Sustainable organizing systems
When you look at clients' 'before and after' photos in these newsletters and on my website, you'll notice that the rooms in the 'after' photos look spacious and peaceful, even as the decor in each home is different.
This is because the client and I start by sorting and decluttering. If we didn't, any organizing systems that we set up would not be sustainable.
Instead, the client and I sort items into categories. We then assign categories to specific homes in intuitively easy-to-find locations. We pare down enough so that the items are neither hidden, stacked precariously, nor jammed into tight spaces. Rather, they are visible and accessible without frustration or fussiness.
We generally store utilitarian items, such as tools and supplies, out of sight in closed storage, such as inside drawers, cupboards, and labeled containers. Consequently, there's plenty of open, visible space left to feature a few beautiful items, like an elegant espresso machine or fruit bowl on a kitchen counter, beloved photos and books arranged on a shelf, or gorgeous handbags and shoes displayed in a closet.
As a result, the organized rooms are not only highly functional, but also look personalized, calm, and spacious.
