Spring into Action: A Comprehensive Guide to Seasonal Home Organization

NATURE IS RESETTING FOR A FRESH START - and so should you!

As the seasons change and spring blooms around us, it's the perfect time to rejuvenate our living spaces and embrace a fresh start. Spring cleaning isn't just about dusting off surfaces; it's about decluttering, organizing, and creating a harmonious environment that promotes productivity and well-being. In this comprehensive guide to seasonal home organization, we'll walk you through a step-by-step process to revitalize every corner of your home, from closets to playrooms and every space in between. Learn more about getting the motivation you need to get organized in this blog post.

MAKE A PLAN - to get organized

Come up with a plan for which spaces you want to declutter and organize in your home. There are a few different ways to approach resetting your home. Is there a space in your home that is making you crazy and would greatly simplify life after it is sorted? Does it feel less overwhelming to start small and focus on a small closet to build momentum? Would working in a linear fashion help you stay on track? You could start where you enter your home, like the garage, front entry or mudroom and then go from there and tackle spaces sequentially. Taking the time to come up with a plan will really help simplify the process.

Before diving into the decluttering process, set aside dedicated time for each area of your home. It is essential to focus on one space at a time so that you don’t get overwhelmed. Make sure to finish one space before moving on to the next so that you feel that sense of accomplishment and completion. This will help you feel motivated to keep going and continue to reset more spaces in your home.

Gather essential supplies such as garbage bags (we like to use black bags for donations and white for trash), cleaning supplies (cleaning spray and cloths to wipe down shelves and a vacuum cleaner) storage bins and a label maker. 

It is important to have a positive mindset about organizing your home! Think about what you can do to make the process feel good and something that you are looking forward to. Play energizing music or podcasts to keep you motivated and reward yourself as you make progress on organizing your home.

FOLLOW A PROCESS - for home organizing & decluttering

The steps to get organized are the same for any space in your home. Following this process will help you stay on track, make progress and fully complete the spaces you need to organize.

STEP 1 - REMOVE: Take everything possible out of the space that you are working in. This step is essential when organizing a space like a pantry or closet. When working in a more general space, like a living room or playroom, take everything out of closets, shelving and cabinets.

STEP 2 - CLEAN: Wipe down shelving, vacuum out drawers, make the space feel fresh and clean.

STEP 3 - SORT: Categorize the belongings in the space you are organizing and put like with like. Be as specific as you can when sorting so that the editing process is easier. This part of the process allows you to see the totality of each category of your belongings and will make it much easier to let go of things you no longer need in your life.

STEP 4 - EDIT: Once you have all your belongings grouped and categorized within the space that you are organizing, it is time to get the editing process started. It can be really helpful to reframe one’s mindset about this process and think in terms of what you would like to keep, rather than discard. This sets up the process to be more positive and reduces anxiety about letting belongings go. Ask yourself when the last time was that you used an item. Do you need, love or use it? If not, consider letting it go. Group all the things that you will be keeping together. Next address the items that you will be letting go of and sort them into piles that you will donate, recycle, trash or sell. Make sure to get everything that you are discarding out of your home as soon as possible!

STEP 5 - CREATE ZONES: Now that you have narrowed your belongings down to what you will be keeping, take a look at the space and create zones. This allows you to store like items together and will make maintaining the space much easier.  Evaluate the shelving and storage in the space and place temporary labels (sticky notes or painters tape) to designate what you will store where. 

STEP 6 - ADD ORGANIZING CONTAINERS: Stage organizing containers and bins in the space so that you can make adjustments and visually see how it looks from a design standpoint. Placing organizing products in a way that is visually appealing will motivate you to keep it maintained.

STEP 7 - ORGANIZE: Add the items you decided to keep during the editing process back into the space. Neatly place them in containers and on shelves. File fold clothing, hang clothes on hangers, place loose items in bins.

STEP 8 - STYLE: Fine tune the space so that it looks visually calm and beautiful. This can look like arranging books or clothing in a drawer by color, lining up bins on a shelf so they are even, making sure that clothing is neatly hung on hangers, highlighting beautiful handbags and making them more visible in your closet.

STEP 9 - MAINTAIN: Spaces don’t stay organized by themselves! It takes effort and consistency to keep things neatly organized so your spaces stay functional and look amazing. Take time to reset spaces periodically to keep them looking and feeling their best. Once you've completed the decluttering and organizing process, establish a maintenance routine to keep your home organized year-round. Dedicate a few minutes each day to tidying up common areas and tackling small tasks to prevent clutter from accumulating. Schedule regular deep-cleaning sessions to maintain a clean and orderly home.

STEP 10 - ENJOY:Love living in your streamlined and simplified space! You might find that you have more time and space for what really matters in your life.

CLOTHING CLOSETS

Closets can really become a dumping ground and accumulate things quickly. After following the organizing process outlined above, make sure to have a laundry hamper available to keep dirty clothes contained. Incorporate a daily habit of hanging up or folding and putting away any clothing that ends up on the floor. Take out any items that don’t belong in your closet and put them where they belong. Things like children’s toys or memorabilia tend to migrate into closets and quickly add clutter. It is important to reserve closets for clothing as much as possible. Get more tips on closet organization in this blog post.

BATHROOMS

Dispose of expired medications, cosmetics, and toiletries. Use drawer dividers and organizers to keep essentials like towels, toiletries, and cleaning supplies neatly arranged. Group items that are used daily, like skincare and other toiletries, together in an area that is easily accessible. Learn more about bathroom organizing in this blog post.

PANTRY

Declutter and organize your pantry to streamline meal preparation and grocery shopping. Remove expired food items and donate non-perishable food you won't use. Group similar items together, such as canned goods, grains, and snacks, and label shelves and organizing containers for easy identification. Invest in storage containers and baskets to corral smaller items and prevent clutter.

KITCHEN

Declutter countertops, cabinets, and drawers. Pare down cooking utensils, gadgets, and dishware to essentials you use regularly. Clean out the refrigerator and freezer, disposing of expired or freezer-burned items. Use drawer organizers and cabinet racks to optimize storage space and maintain orderliness. Get tips on organizing spices in this blog post.

MUDROOM

The mudroom serves as a transition zone between the outdoors and indoors, making it prone to clutter. Clear out coats, shoes, and accessories that are no longer needed or worn out. Install hooks, shelves, and baskets to provide designated storage for each family member's belongings.

LAUNDRY ROOM

Maintain efficiency in the laundry room by decluttering and organizing laundry supplies and equipment. Dispose of empty containers and expired products, and consolidate detergent, fabric softener, and other supplies into labeled containers. Install shelves or cabinets to store laundry baskets, ironing supplies, and cleaning products neatly out of sight.

PLAYROOM

Organize your playroom to create an inviting and stimulating space for your kids. Sort through toys, games, and books, donating or discarding items that are broken or no longer played with. Invest in storage containers, such as toy bins, shelves, and cubbies, to keep toys organized and accessible. Encourage children to participate in the organization process by assigning them age-appropriate tasks. Setting up a toy rotation where toys are rotated in and out of the playroom every few months really helps maintain an orderly space and also saves money on buying new toys! Toys that your kids haven't seen in a few months will be super exciting for them. Less is definitely more when it comes to playrooms and kids play longer and more creatively when they don’t have an overwhelming amount of options to choose from.

DOES THE PROCESS OF ORGANIZING YOUR HOME FEEL LIKE TOO MUCH?

We are here to help! If you live in the metro area of either Charlotte or Raleigh, North Carolina, our teams of organizers are ready to take resetting your home for spring and  getting organized off your to do list. We take care of all the details for you and only need you for our signature editing process when you decide which of your belongings will stay or go. Everything you need to know about working with us is outlined in this blog post. Take the first step to a simplified space and learn more about our services or set up a complimentary consultation. We can’t wait to learn more about your organizing needs and share how we can help!