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Although our buddy Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring this year, our experience tells us his forecast can be lacking a bit of accuracy. Despite some recent temperature fluctuations, we are still in the middle of winter here in Rhode Island. Preparation is key when dealing with unpredictable and variable weather conditions. If you live around here, you’ve experienced the range of “polar vortex” to t-shirt weather just this past week!
Many of the homes I visit feature a mudroom-type entryway. In my opinion, this space in a home is key for getting and staying organized. Having a designated place for coats, boots, bags, and other daily essentials near the door supports both leaving and returning home in a more timely and efficient manner. When you arrive home, hanging up your coat, tossing your hat and mittens in a basket, and taking shoes off right by the door keeps these items from migrating all over the house. When it’s time to leave - you’ll know everything you need is conveniently waiting for you by the door and you’ll make it to your next destination on time. There’s no need to waste time searching every room for that missing mitten!
Even if your home doesn’t have a mudroom, it’s possible to get creative and carve out a functional solution. An entryway doesn’t have to be fancy, the goal is function and ease of use. The basics are:
Many of the homes I visit feature a mudroom-type entryway. In my opinion, this space in a home is key for getting and staying organized. Having a designated place for coats, boots, bags, and other daily essentials near the door supports both leaving and returning home in a more timely and efficient manner. When you arrive home, hanging up your coat, tossing your hat and mittens in a basket, and taking shoes off right by the door keeps these items from migrating all over the house. When it’s time to leave - you’ll know everything you need is conveniently waiting for you by the door and you’ll make it to your next destination on time. There’s no need to waste time searching every room for that missing mitten!
Even if your home doesn’t have a mudroom, it’s possible to get creative and carve out a functional solution. An entryway doesn’t have to be fancy, the goal is function and ease of use. The basics are:
- Hooks on the wall for coats in use
- A mat for wiping feet and temporarily holding wet footwear
- A nearby basket or drawer for scarves, gloves, and hats: don’t worry about folding them neatly, just toss them in! What matters is that these items are stored together. If each member of your household gets a basket or drawer, your arrival/departure routines will be that much easier.
- Enough floor space and clearance by the door to safely navigate
Some extra items to take into consideration - especially if you live in a snowy area:
- A shovel or two: in my experience, this is the most convenient way to get out the front door - shovel your way out!
- A tool for cleaning your car off (opening your car door with a foot of snow on it to retrieve the snow brush never goes well for me)
- A supply of ice melt: Store small amounts in a 2-gallon bucket with a cast-off food container for scooping. That way, you won’t have to deal with the 40-pound bag all at once. These buckets can be found at the hardware store and come with a lid for keeping pets (and small children) out.
Once you’ve figured out what you want and need to keep by the front door, it’s a matter of staying consistent with your limits and habits in order to stay organized and efficient. A few guidelines my clients and myself follow are:
What sorts of solutions or ideas do you have for your entryway? Are you inspired to try out one or more of these ideas? Leave a comment below!
- When you arrive home, immediately remove your coat, shoes, and other accessories and place them in their designated homes.
- Wet gear might need a spin in the dryer or space to air dry. Do your best to put it back when dry so you’ll be ready to leave again.
- Designate a hook for reusable shopping bags – this is a great way to remember to take them with you!
What sorts of solutions or ideas do you have for your entryway? Are you inspired to try out one or more of these ideas? Leave a comment below!
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Sorting through and paring down clothing is usually the first project I take on with my clients. Before getting started, we talk about what they’d like the end result to look and feel like. An ideal situation is described - the volume of clothing needs to be reduced so that all of it can be hung up and put away in drawers, with no overflow hanging around. One of the most common questions I get is, “How do I know how much I need, and how will everything fit in my closet/drawers?” This tidy and functional scenario can be hard to imagine, especially if items of clothing have made themselves comfortable in all areas of the home.
There are a few varying factors - the size of the space, lifestyle, habits, and local climate determine how much we need. The ideal situation looks different for everyone, but everyone is capable of achieving the goal they’ve envisioned for themselves! The less space you have, the less you can keep, but you’ll still have enough. Many homes here in New England are 100+ years old. When those closets were designed, the typical person only had a few quality outfits. In my opinion, this is an advantage - there’s less maintenance and fuss involved, which frees up more time for fulfilling pursuits!
There are a few varying factors - the size of the space, lifestyle, habits, and local climate determine how much we need. The ideal situation looks different for everyone, but everyone is capable of achieving the goal they’ve envisioned for themselves! The less space you have, the less you can keep, but you’ll still have enough. Many homes here in New England are 100+ years old. When those closets were designed, the typical person only had a few quality outfits. In my opinion, this is an advantage - there’s less maintenance and fuss involved, which frees up more time for fulfilling pursuits!
A view of my closet, in my home built in 1920. The door is 5ft tall, and the bar hangs at about 4ft. I use two sets of drawers to store everything else - pants, shorts, t-shirts, sweaters, and underwear, for all 4 seasons.
Ready to reduce your clothing but feel like the task is too daunting? Here are some tips for breaking down the process:
1. Consider your lifestyle. What do you wear to work? What activities do you need appropriate clothing for? How many pieces do you realistically wear for each activity? How many special occasions do you attend per year? Considering these questions before you get started and focusing on what you’re keeping will help your decision making when it’s time to sort through everything.
2. Designate areas for three piles - KEEP, DONATE, RECYCLE: As always, I encourage others to keep as much as possible out of the landfill. Donate what can be worn, and recycle clothing with stains or holes. Many municipalities offer textile recycling, and most H&M stores offer a program as well.
3. Take everything out. If taking out your whole wardrobe at once is overwhelming, gather items by category - work on t-shirts one day, pants another. Just make sure you look through every single piece by the time your project is done - nothing gets a free pass!
4. Make a decision for every single item, and be as honest as possible. Your favorite pair of jeans, tops that fit just right, the jacket that pairs with almost any outfit - those pieces that you love and wear regularly are an easy keep. It’s important to let go of guilt and be honest - it’s no fun to be sifting through closets and drawers full of stuff you don’t wear just to get to the pieces you like and use. And remember, generously passing along clothing you don’t love to others in need makes a positive impact on the local community!
5. Group like items together, and put them away! As an organizer, this is the fun part! Folding sweaters into a drawer knowing how easy it will be to access them later gives a nice sense of accomplishment.
6. Maintain the system: Fold/hang up and put away clean laundry as soon as you can after each cycle, and try not to let it pile up for too long.
7. Carefully consider future purchases: Purchasing items of clothing just because they’re on sale shouldn't automatically grant them a home in your wardrobe. Make sure you actually need something and that you look and feel great in it. Otherwise, leave it behind for someone else - this takes some discipline but you’ll feel empowered after practicing it a few times!
1. Consider your lifestyle. What do you wear to work? What activities do you need appropriate clothing for? How many pieces do you realistically wear for each activity? How many special occasions do you attend per year? Considering these questions before you get started and focusing on what you’re keeping will help your decision making when it’s time to sort through everything.
2. Designate areas for three piles - KEEP, DONATE, RECYCLE: As always, I encourage others to keep as much as possible out of the landfill. Donate what can be worn, and recycle clothing with stains or holes. Many municipalities offer textile recycling, and most H&M stores offer a program as well.
3. Take everything out. If taking out your whole wardrobe at once is overwhelming, gather items by category - work on t-shirts one day, pants another. Just make sure you look through every single piece by the time your project is done - nothing gets a free pass!
4. Make a decision for every single item, and be as honest as possible. Your favorite pair of jeans, tops that fit just right, the jacket that pairs with almost any outfit - those pieces that you love and wear regularly are an easy keep. It’s important to let go of guilt and be honest - it’s no fun to be sifting through closets and drawers full of stuff you don’t wear just to get to the pieces you like and use. And remember, generously passing along clothing you don’t love to others in need makes a positive impact on the local community!
5. Group like items together, and put them away! As an organizer, this is the fun part! Folding sweaters into a drawer knowing how easy it will be to access them later gives a nice sense of accomplishment.
6. Maintain the system: Fold/hang up and put away clean laundry as soon as you can after each cycle, and try not to let it pile up for too long.
7. Carefully consider future purchases: Purchasing items of clothing just because they’re on sale shouldn't automatically grant them a home in your wardrobe. Make sure you actually need something and that you look and feel great in it. Otherwise, leave it behind for someone else - this takes some discipline but you’ll feel empowered after practicing it a few times!
A client was looking for some help with reducing her clothing in order to access everything with ease. She was happy to report later that she had no trouble picking out an outfit for a special occasion that came up at the last minute!
Sometimes, decision making gets exhausting and difficult, and we don’t quite hit our goal the first time around. Resolve to come back to the project when you feel confident that you can reduce more, and try not to make any new purchases during this time. Don’t forget to congratulate yourself for all the hard work you put in to make your wardrobe more easily accessible, and enjoy everything that you keep!
In Simplicity,
Elena
In Simplicity,
Elena
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Lifestyle changes can be challenging. Whether we’re moving to a new home, starting a new job, dealing with new family dynamics, or endeavoring to change old habits, we can become overwhelmed by clutter or a change in our schedule. We may think “I can’t do this, it’s too hard.” or “Look at all the work I still have to do, I’ll never be done!” If we believe such thoughts, then there’s a good chance they’ll prove true. Telling ourselves we can’t can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. On the other hand, if we acknowledge these thoughts and redirect them to something more positive, like, “I’m so grateful for this opportunity to improve my life.” or “I’ve made some progress in the past week,” we empower ourselves to change the situation.
Change is hard - our brains and bodies search for shortcuts in order to seek comfort and conserve energy as a tool for survival. We feel secure in our predictable routines and ingrained habits. While it’s natural to seek comfort and security, it’s important to note that we humans have also evolved to adapt: we can learn new skills, overcome adversity, and problem-solve just about anything, at any stage of life. Think of all the uplifting success stories we’ve heard - most, if not all, involve perseverance, hard work, and of course change!
Many of us in the United States live super busy lives. We work long hours, maintain homes, put meals on the table, pay the bills, nurture relationships, and somehow need to squeeze in some time to take care of ourselves. It can feel like too much - our homes and schedules are overstuffed, and yet, ironically, our culture encourages us to go after more.
The good news is, the first step to changing our situation doesn’t involve lifting a finger! Well, unless we’d like to write about it. But this doesn’t mean it isn’t work. In fact, there’s some hard work involved, and it’s the critical first step to improving our situation. Changing our mindset and perspective is essential if we want to follow through with changing our habits. Our perspective is the lens through which we view our own personal reality - the way we see ourselves and the world around us. No one can change this for us. It’s work we have to do for ourselves. There’s no elusive magic formula - only effort, dedication, and consistency.
We might be wondering, “when is the right time to start?” Right now. We do what we can with what we have. Start now, and a week, a month, a year, or even a decade from now, we won’t regret the decision to improve the situation. Over time, this practice of positive thinking becomes a new way of going though the day. New habits become so ingrained we may forget about the old ones altogether!
Many of us in the United States live super busy lives. We work long hours, maintain homes, put meals on the table, pay the bills, nurture relationships, and somehow need to squeeze in some time to take care of ourselves. It can feel like too much - our homes and schedules are overstuffed, and yet, ironically, our culture encourages us to go after more.
The good news is, the first step to changing our situation doesn’t involve lifting a finger! Well, unless we’d like to write about it. But this doesn’t mean it isn’t work. In fact, there’s some hard work involved, and it’s the critical first step to improving our situation. Changing our mindset and perspective is essential if we want to follow through with changing our habits. Our perspective is the lens through which we view our own personal reality - the way we see ourselves and the world around us. No one can change this for us. It’s work we have to do for ourselves. There’s no elusive magic formula - only effort, dedication, and consistency.
We might be wondering, “when is the right time to start?” Right now. We do what we can with what we have. Start now, and a week, a month, a year, or even a decade from now, we won’t regret the decision to improve the situation. Over time, this practice of positive thinking becomes a new way of going though the day. New habits become so ingrained we may forget about the old ones altogether!
Ready to take the first step? Here are some tips and examples to help guide a variety of situations:
- Commit to Change Ask why, then picture an ideal situation. We have to see the value in taking the time and effort to make this important change.
- Set Realistic Goals Once we’ve decided these changes are worthwhile, it’s important to set some realistic goals. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Don’t expect to declutter the whole house in a week when having lived there for a decade. Break it down into smaller, doable tasks - with time, they’ll add up to something big!
- Express Gratitude and Appreciation for What You Have Right Now: Think about what’s important in your life, and take the time to acknowledge that you probably already have it. When we focus on what we have rather than what we lack, our perspective changes. Our situation doesn’t look so grim when we acknowledge the good that’s already there. By surrounding ourselves with only the most important things, people, and projects, we find that we have enough to manage and there’s no shortage of joy to experience. Consider gratitude as a daily practice. I start each day by acknowledging what I appreciate and enjoy in my life. This may be difficult at first, but over time it becomes natural and we feel more positive and uplifted on a daily basis.
- Release What No Longer Serves You: A caterpillar’s metamorphosis into a butterfly happens through several stages of shedding an outer layer, and finally shedding that cocoon on the last push out. It’s impossible to manage all of the new without letting go of the old. By releasing and making space, we open up to new and exciting opportunities.
- Create Your Support System: Again, change is difficult. It’s important to let family and friends know we’re going through a transition and need their support. Whether it’s hands-on help, a listening ear, or someone who’s up for fun field trips to help maintain balance, change is more manageable when friends and family are by our side. After all, that’s what friends (and family) are for!
Have you gone through life changes and used any of these tips? How did it work for you? Do you have any additional tips that helped you? Let me know in the comments below!
Elena
Elena
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We’ve all heard the term ‘downsizing’ by now. Chances are, it’s associated with the idea of our elders forced by circumstance to give up the independence of long loved homes for a move to assisted living. Then, there are the empty-nesters, moving to be close to the grandkids or a warmer climate. A brighter prospect, often approached with healthy foresight as to considerations of aging and mobility in a smaller home. Still, downsizing often has a negative connotation. It smacks of sacrifice and compromise. But there’s another term buzzing about, which puts a much healthier perspective on the subject: Rightsizing is a conscious choice, a decision made at any age to simplify and organize our home life to best fit our material needs and desires.
Elena first heard the term from Mary, of California Closets in Warwick, RI, when attending the Rhode Island Home Builders convention in April. “I call it rightsizing,” she said when Elena told her about our work. And how appropriate, especially for us, as we develop language for sharing the principles we’ve applied to our own lives.
Elena first heard the term from Mary, of California Closets in Warwick, RI, when attending the Rhode Island Home Builders convention in April. “I call it rightsizing,” she said when Elena told her about our work. And how appropriate, especially for us, as we develop language for sharing the principles we’ve applied to our own lives.
We call it enoughness: finding a balance in life where what we have in our homes truly suits us, serves us, and reflects who we are. Whether moving to a smaller home, or staying where we are, it’s about personally defining what’s right for our lifestyle. It’s about making our homes the functional and inviting spaces they ought to be - spaces which reflect our characters, interests and values. It’s about eliminating superfluities in our personal material world, which hinder us from being as creative, independent, and rich in time, energy and money as we wish to be. After all, our homes are one of our biggest investments, our lives precious, and time ever going by. In order to meet our own needs, we put serious consideration into whether our homes and what we keep and do in them suits us as best they can. It’s important to examine our lifestyles closely, and see how well they fit upon us these days.
In rightsizing, we reflect honestly on and personally define our needs and preferences - not only now, but with consideration for the future as our needs and interests change. When we think of home, what do we want most to do there and how much space do we truly need to do it in? When we think of our finite allotments of time, energy, attention and money (and they are finite), how do we really want to use them? How does our current lifestyle match up to our claims?
These are some foundational thoughts on rightsizing to ponder at any age. They are healthy reflections that can lead to a multitude of benefits. For instance, a smaller home leading to not only a smaller mortgage, but lower utility and maintenance costs, and easier housekeeping. This in turn then leading to less financial stress and more free time for family and fulfilling pursuits. There’s no doubt, making conscious and deliberate choices about our homes and lifestyles is freeing. It allows us to turn those precious finite allotments toward people, activities and interests which, through the rightsizing process, we’ve identified as most meaningful and important.
In rightsizing, we reflect honestly on and personally define our needs and preferences - not only now, but with consideration for the future as our needs and interests change. When we think of home, what do we want most to do there and how much space do we truly need to do it in? When we think of our finite allotments of time, energy, attention and money (and they are finite), how do we really want to use them? How does our current lifestyle match up to our claims?
These are some foundational thoughts on rightsizing to ponder at any age. They are healthy reflections that can lead to a multitude of benefits. For instance, a smaller home leading to not only a smaller mortgage, but lower utility and maintenance costs, and easier housekeeping. This in turn then leading to less financial stress and more free time for family and fulfilling pursuits. There’s no doubt, making conscious and deliberate choices about our homes and lifestyles is freeing. It allows us to turn those precious finite allotments toward people, activities and interests which, through the rightsizing process, we’ve identified as most meaningful and important.
In upcoming posts, we’ll share more on making this healthy perspective shift, as well as tips, methods and advice for those ready to make such changes in their lives. Please stay tuned as we address challenges, considerations, and benefits of simplifying and rightsizing. These are many and varied, somewhat different for each family or individual, but the effort to rightsize can only improve our quality of life - both personally and for the world around us.
In Simplicity,
Chad
In Simplicity,
Chad
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Hooray for warm sunshine!
For many of us, Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of Summer. This is the start of a season full of outdoor gatherings with family and friends. In my family, we go camping, to the beach, and take turns hosting outdoor meals at each other’s homes.
It’s all too easy to accumulate packages of disposable cups, plates, and cutlery. We’re at the store before the big weekend and think, “Hmmm…do we have enough forks? Did we finish that last package of plastic cups? When we get home, we find there were drawers and cupboards stuffed with these disposables: half-opened, mixed, and scattered around. As you can imagine, this habit can get pricey if you host often. What’s more, all these extras awkwardly take up precious space, both in our cabinets and as excess waste in the landfills.
I recently worked with a woman who enjoys hosting cookouts in her beautiful outdoor entertainment space. She wanted to organize her kitchen as soon as possible. The warm weather was approaching and her house was the go-to for parties. The goal was to make entertaining less overwhelming and figure out a simple system to make set-up and clean-up easier. While sorting, we came to her built-in trash and recycling drawer full of the entertaining disposables I mentioned. She wanted to empty the bins, open up floor space, and use the drawer for the intended purpose.
Instead of continuing to use disposables, I suggested acquiring a set of re-usable party ware. She had some pieces already, and bought the rest to create a cute, colorful entertaining set. There happened to be an appropriately sized container on hand that made a wonderful home for all the pieces, and it fit snugly into the hall closet. Now, what she needs for events is always there: no more last-minute guess work on what supplies are needed, and no more overflowing trash barrels sitting next to the picnic tables.
As for the washing up, I borrowed a little idea from my days working at a Montessori school to keep it simple. She would place a bin with hot soapy water on a table next to a trash can. Guests would scrape their scraps into the can and put their dishes into the soapy water. At the end of the night, the party host could simply pour out the water, and toss the dishes into the dishwasher - the guests did the rinsing!
Here are a few considerations if you’d like to try this out:
- Estimate how many of each item you need - what’s the biggest party you host? It wouldn’t hurt to purchase 2-3 extra pieces.
- When shopping, look for items that are dishwasher safe to aid in making clean up easier. Stackable items will fit together more compactly and take up less space as well.
- Once you’ve gathered your supplies, acquire an appropriately sized bin to store everything, rather than take up precious cupboard space. If your kitchen or pantry is large enough to accommodate everything, go for it! Otherwise, get creative on where it can go, but make sure it’s easily accessible.
- After each party, make it a habit to store all of your dishware back in the bin. You’ll have your supplies on hand for the rest of the season and years to come.
- As always, we encourage you to use what you have, find items secondhand, share with nearby friends and family if you can make it work. And don’t worry about matching. Mixed patterns and colors are interesting, and your friends aren’t there to comment on whether your stuff belongs in a magazine - they’re just there to have a good time!
Let us know - do you entertain and have a system that works well? Are you inspired to give it a try? We’d love to see photos and learn new ideas, feel free to comment below or send us a message!
Happy hosting!
Elena
- Published on
Hello!
If you’ve found your way to Simple Living Strategies, you may have come here looking to get a handle on areas in your home and schedule that feel overstuffed and overwhelmed: areas that don’t quite work for you due to the clutter and disarray. Or, maybe simplicity as a buzz word had gotten in your ear and has some vague appeal: life in the slow lane; scaling back from the busy-ness burden of modern life; having more time for creativity, family and ease. However you’ve come, welcome! We’re glad you’re here.
A perusal of the website will show you the services I offer, helping people redefine what’s personally fitting in their lifestyles and homes. Now, I'm excited to bring you the blog. I want to share not only the tips and encouragement to make positive changes in your own lives and homes, but something of the thoughts and feelings about life which lead me to become a professional organizer.
Stay tuned for posts full of advice on particular projects, as well as those which touch on the challenges, benefits and rewards of making the conscious decision to get organized. I'm curious about our world and inspired by beautiful places and people doing honorable work in our communities. I'd love to share stories about events around town, trips I take, and the good folks I meet along the way.
Here’ a bit of what to look for in the coming months:
- Tips, strategies, and ideas on the nuts-n-bolts of tackling certain organizing and home lifestyle projects, as well as encouragement for getting into the mindset to start and follow through to the rewarding end.
- Book reviews of recent reads. In the line up are books on home organization, simple living, habit changes, consumerism, environment and other subjects relating to simplicity and practicality.
- A “Who’s Doing What” and “Finding the Good” series’, highlighting admirable work in our communities and reflect on the goodness and beauty to be found right where we are.
Do you have a story, project, or event to share? Get in touch! I hope you’ll check in, read, leave your thoughts, and share your own wisdom and questions.
Elena