Kit Davey, Interior Designer
18 Years in business - Over 2,600 homes transformed!
Tips From Kit - Mid-June 2001
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Get Organized--- NOW!
By Kit Davey
Piles of mail on the kitchen counter, three and a half pairs of shoes in a heap by the front door, unread newspapers and magazines stacked on the coffee table----yipes! The clutter monster is growing and threatening to take over your home! Somewhere underneath the proliferating piles of paper, memorabilia and clothing is an organized and potentially beautiful home just waiting to be revealed.
Eliminating clutter and getting organized is a free and simple way to improve the appearance of your home. Need motivation? Here are nine reasons to get organized:
- You'll be able to find things. I watched a friend of mine hunt for a coat in her hall closet the other day. It was so full she couldn't see what was behind the first layer and as she dug deeper found stuff she'd lost months before. If you get rid of things you don't need or want, then sort and organize what's left and place your possession in logical spots you will be able to retrieve whatever you need when you need it.
- Save time. How much time do you waste looking for your car keys, your daughter's back pack or making a special trip to the video store to avoid paying for another day? Create new habits: put your keys in the same place every time your enter your home, train your kids to hang their backpacks on hooks by the door, take the videos out to your car after you've seen them. Arrange your work areas with the concept "put it where you use it" in mind; put your cutting board near your knives, store copy paper by the copier and your dog's leash by the back door.
- Save money. Have you had to pay late fees because you couldn't find your bills or forgot to pay them? Having systems and creating new habits saves money. Stash your bills in one spot on your desk and pay them on the first and fifteenth of each month. You'll keep your good credit rating and avoid costly penalties. Donate unwanted possessions to charity and save on your tax bill. Plan your menus a week in advance, go through your cabinets and make a list of what you need and shop once a week. You'll save on gas and avoid buying duplicates of what you already have.
- Create more space. Simply taking everything out of a closet, and repacking it efficiently (putting like objects together, folding in half rather than in thirds, taking advantage of vertical space) can gain valuable storage space. Donate or throw away unwanted or broken possessions and you'll create more space in your closets and garage (And remember---You don't have to fill the space back up!).
- Have more time to do what matters. When you're organized you spend less time on the trivial administration of daily life and have more time to be with your family, exercise, read or do art.
- You'll feel proud of your home. Some people avoid inviting friends over because they're ashamed of the chaos in their homes. When your home is organized you do not need to worry about the perceived judgment of others.
- Feel better about yourself. When you take the time to regain control of your home you will also feel more in control of you life. No more shame about how your house looks, no nagging anxiety about a possible missed appointment or unpaid bill. When you create visual peace in your small corner of the universe you increase your confidence and security.
- Feel calmer and at peace in your home. We respond emotionally to what we see. Viewing clutter on every surface can evoke stress, feelings of shame, overwhelm and nervousness. With only a few carefully chosen and well-placed items in view you create visual and internal peace.
- Once you get organized it's easier to maintain order. It's much easier to deal with a molehill instead of a mountain. Once you get on top of your clutter, you'll feel and see the difference and be motivated to keep things in order. Small actions taken daily or periodically, like sorting your mail over the recycling bin, doing the laundry once a week on a specific day, having the kids pick up their toys before bedtime, are small easy steps towards maintaining control of your home.
(c) 2001
Kit Davey is a Redwood City-based interior designer specializing in redecorating using what you already have. You can reach her by calling (650)367-7370 or by writing her at KitDavey@aol.com. Visit her website at www.AFreshLook.net.
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