Surprise! Organization makes the design (and makes you happy!)

Picture this: you redesign your kitchen. It is literally out of a magazine.

You can’t believe you are lucky enough to live in this space. The waterfall countertops are a showstopper. A sink so giant and cavernous you could never fill it to the brim with dirty dishes. Pendant lights are perfectly placed and accent the color of the cabinets beautifully. DON’T EVEN get me started on the custom range hood!

Time to cook your first meal!

First you open the cabinet to get out a pan, it’s stuffed to the brim – you can’t even find the pan you are looking for. Next, down on your hands and knees you remove 5 pans before finally finding the one you need. Ok. Now what? A cutting board. Opening another cabinet you find it is overfilled with cupcake pans, bread pans, some tupperware and a random cookie tin you got six years ago in a neighborhood cookie exchange. Deep behind this treasure trove, success, your cutting board! Two pieces down and you still need to find your knife, spoons, spices, plates etc. The joy of walking into this showroom of a kitchen is quickly replaced with frustration and you no longer can enjoy the space.

Function is equally critical in the enjoyment of your room as design.

When redesigning a space only bring back into the space items that enhance the overall function. As you are packing the room truly consider if the object is something you use regularly. If you haven’t used that cookie tin from six year ago it needs to be re-homed.

Less is more…

Repeat that to yourself – early and often through the process. Only you can hold yourself accountable in the process of cutting your clutter (unless you hire an organizer then they can certainly guide the way – but even then what goes in the trash is your call) Once you have sufficiently condensed your items keeping only the most treasured you are ready to create homes and systems.

Don’t worry!

There are a trove of options these days to create systems in every room of your home. It doesn’t have to be hard or overwhelming. You can do it! AND you will thank yourself over and over when it is done.

My quick tips are:

Keep Like Items with Like Items

For example in the kitchen: cutting boards are together, cooking utensils together, spices together. In an office: your writing utensils are together, all of your paper helpers (clips, rubber bands, stickers etc). Once you have grouped together like things will be able to enjoy and complete tasks quickly AND you won’t buy unnecessary extras.

Label Where Necessary (places like a pantry, office or closet)

Not every area needs a label when organizing. Dishes for example (unless you really like labels then go wild) but some areas really benefit. Kids playrooms are great for labels so that everyone is clear on the system. Closets for keepsakes, pantry’s if you like to use containers and not keep things in the store bought box, the office especially if it is a shares space. Labels really just assist in keeping you accountable to the system you put into place.

Contain items in the appropriate size bin, vessel, basket or box

Containment is huge for me in organization. The key to fitting more in a space is creativity with how you contain. Keeping everything loose in a drawer vs finding dividers or bins to perfectly fit like items creates stress leading to wasted time.

Don’t just make it make sense make it beautiful

Beauty doesn’t need to be reserved for only what you see immediately walking into a space. If you organize beautifully you will want to keep it that way. Use containers you love. Use labels that make you happy (if you hate your handwriting get printed labels). Add baskets or bins that match your decor.

Create systems you can keep up with

No one likes anything complicated. Be realistic and honest with yourself: create simple systems that work for you and your family. Again, this where professional can help if this isn’t your jam.

Ultimately the design of the space can only take you so far in how you enjoy it. The function of the space is what you will notice as you use the space in your daily life. So what do you think? Design and Organizing – they go together like peas and carrots right?