Real Simple: The Organized Home [Illustrated] 1932273565, 9781932273564

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Make this the most organized school year ever.

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© 2019 Cozi Inc. Cozi is a registered trademark of Cozi Inc.

Rating in the App Store

R E A D E R

S H O PPI N G

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Editor’s Note T H E Y E A R W E L I V E D in the fifth-floor walk-up

apartment challenged our marriage. Yes, all those stairs helped us stay fit, the closets were large, and we had a gorgeous view of the Manhattan skyline. Yet so many times one of us (usually me) arrived at the sidewalk only to discover that a phone or a set of keys or some other important item was still upstairs, then marched back up, opened the door, and began yelling in frustration. Then came the doorknob organizer—a small, flat canvas pouch that hung on the doorknob and held keys and anything else that might otherwise be forgotten on an entryway table. I think it cost $20, but it bought a million dollars’ worth of calm. It was a small change with an enormous impact, the kind of thing we want you to achieve with Real Simple Organize Your Home. Inside we share easy design ideas and behavioral tweaks that can transform your everyday experience, from a fantastic lineup of experts. Try them for a week and see—you’ll be surprised how simple it can be to make your home a more organized and peaceful place. Enjoy!

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On Twitter @lyazel On Instagram @leslieyazel

Photograph by Rob Howard

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 1

Table of Contents S e c t i o n Tw o 0 4 Re a l S i m p l e . c o m

Personal Spaces

0 6 Yo u r Wo rd s

50 Sw e e t D re a m s M a ke o v e r

0 8 T h e Re a l S i m p l e M e t h o d

56 The Closet Audit

10 Little Helpers

62 T h e G re a t C l o s e t C l e a n - O u t

1 2 O rg a n i z i n g C h a l l e n g e

6 8 5 To o l s t o H e l p K i d s C u t C l u t t e r

1 4 N e w U s e s fo r O l d T h i n g s

70 T h e Re a l S i m p l e M e t h o d Checklist: Kids’ Spots

1 6 G o o d Re a d 20 O u r Fa v o r i t e P i e c e s

7 2 C l u t t e r R x : B a t h Va n i t y 74 F i n d a S p a c e fo r E v e r y t h i n g

Section One

Shared Spaces 26 We l c o m e H o m e 28 C l u t t e r R x : E n t r y 30 A K i t c h e n T h a t D o e s I t A l l 3 3 O rg a n i z e T h i s : Po t s a n d Pa n s 34 Clutter Rx: Kitchen 3 6 Po w e r - Pa c ke d Pa n t r y 3 8 T h e Re a l S i m p l e M e t h o d C h e c k l i s t : D i n i n g Ro o m 4 0 G e t Yo u r Fa m i l y o n t h e S a m e Pa g e

Section Three

Work Spaces 78 N o M o re M e s s i n g A ro u n d 82 O n e Wo r k S p a c e , T h re e Zo n e s 85 O rg a n i z e T h i s : C ra f t Ro o m 8 6 S t o p Pa p e r P i l e u p s 9 0 P ro j e c t C e n t ra l 9 2 M a ke I t a H a b i t 94 T h e Re a l S i m p l e M e t h o d C h e c k l i s t : G a ra g e

4 4 C l u t t e r R x : Fa m i l y Ro o m 9 5 Re s o u rc e s

P H OTO G R A P H BY K I M C O R N E L I S O N

4 6 M a k i n g Ro o m fo r G o o d , C l e a n Fu n

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 3

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Join Us Online VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR E A SY STO R AG E T R I C K S YO U C A N U S E TO DAY.

CLOSET HACKS DA I LY I N S P I R AT I O N

Get out the door faster—and happier— with our closetorganizing tips for clothes, shoes, and accessories. With these easy-to-follow strategies in mind, choosing an outfit for the day promises to be a lot less stressful—leaving you plenty of time to savor your morning cup of coffee.

Discover some of our favorite places to shop for shelving, storage bins, and more. Hint: A variety of office supplies work well in other areas of your house. Some popular home decor brands have great finds too.

Want to make your bath a calming oasis? The first step is to get rid of all the things that are cluttering up your countertop and vanity cabinets. Check out our list of 14 things you can get rid of immediately (really!).

Even large rooms can feel short on space, but you likely have more storage space than you realize. We show you how to put unused areas under the stairs, behind cabinet doors, and up near the ceiling to better use.

Get the best of Real Simple every day by signing up for our free newsletter. You’ll receive cleaning and organizing tricks, recipes, health advice, and beauty secrets. Plus, find out Real Simple editors’ favorite makeup, cleaning products, home accessories, and more.

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4 REAL SIMPLE

S T R E A M L I N E YO U R B AT H RO O M FAVO R I T E F I N D S

D I S C OV E R M O R E S T O R A G E S PA C E

ORGANIZE YOUR HOME REAL SIMPLE BRAND

Editor In Chief LESLIE YAZEL Executive Creative Director RINA STONE Executive Editor SARA AUSTIN Executive Managing Editor LAVINEL SAVU Deputy Editor ANNA MALTBY Home Director STEPHANIE SISCO

SPECIAL EDITION TEAM

Editor BRIAN KRAMER Designer BRITTANY MUELLER Contributing Editor RENEE FREEMON MULVIHILL Copy Editor MARTHA COLOFF LONG Proofreader ERIKA BJORKLUND Administrative Assistant RENAE MABIE

MEREDITH SPECIAL INTEREST MEDIA HOME Executive Editor SAMANTHA HART Group Editor ANN BLEVINS Senior Editor BRIAN KRAMER Senior Associate Editor NATALIE DAYTON Staff Writer JESSICA BENNETT Design Director KIMBERLY MORGAN METZ Group Art Director NICOLE DEAN TEUT Associate Art Director JESSICA ENO Assistant Art Director EMILY BUTTERWORTH Senior Graphic Designer BRITTANY MUELLER Administrative Assistants RENAE MABIE, SUE MILLER FOOD Executive Editor JAN MILLER Senior Editors JESSICA SAARI CHRISTENSEN, MAGGIE GLISAN Senior Associate Editor CARRIE BOYD Design Director STEPHANIE HUNTER Assistant Art Director RAE DANNEMAN Administrative Assistant COURTNEY BUSH Director, Meredith Test Kitchen LYNN BLANCHARD Culinary Specialists SARAH BREKKE, JULI HALE, SAMMY MILA, COLLEEN WEEDEN Senior Food Stylist GREG LUNA Food Stylists KELSEY BULAT, LAUREN KNOELKE

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FOR EDITORIAL QUESTIONS, E-MAIL [email protected] OR WRITE US AT REAL SIMPLE ORGANIZE YOUR HOME, MEREDITH CORP., 225 LIBERTY ST., NEW YORK, NY 10281 MEREDITH NATIONAL MEDIA GROUP President, Meredith Magazines DOUG OLSON President, Consumer Products TOM WITSCHI President, Chief Digital Officer CATHERINE LEVENE Chief Revenue Officer MICHAEL BROWNSTEIN Chief Marketing & Data Officer ALYSIA BORSA Marketing & Integrated Communications NANCY WEBER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENTS Consumer Revenue ANDY WILSON Corporate Sales BRIAN KIGHTLINGER Direct Media PATTI FOLLO Research Solutions BRITTA CLEVELAND Strategic Sourcing, Newsstand, Production CHUCK HOWELL Digital Sales MARLA NEWMAN The Foundry MATT PETERSEN Product & Technology JUSTIN LAW VICE PRESIDENTS Finance CHRIS SUSIL Business Planning & Analysis ROB SILVERSTONE Consumer Marketing STEVE CROWE Shopper Marketing CAROL CAMPBELL Brand Licensing STEVE GRUNE Vice President, Group Editorial Director STEPHEN ORR Director, Editorial Operations & Finance GREG KAYKO

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MEREDITH SPECIAL INTEREST MEDIA Vice President & Group Publisher SCOTT MORTIMER Vice President, Group Editorial Director STEPHEN ORR Vice President, Marketing JEREMY BILOON Executive Account Director DOUG STARK Director, Brand Marketing JEAN KENNEDY Associate Director, Brand Marketing BRYAN CHRISTIAN Senior Brand Manager KATHERINE BARNET FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION Associate Business Director JENNA BATES Business Managers LISA CARLSON, MARISA CLARK CIRCULATION Consumer Marketing Managers LYNN BOLINGER, ED LICHINSKY ADVERTISING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Garden National Account Manager ERIC MARZEN [email protected] National Account Executive RYAN KEENAN [email protected] National Account Executive TYLER SMITH [email protected] Regional Account Executive COLLIN COUGHLON [email protected] Regional Account Executive BRIAN KEANE [email protected] Sales Assistant DIANA WEESNER [email protected] Do It Yourself Advertising Sales Director AMY GATES [email protected] Project Supervisor BETHANY PETERSON [email protected] National Account Executive DANIEL WELLS [email protected] Sales Assistant ASHLEY JACOBS [email protected] Home Senior Vice President & Group Publisher STEPHEN BOHLINGER [email protected] Associate Publisher DEIRDRE FINNEGAN deirdre.fi[email protected] Food & Holiday Executive Vice President & Group Publisher CAREY WITMER [email protected] Advertising Sales Assistant MOLLY MONAGHAN [email protected] ADVERTISING OPERATIONS 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309-3023 Associate Production Director PATRICK MCGOWAN Production Managers KYLE DIRKS, DEBBIE REYNOLDS, ASHLEY SCHAUBROECK, ANGELA SCHOPP DIRECT MEDIA Fax: 212/499-6757 Associate Business Development Manager BIANCA DICKERSON [email protected] Sales Manager TYLER HUB [email protected]

Yo u r W o r d s

How Do You Get Your Family to Help with Organizing? A N O R G A N I Z E D H O M E I S E V E RY O N E ’ S T O E N J O Y — A N D E V E RY O N E ’ S R E S P O N S I B I L I T Y. H E R E ’ S H O W S O M E O F O U R R E A D E R S S H A R E T H E L OA D.

I tell the kids why we organize, not just to do it because I said so. In our house, it’s for ease and lack of stress. – A . M . , L I T I T Z , P E N N S Y LVA N I A

With three active teenagers, keeping track of who needs what uniform and equipment when can be a little overwhelming. Dry erase markers have been our salvation. The kids write their schedules on their bathroom mirrors so they’re reminded of what they need every morning. – D. E . , AU S T I N , T E X A S

I make wristbands from construction paper (or I use soft, flexible plastic with Velcro on the ends for something more durable). I write chores on them and put one on each child’s wrist. They wear them until the chore is done. –M.S., HOUSTON

Start young and make it fun. I also try to set an example for my 6-year-old. I can’t expect her to be organized if I’m not. –S.B., SP OK ANE, WA S H I N G T O N

My daughter and I would set an alarm for one hour and do as much as possible in that time. When the alarm went off, we would finish the tasks we were on, put away any tools, and go out for a fun experience. We liked seeing how much can be achieved in a short time and have great memories of fun outings together. – B . S . , C A R L S B A D, CALIFORNIA

When I was in the workforce, my family had mandatory weekly cleaning parties. Afterward we could all enjoy the weekend with a clean and organized space. – D. A . , L A N C A S T E R , CALIFORNIA

We painted the inside of our pantry cabinet door with dry erase paint and keep a running shopping list there. Every time anyone uses the last of something or thinks of something they would like us to buy, they write it down. –K.A., MADISON, WISCONSIN

Kid-level hooks and shelves allow my kids to put their things away independently. – E . K . , W E S T B L O O M F I E L D, M I C H I G A N

6 REAL SIMPLE

Each night we have “fiveminute madness.” Everyone has five minutes to do a quick check around the house and put things where they belong. It helps cut down on clutter and makes organization a lot easier. – R . P. , C L AY T O N , D E L AWA R E

Clutter control is a must! I keep a large laundry basket by the back door. Unwanted household items, grownout-of clothing, and books go into it. When the basket is full, I happily take it to the local charity thrift shop. –M.A., PHIL ADELPHIA

I had a list of chores that needed to be done each week. My daughters would sign up for four duties (one of them had to be a lessthan-fun job), and I would do the rest. No one felt they were stuck with just one job they hated to do.

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y B I Z J O N E S ( B O O K S ) ; J AY W I L D E ( S T O R A G E D R A W E R S )

– B . B . , E D WA R D S , C O L O R A D O

I have started something I call “commercial cleaning.” My little girls and I watch home improvement shows, and when the commercials start, we run into a designated room and go to town. When the program is back on, we return to snuggling on the couch. It keeps the cleaning and organizing novel, quick, and fun. –A.L., TUC SON, ARIZONA

Technology is a big part of our children’s world, so we use it to get them engaged and organized. Our favorite tool is an app called Cozi [owned by Meredith Corporation, the parent company of Real Simple]. We use it for nearly everything, including our calendars and shopping lists. The kids have their phones with them all the time— why not make that work for us?

Set up simple systems even young children can use. Instead of labeling pegboards, I outline items with a liquid chalk pen so the kids know which hook to use in storage closets. Anyone can see which item may be missing right away. – A . D. , F O RT C O L L I N S , COLOR AD O

– C .W. , S A I N T PAU L , M I N N E S O TA

Make storage lid-free so things can just be tossed in. D. R . , RU S S E L LV I L L E , A R K A N S A S

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 7

The Real Simple Method

More Calm, Less Clutter Think of decluttering as the opening move that makes all other organizing goals more achievable. Our whole-house, whole-family plan featured here is designed to save time (fewer closet excavations) and aggravation (no more pantry landslides). It might also erase guilt, since clutter reminds us of the decisions, big and little, that we’ve dodged. More shelf space is lovely, but more mental space is the real game changer. What will you do with yours? Step 1

The Prep C O N F E R W I T H YO U R T E A M “It’s

essential to get everyone in on the process to ensure buy-in. Without collaboration, it’s unlikely anyone will honor your unilateral decisions on where things live,” says New York City– based professional organizer Andrew Mellen. Spark your family’s interest by transforming a key shared space, like the mudroom or kitchen. “Organizing is contagious—usually the less interested parties just need to see progress in one area to get on board,” says Jordan Marks, cofounder and owner of It’s Organized, with locations in New York City, New Jersey, and California. Ask everyone to share ideas on how your home could function better. Then divvy up jobs based on strengths: If your husband loves to wheel and deal, he can sell items on Nextdoor;

8 REAL SIMPLE

your teenager can drive things to the recycling center; your 5-year-old can test the pens in the office. P L A N YO U R AT TA C K Ask your

family which areas bother them most on a daily basis. They’ll see the most meaningful results from tackling these pain points first. Reserve blocks of time to work—up to an hour a few times a week or a two-hour weekend stretch. Put them on the family calendar and stick to them; consistency is what matters most. GAT H E R S U P P L I E S To clean out

a clothing closet, you’ll need a fulllength mirror for try-ons and heavyduty trash bags for sorting castoffs. Use a permanent marker and Super Sticky Post-It Notes to label the bags to donate, tailor, sell, and recycle (for items no longer usable). Use a similar strategy for other areas of your home.

Step 2

The Purge G E T I N A Z O N E Set a timer each

time you dive in—this helps you keep a steady pace. “Shut off visual distractions—texts, TV—and put on music or a podcast you can zone out to,” says Melissa Maker, author of Clean My Space. S O RT A N D E D I T Bring three sturdy bags into every room: one for trash, one for donations, and one for items that would be better stored elsewhere. Large, opaque garbage bags you can tie closed discourage rethinking.

OPTIMIZE YOUR CASTOFFS A R E T H E D O N AT I O N B I N S I N PA R K I N G LOTS AND ON STREET CORNERS L E G I T ? You may want to do a little research first. Some of the companies that own them have come under fire for misrepresenting how much of the contributions go to those in need and how much is resold for profit. Goodwill and The Salvation Army are among the most reliable places to unload clothes; some locations pick up for free. W H AT S H O U L D YO U D O WITH THE HOLEY S W E AT S YO U T H I N K N O O N E WA N T S ? Donate those, too. Do the sorting team a favor and label bags of beat-up items with “recycle” sticky notes. Articles unsuitable for resale in the organizations’ stores are sold to textile recyclers, who use the fibers for insulation, carpet padding, and stuffing for toys.

For bulky housewares and furniture, use bright dot stickers (the kind you see at garage sales) to mark the categories. First clear out anything that’s a no-brainer (worn-out shoes, obsolete sports equipment), then sort items, keeping like with like. In the entryway, group each person’s belongings. In the closet, keep blouses together and pullovers in their own pile. As you work, identify what else you can get rid of. (Because clothes can be hard to let go of, don’t miss “The Closet Audit,” page 56.) General rule: If you haven’t used it in a year, it should go. M OV E T H I N G S O U T O F S I G H T As

the bags get full, remove them from the space. Haul them to the dump and donation center or, if you’re planning to host a garage sale, create a temporary declutter zone, says Washington, D.C.–based organizing expert Rachel Rosenthal. Items that should live in other parts of the house can move to the zone, too, but don’t worry about giving them a perfect home just yet. Delegate the task or make finding space for them your next mini project. A S S I G N E V E RY I T E M A H O M E

P H OTO G R A P H BY A N N A W I L L I A M S

It’s the cardinal rule of professional organizers: Every item needs one home. When the item is not in use, it’s in that home. Think about storage options you already own that you can repurpose, and have family members help come up with creative ways to store things. If you need to purchase containers, make a detailed list first to avoid overbuying. L A B E L , L A B E L , L A B E L This step is

crucial in helping everyone maintain the new system, especially in heavyuse areas like the pantry, playroom, and mudroom. You can make temporary labels with a marker and bright tape or use a label maker for a longer-lasting ID.

Step 3

Post-Cleanse R E WA R D YO U R S E L F Plan a little

treat after each work session and offer kids stars on a chart to earn a trip to the movies or the ice cream place. Layering in pleasure keeps the organizing process uplifting and transformative, not like drawn-out drudgery. Just try not to reward yourself with a shopping spree (new clutter!). F I G H T F U T U R E C LU T T E R Take

an after photo to capture what you’ll strive to maintain. Adopt a handsfull mantra: “Never leave a room empty-handed because, chances are, there’s at least one item you could return to its rightful location,” Maker says. When shopping, think about where new purchases will live and what you can get rid of to offset them. (That’s the stickier cardinal rule of professional organizers: One in, one out.)

DEALING WITH SENTIMENTAL CLUTTER As you come across memorabilia you just can’t get rid of, “Set it aside as homework,” suggests Beth Penn, a professional organizer in Los Angeles and the author of The Little Book of Tidying. Later, work with a family member or impartial friend to determine what’s worth the real estate. Still on the fence? Park the item in question in a prominent spot (up front in a cabinet or closet) and mark it with a sticky note expiration date that’s two months from now. If you don’t reach for the piece within that time frame, you know what to do.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 9

Little Helpers

Eight Greats T A K E A L O O K A T S O M E O F O U R A L L - T I M E FA V O R I T E P R O D U C T S T H A T P RO M I S E TO H E L P M A K E YO U R L I F E E A S I E R. By Brandi Broxson

GREETING CARD KIT

Have cards at the ready with this handy set. Dividers let you organize by occasion or recipient. 16-card starter kit and organizer, $30; americangreetings.com.

TO BUY:

G RO C E RY S T O R E O RG A N I Z E R

This eco-friendly four-bag set fits inside your cart to make packing up at checkout a cinch. Includes a large insulated cooler bag, plus pockets for eggs and wine. Lotus trolley bag, $50; lotustrolleybag.com.

TO BUY:

VO I C E A C T I VAT E D B I N

Just say “open can” (or wave your hand at the sensor) to lift the lid of this sleek receptacle. Its clear coating prevents smudges and fingerprints. TO BUY: 58-liter sensor can with voice and motion control, $200; simplehuman.com.

10 REAL SIMPLE

S TAY- P U T N O T E S

These colorful, 100 percent recyclable memos use static electricity instead of glue to stay in place. Plus, they’re doublesided: One surface is for dry-erase markers and the other is for pen. SlickyNotes, $10 for 4-in. pads (475 count); thegrommet.com. TO BUY:

REUSABLE SNACK BAGS

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y P H I L I P F R I E D M A N ( S TA S H E R B A G S ) ; J E F F R E Y W E S T B R O O K ( S O C K D O C K ) ; K E V I N S W E E N E Y ( K U B E ) . O T H E R P R O D U C T I M A G E S C O U R T E S Y O F M A N U F A C T U R E R S

These 100 percent silicone, BPA-free wonders are dishwasher-, freezer-, and heat-safe. Store snacks, use them to cook broccoli sous vide (really!), or protect your phone from sand at the beach. TO BUY:

Stasher, $8–$20; stasherbag.com.

SOCK WR ANGLER

Lost socks, you’ve met your match. This bungee-style gadget keeps 10 pairs together for washing and drying. Use one organizer for each family member and stop sorting socks. SockDock, $20 for 2; sockdock.com.

TO BUY:

MAGNETIC WA L L B L O C K

Hang keys or jewelry or keep your phone charger at the ready with this multipurpose fixture. It holds up to 6 pounds and installs tool-free. Kube, $15; etsy.com/shop/ woodnetics.

TO BUY:

R E F R I G E R AT O R F R E S H E N E R

Filled with bamboo charcoal, this linen bag helps banish odors and absorbs moisture. Because it attaches to the refrigerator wall with a suction cup, it takes up no shelf space. Lasts up to two years. Moso refrigerator bag, $9; mosonatural.com.

TO BUY:

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 1 1

Organizing Challenge

Shoes S U R E , Y O U C O U L D J U S T B U Y F E W E R PA I R S . B U T W H Y N O T I M P L E M E N T O N E O F T H E S E O RGA N I Z E R-A P P ROV E D S O LU T I O N S I N ST E A D ? B y Ta m a r a K r a u s

Photographs by Br yan Gardner

Prop St yling by Katja Greeff

INCREASE VISIBILITY

Keep shoes that you wear most often on open shelving. Ashley Murphy and Lisa Ruff of Neat Method, a homeorganizing company with locations nationwide, suggest designating a row or section of cubbies for each family member so everyone in the house knows exactly where to find their favorite footwear. Make the functional piece of furniture part of your mudroom decor (and prevent it from becoming a cluttered catchall) by creating an inviting display with flowers and framed artwork. Manzanola shoe bench, $137; wayfair.com.

TO BUY:

12 REAL SIMPLE

M A K E U S E O F V E RT I C A L S PA C E

Take advantage of an empty slot in a closet and incorporate a tall hanging shoe organizer, says Lisa Zaslow, founder of Gotham Organizers in New York City. Install a shared organizer in the coat closet, or place one in each family member’s storage space. No matter which approach you use, Zaslow says, once all the slots have been filled, invoke the one-in, one-out rule: Before you purchase a new pair, donate an old one. Household Essentials 10-pocket hanging shoe organizer, $15; amazon.com.

TO BUY:

LEVEL UP If you have open floor space in a closet, opt for stackable shoe racks, says Andrew Mellen, author of Unstuff Your Life! Edit your collection each season to keep unused shoes from taking up valuable real estate. When space is limited, pick your favorite of each style (snow boots, heels, sandals) and store the others elsewhere.

P R E V E N T D I RT Y F LO O R S Stop dirt in its tracks by placing in-season shoes on a rubberized boot tray, recommends Erin Doland, author of Never Too Busy to Cure Clutter. Top it with a bench to provide a perch for putting on or taking off shoes.

Large black shoe and boot tray, $40; containerstore.com. Malmesbury wicker bench (similar), $348; birchlane.com. TO BUY:

White mesh stackable shoe shelf, $15 each; containerstore.com. TO BUY:

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 13

New Uses for Old Things

Odds & Ends P R E S S PA U S E B E F O R E Y O U S H O P. T H E P E R F E C T A S S I S T A N T M AY A L R E A D Y B E I N YO U R J U N K D R AW E R — O R E V E N T H E T R A S H C A N . By Brandi Broxson

PURSE SHAPER

Help favorite handbags hold their form (and prevent leather creasing) by filling them with plastic packing wrap when they’re not in use.

COLOR CODED

End the “Whose charger is this?” confusion by wrapping differentcolor washi tape around the base for each family member.

14 REAL SIMPLE

SOUND TO GO

Keep earbuds safe and untangled in an empty eyeglass case.

J E W E L RY S AV E R

Prevent a knotted jumble when traveling by threading your necklace through a straw and clasping it together.

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y C O R E Y O L S E N ; A A R O N C A M E R O N M U N T Z ( E Y E G L A S S C A S E ) ; T R AV I S R AT H B O N E ( S H O E O R G A N I Z E R )

G U E S T-T O W E L TR ACKER

V E RT I C A L GARDEN

Prevent towel mix-ups with a painted clothespin for each guest’s towel. No paint? Write names on the pins with a permanent marker.

Maximize planting space by hanging a shoe organizer on a sunny fence or shed door. Poke small holes in the bottom of each pocket for drainage and fill with herbs or other small plants.

CHINA CUSHION

Layer a coffee filter between mugs, bowls, and plates to prevent chips and nicks.

EARRING T R A N S P O RT

Post earrings on a square of shelf liner to keep them organized and cushioned in your travel bag.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 15

Good Read

The Book Fairy H E R B O O KC A S E S W E R E O U T O F C O N T R O L . PA R I N G D O W N W O U L D CHANGE HOW SHE THOUGHT OF HER S H E LV E S ( A N D H E R S E L F ) . By Laura Lippman

Photographs by Addie Juell

W H E N I WA S A YO U N G I N T E R N

at the Atlanta Constitution many years ago, the television critic for the paper returned from a California junket where reporters had been invited to tour the Malibu home of actor Larry Hagman, then at the height of his Dallas fame. (I said it was many years ago.) I recall the critic laughing at how the writers had formed a line at Hagman’s bookshelves jotting down the titles, keen to find any detail that would make their stories distinctive. But I absorbed a different message: Your bookshelves define you. People walk into your home and create a narrative of who you are based on the books on display. And for more than 30 years, across eight moves and four states, I was in thrall to that idea. My bookshelves, c’est moi. Look how erudite I am, how eclectic! That one course in 18th- and early 19th-century Russian lit helped a lot there. Dostoevsky and Tolstoy are commonplace, but what about Lermontov’s A Hero of Our Time? I left college with at least six cartons of books, moving to Texas to work at newspapers where I initially made very little money. But that didn’t stop me from acquiring more books. In Waco I bought them from secondhand stores and the remaindered table at B. Dalton at the mall. In San Antonio I patronized Rosengren’s; when Rosengren’s went out of business, I bought some of their shelves to hold my burgeoning collection.

I bought books in my hometown of Baltimore along so-called Book Row, then all over New York City and New Orleans in the years that followed. I had so little self-control when it came to books that I inadvertently ended up with some valuable modern first editions, including Barbara Kingsolver’s The Bean Trees. Well, they would be valuable, except I like to read in the bathtub, which makes it difficult to keep hardcovers in the condition desired by collectors. I married, I divorced, I married again. My collection grew, was halved, then doubled like a punched-down loaf of dough. A librarian’s daughter, I kept my volumes in impeccable order, displaying the ones with the most serious literary cred in the living room. It’s not that reporters ever came to my house, but I still wanted to be able to pass that test. (A few years ago, a reporter did come to the house and wrote that I had a collection of books about bluegrass, which wasn’t even true, but it sounded cool at least.) Not only did I never give away a book, but I replaced those that got away from me: James Crumley’s Dancing Bear, destroyed by a poolside splash; David Thomson’s Suspects, lost in the divorce. I prowled yard sales and library sales and eBay, stalking copies of my childhood favorites. In 1997, I became a novelist, which opened a new pipeline of books—my own and those by other writers. Soon I had to get a storage unit for my novels, a downside of being a prolific writer contractually entitled to receive multiple copies of every edition. In 2015, I agreed to judge the National Book Award

ABOUT T H E AU T H O R Laura Lippman is the author of the Tess Monaghan series, a shortstory collection, and 10 standalone novels, including her most recent, Sunburn. She lives in Baltimore.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 17

for Fiction, taking delivery of almost 500 books. Luckily my real estate had expanded, and I had an office around the corner from my home, complete with a small anteroom where I could stash even more books. When Marie Kondo took the world by storm in 2014, I, of course, bought her book. While I found it easy to donate clothes and other possessions, I laughed at the notion that one would ever give away books. Don’t all books spark joy? Jettisoning my books felt like clipping off pieces of my soul. Until it didn’t. I ’ M N OT S U R E W H AT C H A N G E D

in early 2017. I wish I had a blinding epiphany or even an interesting accident to report—say, being trapped for days under a pile of books. But I found myself looking at my shelves and realizing they were not, in fact, a mirror. If anything, they were a carefully curated and alphabetized lie. I owned dozens, if not hundreds, of books I had yet to read. True, I had chosen them—I planned/ hoped to read them—but was I really that different from someone who purchased books in bulk in order to arrange them for maximum decorative impact? Who cared what my books had to say about me? What did I have to say about my books? Studying my shelves, I realized there were four categories: books I had read and may one day reread, those I had not read but hoped to, those I had read but was never going to reread, and those I was never going to read. The next thing I knew, I had gone into a culling frenzy, pulling almost 100 books in the latter two categories.

18 REAL SIMPLE

What to do with them? As a resident of Baltimore, I had a terrific option called the Book Thing, a huge warehouse that accepts used books and then gives them away to anyone who wants them. But I knew myself. If I walked into the Book Thing, I’d walk out with more books. So I created the Mystery Box, a very random collection of 12 books that I give away monthly. A photo of the box, which has a shocking amount of personality for a brown-paper package tied up with string, is posted on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter; everyone who shares the post is entered into a lottery to win the box. Since I began, in April 2017, Mystery Boxes have been shipped to destinations as close as my own hometown and as far away as Indonesia. To date, I have sent out more than 200 books for “adoption.” And while I thought the early boxes would be the best, I realized that the

It wasn’t my books that defined me, that shaped the writer I’ve become. It was what was in them—and what is now in me. deeper I go into my shelves, the more likely I am to select books I sincerely love. Take the case of Author X, a British writer whose books I inhaled in the 1990s. She’s still publishing, but I’m not still reading, and not because she snubbed me at a festival last year. She wrote, and continues to write, a type of novel that I needed in my 30s but doesn’t speak to me now. Still, they’re delightful books. I wouldn’t include them in the Mystery Box if I didn’t feel I could endorse them. Each recipient of the Mystery Box receives a letter saying the books are theirs to do with as they please but asking that the contents never be revealed on social media. In part that’s because some writers might infer insult. But it’s also because I like to think that the Mystery Box should be, well, a mystery. To reveal the titles would be a kind of humblebrag. Oh, look at the caliber of what I’m giving away—can you imagine what I keep? P LU S , B O O K S K E E P C O M I N G A N D C O M I N G. You know how people talk

about the books on their nightstands? My narrow Baltimore row house doesn’t have space for nightstands. Instead I have a custom-made console behind my bed, with a few volumes lined across the top. Then, in the corner, my husband and I have matching so-called floating bookshelves, vertical stands that can hold almost 60 books each. My TBR (to-be-read) pile almost reaches my hairline—and I’m five-foot-nine. You see,

MORE WAYS TO SHARE BOOKS

I give away books every month, but I also continue to buy books—five for me on my last trip to a bookstore, seven for my daughter, so that month was a push. In one of my favorite childhood novels, The Long Secret, the sequel to the divine Harriet the Spy, a pious girl is scandalized when her mother uses a Bible to fan herself on a sultry day. She protests that the book is sacred. Her mother laughs: “Ain’t the book what’s sacred,” she says. “It’s what’s in the book that’s sacred.” It wasn’t my books that defined me, that shaped the writer I’ve become. It was what was in them—and what is now in me. My memory is a poor one, but I retain from books what I need to retain, usually one perfect image or a dazzling passage. Books deserve to be read, not preserved on shelves where they won’t be cracked open again in one’s lifetime. It’s a mitzvah to pass along titles that I love, a way of playing matchmaker between great writers and avid readers. And so far the only judgment anyone has made about me based on my bookshelves is that I am hell on the jackets and spines, which is undeniably true. Yes, I still read in the bathtub. So if you should win the Mystery Box and receive a book that looks a little, well, wavy, please forgive me.

GO ODWILL With some 160 national Goodwill chapters, chances are there’s a thrift store near you. Sales of donations fund job training and assistance programs for those in need. O P E R AT I O N PA P E R B A C K This charity connects book donors with soldiers overseas, military families, and veterans hospitals. Register as a shipper, select the genres you have, and mail books to the addresses provided. (USPS Media Mail is the cheapest method.) B O O K S T H RO U G H BARS A number of small charities, like Books Through Bars in Philadelphia, accept books (with prior approval) to give to incarcerated people. RE ADER TO RE ADER If you have stacks of new or like-new children’s or young adult books, Reader to Reader accepts donations by mail. Books are given to underfunded schools, Native American reservations, and libraries.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 19

O u r Fa vo r i te P i e c e s

Off-the-Rack Organizers FO U R P RO F E SS I O N A L O RGA N I Z E R S S H A R E T H E I R M U S T- H AV E P RO D U C T S . F O L L O W T H E I R T I P S T O T R A N S F O R M YO U R M O ST C LU T T E R-P RO N E S P OT S. By Betsy Goldberg

Prop St yling by Kelley Car ter

OUR EXPERTS: B E T H Z E I G L E R Los Angelesbased organizer and blogger, bneato.com J O H N T RO S KO Los Angelesbased organizer and blogger, organizingla.com S TA C E Y P L AT T New York City-based organizer and author of What’s a Disorganized Person to Do? B A R B A R A R E I C H New York City-based organizer and author of Secrets of an Organized Mom 1. URBIO MAGNETIC MODUL AR SYSTEM

“These are actually plant containers, but I like them for holding office supplies. And they also make a great crafts station. You mount magnetic plates to the wall, then you attach the containers—I suggest starting with eight— wherever you like. It’s easy to experiment till you find the right configuration.” –BETH ZEIGLER

Wall plates, $15 each; Big Daddy container, $28; Shorty container, $13; Wide Mouth containers, $19 each; containerstore.com.

TO BUY:

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2 . H AY K A L E I D O T R AY S “I love these trays in three different sizes and colors for the top of a nightstand, on a coffee table, or on a desk as a landing spot. On pretty trays, assorted items look purposeful and neat.”

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–BETH ZEIGLER

Small, $30; medium, $40; large, $60; dwr.com.

TO BUY:

3 . R E U S A B L E P O LY ENVELOPE

“To combat paper clutter, I give my clients a dozen of these plastic envelopes to organize receipts, theater tickets, coupons, and gift cards. Store them in a top desk drawer and add new items as they come in.” – J O H N T RO S KO

Coupon-size plastic envelope (similar), $2; staples.com.

TO BUY:

5

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4. O P E N C A N VA S B I N

“Stock up on a half-dozen uniform containers that you can store in the basement. As soon as items like lightbulbs start piling up, introduce a bin on a closet shelf so you’re instantly organized. I use these in utility closets (for extra toilet paper or paper towels), laundry rooms (fabric softener, single socks), kids’ rooms (toys, books), and coat closets (winter accessories, dog supplies).”

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y R A L P H S M I T H ; M I C H A E L C H I N I ( T R AY S )

– S TA C E Y P L AT T

Medium open canvas bin in Natural, $10; containerstore.com.

TO BUY:

5. WIRE BALL BIN

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“It’s marketed for sports gear, but this tall basket is also a smart solution for the stuff that wrecks your closet floors or tumbles off shelves onto your head: gift wrap, rolls of fabric, or tall cleaning tools.” –BETH ZEIGLER

Wire ball bin, $49; crateandbarrel.com.

TO BUY:

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 21

6 6. K ALL A X SHELF UNIT A N D L E K M A N B OX E S

“I always store games and children’s books at kid level so little ones can get in the habit of putting away their things. This inexpensive IKEA shelf—turned on its side, with four boxes—is a favorite of mine. If you want to make it look high-end, try this add-on: Have a piece of colored plexiglass cut to fit the top (about $65, tapplastics.com). Affix it with small adhesive felt dots from the hardware store.” – S TA C E Y P L AT T

Shelf, $68; boxes, $13 each; ikea-usa.com.

TO BUY:

7. I R I S 3 - P I E C E A I RT I G H T P E T- F O O D C O N TA I N E R C O M B O

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“Pet food, in its giant packaging, is such an eyesore. I decant it into an airtight container on wheels to make it easy to access and tuck back in the pantry. This container has a connected snap-on lid to keep food fresh and hold smells inside.” –BARBAR A REICH

Three-piece container, $23; bedbathandbeyond.com. TO BUY:

8 . C RY S TA L C L E A R S TA C K A B L E S H O E D R AW E R “These bins get the rarely used toiletries off the counter and into hiding under your sink. The slideout bottom lets you access items easily. Put some bins in your utility closet, too, to store cords and batteries.” –BETH ZEIGLER TO BUY:

Large drawer, $18; organizeit.com.

22 REAL SIMPLE

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9. P O LY M A K E B OX E S

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“Use these stackable bins to store flash drives, sticky notes, and small electronics that you need near—but not on—your desk. I would stock up on various bin sizes since they’re also great for ponytail holders in the bathroom and nails and screws in the garage. They’re translucent so you can spy what you need without looking at the whole mess clear as day.” – J O H N T RO S KO

Make boxes, $3.50– $7 each; muji.com. TO BUY:

1 0 . DA R K G R AY B OX S E AT

“A serious upgrade from the cardboard bankers box, this file holder is worth the price—it looks nice enough to stay out in the open wherever you spend the most time, such as the living room. When you can file while watching your favorite show, the stack of papers on the kitchen table disappears just like that.” – J O H N T RO S KO

Box seat, $40; poppin.com.

TO BUY:

1 1 . B A M B O O E X PA N DA B L E D R AW E R O RG A N I Z E R

“These are intended for kitchen or office supplies, but I love a few of them in a kid’s room to keep small toy pieces from taking over. They’re adaptable to fit nearly any size drawer.” –BARBAR A REICH

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Drawer organizer, $29; organizeit.com.

TO BUY:

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 23

Section One

Shared Spaces Entry, Kitchen, and Family Room Because every family member uses these rooms, everyone should play a role in clearing the clutter that collects in them. Think of it as collaborative caretaking. Set the right tone the moment you step inside your home by establishing personal drop spots that are super easy to use. The kitchen can become P H OTO G R A P H BY J O H N N Y M I L L E R

the efficient heart of your home when you add organizers to cabinet interiors for grab-and-go access. And that nest-worthy family room? Focus on establishing a tidy new habit: Just as you make the bed each morning, you can make the sofa each night.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 25

Welcome Home A B U S Y FA M I LY U P D A T E S T H E I R F R O N T E N T RY C L O S E T A N D R E D I S C O V E R S V A L U A B L E S T O R A G E S PA C E . By Meredith Ladik

Photographs by Mar t y Baldwin

“ T H I N K O U T S I D E T H E B OX ”

was the mantra from professional organizer Deborah Cabral as she advised homeowners Christy and Tony Brokens on their tiny entry closet. Following her advice, the couple replaced a traditional hanging bar with wall hooks mounted on 1×6 boards hung at two different heights. “Coat hooks are quicker and easier to use because they put everything you need right at your fingertips,” Cabral says. At the top of the closet, woven bins store items based on the weather—rain, sun, and snow. A new motion-sensor ceiling light aids visibility. To ensure the closet remains clutter-free, Cabral suggested that Christy and Tony limit items to just two in-season coats and two pairs of shoes per person. Off-season clothing and extra shoes are now stored in each child’s room. The new setup pleases parents and kids alike. “I can’t believe how much bigger the closet seems. It feels like a walk-in closet,” Christy says. CLE AR OFF THE FLO OR

Replacing wire shoe racks with a shorter wood version opened up extra inches of wall space. Mesh metal wall pockets now display shared in-season items like umbrellas or sunscreen. Classic wire file basket (similar), $25 each; ubrands.com. 2-shelf wood shoe rack (spray-painted white), $17; honeycando.com.

TO BUY:

26 REAL SIMPLE

WR AP A CLOSET WITH HO OKS

Wall hooks with two crooks double available hanging space. This trio hangs low on one of the side walls so Christy and Tony’s youngest child can access it.

S TA S H I T H I G H

Bins on the top shelf organize hats, gloves, and rain gear. Handles make the bins safe and easy to pull down from the shelf during the morning dash.

BEFORE A traditional combination of rod and shelves couldn’t keep up with coats and gear for a family of six, and the kids struggled to reach coats on hangers.

TO BUY: Medium Shimmer Stripe bin, $36 each; pbteen.com.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 27

Clutter Rx G I V E Y O U R E N T RY A T U N E - U P W I T H Q U E S T I O N S T H A T H E L P YO U D EC LU T T E R A N D ST R E A M L I N E. By Brian Kramer

W H AT I S T H E C A PA C I T Y O F M Y E N T RY ? Audit

H O W O F T E N S H O U L D I E VA LUAT E M Y D U M P Z O N E S ? Think of personal entry bins as a drop now,

how much your entry can comfortably contain, and set ruthless quotas for how many items can be stored. And, yes, a family policy of one bag, one jacket, and two pairs of shoes per person is achievable when consistently enforced.

deal later solution. Set a house rule for how you maintain your bins. Maybe you empty them when they’re full, or everyone does a once-a-week basket clean-out. Either rule can work, so set it and follow through.

W H E R E D O I U S E T H I S I T E M ? Not everything

H O W D O W E L E AV E M E S S A G E S ? Cork and dry-erase

you use daily deserves a spot in your entry. Sports equipment needs to air out, so store it in the garage or on a porch or patio. Stash backpacks and briefcases near the table or desk where you go through them. Transport musical instruments to the practice space. Worried you’ll forget an item when you leave? Affix a note to the door frame to trigger your memory.

boards are old-school tools, but they work. You can also designate one furniture piece like a console table or mirror as the place you leave sticky notes for one another.

C A N I U S E M Y E N T RY W I T H O N E H A N D ? You’re

P H OTO G R A P H S BY G R EG S C H E I D E M A N N ( R O O M ) ; A DA M A L B R I G H T ( S H O E S )

likely carrying things as you exit and enter your home, so rely on hooks rather than hangers, shelves rather than cabinets with doors, and open baskets or bins rather than lidded boxes. Also, plan to create one clear landing spot just inside the door for resting heavy items, such as grocery bags or packages. H O W C A N I D U M P M O R E E F F EC T I V E LY ? Stop

fighting your instinct to drop things the moment you come home. Set up shared catchalls (trays for keys, sunglasses, and electronics) as well as a basket or bin for each family member. Tidy up quickly when guests are on their way by tossing items into personal bins. W H AT’ S I N S E A S O N ? Gather off-season gear into

bins that live in a coat closet or another spot deeper in your home. You’ll remember where to find supplies when the weather requires them. H O W C A N I B LO C K T H E J U N K ? Junk mail, circulars, and kids’ school worksheets don’t deserve your time or effort. Make the decision to recycle instant and easy with a recycling bin placed in your entry. And if floor space is precious, hang a wall pocket and label it “To be recycled.”

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 29

A Kitchen That Does It All W H AT D O YO U G E T W H E N A D E S I G N E R T E A M S U P W I T H A N O RG A N I Z E R T O R E D O A K I T C H E N ? A S PA C E A S B E A U T I F U L A S I T I S U LT R A F U N C T I O N A L . By Stephanie Sisco

PREP WORK

Designer Katie Raffetto (left) and Lisa Ruff transfer dry ingredients for smarter storage on open shelves.

30 REAL SIMPLE

P h oto g ra p h s b y A n n a -A l ex i a B a s i l e

K AT I E R A F F E T TO ’ S 108 -Y E A R- O L D M I L L VA L L E Y, California, kitchen posed some

common design and organizational challenges: a tight pantry, open shelving, high traffic. Luckily, Katie has the uncommon advantage of both being a designer (she’s the owner of Katie Raffetto Interior Design) and having a pro organizer on speed dial: frequent collaborator Lisa Ruff of Neat Method. The two joined forces to put the finishing touches on Katie’s cook-space update. Take a look at their result: a stylish room you can actually cook—and eat—in. What a concept! E V E RY DAY A C C E S S

What you put on open shelving needs to be pretty, but it also needs to be practical. Since Katie’s pantry is small, the duo brought shelf-stable items out to the kitchen’s open shelving alongside the everyday dishware. “Group items according to how you use them,” Lisa says. Situate grains and pasta near the stove and baking essentials by the counter with the most prep space. Reserve higher shelves for decorative items and serving pieces.

UNIFORM LO OK

Lisa’s go-to strategy for spices: Decant spices into matching labeled containers and store them in a drawer. Place those you reach for most often toward the front of the drawer.

S TAT I O N S E T U P “The kitchen is a zone with lots of activity,” says Lisa, “so create a coffee station that’s separate from the rest of the space to avoid a traffic jam.” Here the setup lives opposite the sink.

1.5-inch spice labels (round), $5 for 30; theglobalpantry.com.

TO BUY:

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 31

FA M I LY ANNEX

Katie’s kitchen barstools back up to a practical, family-focused entry area with bookshelves that offer additional storage and character. The bottom-right shelf is nearest the front entrance and acts as a drop zone, with one basket allocated for each family member‘s belongings. A pint-size table gives the kids a play space that is visible from the kitchen.

PER SONAL TOUCH

The neutral walls allowed Katie to be playful with how she decorated the shelves. Among groupings of cookbooks, design books, and her husband’s National Geographic collection, she incorporated family photos, found items from their travels, and kids’ artwork. KID CENTR AL

Below the shelves, closed cabinets house art supplies to keep Katie’s children entertained when she and her husband are busy in the kitchen. Magazine file boxes contain coloring books and notepads for doodling.

32 REAL SIMPLE

1 . S T O R E S T R AT E G I C A L LY

Designate a space for cookware as close to the range as possible so you’re not running across the kitchen to retrieve supplies. Keep pots and pans in lower cabinets, saving upper areas for smaller items that are easier to find at eye level.

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2 . P RO T E C T T H E F I N I S H Preserve the nonstick coating on nested cookware by placing felt or silicone pads between each pan.

Pan & dish protector, $26 for 3; kuhnrikonshop.com.

TO BUY:

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3. PUT A LID ON IT If your space allows, store pots and pans with their lids to avoid spending time tracking down the proper mate. Otherwise nest small pots inside larger ones (never more than three to a stack) and use a rack to arrange lids vertically by size. TO BUY: Bamboo wood plate rack, $9; organizeit.com.

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Organize This

Pots and Pans N E AT M E T H O D ’ S B RO O K E N I E M A N A N D L I S A RU F F S H O W H O W T O T U R N A J U M B L E O F P O T S A N D PA N S INTO AN ACCESSIBLE STO CKPILE.

4. S L I D E O U T S U P P L I E S Install pullout drawers in lower cabinets for quick access to heavy pots and pans toward the back. Stash measuring cups and mixing bowls nearby.

Rev-A-Shelf pullout drawer (shown), $60–$295, or wire basket, $52; homedepot.com.

TO BUY:

BONUS TIP

If cabinet space is scarce, consider using a pot rack, pegboard, or rolling kitchen cart to keep cookware at the ready.

By Stephanie Harris Photograph by Br yan Gardner Prop St yling by Chloe D aley

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 33

Clutter Rx A N E F F I C I E N T K I T C H E N B E G I N S W I T H C L E A R C O U N T E RT O P S. R E D I S C O V E R Y O U R W O R K S PA C E B Y A S K I N G T H E S E Q U E S T I O N S . By Brian Kramer

H O W D O I A C T UA L LY C O O K ? Home cooks

I S T H E R E A B E T T E R WAY TO K E E P I N TO U C H ?

approach meal prep in many different ways. Use your preferred cutting board as a guide for how much counter space to always keep clear for meal prep. If you do a lot of work to prepare ingredients, give yourself additional space for tools and mixing bowls.

Important documents and notes left on countertops are easy to toss or bury under more pressing papers, so stop using your kitchen countertops as your family message center. Make a sign declaring the countertops as a no-drop zone. Add one or more vertical organizers—a memo board, wall pockets, a metal strip with magnets, or wall-mounted clips for each family member—to help you more easily share important pieces of paper and leave reminders for one another.

W H I C H A P P L I A N C E S H AV E I U S E D TO DAY ? In

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y F R A N C E S C O L A G N E S E ( K I T C H E N ) ; S H A U N S U L L I VA N ( O I L )

order for a toaster, blender, or coffeemaker to merit a spot on your counter, you need to use it daily. That fancy stand mixer or food processor is almost certainly and unnecessarily taking up valuable real estate. D O I N E E D M O R E T H A N O N E ? Gather all hand tools and sort by type. Do you truly need two (or more) spatulas? Many cooks efficiently work with one favorite version of each tool. To help purge, toss tools that are broken, hard plastic, or all-metal (which conduct heat and can burn you). Keep only cutting tools that are sharp or can be sharpened. Streamline work surfaces by placing as many tools as possible in divided drawers. (You’ll remember where you stash your favorite chef’s knife). Apply a similar cluttercutting approach to spices, oils, and vinegars that often accumulate on countertops. D O I H AV E A L A N D I N G Z O N E ? Stand in front of

your range, sink, and refrigerator. You should have at least one clear spot available at each key kitchen destination for a pan to cool, dishes awaiting washing, or a grocery sack to be unpacked. Edit these areas ruthlessly. Shift utensils and spices into cabinets and drawers. Replace a traditional countertop dish drainer with an in-sink version or a drying mat. I S I T D U S T Y O R D I RT Y ? Dust and grease on

canisters, serving bowls, and cutting boards are signals that these items are more decorative than functional. Swap out the fancy pieces for daily-use versions—or remove entirely and make your counters easy to completely wipe down every week.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 35

Power-Packed Pantry LIT TLE T WE AKS OF TEN MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE. S E E H O W E A S Y S WA P S R E V I V E D T H I S J U M B L E D K I T C H E N C L O S E T. By S arah Wolf and Brian Kramer

Photographs by Adam Albright

FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS

for this weekend pantry makeover: purge. The family removed absolutely everything from the closet—even the shelves. They tossed expired and unsealed packages, as well as perfectly good items they didn’t or wouldn’t ever use (bye-bye, too hot salsa). They sorted what was left into meaningful categories for them, including breakfast foods, snacks (salty and sweet varieties), baking, and lunch-making supplies. When it was time to reassemble the pantry from the ground up, the family first chose the right containers to fit their items and keep food fresh. Then they shifted shelf heights to accommodate the containers and a logical layout. Recycling bins, dog food in an airtight container, and bottled beverages now rest on the floor, followed by kid- and adult-specific ingredients on higher shelves. Less-used baking supplies reside slightly above eye level, while the top shelf houses seldom-used party supplies, paper goods, and serving pieces. S H I F T A N D C O N TA I N

Our makeover repositioned shelves, repackaged foods into airtight containers, and arranged everything according to how often it’s used. Rubbermaid Fast Track pantry kit, $125; lowes.com. POP containers, starting at $11 each; oxo.com.

TO BUY:

36 REAL SIMPLE

TA K E A S P I N BEFORE

This reach-in pantry with wire shelves had no rhyme or reason, so food got lost and became stale.

Stash tall, skinny bottles in the center of a lazy Susan surrounded by shorter jars. The spinning rack allows you to view items at the back with just a flick of your wrist. Look for versions with nonslip surfaces. TO BUY:

11-inch lazy Susan in white, $12; oxo.com.

S TA N D U P F O R O R D E R

Available in 12- to 24-inch widths, risers elevate cans without any danger of toppling. They also let you position cans in rows by type. Madesmart expandable pantry shelf organizer, $15; containerstore.com.

TO BUY:

O RGA N I Z E YO U R H O M E 37

The Real Simple Method Checklist R E D E D I C AT E YO U R D I N I N G RO O M T O, W E L L , D I N I N G W I T H Q U I C K F I X E S T H A T E N C O U R A G E E V E RY O N E T O S L O W D O W N , S I T, A N D E N J O Y A M E A L I N A R E L A X E D W AY.

IF YOU HAVE … 15 MINUTES M OV E T H O S E PA P E R S . Arrange loose papers into

piles, grab the laptop, and move it all off the table. There’s not time to go through everything and decide what goes where, so just get it all out of sight by putting papers in a file folder or desk drawer to tackle later. A R R A N G E T H E C H A I R S . Halfway pulled out chairs

look messy. Pushing in chairs and making sure they’re the right distance apart from each other give the appearance that you totally have it together. P U T O U T P L A C E M AT S . A simple move like

arranging place mats around the table gives it a polished look in a flash.

1 HOUR D I V I D E YO U R D I S H E S . Separate your tableware into

everyday and special occasion. Your everyday pieces need to be easy to see, grab, and restock after cleaning; your special stuff can go in high cabinets or a showy hutch. Spend time adjusting the shelves. If you move them closer, you can probably store more. Can’t move the shelves? Add helper shelves or risers. D O A D R AW E R O R T W O. Take inventory in the

A WEEKEND G E T AT T H AT C H I N A . Look through what you have

D O T H E S A M E W I T H L I N E N S . Go through your

and inspect it for any broken or missing pieces. Lay all your china out on the floor or dining room table so you can see everything at once. Make a wish list of things you need, like a gravy boat, and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit. Be sure to wash everything before you wrap it up and put it away.

linens and look for stains and yellowing. Send large or more precious items off to the dry cleaner. Wash the little things, like napkins and place mats, on your own. Use binder clips to hold together linen sets before storing them in a drawer or on a shelf.

38 REAL SIMPLE

P H OTO G R A P H S BY B R I E W I L L I A M S

drawers of your buffet or cabinet and ask yourself if you’re using the space efficiently. (If you weren’t sure what a drawer was holding before opening it, then you probably aren’t.)

Get Your Family on the Same Page D O E S Y O U R FA M I LY S C H E D U L E L O O K A L I T T L E T O O M U C H L I K E A B A T T L E P L A N ? Y O U ’ R E N O T A L O N E . U S E T H E S E S T R A T E G I E S T O F I N D S PA C E . By Leslie Goldman

40 REAL SIMPLE

Illustrations by Abbey Lossing

W H E N M O S T O F U S H E A R the term “professional

organizer,” we picture a decluttering maven who can alphabetize a pantry and color-code a closet in no time flat. But Sarah Giller Nelson, owner of Less Is More, an organizing service based in Miami and Chicago, says that more and more parents are seeking help to organize something arguably scarier than their chaotic basements: their crammed schedules. “Parents’ calendars are packed with school activities, birthday parties, sports events—plus they’re juggling their own personal and professional duties and trying to keep track of their partner’s,” she says. The first question Nelson asks these clients is, “Do you feel like you’re always busy but never get anything done?” If the answer is yes (it’s usually yes), she explains, “it’s time to streamline, improve communication within the family, and carve out space to breathe and just enjoy one another.” More reason to strive for a happy calendar: Some research shows that planning ahead may be a more effective stress reliever for some people than deep breathing and meditation. So instill some order in your schedule and maximize your time with these strategies.

SIGN UP FOR A SHARED EMAIL ADDRESS. Globally, 269 billion emails were sent last year. It might have felt like all of them came from your child’s school. Often just one parent is on the receiving end, putting the onus on a single person to keep everyone on schedule. For Becky and Daniel Diffen, parents of two elementaryschool students in Austin, Texas, the situation was leading to schedule snafus and annoyances for both parents. “Becky is a full-time attorney, and I stay home with the kids,” Daniel says. “When they were in preschool, I’d receive 90 percent of the emails and then forward things to Becky.” But updates and cancellations would come suddenly, challenging even the most avid email checker. A lastminute change to the pre-K Mother’s Day program slipped through the cracks, forcing Becky to miss out. Last year, a parenting message board gave Becky the idea to create a shared email address. “We use it for anything related to school, scouts, summer camp, and sports, plus party RSVPs,” she says. “Now we can both see everything, check our calendars, and chat quickly about whether we can make new events work.” Daniel adds that a joint email account comes in handy when, say, one parent shows up with the kids for a soccer game only to find the field empty. Now either can log in and see that—surprise!—the field has changed from 5A to 6B. When your kids grow older, the shared account can be loaded onto their phones or laptops so you’re all in the loop.

HOLD A SUNDAY FAMILY MEETING. This is prime time for coordinating the week ahead. Are there school events coming up? Does someone need to be home on Wednesday afternoon to let in the plumber? Parents who travel for work: If Party A is headed to Phoenix and Party B will be in Cleveland, who is watching the kids, and what’s the contingency plan if your flights are delayed? “You can get the kids involved by asking if there are any activities they’d like to schedule,” says Laura Vanderkam, author of Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done. She adds that if you’re a planner but your partner semi-loathes it, include fun stuff like date nights and vacations so the whole meeting isn’t “Who’s driving Parker to the dentist?”-type logistics.

O RGA N I Z E YO U R H O M E 41

WITH KIDS’ ACTIVITIES, SETTLE FOR GOOD ENOUGH.

ADD “DO NOTHING” TO YOUR SCHEDULE. Is your calendar cluttered with hip-hop lessons, choir, ice hockey, and more? Put a big red X through one day—and watch your overscheduled children flourish. “Downtime is critical for kids,” says Nakieta Lankster, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and child development specialist in Baltimore. “Playing in the backyard or going through old toys in the basement fosters creativity, and that’s kids’ language. Imaginary play helps them discover new things about themselves and teaches them to make their own fun. When we overdose them on structure, we push them away from that.” Consider joining your kids to shoot hoops (no coaching allowed), play Monopoly, or just hang out and talk. Child psychiatrist Alvin Rosenfeld, MD, coauthor of The Over-Scheduled Child, explains that injecting your calendar with hangout time boosts kids’ self-esteem by “showing them that you love spending time with them and that they don’t need to perform to get your attention.” Rosenfeld recommends scaling back just a smidgen to begin. “Doing this one night a week or twice a month is all you need to recapture your sanity while making a positive impact on your kids,” he says. “You’ll probably notice that you yell at your kids a little less and that you’re not in that crazy zone anymore.”

We all want the best for our kids, but must your toddler attend the five-star Yelp-rated music class across town taught by a famed violinist? Or would she have just as much fun with a tambourine and a college-student teacher at the community center down the street? This might feel a little unnatural, but Lankster insists your children will be just fine. “Kids use their experiences in sports, the arts, and other after-school activities to help form their identity, but those activities don’t need to be top-tier to be enriching,” she says. “It’s about the experience itself, regardless of who is teaching it. It’s OK if your kid swims at the local high school; most kids won’t grow up to be Michael Phelps.” Lankster says that if your child is showing signs of giftedness in a certain arena or is especially passionate about an activity, there’s nothing wrong with traveling farther to hone her talent or encourage her enthusiasm. Just don’t force it on her. Dragging a kid with killer athletic skills across town to the “best” program will do nothing to facilitate her growth “if she doesn’t like playing,” says Lankster, but it will add to your scheduling issues. Nelson says if you’re hesitant to cancel a class altogether, cutting back a bit can work. She took this advice when her 11-year-old computer wiz son asked about a coding enrichment program—30 minutes away during after-school rush hour. Instead, she signed him up when he had school days off, like teacher workdays.

Think you don’t have time? Use the time you spend scrolling through social media to tackle family stuff instead. You’ll probably find it more satisfying than Twitter.

42 REAL SIMPLE

SCHEDULE TIME IN YOUR WORKDAY FOR HOME TASKS. Working parents—especially those with desk jobs—often take care of niggling little duties at random times throughout the day. But this piecemeal approach can increase your stress and derail your focus. Nelson recommends devoting one chunk of time to nailing them all— say, half an hour a day. During that slot, you’ll take off your work hat, dive into Amazon and Gmail, and get everything done at once. Think you don’t have time? Use the time you spend scrolling through social media to tackle family stuff instead. You’ll probably find it more satisfying than Twitter.

TRIM YOUR TO-DO LIST. Goal-setting expert E. J. Masicampo, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, says that a long list “can become a graveyard of things you’ll never actually do.” Data collected by the software company I Done This revealed that 41 percent of to-do items are never completed. “For a list to work, you need to be specific and say when and how you’ll accomplish each item,” Masicampo says. “Buy new barstools” is destined to languish because it’s vague and entails multiple steps. “Ask Facebook moms group for barstool recs after kids are in bed” requires that you plan ahead and gives you something to commit to. Productivity coach Mridu Parikh, owner of Life Is Organized in Nashville, suggests making a list of three to five things you must do before your head hits the pillow. Ask yourself, “What would make me feel successful at the end of today?” Maybe “Sort spice drawer” can wait, but “Grab allergy meds” is a gotta-do.

GET THINGS DONE IN CHUNKS. If your issue is less about scheduling and more about efficiency, a timer might help. Larry Port, a father of two from Boca Raton, Florida, saw his then 9-year-old daughter struggling to complete her math homework—not because it was difficult but because she was procrastinating, delaying bedtime as a result. As CEO of legal-software company Rocket Matter, Port often powered through long workdays with the Pomodoro Technique, a time management strategy that involves setting a timer for 25 minutes and forcing yourself to work until it dings, then taking a brief break. (It’s named after the kitchen timer shaped like a tomato, or pomodoro in Italian.) Port brought his timer home, downsizing his daughter’s pomodoros from 25 minutes to 15 to boost the appeal. It worked. “The timer gave her a goal to beat and broke through the procrastination,” he says, and it has ultimately helped her stick to her bedtime schedule. Parikh says this approach, also called “batching” or “time chunking,” helps you work with time instead of fighting it. The timer psychs you up, pushing you through your task. Use it to get your family out the door in the morning or propel dawdling kids through their bedtime routines more quickly. “The entire family can clean the kitchen in a single 25-minute pomodoro,” adds Parikh. The strategy may also work for setting screen-time limits. “Shutting off Snapchat, texts, and Instagram in small chunks to work on chores or read is surprisingly doable for kids,” Port says. And his son, age 11, knows that every night he gets one or two pomodoros of PlayStation time.

THE BUSY-MOM MAKEOVER With three daughters ages 12 to 16 (including one with special needs), two dogs, a part-time job as a geriatric case manager, and a husband who travels for work, Michelle Goldberg, 46, of Cooper City, Florida, is no stranger to calendar chaos. We asked this supermom for her biggest challenges, and then sought solutions from Sarah Giller Nelson of Less Is More. WE C AN’T STICK TO OUR S C H E D U L E B E C AU S E T H I N G S C O N S TA N T LY P O P U P. “The key is being flexible and, when something pops up, asking, ‘Does this have to happen right now?’ A sick kid at school needs to be picked up. Dogs that need grooming can spend another day being a little stinky.” I C A N ’ T S AY N O. “Michelle needs to figure out her priorities and values as a mom. If her priority is connecting with her daughters, she can feel better about the time she spends driving them to school because great conversations take place in the car. But when something comes up that interferes with that goal, like being asked to serve on the PTA, she can decline.” I F O RG E T T O C H E C K O U R S H A R E D C A L E N DA R A P P. “When the system isn’t working, switch up the system. Michelle told me she’s partial to paper anyway, so why not try a paper calendar? Pick one with plenty of room, post it in the kitchen, and have everyone add to it. If anyone complains, she can explain that this is

what she needs to help the family run smoothly. It’s also a good way for everyone to know what’s coming up.” B E D T I M E TA K E S A G E S .

“Michelle’s two younger daughters still enjoy snuggle time, as does Michelle, so they should keep it up. But maybe trim it back. If it’s especially late, it’s also OK to tell your kids you love them and just kiss them good night; it doesn’t have to be a snugglefest every time. Sleep is vital to kids’ health, so think of it as something you are doing for your child.” I ’ M A LWAY S M A K I N G R E T U R N S . “Michelle should dedicate one day to doing returns and not think about it on any other day. (You can do the same for whatever your biggest time suck is.) She often accidentally buys things she already owns and purchases clothes without trying them on. Before buying, ask, ‘Do I need this? Do I love it? Will I wear it? If I bring it into my home, is there a place to store it?’ If the answer to any of these questions is no, walk away. She’s a busy mom and time is her most important commodity, so this will make a difference.”

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 43

Clutter Rx A S K YO U R S E L F T H E FO L LOW I N G Q U E ST I O N S TO T I D Y U P Y O U R FA M I LY R O O M — A N D M A K E I T C O U N T. By Brian Kramer

H O W D O I F E E L A S I S C A N T H E RO O M ? Stand in the center of your family room and slowly turn 360 degrees. Note every time you feel a tinge of sadness, annoyance, or any other negative emotion. (This is best done with a partner, saying each feeling out loud.) The areas that activate emotions need attention first and likely offer the greatest decluttering opportunities. W H AT D O W E A C T UA L LY D O H E R E ? Write down

every activity that happens in your space. Identify the top three or four family activities by a group vote and declutter to encourage these activities. Consider relocating some activities to other spaces (such as practicing yoga in a bedroom) or focusing on portable solutions for activities enjoyed by just one person (a tote for favorite crochet projects rather than comprehensive crafts supply storage).

A M I T H I N K I N G L I K E A B O O K S E L L E R ? Dedicate one shelf or one totable basket to unread books. Don’t add to your collection until there’s room for a new volume. And if you pass over a book for more than a year, you are unlikely to ever read it. C A N I F I N D W H AT I N E E D Q U I C K LY ? Store board games side-by-side (rather than stacked) so you can easily grab one for game night. Group small games in a bin so they don’t get lost, and give away games you no longer play. Toss any games with missing pieces.

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y A L I S E O ’ B R I E N ( S O F A ) ; J A S O N D O N N E L LY ( S H E LV E S )

D O I N E E D T H AT C A B I N E T ? Many family rooms

include once-useful media armoires or entertainment centers. Remove everything from yours and refill with only the items you used in the last month. This should help determine if the cabinet stays or goes. W H AT’ S T H E L AT E S T/ B E S T ? Eliminate old electronics and systems. No need to keep multiple devices that do the same thing. Upgrade to a new universal remote while you’re at it. W H AT W O U L D I D O W I T H O U T I T ? As painful as it

might be to imagine a world without your John Hughes DVD collection, ask yourself what you’d do if you didn’t have it right now. Stream Pretty in Pink? Borrow it? Watch something else? If you can live with any of these options, you can let go of the physical copy. W H AT D O W E N E E D TO R E L A X ? Each family

member needs one comfy pillow and one blanket or throw. Period. Edit down and store in a cabinet or a basket. Donate your extras to a local animal shelter.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 45

Making Room for Good, Clean Fun W R E ST L I N G W I T H T H E T Y R A N N Y O F TOY S ? H E R E ’ S H O W O N E FA M I LY B R O U G H T O R D E R T O T H E I R P L AY R O O M . By Stephanie Sisco

P h oto g ra p h s b y J o n ny Va l i a nt

A D E D I C AT E D P L AY S PA C E

should mean the end of kid clutter, right? Not always, as one Congers, New York, family found as they struggled to stay on top of the balls, blocks, and trucks that come with raising two young sons. The couple hired clutter coach Chip Cordelli for solutions, and he helped them turn this formerly chaotic space into one of the home’s highlights. First they cleared the room entirely and assessed the items the boys truly enjoyed. “This should be a play space, not a storage space,” says Chip. He advises parents to devote real estate to the top-10 large playthings and move less popular items into a closet, rotating as needed. Then they updated and upgraded the room so the entire family can now spend time here creating and exploring together.

D E S I G N T H AT W O R K S A N D P L AY S

The hanging light fixture “lowers” the ceiling, adding coziness. Walls are painted with custom-tinted chalkboard paint to encourage kid graffiti. Framed art leaning against the back wall is fastened with security locks. Young House Love Metal Strap drum pendant, $99; shadesoflight .com. Security lock, $5 each; hangmanproducts.com. Little Felix chair, $69 each; crateandkids.com. Cubeicals fabric drawer, $8 each; closetmaid.com.

TO BUY:

46 REAL SIMPLE

STEPPED-UP STOR AGE

BEFORE

A jam-packed playroom for two young boys had no seating and was overrun with toys.

Turning two shelving units on their sides, Chip created storage space that doubles as a bench. The cubbies are perfect garages for chunky trucks, while the custom cushions add comfortable seating. As the boys get older, the shelving units can go back to being used vertically to make room for desks, and the decal wallpaper can be removed with no damage. Kallax storage units (similar), $47 each; ikea-usa.com. Doodles removable wallpaper, $148 for two rolls; wallcandyarts.com.

TO BUY:

L AY E R S O F F U N

A tiered table offers a surface for projects up top and a stashing spot for books and crafts below. A colorful patterned rug (easy to shake clean outside) replaced a larger plain one.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 47

S e c t i o n Tw o

Personal Spaces Bedroom, Closet, and Bath Streamlined rooms inspire serenity and encourage daily self-care. Less is truly more when you edit your bedroom to the essentials for relaxing and sleeping. (Translation: No more smartphones charging on the nightstands.) Elevate your clothes closet—sort garments by type, deploy coordinating P H OTO G R A P H BY E D M U N D B A R R

hangers, add labels—and your personal style will follow. Your bathroom doesn’t require a remodel to serve you better. Focus this weekend on tailoring your vanity, whatever its size, with the best containers and smartest zoning plans. Organized looks good on you!

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 49

C U R AT E A N A RT WA L L

A jumble of framed photos can junk up a bedroom dresser. For a neater, gallery-like look, switch to all-white frames hung a few inches apart. Framebridge custom photo frames, from $39; framebridge.com. Amazon Echo, $100; amazon.com. Hemnes 2-drawer chest, $80; ikea-usa.com.

TO BUY:

Sweet Dreams Makeover WHEN REAL SIMPLE LEARNED OF A D E S E RV I N G C O U P L E W H O N E E D E D A B E D R O O M OVERHAUL, WE JUMPED TO ACTION. CHECK O U T O U R T R A N S F O R M A T I O N , PA C K E D W I T H E A S Y D I Y S A N D S M A RT O RG A N I Z I N G U P DAT E S. By Betsy Goldberg Photographs by Michael Wiltbank Pro duce d by Rachael Weiner and Stephanie Sisco

50 RE AL SIMPLE

BEFORE Yellow walls and a hodgepodge of dark, dated wood furniture made this bedroom feel confining.

S H I F T YO U R SLEEPING SP OT

Eliminating the dresser and shifting the bed slightly to the left opened up space. A collection of new wall art adds visual interest. Contemporary upholstered storage bed, $1,299 (queen); westelm .com. Symple Stuff memory foam mattress, around $150–$375 (queen); wayfair .com. Real Simple down comforter, $180 (queen); bedbathandbeyond.com.

TO BUY:

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 51

BEFORE Without much rhyme or reason as to where items were placed, the morning rush was a bit of a challenge. “Clothes piled up, and my pocketbooks were up so high that I had to pull over a chair every day to reach them,” homeowner Dana Gentile says.

L I K E M O S T H O M EO W N E R S , Dana and Carmine Gentile envisioned a master bedroom that feels like a restful retreat. But when they moved in, they found that most rooms in their house needed some fixing up—and this “small, uncomfortable space” landed last on their list, Dana says. “I’m a super-organized person, and seeing all our mismatched furniture and cluttered surfaces in this room pained me every day. But we were set on putting the kids [Gia, Jordana, and Santino] first, so we started with their rooms and common areas, like the kitchen and yard.” Finally, with those projects out of the way, the Gentiles were poised to tackle their bedroom when they received heartbreaking news: Their older daughter, Gia, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of cancer. Suddenly

52 RE AL SIMPLE

their time and efforts were overtaken by medical visits, treatment sessions, and fundraising. (In partnership with a local business, the family raised $30,000 for Cookies for Kids Cancer in Gia’s honor.) After their story made its way to Real Simple, the editors swooped in to transform the cramped bedroom into a serene and airy space. “Sitting around in hospitals is so hard on your neck and back; we were desperate for a new bed to get a good night’s sleep,” Dana says. “But this makeover went way beyond that. The colors are lighter and cleaner, and we finally have furniture—and systems!—to keep our stuff tucked away. The kids love coming in to lie in our cozy bed. This room used to be just a place to stash our clothes and sleep, but now it’s our favorite hangout spot.”

A L L B E F O R E P H OTO G R A P H S BY W I N N I E AU

S O RT BY C AT E G O RY When you look at a closet as a collection of separate, smaller storage spots instead of a big black hole, it’s easy to assign each section one type of item so you can find things quickly. We put T-shirts in wire baskets, ties and belts in divided containers, and pants in decorative bins. We gave structure to the often ignored floor with a wooden box to hold sneakers.

T RY A G R A B -A N D - G O R A C K The secret to getting out the door in a flash? Give your essentials a landing spot. TO BUY:

K E E P I T N E AT To make the most of limited drawer space, use a “fold and file” approach. Divided inserts keep items from spilling over and becoming a big, messy jumble.

Estique multi organizer, $22; umbra.com.

DRESS UP A DRESSER All it takes is an easy drawer-pull swap to make a low-cost piece feel high-end. Deep drawers made this Ikea dresser an ideal catchall for Carmine’s clothing; we customized it using leather pulls.

Hemnes 6-drawer chest, $229; ikea-usa.com. Hawthorne wide leather drawer pulls, $18 each; walnutstudiolo.com. TO BUY:

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 53

BEFORE A small table topped with a mirror served as a getting-ready station, but “it didn't match the rest of the room’s furniture, and the stool wasn’t sturdy,” says Dana. She needed a prettier and more functional replacement.

C H O O S E P I E C E S T H AT H I D E C LU T T E R Keep makeup and hair products neat and within reach in a vanity that has a lift-up top and interior compartments. We placed the new vanity farther away from the bed, upgraded it with a chunky metallic drawer knob, and paired it with a cushy storage ottoman. Use Command strips to mount a clear acrylic necklace holder to keep favorites in sight instead of buried in a jewelry box.

Brimnes dressing table, $99; ikea-usa .com. Threshold tufted round storage ottoman (similar), $80; target.com. White wire ball bin, $49; crateandkids.com. 11-peg acrylic necklace rack, $11; containerstore.com. TO BUY:

54 REAL SIMPLE

A M P U P YO U R A R M O I R E Create a virtual linen closet in that empty space on top of a wardrobe by storing spare sheets and towels there in a pair of woven baskets.

Pax wardrobe, $195; ikea-usa.com.

TO BUY:

G I V E S H E LV E S A ST YLE BO OST

Lining the back of a shelving unit with patterned adhesive wallpaper makes it look like a boutique. Consider it your visual cue to keep this area tidy. Removable wallpaper (similar), $40 per panel; chasingpaper.com. Komplement glass shelf, $25, Komplement pull-out tray with insert, starting at $40, and Komplement drawer with glass front, $50; ikea-usa.com.

TO BUY:

O RGA N I Z E YO U R H O M E 55

The Closet Audit C H A N C E S A R E Y O U A L R E A D Y O W N A FA B U L O U S , F U N C T I O N A L WA R D RO B E . YO U J U S T H AV E T O F I N D I T A M O N G A L L T H E S T U F F YO U K I N DA , S O RTA L I K E . E N T E R O U R C L O S E T- P U RG I N G P RO C E S S, W H I C H W I L L L E A V E Y O U W I T H O N LY T H I N G S Y O U T R U LY L O V E . A S F O R T H E R E J E C T S , W E ’ V E I N C L U D E D T H E B E S T W AY S T O D O N A T E A N D S E L L T H E M . By Sarah Stebbins

56 RE AL SIMPLE

Illustrations by Alessandra Olanow

Step 1

”Pretend your closet is

Prep for the clean-out

about to catch fire. What would you save? You’ll make better deci sions if you go with your gut and don’t get sucked into the paralysis of analysis.”

If you’re not careful, a closet clean-out can eat up your weekend and take over your whole house. Start with a game plan to keep it contained. S E T A DAT E

Ideally, you want to allocate four hours—that’s the amount of time the stylists interviewed by Real Simple say it takes to overhaul and reassemble the average closet. Besides, most people reach fashion saturation after a morning or an afternoon on the job. Can’t budget a window of time that big? Tackle categories (blouses, lingerie, jewelry, etc.) in one- or twohour blocks, spread out over a couple of weeks. G AT H E R S U P P L I E S

Try on clothing in front of a full-length mirror and have heavy-duty trash bags for sorting castoffs into three categories: donate, sell, and recycle. Label bags with permanent markers. INVITE A FRIEND (OPTIONAL)

Simulate the client-stylist experience by asking a pal whose taste and opinion you trust to help you say yea or nay to items and keep you moving swiftly along. Pro tip: Buy wine. “I always show up with a bottle,” says New York City stylist Kim Naci. “It helps reframe the event as a celebration versus a chore.”

—J E N N I F E R B AU M GA RT N E R , P S Y. D.

Step 2

Identify keepers First things first: Don’t think—just dump. Power-sort the items you love or wear all the time into a keep pile and the ones that you know aren’t working (and aren’t worth something) into a donate or recycle bag. No need to try on these items or ask yourself probing questions (see the following page). Just grab an item and go with your gut.

L AY I T A L L O U T

If you’ve committed to a one-shot clean-out, pull everything out of your closet and drawers and arrange it by category (sweaters, jeans, shoes, etc.) on the bed and the floor, says Jennifer Baumgartner, Psy.D., a psychologist, wardrobe consultant, and the author of You Are What You Wear. Getting a bird’s-eye view allows you to spot themes (too much weekend gear, not enough 9-to-5 staples) and get rid of pieces that aren’t pulling their weight. If you’re going the micro-organizing route, focusing on one category at a time can be revelatory. (“Why do I have four gray sweaters?”) This approach also ensures that your space stays habitable while you chip away at the project.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 57

Step 3

Ask—and answer— the tough questions After the power sort, you’re ready for the elimination round. To determine what to keep or toss, try on each item that you’re unsure about and ask yourself these seven questions. Answers of “no/meh” and “never/ rarely” should lead to the dump pile. For “yes” or mixed responses, continue on to the next question.

Shoot for a 60-40 ratio of basics (solid-color classics) to novelty items (prints, trends, funky details).

QUESTION 1

Does it serve you? This one powerful question can help eliminate the majority of wardrobe clutter, says stylist Brittany Witkin, the author of Closet Organization: The Crash Course. What it means: Does it make you feel good? Do you get compliments when you wear it? Or do you end up tugging at yourself uncomfortably?

Q U E ST I O N 2

Does it coordinate with at least three other garments in your closet? A streamlined wardrobe is like a symphony, with pieces that work together harmoniously in many combinations. Instead of assigning clothing specific roles (this is my interview skirt; this is the sweater I wear with leggings), “Try reimagining your closet as a boutique filled with fresh possibilities,” Naci says. (A friend comes in handy here.) Take photos to help you remember new outfits.

QUESTION 3

Will you wear it again? Instead of peering into the past with the old “Have you worn it in the last six months?” question, think about the future. Would you don that strappy dress for work if you had the right cardigan to go with it? Note that on a shopping list and save the dress. Let it go if you try to justify holding onto it with the idea you might wear it someday if you go to a fancy party or after you lose weight.

58 REAL SIMPLE

The set of clothes you’re left with should include three times as many tops as bottoms—the same ratio you see in stores.

QUESTION 4

If you love an item but not the way it fits, remember the magic of alteration. For less than $25 per job, you can typically take in a waist, shorten sleeves or a hem, or remove pockets.

Is it the best version? If the style is passé, the fit is unflattering, or the garment has seen better days (think stains, fading, shine marks on wool, a saggy bum, elbow or knee imprints), it’s time for an upgrade or a trip to the tailor. Sometimes snapping a selfie while wearing the garment will give you a more honest portrayal than your reflection in a mirror.

QUESTION 5

Does it have sentimental value? You don’t have to part with your varsity-letter jacket or the hat that Grandma knit. Just limit memorabilia to one storage box, says Naci. As for the necklace your ex gave you that was never really your style—just, why? Resolve to move on. Another option for a memento you can’t part with: Take a photo, then let go of the piece.

QUESTION 6

Does it require special care? If the effort of handwashing or the expense of dry cleaning keeps an article on the hanger, face facts and sub in something less fussy. (This tip does not apply to formal wear.)

QUESTION 7

How would you feel if you were wearing it when you ran into your ex? Speaking of old flames, Naci uses this line of reasoning when all else fails: “Sometimes people rationalize worn-out or unflat tering clothes by saying, ‘I’ll just wear them for running errands.’ This question helps to put things into perspective.”

Still on the fence? Park the item in question front and center in your closet and label it with an “expiration date” that’s two months from now, Witkin says. If you don’t reach for the piece within that time frame, you know what to do.

O RGA N I Z E YO U R H O M E 59

Step 4

Get yourself sorted Congrats! You’ve made it through the hard part. Now you’ll begin to reap the benefits of weeding out the excess. C R E AT E A N E W S Y S T E M F O R T H E K E E P E R S

“A sock drawer can be organized; a closet needs to be merchandised,” says stylist Lauren Rothman, the author of Style Bible: What to Wear to Work. She’s referring to the way stores group clothing by category (work, casual, special occasion, etc.) and rotate stock with the seasons. “Marketers understand that this is how people put outfits together.” Hang the category you wear most often, including staples that cross over categories (that striped tunic top, for instance), in your closet’s most accessible spot. Use the same frequency test to divvy up the rest of the real estate. Subcategorize within each group by silhouette (button-downs, pants, skirts, and so on), then color. Reserve drawers for things that you can reach from memory, such as foundation and layering pieces, exercise gear, and, yup, socks.

LIFE AFTER A RU T H L E SS C LO S E T P U RG E After discovering that stress could exacerbate her multiple sclerosis symptoms, Salt Lake City blogger Courtney Carver resolved to simplify her life—and her overstuffed closet. She challenged herself to downsize to a 33-item wardrobe for three months and invited others to do the same on her website, project333.com. Here are her four surprising perks of paring down. N O M O R E “ N OT H I N G TO W E A R ” M O R N I N G S

I used to try on two or three outfits before going out. Creating a “capsule wardrobe”— a season’s worth of staples that all match— has given me tremendous clarity. The skirt I wore with a button-down, a blazer, and flats to a speaking engagement can go with a tank, a scarf, and boots for date night.

60 REAL SIMPLE

I R EC E I V E M O R E COMPLIMENTS

At first, I thought my coworkers would notice my limited repertoire. Instead, I got positive feedback. Interestingly, there were fewer “I love your shoes” types of comments and more “You look great” ones. A capsule wardrobe helps you hone your personal style. I feel confident in what I’m wearing, and people pick up on that. I H AV E M O R E D OWNTIME

Shopping was a way of life. I constantly checked email for sales. I spent weekends at the mall. Now I buy clothes a few times a year to fill in gaps and have more time for activities like hiking, skiing, and traveling. ST R E A M L I N I N G SNOWBALLED

Living with a minimal amount of clothes gave me the courage to make even bigger changes. I got rid of the dining table and the eight chairs we never sat in, the desk I didn’t use, and the furniture in our superfluous second living room. Eventually we moved to an apartment.

Step 5

Give away the rest Quick—before you change your mind—round up the rejects and reference this guide to the best places to donate or sell. GIVE WHERE IT COUNTS Goodwill and the Salvation Army are always great choices for dropping off donations. But you have other options where you can dump, do some good, and possibly save a little dough, too. T YPES OF ITEMS

W H E R E TO D O N AT E

CHARITY CONCERNS? See Optimize Your Castoffs with donation tips on page 8.

C LOT H E S I N U S E D CONDITION

Stores such as H&M, Ann Taylor, Loft, Levi’s, and the North Face allow shoppers to send or bring in clothing, shoes, and accessories (any brand) in exchange for discounts on purchases. The donated items are then reused or recycled.

O U T DAT E D D E N I M

The Blue Jeans Go Green program (bluejeansgogreen.com) organizes denim drives with universities and retailers. (Currently they are partnering with Madewell.) Some of the old jeans will be reborn as insulation for communities in need. Donators receive a discount to buy a new pair.

U N D E RU S E D F O R M A L  W E A R

Let another bride enjoy your beautiful wedding dress: BridesAcrossAmerica.com puts gowns into the hands of military and first responder brides. As for bridesmaid dresses and other fancy frocks, direct them to Project G.L.A.M. (wgirls.org), which distributes prom dresses to needy high schoolers.

O L D E Y EG L A SS E S

Send used specs to New Eyes for the Needy (new-eyes.org) and they will be dispensed to adults and children in developing nations or recycled to raise funds for new eyeglasses for disadvantaged Americans.

CLICK AND CONSIGN Online resale sites vary in terms of the types of items they accept, their commission rates, and the level of DIY involved. Below, vitals on some of the top contenders. RESALE SITE

W H AT TO S E L L

H O W TO S E L L

AV E R AG E P R I C E

YO U R PAYO U T

Fast fashion and luxury and vintage women’s clothing in new or gently used condition. Buyers browse members’ “closets” in the app and attend virtual real-time shopping events centered on a designer, a product, or a trend.

Snap photos with your phone and identify one for your “cover shot,” write a description, and set a price. Mail items to your buyer with a prepaid U.S. Postal Service (USPS) shipping label; you supply the box.

$30 for a mass-market item; $250 for a designer piece

80 percent on sales of $15 or more; under $15, the company takes a $2.95 commission

T R A D E SY.C O M

New and gently worn women’s fashions in mass-market to designer categories. The site also has more than 50,000 wedding gowns.

Upload photos and include a description. Choose your price, or let the site suggest one. Mail to the buyer with a free prepaid USPS shipping kit.

$20 for a mass-market item; $300 for a designer piece

91 percent of the sale in store credit; 88 percent if you want cash

T H R E D U P.C O M

New and like-new women’s and kids’ styles from top mainstream and designer labels. Check the website for a list of approved brands.

Order a free prepaid “clean-out kit,” pack with goods, and return to the company via FedEx or the USPS. Experts list and ship qualifying items for you.

$20 for a woman’s mass-market item; $100 for a designer piece

50 to 80 percent on sales of $60 or more; under $60, 10 to 40 percent

P O S H M A R K .C O M

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 61

The Great Closet Clean-Out S M A R T T I P S H E L P A FA M I LY O F F I V E B R I N G O R D E R A N D C A L M TO T H E I R H O M E — F RO M TO P ( S H E L F ) TO B OT TO M . By Stephanie Sisco Photographs by Matthew Williams Prop St yling by Rebecca Purcell

P I C K S M A RT See-through bins help you keep track of inventory.

BEFORE Family life in Blair and Scott Hammond’s New York home is full-to-bursting—with fullto-bursting closets to match. In the linen closet, a mix of sheets, towels, and miscellanea jammed shelves, making it a chore to find matched sets or put away clean laundry.

STREAMLINED LINEN CLOSET

TO BUY: Beach House bins, $20 each (for large), and stackable wire baskets,

from $10 each; containerstore.com. Canvas tote bag, $45, and mini hamper, $40; thelaundress.com. Steele canvas truck, $129; westelm.com.

62 RE AL SIMPLE

Items accessed most often— towels and washcloths—warrant eye-level shelf space. Sheets labeled for each bedroom are just above. Deep canvas bins on a middle shelf hold spare blankets. The almost-useless tippy-top shelf is perfect for extra pillows. Heavy, bulky stuff is a no-brainer for the bottom.

A D D A TA G Labels are a visual prompt to keep things sorted, such as with these sheet sets stored high in baskets.

G RO U P I T E M S A wheeled hamper holds the family’s air mattresses and pumps, plus spare mattress pads that are kept dust-free in protective canvas sacks.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 63

CRAFTY CATCHALL CLOSET A “miscellaneous” closet is notoriously tough to tame. The key is to equip it with containers and shelving dedicated to each of its (random) purposes. We outfitted this one in the Hammonds’ homework area with a wheeled cart to corral wrapping paper and ribbon. Shallow shelves line the back and side walls to hold school and crafts supplies. Becker metal wrapping cart (similar), $202, homedecorators.com. Ekby Valter brackets, $5 each, and Burhult shelves, $3 each; ikea-usa.com.

TO BUY:

BEFORE This closet—land of outgrown toys, wrapping paper, and mystery boxes—was begging to be revived.

H U G T H E WA L L Add a memo board to make a closet feel more like a workroom. Gift bags (normally an enemy of order) are obedient and accessible in acrylic wall-mounted file holders.

64 REAL SIMPLE

GO HIGH An extra-high rod is just right for tiered hangers, which keep pants within reach.

BEFORE Folded items teetered in high stacks in Blair’s closet; overflow made the doors hard to close.

MASTER CLOSET Thinking out of the “box”—and into the adjacent alcove—turned Blair’s narrow closet into an airy dressing area. A new seven-foot shelving unit gives structure to Blair’s footwear. Adding three shelves (boards cut to fit at a hardware store and installed with L brackets) to the closet’s central tower makes for shorter, neater stacks of folded items. Sarah storage tower, $799; ballarddesigns.com. Real Simple slimline flocked suit hangers, $30 for 50, and 5-tier swivel pant hangers, $8 each; bedbathandbeyond.com. Acrylic shelf dividers (similar), $14 each; organizeit.com.

TO BUY:

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 65

D OUBLE UP The lower rod hangs from the top by two ropes—no drilling required for installation.

SHOW OFF A closet wall is bonus storage: Why not mount shadow boxes for treasures that might otherwise clutter up a dresser?

Acrylic shelf bookcase, $249, and acrylic cube shelf, $35; crateandbarrel.com.

TO BUY:

66 REAL SIMPLE

BEFORE This spacious setup wasn’t being used to its full potential and was begging for some rules. (What goes where?)

KIDS’ CLOSETS When you have two closets to work with, it’s good to have a plan. Each closet should serve its own specific purpose. The closet on the left holds all of daughter Callie’s clothes (pants, tops, dresses), plus a canvas laundry hamper. The right one is for extracurriculars (soccer jerseys, lacrosse uniforms) and accessories (shoes in a cubby cube, jewelry on top). A mirror lets her use the spot as a dressing station. The acrylic tower to the right (actually a bookshelf) offers structure for folded piles without the bulk of wooden shelving. Sleepover gear and hand-me-downs can be stowed up top in woven white bins, accessible with the aid of a folding step stool. ClosetMaid stackable 25-cube organizer, $46; homedepot.com. Velvet kids hangers, $10 for 10; honeycando.com. Dublet adjustable closet rod expander by Umbra, $15; containerstore.com.

TO BUY:

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 67

5 Tools to Help Kids Cut Clutter FO R L E SS T H A N $100, YO U C A N O P T I M I Z E A C H I L D ’ S B E D RO O M F O R O N G O I N G O RG A N I Z AT I O N . By Brian Kramer

Illustrations by Brittany Mueller

Professional organizer Kathy Jenkins of Come to Order in Richmond, Virginia, recommends these essentials for a tidier home and more organized kids.

Essential #2

Hamper

Essential #1

Why: Dirty laundry needs a landing spot that’s not the floor, bed, or chair.

Bookcase

Look for: A ventilated plastic container or a mildewresistant fabric bin with a sturdy frame. Go for a taller bin and forgo the lid.

Why: Everyone needs a special place to organize reading materials. Establishing a rule that your child’s library must fit on his or her bookcase helps limit sprawl.

Tip: Transition dirty clothing from a hamper to a laundry basket to transport items to and from the laundry room. Keep the hamper in your kid’s room to continue collecting dirties.

Look for: A piece with two to four solidwood shelves that are 10 to 12 inches deep and adjustable. Tip: Add a few bookends and gather magazines in holders. Secure the bookcase to the wall with appropriate hardware. EMILY

A T R

D S

TYLER

68 REAL SIMPLE

B

JESS

Just as with adults, you’ll get better results by stating clear, neutral guidelines, such as “In our home, we only wash clothes that have been placed in a hamper.”

Your child may never maintain a picture-perfect bedroom. Can you settle for having everything off the floor by bedtime every night? Essential #4

Bank Essential #3

Why: Money management begins with physically organizing coins and bills that your child receives as gifts or allowance.

Analog Wall Clock

Look for: A plastic or glass container for coins that allows you to see what’s inside. Store bills in a wallet or clear lidded box.

Why: A clock with moving hands visually reinforces the passing of time. A child can begin to manage her time when she understands how long 15 minutes or an hour is.

Tip: Start with a bank and, as kids age, move money to three jars labeled “spend,” “save,” and “give.” Open a checking account for tweens or teens.

Model the style and level of organizing you’re seeking from your child. Apply the same decluttering techniques to your toys (tech,

Look for: A clock that’s 8 to 12 inches in diameter with all 12 numbers, minute marks, and a second hand. Tip: Hang clocks in other rooms where sticking to a schedule is important, such as the bathroom and kitchen.

Essential #5

collections, hobbies), clothing, and gear.

Trash Bin Why: A clean bedroom requires a spot to immediately toss rubbish. Look for: A personal-size plastic bin, which is easy to rinse or scrub if someone decides to trash an unfinished ice cream cone (it happens). Avoid bins with lids, which just add one more barrier to throwing out items. Tip: Establish a day when all trash bins are emptied. Make specific family members responsible for emptying each bin.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 69

The Real Simple Method Checklist TAC K L E T H E M O ST C LU T T E R E D K I D S ’ S P O T S T H I S W E E K E N D, A N D T H E N S E T U P S Y ST E M S T H AT P U T YO U N G O N E S I N C H A RG E O F M A N AG I N G T H E I R OW N TOYS, C LOT H E S, A N D G E A R.

IF YOU HAVE... 15 MINUTES P I C K U P P LU S H TOY S . Quick, everyone throw

stuffed animals into bins or arrange them on the beds, whichever’s faster. TA K E AWAY T H E L AU N D RY. Throw dirty clothes

(or what’s on the floor from multiple outfit changes that day) into the hamper.

1 HOUR S TA C K B O O K S . Neatly file books back on

bookshelves, keeping the ones that are bedtime favorites closest to the bed. G O O N A TOY H U N T. Give each child a laundry

basket and ask her to fill it with her favorite toys. Explain that the rest will be stored elsewhere for a while. Use garbage bags or bins to pack up remaining toys. Keep in the attic, garage, or spare room. Whenever a child asks for a specific toy, retrieve it. R E V I E W O F F- S E A S O N C LOT H E S . It’s just easier to

let go of a well-worn sweater in the middle of summer. Put keepers in lidded plastic bins you store in the closet or in underbed containers.

A WEEKEND C L E A N S E T H E C LO S E T. With your little ones next

to you (it’s important that kids see the process), take inventory of what fits, what’s too small, what’s had a good life (and needs to be tossed). Then, put things back, arranging by type of clothing (pants go together, same as shirts and long-sleeve Ts). E D I T A RT W O R K . Ask your child to decide what

artwork can go and what they would like stored, giving them limits along the way, like “We can keep only three drawings, so pick your three favorites.”

70 R E A L S I M P L E

TA C K L E T H E TOY S . If something had too much

love and hasn’t seen a lot of playtime recently, decide (again, with your child) to toss it or donate it. Teaching kids how to part with toys or, better, give them to other kids who don’t have as many toys, is a good lesson to impart early.

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y T E S S A N E U S TA D T ( B E D ) ; J O H N N Y M I L L E R ( B O O K S H E L F )

Clutter Rx G I V E YO U R B AT H VA N I T Y A N O RG A N I Z I N G T U N E - U P W I T H Q U E ST I O N S T H AT H E L P YO U D E C LU T T E R A N D ST R E A M L I N E . By Brian Kramer

W H AT D O I A C T UA L LY U S E ? Stand in front of your vanity and go through every task in your morning and evening routines. You should be able to do this test-drive without taking more than two or three steps in any direction. Every item you touch should be kept; anything you don’t touch needs to move out of the prime real estate of your vanity—and perhaps out of your life for good. H A S I T E X P I R E D ? Medications, cosmetics, and

products containing milk or essential oils expire—often more quickly than you think. Toss cosmetics that have been open for 12 months. If you have any doubts about an item’s age, ditch it now. Place a permanent marker in your vanity so you can mark start dates on new cosmetics, contact lenses, medicines, and other perishable items.

D O E S I T N E E D TO D RY O U T ? Allow space for towels, washcloths, makeup brushes, toothbrushes, and body sponges to fully dry. Get your wet gear off the countertop by adding hooks, cups, and holders as necessary. C A N I C L E A N T H E VA N I T Y I N 6 0 S EC O N D S O R L E S S ? If you can’t wipe the entire vanity surface, mirror,

and faucet in a minute or less, you need to edit countertop items further. Speed your cleaning routine by clustering items on a tray or two. Simply move the tray, wipe the surface below, and replace.

D O I U S E T H E E N T I R E S E T ? Packaged personal

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y K I M C O R N E L I S O N ( VA N I T Y ) ; C A R S O N D O W N I N G ( T R AY )

product kits often include several items you never use. Get ruthless with manicure/pedicure sets, clipper kits, spa gift bags, and seasonal makeup collections. Keep the items you use and toss the rest—and that includes the “gift container” the whole ensemble came in. C A N I R E P L A C E I T Q U I C K LY ? On the fence about

an item? Apply the 20/20 rule. If you can get a new one in less than 20 minutes and for less than $20, you can probably let go of it right now. W H AT G O E S W I T H W H AT ? Restock shelves and

drawers with the items you use most, clustered by task or function. Place items in waterproof drawer trays or canisters. Opt for clear or open containers so you can skip the lids and labels. A M I L I N E N L E A N ? Keep only enough towels for

one to two weeks of regular use per person. Move extra linens to a linen closet/cabinet or eliminate completely. If you don’t use washcloths or hand towels, stop storing them. Fold all towels the same way: in half then in thirds, which creates a sturdy packet that works well in a stack or filed in a drawer.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 73

Find a Space for Everything M A K E E V E RY I N C H C O U N T W I T H O R G A N I Z I N G A D D - O N S T H A T T A R G E T E A C H N O O K , C R A N N Y, A N D D R A W E R I N Y O U R B A T H R O O M . By S arah Wolf and Stephanie Sisco

1 . A D D A B O O KC A S E

No linen closet? Try a slim tower to stash tissues, towels, cleaners, and morning essentials. Better Homes & Gardens three-cube organizer in white, $40; walmart.com.

TO BUY:

2

2 . E L E VAT E T H E DA I LY

Place frequently used items on the tower’s top surface. A tray means you can whisk everything away for a quick clean.

1

3 . TA M E W I T H B I N S

Minimize visual chaos with bins and baskets to corral identical items (washcloths) or supplies for a specific task (cleaning).

3

4. D I V I D E & C O N Q U E R

Slip an insert, such as the H- and X-shape shelves in the top and middle cubbies, into each compartment to boost storage power. Better Homes & Gardens H storage shelf in white, $13; walmart.com.

TO BUY:

4

BONUS TIP

When traditional, wallmount towel bars aren’t an option, install mini versions on the front or side of your vanity cabinet. A decorative hook does the job too.

74 R E A L S I M P L E

5. CORNER THE ENEMY

A tiered triangular shelf sidesteps the plumbing that has always made this spot a disaster while giving a home to spare toiletries. Ragrund corner shelf, $40; ikea-usa.com.

TO BUY:

5

6

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y M A R T Y B A L D W I N ( B AT H T O W E R ) ; J O N N Y VA L I A N T

6. STICK ‘EM UP

So much better than caddies affixed with suction cups, these sturdy plastic bins mount with strong waterproof adhesive strips to stay put. And they’re removable if you decide you want to change their position. Place the containers at waist level so everyone in the family can reach. The bins also make great dispensers for daily necessities when attached inside a cabinet door.

7. TA M E YO U R H A I R D RY E R A N D A C C E S S O R I E S

A salon miracle you can replicate at home? This caddy, with slots for brushes, flatirons, and more, keeps styling tools from tangling and toppling. It’ll fit right inside a deep cabinet drawer. No room? Hang a blow dryer in a holster on the wall. Bamboo hair-styling station, $70; greatusefulstuff.com.

TO BUY:

7

Command bath shower caddy, $8 each; command.com for locations.

TO BUY:

O RGA N I Z E YO U R H O M E 75

S ection Three

Work Spaces Office, Laundry, Hobby, and Garage Getting down to business might involve finding a spot to balance your checkbook, fold a load of laundry, wrap birthday gifts, or pump up a bike tire. Even if your home lacks dedicated spaces for each of these tasks, reclaim order with small changes: Create one

P H OTO G R A P H BY K I M C O R N E L I S O N

clutter-free work surface, even if it’s a portable lap desk. Establish a family laundry system and assign responsibilities. Corral wrapping supplies in one container, such as a hamper or underbed box. And designate wall hooks for tools you use monthly. (Bike pump, we’re looking at you.)

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 77

No More Messing Around W I T H T H R E E B OY S, F I V E D O G S, A N D Z E RO ST O R AG E ST R AT E G I E S F O R A L L T H E I R S T U F F, T H I S B U S Y T E X A S FA M I LY W A S D E S P E R A T E F O R A N O RG A N I Z I N G I N T E RV E N T I O N . R E A L S I M P L E F O C U S E D E F F O R T S O N T W O O F T H E I R M O S T D I S O R D E R LY W O R K S PA C E S — T H E L A U N D RY R O O M A N D H O M E O F F I C E . By Stephanie Sisco Photographs by William Abranowicz Organzing and St yling by Chip Cordelli

L I K E M O S T FA M I L I E S , the Taos have

a schedule so packed with work, school, and activities that it’s tough to find time to straighten up. Gwen Tao, a physical therapist, and her husband Pete, an electrical engineer and high school football official, have three teenage sons and adopted five rescue dogs. They also open up their Dripping Springs, Texas, home to weekly community events, including Girl Scout troop meetings and Pilates classes, which take place in a room above the detached garage. Over the years, old papers and outdated electronics spilled out of the drawers and cabinets in a shared home office, and

78 RE AL SIMPLE

miscellaneous items (exercise ball, ice cream maker) migrated to the laundry room. The mess might have grown even more had it not been for the family’s nanny, who took notice—and wrote to us about the family’s struggles. We geared up for a whole-home overhaul that paid extra attention to the home’s hardest-working spaces. We helped the Taos whittle down their belongings, contain them smartly, and establish some systems. The redo was transformational. “I had no idea how freeing it would be to scale down our stuff,” Gwen says. “With our new organizing strategies, we’re motivated to keep the house neat.”

LAUNDRY ROOM The Taos enter the house through a door near the laundry room, so we morphed the space into a mudroom-laundry combo. (Lesson: One room can serve two purposes, as long as the purposes are clearly defined.) Two multipronged hooks hold everyday jackets. A punchy striped doormat defines the mudroom area just like a rug would. Baskets above the washer and dryer hold beach towels, extra linens, and pillows (and leave no surplus surface area for stuff that strays). Pushing the appliances together gave them a neater look and left an eight-inch space at the right to slot in a step stool.

BEFORE

This room’s ample square footage (14 by 8 feet) tempted the family to drop off more than just dirty clothes. S W I T C H U P YO U R S PA C E

The family repurposed this spot as a coat closet and repository for Pete’s officiating gear. Our men’s shoe box, $4.50 each; containerstore .com. Maple wood suit hangers, $10 for four; honeycando.com.

TO BUY:

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 79

HOME OFFICE To transform this room’s purpose from clutter catchall to efficient command center, we installed a multilevel shelving unit above the desk to keep stationery, envelopes, and other office essentials hidden in plain sight. (Pete’s collection of vintage comic books lives here, too.) We sorted the remaining paperwork into categories—school, summer school, medical, vets—then loaded the piles into clear labeled filing boxes with handles, designating one per cubby. A corner rolling cart serves as a streamlined printing area, with printer up top and paper supply below. TO BUY: Elfa freestanding office (similar), $1,156, Bigso Stockholm office storage boxes in white, $10–13 each, and Marten grey magazine holder, $13 each; containerstore.com. Go-cart rolling cart in white, $149; cb2.com.

80 REAL SIMPLE

BEFORE

This room was a repository for the random. A quilt monopolized valuable space above the desk. G I V E DAY-T O - DAY E S S E N T I A L S A H O M E

A low shelf of cubbies separates the room from the hallway. Each family member gets a column of two cubbies for bags and backpacks. Gwen’s are closest to a wall-mounted organizer holding mail, permission slips, and bills to handle at the end of each week. TO BUY:

Wood wall pocket, $129; ballarddesigns.com.

TA M E T H E PA P E R O N C E A N D F O R A L L

Keep active files in easily accessible bins like the clear handled ones here, and move files you don’t need often (but still want to keep close) to a high shelf in a closet. Every three months, give the active files a once-over and shred or toss outdated documents to make room for new ones. Slim open recycler can, $70; simplehuman.com. Weathertight file box (similar), $20 each; containerstore.com.

TO BUY:

O RGA N I Z E YO U R H O M E 81

One Work Space, Three Zones R E A L S I M P L E T R A N S FO R M E D A D I S O RGA N I Z E D O FF I C E / C R A F T RO O M I N T O T H R E E T I D Y A R E A S F O R C A L M A N D C R E A T I V I T Y. By Nicole Sforza

P h oto g ra p h s b y J o n ny Va l i a nt

Organizing and St yling by Chip Cordelli

ZONE 1: THE DEDICATED DESK

BEFORE

Jess Mauras, an executive recruiter, had hobbies and work life fighting for her attention on the crowded desk. The laptop was jammed in with the sewing machine, so even answering emails was an exercise in repositioning. Because the desk had no drawers, important papers and office essentials roamed free. Bedford small desk, $699; potterybarn.com. Drafting chair, $399; schoolhouseelectric.com. Modular flip-out bins, $14; containerstore.com.

TO BUY:

M A K E A M E M O B OA R D

U P G R A D E YO U R D E S K

D E S I G N AT E S P O T S

The fabric board is perfect for posting sketches and to-dos. To DIY: Buy a piece of soundproof fiberboard at a hardware store. Stretch fabric around it, making hospital corners; staple in back to secure.

A scaled-down model with deep drawers does everything the family needs without taking up much floor space. The striking blue-and-white chair to the left is a nice spot for visitors.

Keep the focus on work by giving accessories and paper a home. A six-door desktop organizer corrals small items like pushpins. The bottom cabinet holds paid bills, receipts, and household papers.

82 REAL SIMPLE

ZONE 2: THE CRAFTING CLOSET

BEFORE

Bulky metal shelving made the closet feel small and congested. Supplies were stashed in solid boxes and forgotten, while an out-ofplace suitcase took up precious real estate. Accordion doors blocked access to the closet sides. Linen drop-front sweater box, $30 each, Bigso Stockholm document box (similar), $13 each, and Our shoe box (in trunk), $2 each; containerstore.com. Linen closet storage collection, small bin, $25 each; greatusefulstuff.com. Bergshult shelf, $10–$13 each, with two Pershult brackets (similar), $3–$4 each; ikea-usa.com. Lucasville naked birch trunk (similar), $280; wayfair.com.

TO BUY:

R E M OV E D O O R S

U P G R A D E S H E LV I N G

WR AP IT UP

Mounted slightly wider than the door frame, drapes make the closet look bigger, offer easy access, and add style. A new, deeper upper shelf creates space to store fabric and art.

Widely spaced shelves house supplies of all heights, and the right containers make all the difference (glass jars for easily lost items, open floor bins for underway projects).

A wall-mounted bike rack serves as a wrapping-paper caddy. A trunk, its lid fitted with tension rods for ribbon, holds bins containing bows and cards; casters allow it to be rolled out.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 83

ZONE 3: THE SEWING STATION

BEFORE

Crafts supplies, gift wrap, and bolts of fabric cluttered the floor. “I was afraid of making a mistake, so I hesitated to even put up shelving,” Jess says. The ironing board was this corner’s only “furniture.” Clear styrene pegboard kit, $40 for two panels; homedepot.com. Utility stool, $169; schoolhouseelectric.com. Spindle thread rack by June Tailor, $20; joann.com. Bergshult shelf, $10–$13 each, with two Pershult brackets (similar), $3–$4 each; ikea-usa.com.

TO BUY:

84 REAL SIMPLE

OUTFIT FOR FUNCTION

GET OFF THE FLO OR

ADD SOME COZY

Clear acrylic pegboards keep sewing supplies handy and surfaces clear. The long worktable is spacious without being bulky; a stool slips underneath when it’s not in use.

Journals, albums, and decorative items like a shell collection find a home on suspended shelves. Yarn and knitting needles, once tangled and strewn, occupy a single basket.

A rug can transform a work area (even if you lay it on top of wall-to-wall carpet). This latticework design echoes the wall colors, providing a calm backdrop for colorful supplies.

1 . A R R A N G E V E RT I C A L LY Hang a pegboard above a desk to hold tools and supplies. As you add to your inventory or your interests change, rearrange the shelves and pegs to suit your needs.

Caramba Pegboard in natural, $76, and accessories, from $16; gautierstudio.com.

TO BUY:

1

2 . L E T I T RO L L Any room can be a craft room when your supplies are arranged on a go-anywhere cart. Wheel it into a corner or a closet when not in use. 3

Sauder Craft Pro Series craft cart, $305; sauder.com.

TO BUY:

2 3 . P ROV I D E E A S Y A C C E S S A spinning organizer corrals pens, pencils, and other small supplies right on your work surface.

Ashland storage desktop carousel (similar), $50; michaels.com.

TO BUY:

4

4. S E PA R AT E S U P P L I E S Designate a cubby, storage bin, or drawer for each type of project to keep necessary supplies together. If you have the space, a worktable with built-in storage keeps everything within reach.

South Shore Crea craft table, $291; houzz.com.

TO BUY:

Organize This

Craft Room T U R N Y O U R C R E A T I V E S PA C E I N T O A W O R K O F A R T U S I N G P RO F E SS I O N A L O RGA N I Z E R L I S A Z A S LOW ’S C L E V E R T I P S. Photograph by Br yan Gardner

BONUS TIP Half-finished projects stashed out of sight may get forgotten and begin to pile up. Instead, reserve visible zones for in-process projects to inspire you to continue working on them.

Prop St yling by Katja Greeff

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 85

Stop Paper Pileups W E C O N S U LT E D O U R FA V O R I T E P RO F E SS I O N A L O RGA N I Z E R S TO L E A R N H O W T O R E D U C E PA P E R O V E R L O A D ONCE AND FOR ALL. By Renee Freemon Mulvihill

I l l u s t r a t i o n s b y Tr i n a D a l z i e l

What’s the best way to keep up with all the mail you receive? What types of paper cause the most problems for people? Actionable paper—those pieces we receive to remind us to perform a task. Bills, invitations, appointment reminder cards, and permission slips all fall into this category. – A BY G A RV E Y

Junk mail and monthly health and financial statements. People are not sure if they should keep them (and you probably don’t need to). – J E N N I F E R F O R D B E R RY

Papers from school, especially if you have elementaryage children. Kids come home every day with a bag full of papers that you have to deal with. – K AT H Y J E N K I N S

Try to go through your mail and papers every day. On a heavy mail day, you might think, “Oh, I don’t have time to look through this.” Time how long it takes to review an average day’s mail. I guarantee it’s going to take less time than you thought it would. Once you’ve determined how long it takes, you have the information you need to make a good decision. You can now say, “This is only going to take two minutes and I have 15. Let me hurry up and get through this.” – K AT H Y J E N K I N S

Bills that have already been paid or statements from accounts. Even though you don’t think you need to keep them for any real reason, they nag at you that maybe you should, and so you do. – K AT H Y V I N E S

Bills, insurance documents, catalogs, coupons, and flyers—these all tend to accumulate. I’ve been an organizer for 13 years, and I don’t think that’s changed a whole lot in that time, other than more people are going paperless with their bills. P H OTO G R A P H BY S H U T T E R STO C K / F LO R A L D EC O

– JA N I N E A DA M S

OUR EXPERTS: JA N I N E A DA M S Professional organizer, Peace of Mind Organizing, St. Louis J E N N I F E R F O R D B E R RY Professional organizer, Buffalo, New York A BY G A RV E Y Organizing expert, simplify101.com K AT H Y J E N K I N S Professional organizer, Come to Order, Richmond, Virginia K AT H Y V I N E S Professional organizer, Clever Girl Organizing, Melrose, Massachusetts

The first review should be to immediately remove items that don’t even need to hit the kitchen counter. Things that require quick scans and can be instantly recycled should be the first things that get weeded out. Paper that needs to stay around longer can typically be placed into one of three purposeful categories: To Read, To File, Needs Action. Make sure everyone knows where the purposeful piles are. Or, if just one person is responsible for reviewing all the paper, make sure that person’s in-box is clearly labeled. – K AT H Y V I N E S

Visit the site dmachoice .thedma.org. It can help you gain control of your mailbox by selecting the type of mail you receive (or don’t receive) in four categories: credit offers, catalogs, magazine offers, and other offers like donation requests, bank offers, and retail promotions. – A BY G A RV E Y

“RSVP immediately to any invitation. It’s tempting to delay the decision of whether to attend an event, but if you can decide on the spot and RSVP accordingly, the task never becomes a burden.” – JA N I N E A DA M S

O RGA N I Z E YO U R H O M E 87

Which papers should I file, throw away, or shred? What is the best way to track bills and avoid paying late fees? Set a reminder on your phone for, say, 8 a.m. on Thursday morning to pay your car loan. – K AT H Y J E N K I N S

Switch as many bills as possible to an autopay option and create an automatic transfer schedule for your bank account in case you need funds to be replenished into your bill-paying account. – K AT H Y V I N E S

For non-recurring bills, collect them in a single spot, such as an in-box or letter tray. If you’re a visual person, give yourself permission to keep this out in the open. Set aside a specific time once a week to pay any bills that have come in during that week. – A BY G A RV E Y

The fewer bills you have, the fewer payment due dates you have to remember. Automatically pay some bills, like your cell phone bill, with a credit card. Then you have just one bill (the credit card) to remember to pay. I like to pay my credit card in full, but sometimes I may not have the cash flow to do that, so I set up an automatic payment for the minimum, just in case I forget to pay the bill on time. That way I never get a late fee. – JA N I N E A DA M S

File permanent records, such as legal documents (marriage certificates, contracts, wills, etc.) and financial documents (receipts of major purchases, mortgages, and tax return documents). Toss paper that contains information you can easily find elsewhere, such as online with a simple search. – A BY G A RV E Y

Establish some basic guidelines for shredding. If it has information on it that can be used to access information about you that you wouldn’t want published on Facebook, like how much money you make, what illnesses you have, or what medications you take, then shred it. If it can be used to steal your identity (checks, credit card information, social security numbers, etc.), shred it. – K AT H Y V I N E S

Before you decide to keep and file something, think about whether you could find it online if you needed it. Just because you have a file for something doesn’t mean you have to keep it. If you decide to keep a piece of paper, take 10 seconds and file it rather than putting it aside to file later. If you’re putting off filing because your file cabinet drawers are stuffed full, take some time to clean them out. – JA N I N E A DA M S

If you only have space for a crate of office papers, then that’s how much you can keep. When you file a document, put a note on the folder that says how long you want to keep it. Or when you are done paying a bill, you can scan it and throw it in an electronic folder or use one of the apps listed on page 89. – K AT H Y J E N K I N S

“Make decisions based on what makes you comfortable and what you have space for.” – K AT H Y J E N K I N S

88 REAL SIMPLE

What’s the best way to manage all the school papers? What’s the strangest place your clients have stashed paper piles? I’ve had clients who stuffed papers into plastic grocery bags to hide them from guests. One of those clients then stuffed the bags under furniture. Just when we thought we’d gone through all of her papers, we would find another plastic bag hidden under a couch or chair. – JA N I N E A DA M S

Under their bed, in the car, and next to the toilet. – J E N N I F E R F O R D B E R RY

I have one client who scoops papers into a paper bag and sticks it in a side closet. I can always tell how many events she has had at her house based on how many bags we have to go through during a session. – K AT H Y J E N K I N S

Make it a rule that kids need to unload their backpacks and place papers in the same bin or basket every single day. – J E N N I F E R F O R D B E R RY

Teach children early on how to figure out what they should keep. If they can study from it for an exam, keep it. The busy work can easily be tossed. If they keep it, set up a folder for the math stuff, English stuff, etc. – K AT H Y J E N K I N S

If you don’t have the heart to throw out completed papers or artwork right away, establish a container to hold papers for a period of time. This could be a month or the whole year. The more that paper stresses you out, the shorter the duration you should use. – A BY G A RV E Y

APPS THAT CUT DOWN ON PAPER CLUTTER C A M C A R D Take a picture of any business cards you receive, and this app will add them to the contact list on your phone. C A M S C A N N E R With this app, you can scan and save documents from anywhere, archive them, and easily search the digital files. D RO P B OX Use this app to store and access photos and documents from anywhere. Choose the free option with 2GB of space or pay for a plan with additional storage capacity. E V E R N O T E Who needs to print anything out when you can just clip ideas from various websites, organize them in folders, and access them anytime on your computer or phone? G E N I U S S C A N This app creates a PDF scan or JPEG of any document you want to store electronically. PA P E R K A R M A Take a photo and stop junk mail and unwanted catalogs. S C A N N E R P RO This scanning app lets you scan documents, save them into folders, and upload to a cloud storage system. S H O E B OX E D Scan receipts and business cards or send them a packet of paper clutter and have them digitize it for you. Packages start at $29 a month.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 89

Project Central A CLUT TERED GAR AGE BECOME S A WELCOMING W O R K R O O M W H E N T H E FA M I LY S O R T S I T S C O N T E N T S A N D E S T A B L I S H E S A N E W, F U N C T I O N A L F L O O R P L A N . By Stephanie Sisco

P h oto g ra p h s b y J o n ny Va l i a nt

T H E FA C T T H AT I T H O L D S

so many random objects is what makes the garage so useful for a New York couple. Organizer Chip Cordelli reassured them they didn’t have to ditch everything, but he did challenge them to get everything off the floor. “Don’t treat it like a junk pit. The garage needs the same consideration that the rooms inside the house do,” Chip says. A fresh coat of paint (blue, because the homeowner is a Yankees and Giants fan) and a set of new hooks and hangers (less than $15 at a home center) elevated the existing pegboard to the garage’s organizing centerpiece. Chip added readyto-assemble cubbies and shelves (designed to stash folded clothing in closets) to create specific storage spots for power tools, books, and frequently used supplies. R E A R R A N G E F O R S E RV I C E

A workbench positioned in the center of the garage is a shared island for repair projects, container gardening, and messy crafts projects. Rubber floor tiles create a pseudo area rug and cushion for hardworking feet. Edsal workbench, $177; Perfection floor tiles, $88 for eight; lowes.com. 30-inch stool with round hardboard seat and backrest, $63 each; overstock.com.

TO BUY:

90 REAL SIMPLE

R ACK ‘EM UP

A wall-mounted wine rack is a terrific (and unexpected) solution for corralling gloves and rags or coiled extension cords, and it makes a pegboard wall even more of a powerhouse. BEFORE

TO BUY:

Vurm wine rack, $13; ikea-usa.com.

The garage—a kooky, chaotic catchall—made work difficult.

EXTEND SHELF LIFE

The couple inherited basic metal shelving from the previous owners. Chip had the couple remove everything, discard broken and expired items, and sort the keepers into categories—paint, pool, garden, and so on. Before restocking with bins to contain small items, Chip treated the shelves with Kilz ($24 a gallon; lowes.com), a latex primer that can help reduce the formation of rust and mildew.

O RGA N I Z E YO U R H O M E 91

Make It a Habit S M A L L A DJ U ST M E N T S I N H OW YO U M A N AG E TO O L S A N D SU PP L I E S W I L L K E E P YO U R GA R AG E LO O K I N G—A N D F U N C T I O N I N G — G R E AT T H RO U G H O U T T H E Y E A R .

AVO I D S T O C K P I L E S

It’s a core decluttering principle, and it especially applies to lawn machines, bicycles, and other outdoor gear. To avoid future garage pileups, commit to the “one in, one out” rule: If you bring home a new lawn mower, for example, you need to sell or toss the old one. RO TAT E BY S E A S O N

ASSEMBLE KITS

Gather all the tools and supplies for infrequent tasks in a single container. The next time you need to paint, patch a wall, or deal with a plumbing problem, you can simply tote your kit to the job site.

92 REAL SIMPLE

P H O T O G R A P H S B Y B R YA N G A R D N E R ( T O O L C A R T ) ; W I L L I A M A B R A N O W I C Z ( S T O R A G E B I N S )

When it’s summer, make the camping equipment accessible on lower shelves, and move skis and poles to upper shelves. A switcheroo twice a year will save you time as you pack the car for a weekend campout with friends.

L A B E L E V E RY T H I N G

The best way to remember where items go (especially things like holiday decorations that only come out once a year) is to label them with a label maker or permanent marker. You’ll be happy you did when Thanksgiving rolls around and you can’t—for the life of you— remember where you stashed the holiday lights. MAKE IT A GAME

There’s no shame in rewarding family members who stick to the system and help put soccer balls back in their bin. Try making a game of the last five minutes before going inside for the night. Time the kids to see how fast they can collectively clean the yard. Write down the time and attempt to beat it the next evening.

If you do one thing every day, always make sure to leave enough room in the garage to, you know, park your car. When garages get cluttered, they lose their original purpose of housing your vehicles.

ORGANIZE YO UR HOME 93

The Real Simple Method Checklist TA K E A D VA N TA G E O F F R E E M O M E N T S T O D E C LU T T E R YO U R G A R AG E W I T H A P ROJ E C T T H AT S U I T S YO U R S C H E D U L E .

IF YOU HAVE... 15 MINUTES TO S S T H E S E T H I N G S . Quickly gather old catalogs, newspapers, magazines, and remnants of DIY projects. To the trash they go.

1 HOUR A S S I G N C AT EG O R I E S . In the garage, find homes

for these items: sports equipment, power tools, and gardening tools. Label the areas with blue painters tape and a permanent marker. G I F T T H E GA R A G E A GA R B A G E B I N . Now you’ll

have a designated place to throw away food wrappers, junk you find in the yard, or other stuff from those halffinished DIY projects. P OT YO U R P OT T I N G S O I L Bags of potting soil and

fertilizer can tip over easily (and they’re not much to look at anyway). Instead, pour the soil into rarely used kitchen pots with lids or cheap enamel vessels. For bigger bags, try an Oscar-the-Grouch-style garbage can.

A WEEKEND I N S TA L L S H E LV I N G. Metal shelving is best because

it’s affordable and easy to assemble, and it can withstand heat and humidity better than wood. Stack waterproof plastic containers on the shelves—clear ones mean you’ll always know what’s inside.

no use for that old clunky computer, printer, or fax machine from the early ’90s that has been sitting in the garage. Find a recycling or creative-reuse program that can take such items off your hands. G E T S T U F F O F F T H E F LO O R . Folding beach or

lawn chairs leaned against the garage wall take up space and can fall over easily. Hang them along the wall with nails or U-shape brackets. Use additional hardware to elevate garden tools, bags of sports equipment, recycling bins, and luggage.

94 RE AL SIMPLE

D I S P O S E O F O L D PA I N T C A N S . Paint usually lasts

for up to 10 years unopened, and two to five years if opened and stored correctly. If you don’t need it on hand for touch-ups or if it has gone bad, get rid of those cans. Laws for disposing of or recycling paint differ by state. Check to see if your state has a paint-recycling program or if there’s a waste-disposal place near your home where you can drop off the cans.

P H O T O G R A P H B Y J O N N Y VA L I A N T

R EC YC L E E L EC T RO N I C S . Chances are you have

Resources L E A R N M O R E A B O U T T H E P RO F E SS I O N A L O RG A N I Z E R S F E AT U R E D I N T H I S I S S U E .

Our Experts JA N I N E A DA M S is a St. Louisbased professional organizer. peaceofmindorganizing.com D E B O R A H C A B R A L is a professional organizer and productivity and efficiency consultant and trainer. decluttercoachdeb.com

On the Cover M R I D U PA R I K H is a productivity coach and owner of Life Is Organized in Nashville. lifeisorganized.com B E T H P E N N is a Los Angelesbased organizer and blogger. bneatobar.com

J E N N I F E R F O R D B E R RY is a professional organizer based in Buffalo, New York. jenniferfordberry.com

S TA C E Y P L AT T is a New York City-based organizer and the author of What’s a Disorganized Person to Do? dwellwellnyc.com

A BY G A RV E Y is a co-owner of Simplify 101, which offers online classes about organizing. simplify101.com

B A R B A R A R E I C H is a New York City-based organizer and author of Secrets of an Organized Mom. resourcefulconsultants.com

S A R A H G I L L E R N E L S O N is the owner of Less Is More, an organizing service based in Miami and Chicago. lessismoreorganizers.com

E R I N RO O N E Y D O L A N D is the author of Never Too Busy to Cure Clutter. erin.doland.org

K AT H Y J E N K I N S is a professional organizer based in Richmond, Virginia. cometoorderva.com M E L I S S A M A K E R is host of the CleanMySpace YouTube channel. cleanmyspace.com J O R DA N M A R K S is a New York City-based organizer and cofounder of It’s Organized. its-organized.com

R A C H E L RO S E N T H A L is a professional organizer based in Washington, D.C. rachelrosenthal.co

P H O T O G R A P H BY Marty Baldwin S T Y L I N G BY Molly Reid Sinnett

Trends 12 laminate flooring; tarkettna.com. Cay SW 6772 wall paint; sherwin-williams.com. EKET storage combination with legs; ikea-usa.com. White photo frames, natural wood photo box; michaels.com. Copper wire storage baskets; cb2.com. Bathroom storage tray; target.com. Opalhouse decorative metal bird box in Aqua; target.com. Ivory chunky knit nursery storage baskets; potterybarnkids.com. Dark turquoise ceramic planter with wood stand; worldmarket.com. Large art print (#1127843103); gettyimages.com. Small art print (OriginSardinia 3 Moons Rose Gold and Pastel Pink Modern wall art); etsy.com/shop/originsardinia.

TO BUY:

L I S A RU F F is director of business development for Neat Method. neatmethod.com J O H N T RO S KO is a Los Angeles-based organizer and blogger. organizingla.com

A N D R E W M E L L E N is the author of Unstuff Your Life! andrewmellen.com

L AU R A VA N D E R K A M is the author of Off the Clock: Feel Less Busy While Getting More Done. lauravanderkam.com

A S H L E Y M U R P H Y is the cofounder of the organizing service Neat Method. neatmethod.com

K AT H Y V I N E S is a Massachusetts-based professional organizer. clevergirlorganizing.com

B RO O K E N I E M A N is an organizer with Neat Method in Chicago. neatmethod.com

L I S A Z A S L O W is the founder of New York City’s Gotham Organizers. gothamorganizers.com

O RGA N I Z E YO U R H O M E 95

prefer to own many possessions enjoy their surroundings more when they’ve purged everything that’s not needed, used, or loved.”

— G R E T C H E N RU B I N , OUTER ORDER, INNER C ALM ( H A R M O N Y B O O K S , 20 1 9 )

96 RE AL SIMPLE

Real Simple® Organize Your Home™ (ISSNs 2687-9611 print; 2687-962X online), 2019. Real Simple Organize Your Home is published once a year in September by Meredith Corp., 1716 Locust St., Des Moines, IA 50309-3023. In Canada: Mailed under Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40069223. Canadian BN 12348 2887 RT. © Meredith Corp. 2019. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

“Rather than striving for a particular level of possessions— minimal or otherwise— it’s helpful to think about getting rid of what’s superfluous. Even people who P H OTO G R A P H BY S H U T T E R STO C K / J OAQ U I N C O R B A L A N P

,

12385&+$6(256859(