Can we skip to the good part?

“When can I go get containers? Should I go before we get started? I’ll just get a bunch!” If I got a nickel every time a client got excited about storage options before the decluttering had even started, I’d be rich in nickels. I totally get it! You want to skip to the good part, right? The part where you can wander the aisles of Target or The Container Store, picking out the cutest baskets and bins!

Reality hits once all of those products come home though…and you try to fit all of your stuff into them and back into your space. And you get frustrated. Those bins and baskets sit in that cabinet or closet, awkwardly taking up space and reminding you of something you can’t buy: patience. 

There’s a reason professional organizers hardly ever recommend buying products before starting a project. It’s because you need to put the hard work of decluttering in beforehand. You might end up with a totally different layout in the space you’re organizing. You might realize that though those woven baskets are cute…you never remember what you put in them and now you want clear bins. Or you didn’t measure and assume that they’ll fit! Now your baskets are too big or too small for the space.

Having a little patience for the process will go a long way! The hardest part of the job is the decluttering! Any organizer will tell you that decluttering is simple, but it’s not “fun” (for you…organizers thrive on decluttering!) Thoroughly and meticulously going through every nook and cranny of your space is what makes the difference! 

Once the tedious task of decluttering is done, now it’s time to make a plan and go shopping! The first place I usually recommend clients to shop…is their house! Repurposing bins and containers from around your house can save you time and money. Using those thick and sturdy boxes that phones or tablets come in for drawer organizers is a simple way to keep them out of a landfill. 
Once you’ve found items from your house and have depleted that supply, it’s time to shop. Make sure to properly measure the spaces you’re needing some containment first. Next, think about what kind of aesthetic you’re going for. Do you like the clear acrylic look? Or do you want things to be neatly organized, but hidden away behind a woven basket or bamboo box? Think about the space and how you want it to function. Looking cute will only go so far…so you’ll need to think about the functionality of the space as well. How easily can you get things in and out? Where would it make the most sense to put items that are used semi-regularly?

When you put in the work of decluttering and then mindfully think about the type of containers you’ll need, you end up saving yourself time and money. Skipping to the good part can be fun! But it’s not what will work best in the long run!