Sunday, August 26, 2012

Easy As One, Two, Three!!



I have been on a long summer break- and its been wonderful! Although at times, it has been packed full of activities and running around, long, warm days and a loose schedule makes me happy. I always get a little melancholy this time of year- I want to squeeze every outdoor moment out of late August even when you know its time for a change- kids are ready to get into a routine and head into another school year.
With Fall looming, we are reminded that there are organizing projects we have put off - heading to the beach is a much better choice then De-cluttering your closet in July! But now its almost time to face it! What obstacles stand in our way? The editor of Storage magazine summed it up very well- "Money, time and space. Almost all storage problems stem from a lack of one or more of these elements."
So which is it for you? Does a small closet leave you little options or do you think clearing out the basement will take you months? Fortunately if you can identify which element is really limiting you then you can begin to work around it with creative problem solving and find better success. Here are some strategies  to help you get over these hurdles.
Money- There is NO reason to spend a lot on organizational products. Lots of discount stores and magazines have plenty of suggestions and ideas for almost any project. The Internet is another unbeatable source- with so many sites, you can find what you need for a great price. Always start with the basics, Target, Homegoods, Container Store, Ikea have many great options at great prices.
Time- Never enough of it- of course. We all lead busy lives, but carving out smaller amounts of time to tackle projects is much more manageable. When I work with a client, 2 hours seems to be the limit- beyond that you loose your focus and any task will seem overwhelming. Don't expect it all to get done at once!
Space- This may be the hardest element to overcome and where creativity must play a vital role! Many of us will not be reconstructing closets and kitchens to create more space so what to do? Purge!! Try to make as much room as possible and then shop. Many organizational products are designed to maximize your space and efficiency! Get a handle on these 3 obstacles and get ready to transform your storage dreams into reality!