during our 15 year relationship.  I also created one for my son who was 7 at the time to contain his fond memories of his relationship with his father.  Both of us open up our boxes from time to time and go down Memory Lane together, reflecting on our special times with my late husband and his father.     

Memory Boxes are great, however, there are guidelines you should follow:

1. Store your own memories in your own box.  This box is not intended to be shared with others.  It is personal.  Moms often want to store their kids' memories along with their own in one box.  Keep in mind that you have your own memories of your kids and your kids have their own memories and they should be kept in separate Memory Boxes.  Do not co-mingle!  

2. Be selective.  Just like anything else that you keep, "everything cannot be your favorite".  Using an appropriate-sized memory box is great for setting boundaries as to how much you keep.  When a box gets too full, it is a sign that you are saving too much and you need to go through the box and eliminate what is not longer relevant.  Pick your favorites!

3. Do an annual review.  Contrary to popular belief, what was important at one point in your life might not be as important now. Your memories and emotional attachment to things change.  I have found that over the course of the years, what was once so important and relevant is not so much any more, and that's okay. This is especially true with children.  That macaroni art from Kindergarten was so amazing when it came through the door ten times that year, but now, your child is in 6th grade, and that macaroni art is not so incredible anymore - at least not all ten!  I highly suggest that you go through your Memory Box once a year and do a review.  (For kids in grade school, I recommend the end of the school term.) Make room for the new memories that you will gather in the coming year.     

4. Don't confuse a Memory Box with a random storage container.  Your Memory Box is not intended to be a place to put things that you don't know where else they should be stored.  It is not to be used as a catch all.  If you have different categories for memories such as I do (I have one strictly relating to my relationship with my late husband and another more current box of memories), that is fine.  Don't keep memories that evoke sad or bitter times in your life.  You want to be sure they are "positive memories" that evoke happy times in your life.  

I encourage you to create a Memory Box for you and every member of your family.  Store them in a place that is accessible for those times when you want to go down Memory Lane and relive those happy times in your life.  

Remember, it's a Memory Box, not a random storage container.  Fill your box with happy memories that you will enjoy for years to come!

Wishing you an organized week filled with fond memories!  

Have you found during your lifetime that you have been organized and other times not?  It is very common but can be frustrating. When your organizing train has derailed, how do you get back on track?  

Here are a few recommendations:

1.  When feeling overwhelmed and frustrated and just not sure where to begin, don't try to take on the whole project at one time. Make a list of the things you need to do to accomplish a task or project and do one step at a time.  Stay focused on a particular task and it will get done before you know it.  

2.  Get the family onboard. Have a family meeting that focuses on the tasks that need to be accomplished and determine who will be responsible for those tasks and when.  You can set a time each day for everyone to help get organized.  For example, at 7:00 p.m. every night, everyone will spend 15 minutes putting things where they belong.  Creating a reward system for the kids is a great motivational tool.  

3. Taking that sentimental journey can cause the organizing train to be delayed. If you find that you are having trouble parting with belongings, keep in mind that holding onto belongings for the wrong reasons can create clutter.  There is no need to suffer from "Gift Guilt".  Set a timer to go through the items in small segments.  Determine what is most important to you and only keep those items that mean something special to you.  If you have inherited items, be sure that they mean as much to you as the person who passed them onto you intended. When your emotions are involved, it can be more difficult to part with items but be selective. Considering donating the items you choose not to keep to a charity so someone else can make use of them.  

4.  Stop drowning in paper.  Your computer can be a huge paper clutter eliminating machine!  Instead of a large paper filing system, consider purchasing a scanner and scan documents into your computer.  Setting a limit on how much space you allow for certain paperwork will help, as well.  Paper is something that is constantly coming through the door.  You need to create a system that can easily be maintained.  You need to go through your mail and other paperwork on a regular basis.  

5.  Someday Syndrome.  Do you keep telling yourself "I will get to it someday"?  If so, you have what I call "Someday Syndrome". If you find that you are having trouble getting started with becoming organized, perhaps you should consider contacting a professional organizer.  A good organizer will help you identify the reason you are collecting and hanging onto your stuff and can customize a plan to get you onto the train to success!  

There is no need for your organizing train to continue to be derailed.  Get back on track.  If you are having difficulty doing it on your own, I am here to help.  Contact me and let's talk about what is going on and I can explain how I can help.

In the meantime, have a great day!

Whether you work from home because you have a home-based business or because your employer provides you with the ability to work from home either full-time or part-time, doing so can be a challenge.  

When I am not working with my clients in their homes, I work in my home office.  I have a large window that lets in a lot of natural light and a large space in which to spread out to work and places for all of my paperwork, office supplies and other needs in order to run my business.

It can be challenging at times to work from home for many people.  One of the biggest challenges is staying focused.  

Do you find that you daydream?  It is more easy to do when you work alone.  There is something interesting that happens when you work with others or have a boss overseeing how you are spending your time.  That accountability factor can go a long way.  So, what do you do when you are working from home and need to be accountable for yourself?  

You might be very productive and get things done but it is very easy for your energies to be directed at other things you should not be doing. When in your home, it is easy to spend time thinking about the things that need to get done in the home such a laundry, dirty dishes in the sink, phone calls you need to make or meal preparation.  If you are on the computer, you might get a signal every time you get an email, you are curious about what is happening on Facebook or you decide you need to purchase something on line.  

Here are some tips to help you stay more focused and keep your attention where it needs to be:  

1. If at all possible, take care of distractions before working.  If you need to get some laundry done or clean up the dishes in the sink, do it before you start to work.  If you are distracted by what you need to do around the house, do them ahead of time so you can avoid these distractions.  

2. Determine your best hours to work.  Some people are at their best early in the morning.  Some are better later at night.  I am most productive mid-day.  I admittedly am not a morning person.  I structure my business based on when my energy is at it's peak so I can be the best I can be during that time.  Knowing when you are most productive and clear-headed goes a long way in helping you focus on the work you need to get done.  If you are not sure, take a week or so and track what you do over the course of a day and when you get the most done.  Then, structure your day around the times when you are the most productive, if possible.

3. Work at a table or desk.  This might not seem important, but it is.  It is too easy to get too comfortable when you are sitting on the couch. Being near a television can be very tempting too.  You might find that you can get things done, but sitting in a sturdy chair at an organized desk or table away from distractions will enable you to take your tasks more seriously.  Be sure to work in a place that feels like you should be doing work there.   

4. Have a to-do list.  One of the things I do at the end of each work day is to prepare a to-do list for the following day.  I keep it visible during the day and refer to it often.  It's important to learn to prioritize your list so it is not too long and unreasonable to complete.  Set time limits on how long to spend on each task to stay on target and create deadlines for more involved tasks. Having a list prepared ahead of time will help you have a clear picture of what you will set out to accomplish each day.

5. Take a break.  It is very important to get up out of your chair throughout the day.  Every hour or so you should get up and stretch or walk around.  You will come back to your work space refreshed and ready to continue with your work day.  

Working from home has many rewards but it can also create some challenges.  Creating a plan of action that fits your personality and work-style will help you face the challenges, put your distractions aside and maintain focus throughout the day.  

If you are transitioning from an off-site work environment to a home-based work environment, I can help you create a customized plan of action that meets your specific needs for time and production.  

As always, I am here to help.

Now, get back to work!  :)