Cincinnati February/March 2024

plan & purge
START SMALL.
Even if your whole house has gone rogue, start with just one storage
zone—like the garage, pantry or hall closet. It will help refine
your system before moving on to more complex areas.
ALLOW AMPLE TIME.
Purging and reorganizing typically takes planning and time. Schedule
it like any other appointment and allow an extra hour or so at
the end to restore the space to functional use—especially in highuse
areas like the kitchen or bathroom.
BE METHODICAL.
Plan a method for attacking the madness, such as working from
left to right, top to bottom. Place every item in a box or area on
the floor labeled “keep,” “toss,” “sell” or “donate.” Create a “relocate”
pile, so you don’t get derailed by items that need to find a home
elsewhere.
Photo courtesy of ShelfGenie
BEWARE OF THE “SOMEDAY” MENTALITY.
Whether you’re sorting through clothing, kitchen devices or cosmetics,
only keep items that you like and use. Resist the urge to
keep it because you might “someday” miss it.
create solutions
FIND A HOME FOR EVERYTHING.
Designate a home for every item and a use for every space. Reserve the most
accessible locations for belongings that rank high in both importance and frequency
of use.
DON’T FIGHT NATURE.
Solutions should cater to your family’s natural tendencies. If everyone dumps
their shoes at the front door, cubbies at the back door won’t work. Likewise, if
your dining room table doubles as a desk, use a handled file box or basket that
easily packs up,
LEAVE ROOM TO GROW.
Whether you’re filling a closet or 100-quart bin, make sure that 25 percent
of the space is left open. This is a crucial component for keeping your system
intact as you accumulate more items.
LABEL IT.
Label bins, shelves and other “homes.” In the pantry, for example, designated
shelving space for cereal, soup, baking supplies, etc. makes it easy to know
what’s available and what needs to be restocked.
16 home & leisure 2024