by Jayme Radomski | Oct 7, 2024 | Closets, Cooking & Kitchen, Eating & Kitchen, Organizing, Wardrobe
Organizing your home can be a great way to prepare for the upcoming fall and winter months. Here are seven important areas to focus on:
Create a checklist for decorations, costumes, and treats. This helps you avoid last-minute purchases and gives you time to find the best deals. Consider repurposing items from previous years, checking thrift shops or borrowing from friends.
Get crafty! Use materials like cardboard, old sheets, and nature (leaves, branches) to make spooky decorations. There are plenty of tutorials online for creating everything from ghostly figures to jack-o’-lanterns that can save you money.
Organize a costume swap with friends or neighbors. Everyone can bring their old costumes and trade, ensuring everyone has something new to wear without spending a dime.
Instead of buying expensive candies, consider making your own Halloween treats. Simple recipes like popcorn balls, caramel apples, or themed cupcakes can be fun and cost-effective. Plus, you can involve family or friends in the process!
Look for local community events, such as pumpkin patches, festivals, or trunk-or-treats. These often have free or low-cost activities and can provide a festive atmosphere without the high price tag.
With a little planning and creativity, you can have a memorable Halloween without breaking the bank! For more tips on staying organized, follow Top Shelf Home Organizing on social media or sign up for our Simplify Your Life Monthly newsletter.
by Jayme Radomski | Sep 16, 2024 | Closets, Cooking & Kitchen, Eating & Kitchen, Organizing, Pantry, Wardrobe
Organizing your home can be a great way to prepare for the upcoming fall and winter months. Here are seven important areas to focus on:
Swap out your summer wardrobe for fall and winter clothes. Store away summer items and bring out warmer clothing, including jackets, sweaters, and boots. Donate or sell items that don’t fit, appear worn or no long fit your style.
Check your pantry for expired items. Meal plan around items that need to be used. If needed, restock with essentials for fall cooking, such as spices, baking ingredients, and canned goods. Organize your kitchen to make meal preparation easier as the holiday season approaches.
Prepare your garden and outdoor spaces for the colder months. Clean up the yard, store away summer furniture, and consider planting fall flowers or vegetables.
Ensure your heating systems, such as furnaces and fireplaces, are in good working order. Schedule maintenance if necessary and stock up on firewood if you have a wood-burning fireplace.
Now that everyone is back to their school and work routines, take some time to reassess work spaces and supplies. Adjust the areas as needed.
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Start planning for upcoming holidays. This could include organizing decorations, making gift lists, or starting to think about travel plans.
Take the time to declutter your home. Go through each room and get rid of items you no longer need or use. Donate, sell, or recycle these items to free up space and reduce clutter.
Focusing on these areas can help ensure a smooth transition into the fall season and holiday.
by Jayme Radomski | Aug 8, 2024 | Closets, Cooking & Kitchen, Eating & Kitchen, Organizing, Pantry, Wardrobe
August is a great time for busy families to organize their homes in preparation for the upcoming school year and the changing seasons. Top Shelf Home Organizing created a list of six areas to focus on:
Set up a dedicated homework station with all necessary supplies.
Review your inventory of notebooks, pens, pencils, and other school essentials. Purchase more if needed.
Organize backpacks, lunchboxes, and school uniforms.
Sort through clothes and donate or store outgrown or unused items.
Make a list of clothing items needed to avoid over purchasing.
Organize summer clothes and start transitioning to fall attire.
Use labeled bins and baskets for easier access and maintenance.
Clean out the pantry and discard expired items.
Meal plan around existing food and supplies.
Plan and prep meals for busy school nights.
Organize snacks and lunch supplies for easy packing.
Create or update a family calendar with important dates, activities, and appointments.
Set up a command center with a whiteboard, bulletin board, or planner.
Include a chore chart and weekly meal plan.
Organize shoes, coats, and bags for quick and easy access.
Set up a system for keys, mail, and other daily essentials.
Use hooks, shelves, and baskets to keep everything tidy.
Sort through toys and donate or store those that are no longer used.
Organize toys in bins or shelves for easy access and cleanup.
Create a designated play area to keep toys contained.
These tasks can help create a more organized and efficient home, making the transition into the busy school year smoother for everyone. Top Shelf Home Organizing loves to help busy families get ready for the school year. Contact Jayme to see how we can help you.
by Jayme Radomski | Apr 8, 2024 | Cleaning, Closets, Clutter, Organizing, Wardrobe
Organizing your closet for spring can be a refreshing way to welcome the season and make it easier to find your favorite clothes. An organized closet will help you rediscover your spring and summer wardrobe, and help you plan for any new clothing purchases you may need to make. Here are six tips to help you get started:
Begin by going through your clothes and accessories to declutter. Get rid of items that you no longer wear or need. Consider donating or selling items that are in good condition but no longer serve you. This step will help create more space in your closet for the items you love.
As you transition from winter to spring, store away heavy coats, sweaters, and other winter-specific items that you won’t need for the warmer months. This will free up space for lighter clothing such as dresses, shorts, and T-shirts. Consider using storage bins or vacuum-sealed bags to keep off-season items organized and protected.
Organize your clothing by category to make it easier to find what you need. You can group items such as tops, bottoms, dresses, and outerwear together. Within each category, you can further organize by color or type (e.g., sleeveless tops, long-sleeve shirts). This system will help you quickly locate specific items when getting dressed.
Make the most of your closet space by using storage solutions such as hanging organizers, shelves, and shoe racks. Utilize vertical space by installing hooks or hanging rods for accessories like scarves, belts, and purses. Consider investing in slim hangers to save space and keep clothes from slipping off.
Establish a routine for maintaining your organized closet. Set aside time each month to go through your clothes and accessories, removing items that no longer serve you and tidying up the space. This will help prevent clutter from accumulating and make it easier to keep your closet organized year-round.
Make your closet feel inviting and inspiring by adding personal touches such as decorative bins, artwork, or motivational quotes. Consider incorporating elements that reflect your personal style and make you feel good when you enter the space. A visually appealing closet can make the process of getting dressed more enjoyable.
By following these spring closet organizing tips, you can create a functional and stylish space that makes it easy to access your favorite clothes and accessories throughout the season. If organizing your clothes closet brings anxiety, Top Shelf Home Organizing would love to help. Organizing closets is our favorite space. Contact Jayme to chat about your closet.
by Jayme Radomski | Feb 12, 2024 | Cleaning, Closets, Digital, Eating & Kitchen, Money & Paper Management, Office, Organizing
Getting organized in February is a great idea as it can set a positive tone for the rest of the year. We love the idea of resetting your home before the warm spring air returns. Here are eight areas to focus on in February:
Declutter and organize your home office. File away paperwork, clean up your desk, and declutter digital files.
Declutter your digital life by organizing your computer files, emails, and apps. Delete unnecessary files and create a system for better organization.
Start organizing your financial documents for tax season. Create a system for keeping track of receipts, invoices, and important documents.
If you decorate for Valentine’s Day, take the time to organize and store those decorations once the holiday is over. Purge the decorations you don’t use.
Check the expiration dates of food items in your pantry and refrigerator. Discard any expired items and organize your shelves.
Straighten up your linen closet. Fold and organize towels and sheets, and discard any worn-out or mismatched items.
Tidy up your bedroom closet by decluttering clothes, shoes, and accessories. Donate or sell items you no longer need.
Sort through your winter wardrobe and donate or store items you won’t be needing for the remainder of the season. Organize coats, scarves, and gloves in a designated area for easy access.
Remember to take it one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to enlist the help of family members or roommates. Setting aside dedicated time each day or weekend can make the process more manageable and less overwhelming. The organizers at Top Shelf Home Organizing are happy to help. Reach out to Jayme for any questions you have on organizing your home and office.
by Jayme Radomski | Jan 8, 2024 | Bathroom, Cleaning, Closets, Clutter, Cooking & Kitchen, Digital, Eating & Kitchen, Office, Organizing, Pantry, Self Care, Bathroom
Organizing your home in January is a great way to start the year fresh and create a more comfortable and efficient living space. Here are some suggestions for areas you might consider organizing. Choose one or two impactful areas to start.
- Declutter by removing items that don’t belong or that you no longer need.
- Clean and organize entertainment centers, shelves, and tables. Wipe furniture down while it’s emptied.
- Clean out your pantry and discard expired items. Plan your meals based on remaining items.
- Organize kitchen cabinets and drawers. Consider using containers for loose items if it makes sense.
- Wipe down and clean appliances.
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Rotate and flip your mattress.
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Launder and store seasonal bedding and clothing.
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Declutter bedside tables and dressers.
- Go through your clothes and donate or sell items you no longer wear.
- Organize clothes by category (e.g., shirts, pants, dresses) and color.
- Consider investing in storage solutions like bins, baskets, or closet organizers after you have gone through your clothes.
- Dispose of expired medications, toiletries, and beauty products.
- Remove products you do not like. Donate unopened items you do not want.
- Organize cabinets and drawers, using containers or dividers.
- Wipe down cabinets and drawers for a fresh start.
- Scrub toilets and showers.
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- Declutter your workspace. Remove unnecessary items.
- Organize cables and cords.
- Clean your computer and backup important files.
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- Sort through important documents. File or scan items you need. Shred or recycle documents you don’t need.
- Set up an organized filing system for unopened mail, bills to pay, items to file and items to do. It is also good to have a tax file where you can dump any items you will need for preparing your taxes.
- Clean up your computer desktop and organize files.
- Back up important digital files and photos.
- Clear unused apps from your smartphone.
- Dust and clean all surfaces.
- Clean windows and curtains.
- Deep clean carpets, rugs, and upholstery.
Remember to set realistic goals and take it one step at a time. Breaking down the tasks into smaller, manageable steps can make the process less overwhelming. Consider involving other members of your household to make it a collaborative effort. Join an on-line decluttering group such as 30-Day Declutter Challenge to keep you motivated and accountable.
Being organized is a process, and it’s important to approach it at a pace that feels comfortable for you. Start small, plan one event at a time and develop systems to maintain organization. Gradually, you’ll experience the positive impact and being organized will come naturally. If organizing is daunting task, the professional organizers at Top Shelf Home Organizers are happy to help. Contact Jayme for a consultation.
