When you think of the word “junk” you typically think of items that are of little or no value, but most people have a “junk drawer” in a convenient, easy to access location to capture all those things that, despite the name, are far from junk.

The contents of the typical junk drawer are some of the most useful and often used items we own: screw drivers, rubber bands, tape measures, box cutters, batteries, twist ties, small change, matches, extra sets of house keys, savings coupons, corkscrews, toothpicks, post-it notes, buttons, thumbtacks, markers, pencils, pens, screws, nails, string, timers, flashlights, scissors and all sorts of other things you want to have handy.

If your junk drawer is full of clutter or filled to a level where absolutely nothing can be found in it, it’s time to turn it into organized storage that earns its keep by making your life easier.

Here are a few simple steps to help you take your drawer from “junk” to “gem”…

Step 1. Gather unused or extra containers from around your house – ice cube trays, little cups and small boxes are all perfect for the job. It’s also a great way to use and enjoy any small souvenir bowls, baskets or other containers you’ve brought home from trips you’ve taken. Or, if you prefer, go shopping for containers that will fit the width, length and height of your drawer. Be sure to take a tape measure or small ruler with you to the store so you can check. Explore the bath, kitchen and other sections of the store for various containers. Get creative with containers by thinking out of the box (pun intended!) and you might surprise yourself by all the possibilities that are out there.

Step 2. If you don’t already have some, buy non-slip drawer liner – rolls or pads of thin textured rubber. Dust/wash out your junk drawer and line it before inserting your containers. This will keep them from sliding around when you open and close the drawer.

Step 3. Take everything out of the drawer and put it on top of your counter. You may want to lay some newspaper or other protection down first to help prevent damage to your countertop. Undoubtedly, you will discover items that got lost in the tumble, items you don’t even remember having, items that belong elsewhere and items that should be tossed. Returning items that belong elsewhere to their rightful homes will reduce the clutter and disorganization of the junk drawer. Once that’s done the items that truly belong in the drawer become clear and the organizing can begin.

Step. 4. Put like items together – thumbtacks in one pile, buttons in another, rubber bands in a third and so on until you’re done. Assign each category of item to an appropriately sized container and return it to your junk drawer. If you find an item that you can’t identify, put it to the side. Ask your family to help figure out what it is and then decide if you really need it or not. If you don’t need it, toss it.

Organizing your junk drawer is a great way to keep it from actually looking like its name and will make the items it contains easier to find when you need them. Much better to only dig through one container to find what you need instead of digging through the whole drawer!

Spring cleaning your garage doesn’t have to be painful. Like the rest of your house, it’s a matter of planning and keeping in mind these helpful tips courtesy of Closets by Design.

1. Reclaim the garage floor – The trick is to use the space on the garage walls to your advantage. Toys such as golf clubs, tennis rackets and skates can be stored along the walls, while bikes can be hung on hooks from the ceiling. Rakes, shovels and other yard supplies can also be easily organized on an interior wall. Using this space wisely will not only help you to increase your storage space but make items easily accessible.

2. Cut the clutter – It’s amazing how many “things” you acquire over the years, and finding a place for each one is not always possible, or necessary. It’s important to discard items you no longer want or need. Sort through all of your tools and home maintenance supplies, and separate items into those you can sell, donate, throw away or recycle. If you haven’t used it in a year, you can probably get rid of it.

3. Sort and label – It’s not enough to simply get organized. The real test is to stay organized. Labeling boxes and containers eliminates the frustration of rummaging through all of your belongings to find one specific item. Put similar items into categories (i.e. tools, holiday decorations, etc.) so you will be able to maintain an efficient organizational system.

4. Safety first – Since you’re already sorting items, be sure to keep potentially hazardous chemicals together and locked. It’s best to use a lockable tool chest or cabinet for extra caution. Also, make sure that any power tools with an on/off switch are stored securely out of children’s reach.

5. Increase storage with sturdy cabinets and shelving – Because paint cans, tools and other bulky items will be stored in the garage, it’s important that cabinets and shelving are sturdy enough to support the extra weight. Not all cabinets are built the same and it’s important that you understand the construction behind your cabinet and the weight limitations. A proper storage solution can organize your items and keep them out of site. An important note when purchasing garage cabinets – make sure the doors will open when your car is parked in the garage.

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Since 1982, Closets by Design has built a reputation as the nation’s leader in the closet organizing and storage remodeling industry. The company offers customers comprehensive solutions to all their organizational needs in a short and simple process by designing, building and installing custom home offices, closets, garage cabinets, wall units, laundries, pantries, wardrobe mirror doors and other home organization systems. Closets by Design offers a wide selection of finishes, accessories and hardware. There are currently 33 locations serving major markets across the country. To schedule a FREE in-home consultation, please visit www.closetsbydesign.com or call 800-293-3744.

One organizing challenge I routinely encounter when working with clients with children is that the parents don’t know how or where to store the mountains of arts and crafts their children produce. Fortunately, I can help solve that problem by recommending Tara Sroka Designs.

Tara will design a unique scrapbook for your child using digital photos you take of their artwork or projects. (I suggest letting your children help to decide which items to include in their book.) It’s a great way to save the memories without holding on to every object and having them end up as just so much clutter. Your children will be thrilled when they see their scrapbook and so will you! Order multiple copies for grandparents and others to have as a special gift.

Another dilemma I come across in clients’ homes is what to do when they have a lot of sentimental clutter. Sound familiar? If you’re the recipient of too many family heirlooms and are feeling overwhelmed by them, take photos of the ones you don’t want to keep and then let them go. Tara can create a memory book from the pictures and the objects will always be available for viewing and reminiscing without creating clutter or taking up a lot of valuable space.

Tara makes preserving, sharing and enjoying the memories from any occasion easy and affordable. She’ll help you to tell the special story of your wedding, vacation, graduation, child’s first day at school or any other event you want to commemorate. During the creative process, Tara will keep in close contact with you to make sure you are getting exactly what you want. The end result of your collaboration with

Tara Sroka Designs will be a beautiful, professionally printed and bound keepsake book.

Future generations of your family will thank you for preserving your memories and their heritage!

If there’s anything that makes a Professional Organizer happy, it’s having a happy, thankful client. This client  of mine expressed herself in such a charming, heartfelt way that reading her email about how much she loved her new calm, organized closet more than made my day.

Most women I know love shoes, but shoes can be some of the most difficult items to make easily accessible in a closet, especially if you have a lot of them. To maximize the available space, we used two different types of shoe organizers. One was a floor-to-ceiling wall mounted Elfa system (pictured above) installed on an inside wall of the walk-in closet and the other was a 30-pair over-the-door shoe organizer (pictured left) installed on the inside of the door. These two space saving items allowed my client to neatly and efficiently store several dozen pairs of shoes and have easy access to them.

But  keep in mind that shoe bags aren’t just for shoes anymore. Over-the-door style shoe bags with clear pockets (pictured below) are some of the most creative and versatile organizing containers I know. They’re inexpensive, hold up well to abuse and work almost anywhere you’ve got a wall or a door. The clear pockets let you quickly see what’s inside each one and clean up easily with just a wipe of a damp cloth or sponge. Keep your socks and pantyhose in the pockets and you’ll make getting your feet dressed in the morning a snap! They’re also great for storing rolled belts, scarves and other accessories.

People often complain that they don’t have enough closet space in their homes. The truth really is that most homes aren’t closet poor, they simply have poorly organized closets. By creatively and effectively using all the available closet space you have and the right storage products, you can make getting dressed and out the door in the morning a breeze!

Shoe organizers are available at the Container Store.

]]> http://millerorganizing.com/blog/2010/03/06/i-sometimes-go-in-my-closet-shut-the-door-and-sit-down-on-the-floor-because-it%e2%80%99s-so-amazing/feed/ 0 http://millerorganizing.com/blog/2010/03/05/national-organize-your-home-office-day-national-clutter-awareness-week/ http://millerorganizing.com/blog/2010/03/05/national-organize-your-home-office-day-national-clutter-awareness-week/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:40:37 +0000 A. J. http://millerorganizing.com/blog/?p=693

Here’s the definition of clutter that I like: Clutter is postponed decision making. Can you relate? I thought so. Certain decisions you avoid making, for one reason or another, create clutter. De-cluttering will be difficult – if not impossible – until you face them and take the necessary action. I sometimes jokingly say to clients that I do organizing, not magic. Believe me, if I had one, I would be happy to wave a magic wand and make everyone’s clutter disappear!

Tuesday, March 9 is National Organize Your Home Office Day and National Clutter Awareness Week is March 15-19. Most of you are probably fully “aware” of your clutter and don’t really need an official National Week to notice it or an official National Day to know that your desk needs organizing. However, they provide a reminder and an opportunity to actually take the time to think about how clutter affects your life – and the lives of those around you – and DO something about it. Doing something about it means learning new habits and behaviors that help you get and stay organized. It also means getting yourself help if you need it.

You need the right plan and the right products to successfully get organized. Asking someone you feel close to to help you is a valid approach and it can be effective IF they are able, willing and have the time and the skills. If no such person exists, a Professional Organizer can provide both and do it quickly, efficiently and discreetly. A good organizer knows what works and – just as importantly – what doesn’t. For these reasons, many people prefer the specialized skills and training that a Professional Organizer has to offer. Just as you would consult a doctor, lawyer, financial planner, auto mechanic, personal trainer, etc., you can feel confident turning to a Professional Organizer for reliable, skilled and confidential help if you’re having trouble getting or staying organized. There’s no substitute for being guided by an expert in the field who will calmly help you without judgment, provide you with motivation and keep you focused and on track.

Do you feel overwhelmed by the possessions, paper and piles that have taken over your life and space? Don’t know how or where to start to make changes? You’re not alone.

The New York Public Library (NYPL) is pleased to announce the formation of a free, educational support group for individuals who are struggling with clutter and disorganization. The NYPL Clutter Support Group will be a member-based group facilitated by organizing expert A. J. Miller. It will meet on an ongoing basis to address clutter and disorganization related issues and offer support, information, tips and techniques to combat clutter and become better organized.

The NYPL Clutter Support Group is open to people of all ages with any degree of disorganization. Whether you’ve had a life long struggle with being organized or your problem is more recent; whether you’re just a little overloaded, a hoarder, have ADHD or are living with someone who is one of these, please join us.

We look forward to seeing you at our introductory meeting on February 4, 2009 from 6:00 – 6:45PM at The New York Public Library, Grand Central Branch, 135 E. 46th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues.

Did you know that every year getting organized is one of the top five New Year’s resolutions? January is well underway but, unfortunately, if you’re like most people, you’ve probably already broken some or all of your resolutions. If that’s true, the good news is that even though we’re already half way through the month, there’s still plenty of time for you to fulfill the promise of National GO – Get Organized – month and accomplish your goal of getting organized this year.

Changing even just a single habit or routine can be very difficult. If it wasn’t, there would be no need for New Year’s resolutions because we’d all be able to make a change as soon as we recognized the need for it. The important thing is to get started and chose just one, simple goal, something that you know you can accomplish before the month comes to a close. Break your goal down into small steps and reward yourself when you accomplish it. By focusing on just one goal, you can devote all the necessary attention and effort to it, greatly improving your chances of success.

Begin with a small, manageable project. For example, organize your sock drawer. If you’re like most people, being able find a pair of matching socks every morning will inspire you to tackle organizing additional drawers, your closet and other spaces. Experiencing the benefits of organization – more time to spend with the people you love; more energy for the things you want to do; more money in your pocket and less anxiety in your life – breeds the motivation to do more. Accomplishing your organizing goal this month will make it easier to accomplish another organizing goal next month and the month after that and the month after that and so on.

Regardless of whether the past year was good or bad for you, focus now on what the new year may bring and what you can do to conquer your organizing challenges. Happy New Year. I hope that 2010 will be one of your best years ever!

So, what are you waiting for? G.O.!

Here’s what InStyle Magazine had to say in their November 2009 issue about My Style Fashion Assistant, an app for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch.

“Macworld.com’s App Guide reviews more than 73,000 iPhone apps now available to download on iTunes. We’ve combed through them to find the best ones for shopping, saving and amping up your style.

We love this app, which acts as your very own stylist. It keeps track of what you have, what you wear, what you want, and it allows you to mix and match it all. It even helps you plan for trips – it’s the ultimate fashion organizer!”

Features include:

* Take Pictures Of Your Clothing, Shoes, Accessories & Bags
* Add Items To Your Closet Or Personal Fitting Room
* Mix-&-Match Items With The Revolutionary 3-Panel Slider
* Create Outfits For Every Occasion
* Window Shop Online
* Item & Outfit Calendars
* Get Fashion Feedback From Friends
* Take Your Wardrobe With You Everywhere
* Organize Outfits In Specific Lifestyle Categories
* Plan For That Upcoming Trip, Event Or Special Occasion
* Get Expert Fashion Tips
* Receive Savings From My Style Retail Partners

If you’ve ever stood in front of your jam-packed closets wondering what to wear or bought the same item multiple times because you couldn’t find the original one, this app is for you. Save money and reduce the clutter in your closets by making the most out of your wardrobe with My Style Fashion Assistant. You’ll never had to say “I don’t have anything to wear!” again.

Choosing the right gift for loved ones, friends and associates can often be a tricky business so some gift givers choose to make a charitable donation in the recipient’s name instead of opting for a more traditional gift.

Focusing on the recipient’s interests, passions, lifestyle and what would be meaningful to them is the key to a successful giving experience. Consider children, as well as adults, when you’re thinking about charitable gift giving. Giving children a small amount of cash and letting them choose which cause they want to support is a wonderful way to encourage them to become philanthropic adults.

Here are just a few of the many organizations that are worthy of consideration:

• UNICEF – Works for children’s rights, their survival, development and protection by providing them with vaccinations, food, education and much more.
• Kiva – Allows you to make a loan to a low-income entrepreneur across the globe for as little as $25 and help them to start their own business.
• Heifer International – Gives hungry, poor families livestock and training, providing a source of food rather than short-term relief. Recipient families are required to share their animals’ offspring with others, creating an expanding network of hope, dignity and self-reliance.
• National Park Foundation – Helps educate Americans about the their National Parks.
• National Foster Parent Association – Helps foster parents and children through advocacy, services and scholarships.
• Trickle Up – Offers grants, not loans, to women and people with disabilities in Africa, Latin America and Asia living on less than $1 to help them launch their own microenterprises, while providing business training and savings support to build assets.
• Smile Train – Provides cleft lip and cleft palate surgery to children in need, as well as providing cleft-related training to doctors.
• Reading is Fundamental – Books, literacy campaigns, and reading to children.
• Habitat for Humanity – Builds houses for needy families.
• Big Brother Big Sister – Provides mentors to all children who need caring adult role models/special friends.
• Sierra Club – Promotes conservation efforts aimed at protecting communities, wild places and the planet itself.
• Doctors Without Borders – Doctors and nurses volunteer to provide urgent medical care to victims of war and disaster regardless of race, religion, or politics.
• ORBIS International – Focuses on the prevention of blindness and the treatment of blinding eye diseases in developing countries.
• National Center for Tobacco-free Kids – Helps reduce the number of children who will start smoking.
• Rainforest Alliance – Dedicated to the conservation of the planet’s vital tropical forests.
• Children for Children – Promotes community involvement and social responsibility in children from all backgrounds, beginning at a young age.
• What I Did Not Buy – An online community where people choose “not to buy” and can see the impact of that re-directed money on poor people in developing nations.

I would recommend that you use Charity Navigator to help you to evaluate charities before you donate to them. If you’re not sure which charity would be most meaningful to your recipients, let them choose for themselves by giving them a gift card like the ones offered by Just Give, Global Giving and Charity Navigator.

Giving to charities is a clutter-free, feel-good, do-good way to honor the person in whose name the gift is made, and, really, how many people do you know who need more “stuff?

Bricks & mortar and online stores are both hoping you’ll spend more than you meant to and they’re expert at making it easy for you to do just that. BEFORE YOU GO SHOPPING, make a list of what you need to buy and stick to it. Watch out for the following traps:

* Free gift with purchase. If you’re spending more than you had intended just to get a “free” gift, then it’s really not so free after all, is it? Think about it.

* Free shipping. Ditto.

* It’s on sale. If you didn’t plan to buy it in the first place, it doesn’t matter what the price is, it’s not a bargain! Stop clutter where it starts…at the store!

* Bigger is better. Not if you really don’t need it in the jumbo size! And not if it takes you two years to go through a package of twelve and you really can’t afford to spare the space for them for that long!

* If one is good, two is better. Don’t buy an item in every color unless you really will use them all!