Home Organization

Week 2 – Getting Organized! A 12 Month Home Organization Plan

Ok, this has been a busy week! I have tried really hard to stick to my self-impossed 12 Month Organization Plan. Whew! I am really glad that week one is over, and I am now heading into week 2.

So how did it go? Well, I cleaned all the flat surfaces in my room, I cleaned the corners, I purged and refolded all my dresser drawers, and I made a first pass through in my closet purging it of old, ill-fitting, and “I just never seem to wear this” clothing. I did not clean out my nightstand.

In fact, what was I even thinking about scheduling an activity for a Friday!?! Really, I work all day and the last thing I want to do on my Friday night is clean and reorganize. This month, I will try to find the time to get my scheduled Fridays’ tasks completed. But I gotta’ say that was really poor planning on my part! Next month. the calendar will contain reorganization projects on Monday through Thursday. Four tasks a week will mean it takes a little bit longer, but I will eventually get there.

Keep in mind that these activities are scheduled on top of my daily routines and responsibilities. There really is only so much time in the day. I had hoped that each of these activities would only take between 15 − 30 minutes. Unfortunately, sometimes it has taken quite a bit more time. Cleaning my bedroom corners, meant going through stacks of books and papers that I have placed in my corners. Yes, I admit it. I love books and magazines. I pull out articles and then I add this paper to the pile of interesting and/or future reading. And it all piles up in the corners of my room. For my friends that already had clean corners – they got the night off!

This week, I am focusing on my closet. This is my side of our closet before I started purging.

Closet Reorganization

And there is a mirrored cabinet that holds my laundry, my hike, swim, bike, and workout clothing. There are too many event shirts! But I have a hard time letting any of them go.

Closet Reorganization

Closet Reorganization And opposite my side? What is that you see in the mirror? My husband’s side of the closet. Remember, he is the one that wanted us to focus this year on reorganizing our home. Oh and that tippy shoe rack does contain my shoes – that is on his side, but it currently is kinda hard for me to get too. To be fair to my hubby, the first part of this last week was spent on getting down and putting away all of our Christmas decorations. Cleaning up Christmas took three days. A lot of time was spent on getting down the house lights, putting away the lawn decor, stripping three trees, and wrapping and storing all of the ornaments, nutcrackers, snowmen, Santas, snow globes, and nativity sets.

Closet Reorganization

This is was the closet before purging. I counted my hangers – I had 196! There are a lot of systems out there based on having a capsule wardrobe or limiting yourself to 40 hangers. I can tell you that those will not work for me. But I thought for sure I can shrink my wardrobe by at least 25%. So my goal was to eliminate at least 50 items from my closet.

After the first go round, here are 54 hangers that no longer live in my closet. The clothing is folded and ready to be donated.

Closet Reorganization

I still need to purge the shelves and decrease the amount of workout gear in my mirrored cabinet. That is what I will be focusing on this week.  Then one more go through the whole closet making sure it is organized. I ordered these velvet hangers from Amazon to rehang my tops. A lot of my shirts are shear blouses that tend to fall off my hangers, so I am hoping the velvet covering will help my shirts stay off the floor. The remainder of the clothing will all be hung on my wooden hangers.

When it comes to organization in my closet, I prefer to place all like items together. Dresses, skirts, short sleeves shirts, long sleeved shirts, sweaters, and jackets are all placed with their kind. This is what makes it easy for me to find what I need. I also rotate my clothing. Once it wear it and it is cleaned and placed back into the closet it is hung up on the right end of each category. I try to pull items from the left side. This is not a rigid system, it just helps me rotate through my clothing.

Next Monday I will post pictures of my newly re-org side of my closet. I will post pics of my hubby’s side when he complete his re-org.

Wish us luck! It is another busy week. But taking it one baby step at a time, we will get our home in shape.

January 2016 Organization Calendar copy

Cleaning it all out. Looking to put more space between these hangers.

Closet Reorganization Come join the fun and print out your own calendar: January 2016 Organization Calendar. If you are already on board, How did your first week go?

In the spirit of full disclosure, this post contains affiliate links, which means that I may get a small commission if you decide to purchase anything from Amazon.com. I only recommend products & systems that I use and love myself, so I know you’ll be in good hands.

 

(40) Comments

  1. Well done! I have to start with my annual home organization routine that I do in the beginning of every year. Somehow around January my house is a mess, my closet is really cluttered as well as the pantry, the attic and the basement. I need to bring everything in order, which means a lot of cleaning and organizing. I love your 12 month home organization plan. I think that if I follow it I might be able to relax each January because my house will be clean and organized. Thumbs up for the post!

  2. I’m with Robin on this one…I need an extra set of hands to tackle this mess.
    Plus eyes that aren’t emotional connected to any of it so it’s much easier to get rid of.
    We just took down the Christmas tree so it’s a start but I know that I have bedding that needs to go as we don’t have a bed to fit those sheets so maybe I will start there…

  3. I’ve done a capsule wardrobe (which is usually only by a season), and it’s freeing. I like knowing that if I’ll just do my laundry I have nice clothes I feel pretty in. Congrats on all the purging!

    1. Stacey says:

      I looked into the capsule method – but I really like a lot of variety. Plus my weather only mildly changes per season – so I do not ever swap out my clothing. But it sounds like it really works for a lot of people.

  4. I appluad you for doing a 12 month plan. I am focusing on 1 week at a time and taking it day by day. 🙂

    1. Stacey says:

      This is going to be a long process! But I am looking forward to really going through every nook and cranny.

  5. I’m hopefully moving in a few months so I’m definitely saving most of these projects to do when I’m packing 😀 Although, I did tackle my closet last week, it was a much needed project!

    1. Stacey says:

      Moving is a natural time to purge! Good luck with your move.

  6. We start using the KonMari method on our clothes last weekend, but as far as the closet goes, all I got to was pants. I’m going to tackle tops this weekend, which will likely make a huge difference in the closet.

    I’m jealous of your walk-in. We have only one full-size closet in the entire house.

    1. Stacey says:

      I just bought the KonMari book – looking forward to reading it!

  7. I would love to get my closet organized. I’ve always wanted it to be really nice with those wooden built ins.

    1. Stacey says:

      The shelves came with the house, but I added the mirrored cabinet. That is from IKEA. Love it!

  8. I really need to follow along with this!

    1. Stacey says:

      Please do! We can inspire each other!

  9. How neat! I’ve been purging and decluttering for a week now and I’m not even half way.

    1. Stacey says:

      It’s a long process in my home as well!

  10. I’m impressed! Would you come to my house? All kidding aside, I’m right there with you on the clutter points in the corners or anywhere. It takes time to do things right but don’t you feel so great when it’s done?

    1. Stacey says:

      It does feel great when everything has a place and is in its place!

  11. Keep inspiring me Stacey! Little by little I’m getting to every room in the house.

    1. Stacey says:

      Good for you! I’m still in the master room but will be moving on soon.

  12. I know I always need help organizing my space. Sometimes it seems like an uphill battle. Thanks for the inspiration!

    1. Stacey says:

      I can get so easily overwhelmed that I have learned to really chunk everything out into baby steps. Then I can feel good about achieving one step and I am then ready to move onto the next step.

  13. Debra says:

    I really need to organize my closet, but I am working so hard to lose weight, that I am not ready to toss the skinny or fat clothes yet!

    1. Stacey says:

      I know that feeling! I am in between sizes and it’s hard!

  14. wow that’s a lot of cleaning to do. Well done you.

    1. Stacey says:

      Thanks!

  15. Thanks for motivating me to get going on my organization projects! I have a lot to get done, so it’s going to take baby steps.

    1. Stacey says:

      Baby step all the way! And we can feel good about every little baby step that we take. You go for it!

  16. I am impressed with the amount of work you have already done. I always think a project will only take a little while and then it takes all afternoon! Good for you for forging on.

    1. Stacey says:

      That’s the truth! Some of my 15 minute endeavors have taken much, much longer.

  17. Oh I need to tackles some closets in my home. I tried last year and my husband kept putting stuff back – that he STILL never wears! Hoarder he is

    1. Stacey says:

      Sounds like your hubby and mine have something in common!

  18. Oh my goodness you are accomplishing so much!! I wish I had the time to do all of this right now, it always makes me feel so much better. Go you!

    1. Stacey says:

      It does feel better! But boy of boy it does take time.

  19. Looking at your closet caused me to have to drink some tea and de-stress. I have 75 pieces in my closet and feel overwhelmed with too many things. You need to take everything out – EVERYTHING. Then only put back what you love. You should check out the KonMari method if you haven’t.

    1. Stacey says:

      So sorry to have caused you stress! I hope you enjoyed your tea. I have cut down, but I really like a lot of my clothing and I do wear it.

  20. Blythe A. says:

    Wow, I am seriously impressed by your dedication to completing a daily task. I don’t think I could do that. I tend to do a total re-organization once or twice a year, then work to maintain the new organization. Sometimes I better than others.

    1. Stacey says:

      I have done the total reorg when I have the time – but it seems like I have not had any time in the last few years. Maintaining it takes time as well.

  21. Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says:

    Do you want to come over and do mine next HAHA? Seriously, this is a great plan. I need to do this at my house.

    1. Stacey says:

      🙂 I have my hands full with my own mess! But feel free to join my in my frenzy!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *