Project Organize :: Home Organization.

HOME ORGANIZATION by Sarah @ Clover Lane

With 5 children, and a NOT huge house, I have to keep things very simple.  Basically, that means I purge constantly.  It seems every couple months or so I get out a black garbage bag (better to not be seen with) and just go through the house and collect all the STUFF that somehow manages to creep in.  Socks with holes, a ratty, torn t-shirt, those cheap birthday party favors, old magazines...those are the easy things to toss.  When I do a deep purge, like I did during Lent...a 40 day/40 bag challenge, I really got down and dirty.  I went through every single part of my house...no area was spared.

Once you have less stuff, you are able to find spots for what you DO wish to keep.  The kids also have a chance to become more responsible with their things, when they don't have 1,378 things to take care of.

Something else I do that helps me a ton in the "not feeling overwhelmed department" is having a House Notebook.  When we were selling our last house, I came up with this, and have used it ever since.  I label a page in a new notebook with each room or area in the house, and then seeing through the eyes of a buyer, I take my notebook with me and list every single thing that needs to be done in that room...whether it's a towel bar that needs to be tightened up, some trim that needs to be touched up, maybe a new pillow to freshen a room, or a carpet steam clean, a loose cabinet door...all those little things that you would NEVER do for yourself, but MUST do when you show and sell.  It's so frustrating to have to do all these things for someone else, your buyer, to enjoy!  I vowed I'd keep everything nice FOR ME this next time, in my forever house, where I am now.  If you keep up on these little jobs...even if it's just writing them down at first, knowing that you will get to them someday, it really helps things look neat and clean and well cared for.

Once I do have all my little (or big!) things I want to get done, listed by room, I just make some goals.  Like this week will be "kitchen" week.  (If you have a lot to do give yourself a couple weeks or a month to finish one House Notebook page!) I will break it down into steps...maybe Monday I will run to Lowe's for anything I need to complete that check list, and make the phone call for the plumber to finally fix that kitchen sprayer.  And Tuesday will be the day I'll get the paint out to do the touch-ups, and Wednesday I'll change those dirty stained covers on the chairs.  If you break it down in little steps it isn't so easy to just give up from being overwhelmed.  It feels so good to have a room done and perfect and shiny (even if it's just for 2 hours...for sure, it's like that around here!) that you will find the motivation to keep going through your house.

Do you have an organization idea/storage solution/time management idea you'd like to share? I'd love to feature you on Sherbet Blossom! Email me at sherbetblossom (at) gmail (dot) com!