Hometown Madison - March & April 2016

The Principles
of Organizing
& Decluttering
Diane Ryan
• Once the clutter has been removed, begin sorting through
items and placing them in “like” groups or categories. Of the
categories, decide what things need to be readily available
and which items should be placed in a more secure area.
• Define the perfect space to store these items.
• Finally, choose the right containers and bins for certain
things. For example, photographs and memorabilia could go
in cardboard boxes, but clothes and shoes should go in plastic
containers for safer storage.
Once you start a project, your enthusiasm becomes
For any family, it can be a true challenge to keep a household
organized. Keeping up with growing children, spouses,
pets and all of their stuff in a small space can overwhelm even
the most organized of us all. Coming home to clutter and mess
sets a tone that can be harmful to your family and lead to
unnecessary friction.
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines organization as
“the act or process of putting the different parts of something
in a certain order so that they can be found or used easily.”
You see, being organized is not about being perfect; it’s about
customizing your whole world to work for you.
If you have clutter or an organizational problem, it may
seem overwhelming to tackle the problem on your own. But
don’t give up. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Using a professional
organizer to walk you through the process will bring a
new perspective, positive energy, and encouragement to your
project with achievable goals.
Here are some basic principles or steps in organizing any
room of your house:
• First and foremost, you must decide that you need and
want to get rid of clutter. Ask yourself what is really important
versus what you could let go of. Most importantly, answer
these questions honestly.
contagious. Knowing that there is a solution is half the battle.
Another strategy used to declutter is home staging. Home
staging is an organizational process in which professional
organizers come into a home that is on or about to be placed
on the market, and work to help remove clutter and make it
as visually pleasing to the eye as possible. Staging your home
before putting it on the market helps create a great first
impression and sense of space for potential buyers. The goal
is to highlight the strengths of your home, downplay any
weaknesses, and appeal to the greatest pool of prospective
buyers. This also helps a great deal with preparing the seller
to move.
For those who have gone through the decluttering
process, there is a powerful feeling of accomplishment and
freedom from the stress of “stuff” and the unyielding sense of
obligation to deal with it. Organizing requires logic, common
sense, and creativity; all of which tend to disappear when you
are stressed and overwhelmed. Remember, no matter how
large or small a project may seem, it can be done. With a little
help, you may look at your task in a new light.
Diane Ryan is the owner of DeClutter by Diane, LLC. Diane and her team
would love to help you with your specific organizing projects. Consults are
always complimentary. Diane can be contacted at (601) 291-0369. For more
information, tips, or to join their email list, visit www.DeClutterByDiane.com
or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DeClutter-By-Diane.
Hometown madison • 41