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
This is it, we’re in the holiday homestretch, and with three weeks to go, we’re down to the wire! Have I made you a bit nervous yet? Not to worry! These seven steps to an organized Christmas will help you accomplish most of the tasks on your to-do list. 1. Cards Send your cards out … 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
November is a great time of year to help your children organize their room(s). A good decluttering and reorganization before the holiday season can help relieve stress and make you feel more in control of your home, including organizing your child’s room. If you can work with your children and help them set up a … Read more
It might seem counterintuitive but, in my experience, one of the main reasons most people struggle with disorganization is that they have trouble managing time. Here’s the thing. You can’t really manage time; you can only use it wisely to accomplish the most important things that you need to and want to do. And if … Read more
Today I am sharing a few things clients have tried over the years. These are five organizing pitfalls to avoid because they don’t work. I’m telling you now so you can implement better solutions right from the start. If already have these problems, you can fix them right away. This will lead you to have … Read more
Having worked on dozens of renovations with clients over the last 20 years, I can share with you these ten things to do before you start a renovation that should help you avoid the pitfalls and bring your project to completion on time and within your budget. The key components of any renovation project are … Read more
I hate to admit it, but September is here, which means Fall is upon us very soon. That means it’s time to revisit your wardrobe and do a good purge of your clothing closet. Here are some tips to help get you on your way. Start by pulling everything out of the closet – and … Read more
One space in your home that has a lot of different categories of stuff and can be difficult to get organized and keep organized is the kitchen. Doing a proper analysis of your storage needs is key and super important if you are planning to renovate your kitchen. Depending on how much cooking you do … Read more
In my experience working with my interior decorating clients, most windows in your home need some type of window treatment. Blinds are an extremely popular and functional choice for most spaces in your home and are sufficient on their own. However, drapery treatments add something special to your design and are worth the investment. Why … Read more
As you declutter your home and create a plan to get organized at home with zones. Setting up zones makes it easy to put things back where they belong, and, more importantly, find what you need. This process can take a lot of thought and planning. Pay attention to how and where you use things … Read more
As a Professional Organizer with 20 years experience, I have been asked many times what to do with the china collection that has never been used. After all, it’s a collection and those aren’t actually meant be touched at all, are they? Well, that’s an ongoing debate if you are trying to become more organized … Read more
If you are embracing a minimalist lifestyle and are obsessed, like I am, with tiny homes, small spaces and living with less, this post will definitely be of interest to you. After all these years working in design and helping clients declutter and organize their lives, I know that less definitely gives you more. More … Read more
My organizing clients ask me all the time about selling or donating items that they no longer want or need. I know it is difficult to accept that most of what you paid a lot of money for years ago is no longer valuable. There are exceptions to that for sure. Here are some helpful … Read more
Are you dealing with the ongoing chaos with the coming and going of kids and their stuff? What is it about adult children using the family home as a storage facility? If you are about to downsize this situation is something you may be dealing with. One way to solve the problem is to decide … Read more
I am not a professionally trained stager, but after 20 years of helping my clients move, I do know that decluttering your home is the first step to preparing it for sale. Even if you’re not selling, pretend you are staging and see how it feels. It will definitely be more open and inviting and … Read more
Merging two households into one can be challenging. I have worked with dozens of couples over the years who have come together later in life after living in their own homes. And I did it myself, just one year ago! If you’re planning on moving in together, consider the points below. They will help make … Read more
Are you thinking of moving and getting super stressed about where to start? During my career as a Professional Organizer, I have helped dozens of clients prepare for their move, unpack, and set up their new homes. With that experience in mind, here are four things you should consider when planning your move to a … Read more
The BIG Downsize, Season 4 takes you down memory lane and on a new downsizing journey when professional organizer, Jane Veldhoven takes on a new client with too much stuff and visits clients from previous seasons. Jane also tackles her own downsizing challenge when she and her boyfriend decide to move in together. The five-part … Read more
In Nova Scotia, we have just spent the last four months or so hunkering down and for some of us that means we collect stuff. After all, it’s only natural to squirrel away our belongings during the long winter months. But now it’s Spring and I’m not sure about you, but I’m feeling the urge … Read more