Bella Organizing collaborated with Redfin Realty and other cleaning and organizing experts to bring you Spring cleaning tips.
As the days grow longer and the weather begins to warm, we start to see the first signs of spring in the air. If you live in New York, Portland, or anywhere in between, the signs of spring are the same – the flowers begin to bloom and the birds are chirping again. After all, spring is the season of new beginnings, so why not refresh your home with spring cleaning? Declutter and deep clean the interior and exterior of your home before spring has sprung with these expert tips. Read more…
Imagine having a wardrobe closet, kitchen cabinets, or a garage so un-stuffed that it’s as if you walked into a department store window display to live.
A small handful of clients out of thousands I’ve worked with actually live that kind of minimalist lifestyle. Case in point: many people have too much clothing and not enough closet space to use wooden hangers as they do in magazines and advertisements. Wooden hangers take up lots of space. Lack of closet space is why slim hangers are so popular now.
Minimalism: A dream only obtainable through curated lifestyle magazines and Instagram posts?
The photo in this post depicts minimalism, but it hasn’t been curated to obscure reality. It is how the closet I organized truly looks. There really is that much space between clothes, and it’s because this person chooses to own very little. It reflects the simple lifestyle of a client I recently worked with for the second time. She’s called on me twice for help when moving homes. She’s done all the decluttering herself.
How can someone live so simply? Here are a few excellent ways to start:
Restrain yourself – we don’t need to buy a ton of organizing supplies to get organized. Most people I work with need very few or nothing at all.
Say “so long!” to magazines – they are primarily ads for things to buy and these ads work on the subconscious more than we realize.
Go offline – cut down on personal time spent on social media and the web (including Amazon). Facebook and Instagram exist today only because corporations are making big money through this new form of marketing. And “free shipping” is a drug to start weening yourself off. Take a few months hiatus a couple times a year. You won’t miss anything important, trust me.
Take action TODAY:
Declutter, Declutter, Declutter – Set up a donation bag or box that lives year around in your home and toss into it anything your heart, mind, and soul tells you. Place it somewhere you see it every day. Over time, this box will fill and refill, and you and your home will begin to feel lighter and free.
Do you want to live the minimalist lifestyle you see in magazines and on Instagram? It’s possible!
The Pareto Principle
Research shows that people use 20% of what they own 80% of the time. The rest takes up space, mostly untouched. Consider the things in your home, the clothes on your body, and even what you take in your luggage on vacation. This is an example of the Pareto Principle, also known as ‘the law of the vital few’ and the 80/20 rule. In life, it means that 80% of all effects result from 20% of all possible causes. Does the 80/20 rule apply to you and your stuff?
Imagine the money you’ll save, how easy it will be to clean, and how quickly you’ll find what you need living a life of minimalism. What would you do with the free time and space created by owning only what you truly love and use?
If it’s a minimalist lifestyle you want to live, you can do it. YOU can make it happen. Start TODAY.
San Francisco Bay Area Professional Organizer Isabella Guajardo works with clients to downsize, minimalize, and organize their wardrobe closets, offices, paperwork, kitchens, garages, and any challenging area of the home. Call her today at (510) 229-7321 for a complimentary 20-minute conversation about downsizing and minimalism.
If someone you know is going through a serious collecting or hoarding challenge, they simply may not be ready to let go, as they will usually have a very different perspective than you about what’s too much. If their clutter is causing fire, falling, or other hazards and you feel the need to help them immediately, it’s still extremely important to be patient and not pushy. If this person in not responsive to you, pick up books from the library on the topic and learn about the many options for professional help. If you attempt to tackle things on your own, consider these important tips:
Avoid trying to persuade them to get rid of things. It often leads to arguments, the person closing up to the possibility of you helping at all, and can damage your relationship with him/her.
Use encouraging verbal and body language. Be supportive and communicate with positive and genuine words and actions when discussing the situation. Be careful and aware of your tone of voice.
Highlight strengths. If you begin working with someone to downsize, see the whole person and don’t be concerned with problems in the home, but rather the effort to change.
Treat this person how you want to be treated. With love, kindness, respect, and encouragement, you can be of assistance in many ways. You may one day hold the honorable title of being the trusted friend or family member there when they are ready to let go, or who guides them to seek professional help when the time is right. But first, they must be ready and willing to help themselves.
A variety of helpful information, research, and resource information on the topic of hoarding can be found in The Hoarding Handbook available online and through your public library.
