Bläddrare HANGING STORAGE with 7 Compartments in Gray/Patterned, $15, ikea.ca.

Buy thoughtfully

Gabrielle Breton, professional organizer and founder of interior organization service OBI, notes that people are often afraid to get rid of goods that no longer serve them because they have spent money on them. “Take the time to think about your purchase to confirm that you really need the item. It will help you to avoid unnecessary spending and clutter. If you consider the purchase necessary, it’s a good idea to think of something else to give away to avoid accumulation—one in, one out. It has to become a reflex.”

Where to start

 

Photography, Shutterstock

Professional organizer gabrielle Breton divides organization into three categories:

1 EVERYDAY ITEMS

Such as a toaster, diary, sports shoes…

In the kitchen, if there are eight spatulas, three bread knives and five identical salad bowls, keep the useful ones you reach for most often. 

In the bathroom, keep only three sets of towels per person. Install compartments for hair accessories, makeup and other toiletries.

In the wardrobe, donate clothing that hasn’t been worn in the last year or doesn’t fit anymore. 

Store your clothing by type, colour or style. For drawers and on shelves, the Marie Kondo method has proven very useful. The principle: forget flat storage in favour of vertical storage, which allows you to see everything you own. Accessories (belts, jewellery, ties) will be more visible organized in compartments than loose in a drawer.

In the office, free up your work surface by adding a filing cabinet under your desk to store supplies. Again, there’s no need to have duplicates, like three staplers and four pencil sharpeners! Documents stored in well-labelled boxes and drawers will help you save time.

In the playroom, provide storage that is very accessible to children, such as bins and shelves within their reach, to make playtime easier while also allowing kids to put toys away afterward.

2 ITEMS WE LIKE

Fondue pot, Christmas decorations, evening wear…

Items that are used for specific occasions, such as specialty appliances, festive decor or fancy clothes, can be stored in a less accessible place, since they are used less often. The high shelves in the kitchen and closet, the basement or the garage offer many storage possibilities. For the latter two spots, closed plastic bins can help prevent items from getting damp. It’s a good idea to choose transparent bins so you can easily see what’s inside, but you can also affix labels on them to identify the contents clearly.

3 HAPPY MEMORIES

Keepsakes, photo albums, heirlooms, baby items...

Of course there are items that we want to keep forever because they remind us of a good memory—but don’t forget, you can also keep them in another form. For example, keep the photo in which you’re wearing your favourite maternity dress, but donate the dress if you don’t plan
on wearing it again.

Heirlooms (crockery, cutlery, clothes, jewellery, etc.) can be positive items that remind us of people we love. You can display some of the dishes in the kitchen if you don’t want to use them every day, and put the rest in a box to take out on special occasions. If you run out of space, passing some items on to another member of the family to enjoy is a good solution.

 

 

Skostall SHOE ORGANIZER in Black, $4, ikea.ca.

 

Metal CUTLERY BASKET in Gold-Colored, $13, hm.com/ca.

 

Type A Clarity Clear Stackable 64 L Under the Bed STORAGE BOX with Lid and Wheels, $40, canadiantire.ca.

 

Wooden STORAGE BOX in Brown, $30, hm.com/ca.

 

Round Metal Wall SHELF in Black, $130, bouclair.com.

 

Fabric, Wood and Metal STORAGE BENCH in Taupe, $350, bouclair.com.

 

Boho Medium Wicker BASKET with Handles in Natural, $65, bouclair.com.

 

 

Ciao Lacquered SHOE CABINET with Tempered Glass Top in White, $219, structube.com.

Get help

Spouses and children can get involved in the purging and sorting process. Everyone is able to participate and it’s a very valuable learning experience to empower young people. If you feel overwhelmed and find it hard to make choices, especially when it comes to items that have sentimental value, try enlisting help from a friend or professional organizer who can offer an objective perspective.

Start Small

The idea of sorting and organizing everything in the house can seem daunting, but if you break­ up the task into smaller increments it can feel much more manageable. “Start in one room and pick the smallest container in it. Empty it completely, sort it, carefully store what you want to keep and put the rest aside to donate or throw away. It will feel like a mini victory and will encourage you to continue the process in days to come,” says Breton. 

Give or sell?

The process of selling used items can be laborious and time consuming, so unless the object has a certain value or is highly sought after, such as baby items, it may not be worth the time investment. “For example,” says Longpré, “if you want to sell pants, you have to take a photo, prepare an ad and respond to potential customers. It takes a lot of energy, so it may be better to consider helping someone in need by donating.” It’s also a great oppor­tunity to rethink your spending habits by reflect­ing on your needs before making a purchase.