Did you know nearly 75% of people can’t put a car in their garage? I know, it’s shocking, isn’t it? I’m guessing that you had to have a garage to put the car in when you were house shopping. This is especially true of Canadians because clearing snow and ice off your car on cold, … Read more
During the past 20 years working as a Professional Organizer and Interior Decorator, I have decluttered and designed dozens of home offices. Having a functional and beautiful space to work from home is absolutely crucial whether you are working for someone else, running your own business, or managing your household. If you enjoy being in … Read more
Everywhere I go right now, everyone asks, “So, are you all ready for Christmas?” instead of commenting on the weather. In whose mind is that a helpful question? Of course, I’m not “all ready.” I’m not sure I even know what “all ready” means. If I interpret it as having everything perfectly organized and having … Read more
It’s that time of year again to create a plan for celebrating the holiday season. You will likely find it challenging to decide on your priorities over the next few weeks, and I hope this post will help. I will share more holiday organizing tips over the next few weeks, so please stay tuned. As … Read more
As you declutter your home and create a plan to get organized and stay organized, it is a good idea to learn how to set up zones so that it is easy to put things back where they belong, and, more importantly, so you can find what you need. This process can take a lot … Read more
Can you believe it’s time to send your children back to school once again? Now, now, don’t get that excited, they might notice. Parenting experts suggest that at this time of year the most important thing to do for your children is to get them back on a regular schedule a few days before school … Read more
Last week I was at Tim Horton’s for a quick washroom break and I happened to overhear a conversation. A lady said to her friend, “You have to read this book and watch the series on Netflix.” Then, she passes a copy of The Home Edit to her friend. I immediately thought to myself, “Geesh, … Read more
As we enter our third month of dealing with COVID-19 and we try to process the horrific events of the April 19th weekend in Nova Scotia, I am sure, like me, you are all struggling with staying positive and feeling hopeful for a better future. Now, more than ever, perhaps you need to escape from … Read more
Over the last week or so I have been talking to quite a few people about what a great time this is to tackle some downsizing and decluttering projects and the challenge of what to do with items we want to give away. I suggest setting up a “green zone” for donations. Create a Green … Read more
I hope this post finds you all safe and healthy during this challenging time. I know that many of you are home following the guidelines set by our government and health experts as we all work to overcome this virus together. I am willing to guess that some of you may be feeling stressed and … Read more
I recently came across an article I saved from 2013 about clutter and how it affects your brain. I have most certainly written about this topic before but some of the research cited by the author of the piece, Mikael Cho, is quite fascinating. He discovered, as I and many of my clients have, that reducing … Read more
I think there is life changing magic in the most basic of organizing principles. It’s known as “a place for everything”. Since I started working as a professional organizer back in 2003 I have been sharing this as one of the keys to successfully organizing our homes, our offices and our lives. We “professionals” tend to glibly … Read more
I’ve written about bringing less into your house, how you can do more with your life when you have less, and simplicity and its connection to minimalism. And now, a few thoughts to share on the concept of “a life with less.” In a podcast by The Minimalists, this important fact is shared, “The easiest way … Read more
I’m wondering…if I was to take a peek in your garage, basement, storage room, or even your closets, would I see stuff strewn all over the floor? I’m willing to bet in many cases I would. It’s like the stuff exploded and then grew as it lay there seemingly without you doing anything. I know, it’s kinda freaky. Well, … Read more
Is “get organized” one of your goals for this year but the task of organizing your entire home and life seems overwhelming? I suggest starting with something manageable and develop new habits around purchasing “stuff.” No matter how much decluttering and physical organizing you do, continuing to buy more stuff will thwart your efforts. S.P.A.C.E. The … Read more
In the last newsletter we wrote about getting back into routines. This month, as I think ahead to the Holiday season, I am going to ask you to consider breaking from routines or traditions. Don’t get me wrong, if you have traditions that you truly enjoy, please stick to them. What I want you to ask … Read more
Do you find that some days your stuff weighs you down? When I have the chance to work with clients for a significant amount of time, whether that’s several days in a row or spread out over a number of months, it does feel as though their home gets lighter. During these decluttering projects we may … Read more
To garage sale or not. That is the question. Many professional organizers, myself included, are not big fans of hosting a garage sale. The reason is the huge amount of preparation work involved, and there is often very little financial gain. However, if you have the time, go for it! If nothing else, it’s a … Read more
You may have heard of Universal Design. This method employs barrier-free design principles for the intergenerational use of any space. Universal Design evolved from Accessible Design, a process that addresses the needs of people with disabilities. However, Universal Design addresses the needs of all people. There are some great ideas for employing Universal Design when organizing your home. … Read more
Summer is all about relaxing your regular routine just a little. Later bedtimes and easy mornings. BBQing, camping, swimming, boating. Just being outdoors. While some welcome the routines of the late summer with the return to work and school, others find the end of summer daunting at best. As summer draws to a close, the following tips may ease … Read more