Time for some home organization?

This month I am happy to announce that I’ve lined up a number of guest bloggers – so excited – and the first is all about Home Organization! My friend, and fabulous Home Design and Decor expert Bianca at Inspired Decor and Interiors give you tips and tricks on how to get your home organized now, so that when the warm weather comes, you can spend it doing what you love!

Bianca is an excellent designer with the ability to transform any space whether it’s a full blown renovation, or simply using existing furniture to make desired change in a space. A lot of people get into home decorating without much, if any, formal education. Bianca has a design education which allows her to do blueprints and drawings as well as home decor.

One of Bianca’s passions is using what you have and making it better. She loves giving old furniture a new look!

Thanks Bianca at Inspired Decor and Interiors for the first in what I’m hoping will be a great, guest series. I, for one, will be implementing the idea for storing reusable water bottles!

Let’s Get Organized

Over the years I have seen how keeping my home organized has changed my life both personally and professionally. I have discovered how happy it makes me and how much easier it makes my life.

Common areas in the home like pantries, closets and bathrooms usually need more frequent organization. So in the spirit of organization, I would like to share ways that have worked for me in my home and I hope they will work for you too.

This can be overwhelming in the beginning as you decide where to begin but you’ve got this!!

Declutter, Declutter, Declutter

Before any organization is done you need to declutter. I know it’s not fun but you can tackle it in phases.

• Get rid of clothing you don’t wear, old bedding, clear your pantry and get rid of expired products
• Donate – there is always someone that can benefit from those
• Sell décor items, pots and pans and make some extra cash for things that you really need

Photo Credit – Goop

Storage

Once cleared, everything left in your home or office needs to have a place and that’s where storage comes in. You will be surprised at how much space you have to store everything with some proper storage and thinking about how you want your space to function.

Use, baskets, hampers, trays, boxes, trunks, jars and what ever else works and would look good for what you’d like to store.

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Closet & Bedroom Organization

My closets tend to change by season. Depending on how big your closets, you can have a side for winter clothing and the other for summer clothing.

• Think Below the Bed – If you’re tight on closet space, under-the-bed storage works wonders. Store any out of season clothes or accessories in space-saving vacuum storage bags or foldable fabric storage. Before storing any apparel, toss any that has rips, stains, or pulls
• Hide a Hamper – Place a basket underneath an open bedside table to create an undercover drop spot for laundry or throw pillows

Bathroom Organization

We all know how messy this space gets when everyone is trying to get out of the house in the morning and the best thing you can do to maintain your sanity is to keep it as functional and organized as you can.

• Use under sink shelving to help store products
• Floating shelves are always a great addition in any bathroom where you can place decorative jars and baskets and store excess products or those you need but don’t use daily like, bath salts, candles, soaps and hand towels

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Pantry

The pantry is one of the most challenging spots to fix in all homes. But don’t you worry, you know how your home functions: make it work for you and your family.

• I love to use clear containers and labels in my pantry
• Make it easy for your family to reach and access snacks and cooking ingredients: If you have kids use lower shelves for them so it’s easy for them to reach school snacks and cereals; Remove snacks from boxes and place them in open baskets
• Store cereal in air tight containers
• Use crates for your fresh produce. I love the ones with rollers so it’s easy to move around when cleaning
• Use storage containers you already have around the house like magazine/file holders to store foil/ cling wrap, or vegetables in your pantry

Photo Credit: Better Homes & Gardens

The junk drawer

Yes we all have the “catch-all drawer”! It has receipts, nails, coupons, pens, loose change, advil, band aids, oh my goodness everything!!

But there is hope. Plan out your storage. Even if that drawer is a mishmash of things you use often it can still be stored in a way the works well.

I absolutely love those expandable drawer organizers. Get creative if those don’t fit in your drawers, use pretty muffin tins, make up trays, ice-cube trays, yes, why not? Anything to get your home organized and functional.

Final tips:

• Try to go through your home often to keep it organized and less overwhelming
• Remember upkeep is crucial
• If you haven’t used something in months it’s wasting space, let it go

Bianca Mpofu, Interior Designer – Happy Home, Happy Life

If you would like to contact Bianca for a consultation – renovation, redesign, redecorating, refreshing a fabulous piece of furniture, or simply helping you get your home organized – please reach out!