DIY Tips: The Tao of Spring Closet Organizing [My Guest Blog on Diggerslist.com!]

DIY Tips: The Tao of Spring Closet Organizing

April 12, 2012

This might sound crazy, some stuff in our closets can be “crumpled” in a pile and STILL be considered “organized.” What?! Did this Professional home and office organizer say that I can let some of my wardrobe be “crumpled”?

Stay with me here.

We’ve heard of the Tao of Pooh or even the original Tao of…ergh…Tao.  Tao is just a Chinese word that means “path,” “way” or simply the underlying principles of the universe.  For our purposes, how can we become “one” with the most simplest ways to use our closets now that spring has sprung?  When it comes to using our storage spaces, how can we harness the fundamental principles of the Tao of Spring Closet Organizing, letting them work for us in the most effortless ways possible?

We’re not talking about over committing to “perfection.”  Let’s set up our Spring closets to flow with our lives, rather than force our lives to fit with it. Here are some basic “Tao” or ways to simplify your spring closet organizing.

Continued here at the full blog post at diggerslist.com!

White cardboard file boxes now turned into decorative storeage you'd be proud to display. Source: makeit-loveit.com

Upcycling is Fun! Whimsical Toilet Paper Roll Sculptures

From humble toilet roll cardboard to expressive mask sculpture! How fun are these?

As a professional organizer, we are in the business of helping our clients make the most of their things, time and space.  I say, sculptor Junior Fritz Jacquet go it right! Thanks to our friends at Curbly.com for this lovely display of whimsy.

PROJECT PORTFOLIO: Choose Stress-Free Home Office Over Cluttered Storage

My client was so excited to move forward in his life, both professionally and personally, and working on this home office and guest bedroom combination was just the way to do it.

These boxes never had a home when he moved in - containing his old files and memoirs and valuable papers inherited from a deceased parent.

He also wanted to advance his writing career and really needed a place to get inspiration and keep track of all the fanciful stories he was going to spin.

ENTER: ORGANIZED. By Jenny.

We whipped this corner pile of boxes and doohickeys into shape.  We created a space plan with tastefully and appropriately sourced furniture and storage solutions.

We are happy to report that by the time the holidays rolled around, our client was able to have his mother-in-law stay in the newly refreshed guest bedroom AND have a clean and orderly place to get his finances and writing projects in order.

Cheers to that, 2012.

Do you have a pile o' random boxes taking up valuable real estate and feeling more like a thorn in your side?  Where is it?  What is all the stuff in those boxes? What do you think is holding you back from going through the stuff and finding the right place for your things?  Please leave a comment!

Taking Care of Business: New Business Cards!

I'm so excited, I just had to share!  I just ordered my new business cards.  Plenty of little Jenny faces will be floating around in the world to find people who want to beat clutter in 2012!

What do you all think?  It's kind of nice that I have my face on these, right? I think it's good to remind you of the human being you'll have by your side to help get your stuff and business in order.

DIY Tips: Re-Use Your Way to Creative Holiday Storage [My Guest Blog on Diggerslist.com!]

Remember last year's Christmas tree debacle?  When you got so busy taking on the freight train that is the month of January that all those prickly, dried out Christmas tree needles started making a mess on your floor?

How about a resolution you can actually keep?  Put away those Holiday Decorations waaaay sooner than last year.

For a little inspiration, check out my latest guest blog on Diggerslist.com!  It's a great little tip sheet to use what's laying around the house to put away your holiday gear.

Here's an excerpt below and be sure to click through to read the full post! I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think and comment below! (And thanks to Skaie Knox of the DiggersList.com Blog!)

DIY Tips: Re-Use Your Way to Creative Holiday Storage

December 19, 2011

Decorations and gifts are great to hang and have strewn about to set the holiday mood!  But, come January, most of us have the unhappy chore of finding space for all this festive goodness.

So before the last pine needles fall, and the eggnog runs dry, let’s find inexpensive and “green” ways to store our holiday gear.  Here are some inexpensive and eco-friendly ways to find creative storage solutions for your holiday goodies.

Re-Use Things Laying Around the House
Egg Cartons! They are naturally shock-absorbing and great for little ornaments.  Nick-knacks are great “in season” but get a little ridiculous when it’s nearing the time of year to put up red hearts and cupid decorations, right? Let’s find winter adornments a home.

Source: Re-Nest.com

Continued here at the full blog post at diggerslist.com!

Organizer Rant of The Day: "Rotating" Underwear

As a personal home/office organizer I MUST veto this practice of ridiculousness called "rotating" your underwear.

Do you do this?

Source: Fauziah Ismail

It's where you put our most recently-laundered undies on the bottom of your pile so that you wear the less "fresh" ones on top.

Are you kidding me?  Priorities, people!  Let's save our energy for the important things...like doing our laundry in the first place, getting the dishes washed, and hugging our loved ones.

Panties are not milk and eggs.
CLEAN underwear is not a perishable good.
Laundry does not expire!

Let's just make sure we rotate the underwear that we actually wear, not the storage of it, huh?

Thank you.  I feel better already.

Happy December, everyone!

Let's Be Thankful For Our Space! ("Transforming Apartment" VIDEO)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

On this holiday, let us be thankful for all the space we have in our homes to live the life we want!

You live in a small space perhaps? Well...you should STILL count your blessings!

A "Transformers" apartment!  "More than meets the eyes!"

See what Hong Kong architect Gary Chang did to his TINY 344 square foot apartment with his creative design skills!

What an inspiration to live efficiently, simply and clutter-free!

For such a small space, Gary Chang is living LARGE!

I am thankful for all of your support as I've grown the ORGANIZED. By Jenny business this year!

Holiday Organizing Tips: The Not-So-Martha-Stewart Guide to How to Be A “Dignified Slacker” [My Guest Blog on Diggerslist.com!]

Party people!!!! It's the Holidays!  It's time to do it up in the ways of the "Dignified Slacker"!


Here's an excerpt below and be sure to click through to read the full post! I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think and comment below! (And thanks to Skaie Knox of the DiggersList.com Blog!)

Holiday Organizing Tips: The Not-So-Martha-Stewart Guide to How to Be A “Dignified Slacker”

November 21, 2011

Comedian and professional "Dignified Slacker", Andy Samberg with Martha Stewart.

If you’re looking for tips to help make this season’s holidays “absolutely perfect,” please move on!  There is nothing for you to see here, folks.

[Cue the string quartet rendition of "Glory Glory Hallelujah"]

This blog post is for those of you who wish not to achieve the unattainable “ideal”, portrayed so effortlessly by Martha Stewart and her perfectly proper staff of “Home-Bots”. This one is for those of you who want to survive the “Ghosts of Horrible Holidays Past”, saving your loved ones from dealing with an overly-emotional, extra-complicated and stressed-out version of you.

BEHOLD!  The Dignified Slacker!

[End instrumental music]

DiggersList's guest blogger, Jenny as "Dignified Slacker"-In training, circa newly immigrant status. "Never Let Them See You Sweat." That old anti-perspirant slogan on the TV screen had it right all along.

What is the “Dignified Slacker” you may ask? Well…I made it up. It’s just my term for recovering perfectionists who believe that “perfect” is the enemy of “good.” It is for people who choose to live in the reality of happiness-land rather than fairy-tale-perfection-land. The Dignified Slacker is an attitude! It’s a way of being! And it’s a strategy for managing the craziness of the winter holiday season. Now, to the list…

5 simple ideas to enjoy the holidays and live the charmed life of the Dignified Slacker:

Continued here at the full blog post at diggerslist.com!

Create a Guest Room Out of Nothing: Tips for All Budgets [My First Guest Blog Post on DiggersList.Com!]

Well, lookee here!  It's my first ever guest blog post on behalf of ORGANIZED. By Jenny!  It's quite a little milestone for me! Yay!

Here's an excerpt below and be sure to click through to read the full post!  I hope you enjoy it!  Let me know what you think and comment below! (And thanks to Skaie Knox of the DiggersList.com Blog!)

Create a Guest Room Out of Nothing: Tips for All Budgets

Oh, dear.  Guests are coming for the holidays and we don’t have a spare bedroom! What is a holiday host to do?  Whether you have a champagne or beer budget, here are some strategies for finding space for guests and being a gracious host this holiday season.

Create Space for Guests on The Champagne Budget

Pop that cork! You can afford real French bubbly for the holidays!  You might not have the budget to punch out a wall and add a spare room, but you do have enough champagne money to upgrade your furniture.

• Get a Sofa That Doubles as a Bed for the Office or Living Room

Photo: bhg.com

There are many options on the market for sleeper sofas – from smaller scale love seats to massive couches that open up to queen sized beds.  Not loving the idea of a fold-out mattress?  Consider getting a sofa with a deeper or longer seat cushion, so that it can easily be converted into a bed by just adding fresh linens...

Read the full blog post at diggerslist.com!

Organizing Essential #2: Slim Velvet No-Slip Hangers

EVERYone wishes they have more closet space.  Any closet overhaul must include an upgrade to the best hangers of the moment.  Screw that magazine that told you that getting perfectly uniform cedar hangers was essential for having a grown-up closet.  Those things are expensive, bulky and not very practical.

It is ALL about flocked or "velvet" slim hangers.  There are a bunch of companies making them now, originally popularized by those ubiquitous infomercials from Joy Mangano ("Huggable Hangers").  You can get them for a great price and they are excellent for making the most of your precious hanger space.

Oh! And while you're at it, feel free to use this neat-o checklist of Essentials Items for a Woman's Closet to help you pare down what you need to keep or toss.  This list is ESPECIALLY helpful for those who like to maintain rather preppy, wardrobe staples as the foundation of your closet.

Thin No Slip Velvet Suit Hangers, Black, Set of 50
Source: best value on Amazon.com (Costco had a great deal on these recently)
Price: $29.90
Awesome Sauce Factor: Takes up less real estate on your closet bar and never lets your strappies, silkies and boatnecks from falling to the floor.  And at 60 cents a piece from Amazon, it's a great value for the closet upgrade.

Do you agree that these hangers are the bees-knees?  If not, what do YOU recommend as the BEST hangers around? Leave a comment below! I'd love to hear from you!

PROJECT PORTFOLIO: Be the Donald Trump of Your Kitchen! Counter Tops as Valuable Real Estate

Not everyone is blessed with forty linear feet of clutter-free counter space (Oh. In my dreams...in my sweet, sweet dreams).

For the rest of us, we need to make the best of our valuable kitchen counter top real estate.

When you think about it, viewing our kitchen counters as "expensive real estate" is actually a great way to think about how to best use our counter tops!

Let's imagine: If you own valuable property on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills or a storefront on Park Avenue, you wouldn't just use that space for storing your random crap that you don't use, would you? Would you treat that Rodeo Drive storefront like it's just some storage garage you rent? Probably not.  

You would choose only the best things that will be the most useful, or add the most to your life (or your bottom line).

To use real estate "talk," let's think of it this way: What is the "highest and best use" for our kitchen counter tops (Say, if you are a busy family with three kids)?

• Space to prep kids and mommy and daddy's lunches? Check!
• Place to store washcloths, daily vitamins and baby food to feed and wipe down little grubby faces? Check!
• Counter space to spread out my chopping boards and prep food? Check!
• Appliances and coffee maker close to where we store our food, beverages and glasses? Check!

Anything else? Well, they are not as important "uses" of the kitchen, so they do NOT get any of the valuable counter top real estate.  Simple as that.

From Project Portfolio

Have you ever thought of the rooms in your home as "real estate"?  What are the highest and best uses for YOUR counter tops and the needs of you and YOUR family? Please leave a comment below!  I'd love to hear from you!

Has Recycling Gone Too Far? PORTLANDIA'S Funny Take on Recycling Madness!

The job of a Professional Organizer is never to be a "GET RID OF EVERYTHING" Clutter-Nazi.  We'd like to think of ourselves as coaches who help you PRIORITIZE the way your things take up your space and your time! But oh...we do LOVE ourselves some RECYCLING!

I can't help but share this AWESOMELY FUNNY sketch from IFC's "Portlandia."  It's the "Sanitation Twins" who tell you ALL about their fair city's EXTREMELY COMPREHENSIVE RECYCLING PROGRAM.  Okay. Okay. It gets a little overboard.  But it's okay to poke fun of our sustainability, green, and low-consumption ways, right?

What do YOU think about our responsibility to recycle?  Has it gone too far?  Or has it been a great way for you to bust the clutter in your life? Just comment below! Would love to hear from you!

PROJECT PORTFOLIO: Simple Bedroom Makeover - from CLUTTER to CLARITY

What happens when you need to move out the personal possessions for a physically disabled roommate and prepare your home for a new roommate to come in, all at the same time?

Chaos.

So ORGANIZED. By Jenny helped this IT professional to get some order in her otherwise disheveled bedroom. We taught her some basic principles around knowing when to keep items, and where to place things you use the most often for daily living.  Here are the results.

From Project Portfolio

She still has a nice mound of "To Sort" but now she has a closet that works for her everyday needs.  Believe it or not, she was actually getting her wardrobe from a couple piles in the middle of that madness on her bedroom floor.

This is what we did:

1. Clear out all the junk stuffed into the closet and onto the floor so we can assess what's useful.
2. Talk through her daily activities for getting ready for work, relaxing and coming home to rest.  Where are the things she needs to do these activities? Let's place them within reach in designated "zones" or "homes."
3. What is the clothing that she is ACTUALLY wearing on a daily basis?  Great! Let's put THOSE items back into the closet with plenty of room to spare!
4. Create space in the closet for 

• Laundry baskets,
• Daily wardrobe,
• Smaller essentials like underthings like socks and underwear in the drawer units,
• Workout supplies,
• An extra bed and linens for when mom comes over once a week and
• A space above the drawer units for your purse and backpack (you'll know exactly where it is for when you run out the door).

 Then let's put the shoes you actually wear in a shelving unit by the door, with some of your daily vitamins, medicine and hair products at eye level above the shoes.

That's it!  Your daily routine, simplified and clarified.

What do you think about the "after" closet? Do you have some "empty" or "white" space around YOUR clothing?

Organizing Essential #1: The Double-Hang Closet Rod

I'd like to teach the world to sing...in perfect harmony...

Okay. More like,

I'd like to teach the world to double their closet space...for greater efficiency.

This is the FIRST in a series where I'll be sharing with you my "Organizing Essentials"!  These are the gadgets, systems and doohickeys that are the go-to tools for me in making MY life and my clients' lives more organized, efficient and sane. And not EVERY tool can make the cut. Only the ones that are excellent bangs for your buck.  I believe in reuse, reduce and recycle.  But sometimes a good tool that's simple and highly effective is worth it's weight in tax-write-off donations gold.

So here it is...complete with ZERO fanfare or bright lights and colors...it's the (drumroll please...)

DOUBLE-HANG CLOSET ROD
Source: available from The Container Store (or online shopping venues)
Price: $9.99
Awesome Sauce Factor: Inexpensive and high impact! Doubles your closet space.

The Double-Hang Closet Rod at The Container Store

This genius invention simply works with your existing closet rod to provide ANOTHER rod underneath to double your closet space.  Just hook it on!  No holes to drill!

And it's CHEAP! Just some metal and wood.  You COULD get a more expensive one, like the Dublet Adjustable Closet Rod Expander by Umbra®. But why? It's double the price.

I like to use this for hanging my shorter blouses and sweaters on top and then my slacks and skirts down below. It's the perfect way to use that empty space beneath your clothing (if you're not already using it for shoe storage like I have in other parts of my closet).

That's it!  Simple dimple.  

Imperfect Perfection (or why not quite right can be really great)

This is my bedroom ceiling fan. It’s what I stare at every morning to start my day. Stare at it for too long, contemplate it too much and it starts looking a little sad and confused.

The contractor was too hasty when he reinstalled it after completing renovations: one blade is crooked, he couldn’t find the light cover and the thing buzzes like it’s prepared for take-off when it’s turned on.

But, it works.

During the muggiest summer nights that little thing buzzed its air-circulating way onto my skin and into my heart.

What can I say? I root for the underdog.

Sometimes seeking perfection and having “high standards” leads to unhappiness and just plain having the wrong priorities.

I haven’t purchased a new ceiling fan. Why? Because this one gets the job done. More importantly, because seeing it up there everyday reminds me of all the awesome things I *have* been doing with my time instead of spending the money and energy on replacing my ceiling fan – starting a podcast on creativity and entrepreneurship, completely purging and reorganizing my house, helping awesome clients organize their spaces to uplift their lives and joyously writing more from my heart this summer than even that prolific run I had writing angsty poetry in the sixth grade.

Allowing for the imperfection in this ceiling fan means I can focus on the great things in my life that bring meaning, joy and connectedness.

Now THAT’S my idea of perfection.

Before & After: A Screenwriter's TV / Media Room [Project Portfolio]

INTERIOR. MAN CAVE
The spare bedroom looks like it has been hit with a Blockbuster Video tornado. The SCREENWRITER is sitting on the sofa.


SCREENWRITER
This is too much.  I've got to get a handle on all these old VHS and DVDs.  How will I ever get inspired in this space so I can write more screenplays?!


(2 months later)
ORGANIZED. BY JENNY enters.


ORGANIZED. BY JENNY
Well lookee here!  Some sorting, purging and some great storage furniture later, you've got your Man Cave/media room back!


SCREENWRITER
Thank goodness! Not a moment too soon.  I don't know HOW much time I've spent on just looking for my limited collector's edition of Scarface.


ORGANIZED. BY JENNY and SCREENWRITER high five.

From Project Portfolio

[Jenny's Crib] From Dark-Hole-of-Storage-Room-Doom to Organized Closet [Before and After]

I have a confession. I moved into my two-bedroom condo over two years ago and I STILL hadn't finished unpacking. I still had six big boxes of random things covered with construction dust stuffed in the dark hole of see-no-evil storage room doom second bedroom. I just shut the door and lived my life.

After two years of letting my things hibernate and two bathroom and a full kitchen remodel later, I was finally ready to use my space for exactly their intended purpose.

From Project Portfolio

Step 1: Clear out the 2nd bedroom fake storage room of doom and make it an ACTUAL bedroom.
Step 2: Sort, Purge, and Categorize all my homeless stuff while my mom helps deep clean the bedroom. (Thanks, mom!)
Step 3: Crush extra boxes and kick out the donations and trash!
Step 4: Set up my real storage closet to do its job!
Step 5: Enjoy the new storage closet almost every day to live an awesome life!



I wish I had photos of my sad 2nd bedroom when it was the storage room of doom, but no. I probably did not have the strength to stomach the shame.  Thankfully, I managed to squeeze six big boxes and more of random unorganized stuff, neatly and reasonably into my spacious storage closet.

This storage closet is centrally located by the living room and dining room.  It's the perfect spot to keep all the things I need for my entertaining, hobbies, outdoor activities, cleaning supplies and household projects.

From Project Portfolio

Scroll down for photo of my summer 2011 "storage closet reveal"!

Where are the random places around your house that you've turned into storage? Where are the nooks and crannies that have taken on your random things? Storing tupperware in the oven?  Clothes on the treadmill? Toys in the never-used tub? Please comment and let us know!

From Project Portfolio

From Project Portfolio

[Jenny's Crib] Here's a Quick Way to Get a Custom Look, On-The-Cheap [Vintage Knobs]

Knobs are the underrated hardware of the house.  We need them, but take them for granted.  For all the utility they provide, why not add a dash of beauty as you open up your cabinets and doors? Here's a quickie project I did to customize my standard, all-white bathroom vanity. I got some great turquoise vintage knobs on sale at Anthropologie and had to have them. Such a simple and unexpected little project.

From Project Portfolio

What do you think? As you can see, I replaced my first knob before taking my "before" photo because I was so excited to see how it looked! Now, every time I touch them, I get a little shot a joy to start and end my day. Oh. It's the little things in life sometimes. It's the little things.

How do you take a big-box purchase and get a custom-look on the cheap?

Mission: Find a DVD in Under 5 Seconds. GO! A Screenwriter's Inspiration Room [Project Portfolio]

If you had nearly 800 movies, could you find Scarface in under 5 seconds? I didn't think so. That's what my Silverlake, Los Angeles client needed to find inspiration for his screenwriting. How can you spin fanciful tales of excitement if piles of DVDs and old, unlabeled VHS tapes are crowded all up in your business? We started with his vision of this TV room/Guest Bedroom.  He wanted inspiration!  A clutter-free environment!  The power to research, reference and recall any movie or television show on a moment's notice! We planned for him to run his own personal film festival by the end of August - a great way to put some accountability to the organizing project. From Project Portfolio We donated duplicates, and grouped by genre (Suspense, Horror, Comedy and Musical, Family and Animation, TV series, British TV series, Drama, and Non-Fiction).  My client spent plenty of his own time on homework, purchasing storage furniture I suggested through my Pinterest board for him, and alphabetizing the entire combined collection of DVDs and VHS tapes within each genre (BTW: Pinterest is a great tool to source ideas for a room). From Project Portfolio An hour and a half consultation, lots of client homework and two four-hour sessions later, what started as a Greek tragedy of clutter...

From Project Portfolio

...became an Oscar-worthy movie and television library!

From Project Portfolio

All right Mr. De Mille, I'm ready for my close-up.- Norma in Sunset Boulevard

From Project Portfolio