How to: De-clutter and organize your home this year

Whether it is a messy playroom or an overflowing closet, organizing your home does not have to be a daunting task. Kayla Childress, Chief Organizing Officer for Mindful Spaces, a home and business organization company, shares ways you can dethrone disorder and transform your space into clutter-free zones. We go through a closet organization with her, find out how she started her business and ask her a few questions about the de-cluttering process.

Why did Childress start Mindful Spaces?

“My grandmother, who passed away from cancer at the end of 2015, inspired me to fulfill my dream of owning my own business and helping others, as she did for so many years.” In addition, Childress grew up with very tidy parents (think military-style) and always kept every space neat and clean.

“Growing up with two parents who kept order in our home was the making of my borderline OCD organizational habits,” Childress joked.

Over the years, her tidy habits led her to help others spruce up their spaces and eventually start Mindful Spaces.

“It is my mission and passion to give you a space you feel great in every day.”

Before you set up an appointment with an organizer, Childress suggested each client “review their needs for the spaces they want organized. Know if a room needs to have multi-purposes. Know their goals for the space in question.”

Once at the home, Childress has a de-clutter checklist.

“For most clients we use an assessment tool especially if it is a larger project. For smaller projects, we discuss the wishes of the client and devise a plan with them verbally and through email if it is necessary.”

Now, where to start?

First, Childress suggested pulling everything out the closet so you can inspect and categorize items into three designated areas: keep, trash or donate.

Some items are easy—armpit stains? Trash! Do you really need 25 t-shirts? Donate! While others are hard. That dress you wore when you had the most amazing night…but is just a tad too tight now? Way harder, but Childress helps by asking the right questions and leaving the ultimate decision up to you.

Organize the closet

Now it’s time to put all the clothes back in the closet with proper organization—and hangers. Wire hangers are a no-no and even plastic are second-rate to velvet hangers. Childress suggests the Home-it Velvet Hangers in grey (tip: choose grey in lieu of black so dust isn’t as prevalent until the next time you spruce up your closet).

There are various ways to organize the clothes in your closet—by color seems the most popular. Childress tackles big and small spaces differently.

“For small spaces, it is all about maximizing every inch of the space,” she said. “Utilizing the back of doors, under the bed storage, adding shelves in a closet if there is space up to the ceiling, etc. For larger spaces, we love to use decorative items to organize with such as baskets, ottomans, etc. to give function and storage at the same time.”

Customize

Once organized, you can bring a bit more of your personality to your closet/space with accessories.

“If you are a book lover, find shelving that you love to display them,” Childress said. “If you enjoy art, find art that you love and display it.”

We did it! We are organized. Now how can we stay that way?

Childress said, “We always try to help a client understand staying organized takes some time each week or month. If you give it time it will stay organized.”

Childress’ top de-cluttering tips:

– De-cluttering and organizing doesn’t have to cost money. Use things around your space that could help you organize something. (Remember the baskets and ottomans mentioned earlier?)

– Give it your time each week/month.

– If you have a bigger need for organizing, contact a professional.

– If you are on a budget, start with one space at a time.

Photos: Hannah Morgan, Simone McDowell

This story was originally published January 19, 2017 at 9:00 PM.