10 Ways to Organize and Repurpose a Fine China Collection

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

How to Get Your Very Own Minimalist Dream Dwelling

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

What Are Your Clutter Hotspots Saying?

In the winter do you normally hunker down and wait for spring before you tackle any major decluttering projects?  I wonder if you drag yourself up off the sofa and take a look around the house for some of those ‘clutter hotspots’ and work to banish them once and for all. Before you do that … Read more

Tips to Help You Get Organized for the Holidays

Here are some ideas I put together to help you get organized before the Holidays season and stay organized afterwards too. I created a Holiday Checklist which allows you to check off all the things you may need to do to be ready for this busy time of year. If you want me to send … Read more

How Childhood Affects our Relationship with Stuff

At some point in my 20 years of working as a Professional Organizer I began to notice just how much your childhood experiences with ‘stuff’ can affect your success or lack thereof with managing stuff in adulthood.  It’s not an unusual phenomenon but it may be difficult to change your behavior and relationship with stuff … Read more

The Pros and Cons of Changing Out Seasonal Clothing

I was recently working with a client changing out seasonal clothing. We packed away summer clothing and brought winter wear out of storage.  It got me thinking about the pros and cons of this bi-annual to quarterly process and how it might be simplified. The Benefits It’s an opportunity to take inventory and determine what … Read more

You Kept Whaaaa..t for the Last 30 Years?

I am quite sure, like me, you know someone or many people who have kept everything that has come into their life for years and years and years.  The cycle of collecting and discarding “stuff” has always fascinated me. We humans seem to be wired to collect things. All sorts of things. Things like: Those … Read more

Tidying Up and The Big Downsize

If you haven’t watched it, I’m sure you’ve heard people talking about it.  “Tidying Up” with Marie Kondo is a Netflix series that has been viewed by millions, millions of her books have been sold and she has even introduced her own line of storage boxes.  Hmmm….isn’t that adding stuff back into your life? And now there’s … Read more

Shifting the Weight and Feeling Lighter

Do you find that some days your stuff weighs you down? You’re not alone. When I work with a client for a significant amount of time, whether several days in a row or spread out over several months, it seems like we’re shifting the weight and feeling lighter as we declutter and organize. During these … Read more

The Tangled Mess Beneath Your Desk

I can organize pretty much anything. The exception are cords and cables for electronic and computer devices. It’s as though I have some sort of mental block when it comes to turning that tangled mess into neat and tidy.  Usually, when I see a mess, I can’t wait to dig in and sort, purge and set up … Read more

A Quality Experience

A trip to the world’s largest furniture market sure can change your perspective on things. In April and October every year a hundred thousand buyers make the trek to Highpoint, North Carolina to see the latest trends, meet with suppliers and manufacturers, and if they own a store, order furniture, lighting, fabric and accessories for … Read more

The Importance of Focus

Over a few weeks, I worked with a family on a downsizing project. It made me reflect on the importance of focus. In this situation, four siblings cleared out the family home their parents lived in for 50 years. Recently, one parent passed away, and the other can no longer live alone. The family home … Read more

Too Messy to be a Minimalist?

I watched a video of a girl who felt she was too messy to be a minimalist, then she “Tried Minimalism for a Week.” She interviewed Ryan and Josh, The Minimalists, to better understand what a minimalist lifestyle means. Next, she packed up everything she owned except a few essentials and set off on her … Read more

The Tiny House Movement

Every once in a while, I discover a new obsession when it comes to buying, keeping, and organizing stuff. If you are a regular reader, you will know that I discovered The Minimalists a couple of years ago and have been a faithful follower of the movement ever since. I continue to embrace minimalism in … Read more