Archive for February, 2009
Clutter Free Living
Clutter. We all have it…piles of papers, unopened mail, kids toys that seem to multiply when you aren’t looking, those trinkets you never quite know what to do with. It can get overwhelming in our day to day lives. And if you are trying to sell a home, it absolutely must be dealt with. Nothing is more distracting when a buyer is trying to envision a home as theirs, than the seller’s clutter. It is often difficult to see the beauty of a house for all the stuff. Here are simple ways to organize and de-clutter each room of the house. Don’t try to tackle the overflow all at once…take it one room at a time.
Kitchen – Sort through the pantry items, throwing away anything that has expired or any item you’ve had for more than a year. Date the remaining items and categorize back on the shelves. Use plastic containers for perishables like crackers and cereal to 
help retain freshness and make best use of space. Maximize all cabinet and drawer space by using wire shelves and organizers. Examine the inside of each cabinet door to see if you can use the space for spice racks, recipe cards, a memo board or paper towel rack. Hang a utility bar or hooks near the stove for frequently used utensils.
Living Room - Replace tables and ottomans with storage units and small chests to hold blankets, reading materials, extra pillows. Give each family member a place to stash personal items, such as small baskets on the bottom shelves of a bookcase. Add baskets to open spaces to hold mail, keys, school papers, or magazines. Group collectibles in one spot for maximum effect. Designate a space for dvds, cds, and games. Make it a rule that everyone puts items away each night before going to bed.
Kids Bedroom – Hang two strips of hooks or pegs to the back of a child’s door…one at 3 feet and the other at 5 feet for bookbags, jackets, belts, or purses. 
Stash toys in large clear containers and stack on shelves, in closets or under the bed. Use a box or basket for favorite books and keep near the bed or a window seat. Use storage cubes in closets for shoes, folded clothes and games.
Bathroom – Sort through towels and wash cloths and discard frayed or stained linens. Keep only a week’s supply of towels handy in the bathroom and store the rest. Display towels in baskets on shelves or in cubicles. Keep a large basket near the tub or shower and fill with bath supplies and a few wash cloths. Make good use of cabinet space with organizers and wire shelving. Keep makeup, brushes and facial products in plastic or metal desktop organizers and store out of sight when not using.
My Office Space
One of the perks of my type of business is that I have a home office to work out of. I love this cozy space with its 6 windows. I have inspiring pictures and books and quotes all around me. Until just recently, I had a lot of clutter too. It’s not good when the wicker chair and loveseat in my office have so many stacks of papers and books on them that there is no where to sit except in my office chair! I’d been learning a lot about how my environment affects the way I feel and how productive I am….it was time to clear away the clutter!
I love my office now. One of the first things I do every morning is open the wooden blinds over those 6 windows and welcome the sun into my inviting space. It feels like I accomplish so much more…and I definitely enjoy being in my office more. I don’t grow frustrated any longer over trying to find a 
document or that listing sheet. The secret to keeping my office clutter free has been that old adage my mom taught me…”a place for everything…and everything in its place”. No more stacks of paper everywhere….I have files and baskets for those, and very pretty ones at that! And my bookcase contains all my books….and a tv/dvd player for when I’m in the mood for a movie!
One other advantage of going through piles of “stuff”…I uncovered keepsakes that I’d been intending to do something with. So the beautiful Lord of the Rings maps the Greg bought me and the Notre Dame de Paris poster I bought on ebay were framed by my artist friend John and now hang on my bedroom and office walls. And I created shadow boxes from the momentos I saved after watching performances of my two favorite musicals…Phantom of the Opera and Wicked. Those are in my living room where I can enjoy looking at them every day…and remember.
Cindy Moore
Your Joplin Realtor
Cindy@yourjoplinrealtor.com
