by Natalie Morey | Sep 22, 2016 | Declutter tips, Home Office, Home Organisation, Tips
Don’t make these 4 mistakes when decluttering. If you keep motivated and inspired you will achieve great results. Make sure you have a plan and keep focused on the job at hand. Their is nothing more rewarding than standing back and admiring your work, once the job is done. I often find myself going back to a cupboard that I have organised, opening the doors and having a quick peek in to see my decluttering effort.
1. You don’t think there is a problem
Time to declutter and organise your wardrobe
You have become so use to living in a mess that it has become normal. It doesn’t worry you anymore that the dining room table is full of papers and stuff. You cannot see the office floor because of all the paperwork lying around but that is fine because you have just become accustom to it. You get frustrated when you go to get dressed for work because you cannot find anything, but that’s just normal now because it happens every morning.
2. You procrastinate
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the job at hand and just not do anything because you don’t know where to start. If you are struggling then perhaps book the services of a declutter expert to help you. It’s amazing how motivated you become once you know someone is coming to your house to go through your wardrobe!!
3. You don’t have a plan
To do list
You need a vision if you are going to get anywhere. Often clients stand at the door to the room and because they don’t know where to start, they simply close the door again.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed so having a plan or a vision is essential. I always ask clients how they visualize the room once it has been decluttered. It helps them to get inspired and motivated about the declutter process plus they have a goal to work towards.
I also recommend decluttering one shelve at a time. Start small, work through that area then start on the next one. Use these 4 categories as a guide to help you group declutter and group items.
- Keep
- Cull (throw)
- Donate
- Repair.
4. You lose motivation
Declutter and get organised
It’s easy to lose motivation especially if you cannot see much of an impact in the room you have been working in.
Decluttering can be a big job especially if you have a room full of stuff. If you are decluttering an office it can be much harder than decluttering a wardrobe because you physically have to inspect each piece of paper in case it relates to tax. Where as you can make a big impact in a wardrobe in a small amount of time by simply throwing out a couple of big, bulky items. Therefore, it’s important to remind yourself that your mess that may have been building up over a number of months or years, is not going to disappear in a matter of minutes. It might take a couple of hours or even a couple of days to see a difference.
It might also be a good idea to get a declutter expert to help you. They make you accountable and they can give you work to do in-between visits. We often give our clients “homework “to do before we come back and see them again. It helps our clients stay motivated because they have a deadline to work towards.
The Lifestylers Group can work with you to declutter and organise any part of your house: the kitchen, pantry, home office, bedrooms or garage.
by Natalie Morey | Aug 30, 2016 | Declutter tips
If you’ve spent any time in a disorganised man cave or a messy garage (aka Dad’s domain) you will know how helpful a little organisation can be. Here’s 6 ways to help declutter your garage.
Organised Garage
Image credit: Bunnings.com.au
1. Clear the clutter in your garage
Start the garage declutter process by grouping items into the following categories:
2. Group similar items together
Now that you have decluttered the garage it’s time to group and store the various items together. If you have a lot of different size nuts, bolts, nails etc., then put them into either small plastic containers with lids or clear boxes with different compartments. They come in lots of different shapes and sizes and you will find a container that is perfect for all of your stuff. I guarantee it will make finding the right size screw so much easier next time.
Containers to keep your garage organised
Image Credit: https://www.masters.com.au/product/100797002/really-useful-box-0-3l-box-16-drawer-set-clear
Containers with compartments – great for the garage
Image Credit: https://www.bunnings.com.au/tactix-20-compartment-organiser-storage-box_p2581003
3. Label it
Now that all your bits and pieces are grouped together, take the garage organisation one step further and label up the shelves and containers so you know where everything belongs.
4. Set up zones in your garage
Set up different areas (zones) in your garage to store things. For example put all your garden tools and equipment together in one area/shelve.
Peg boards like this are the perfect way to keep tools organised and off the workbench. Alternatively, you could place them underneath the bench. By making specific areas to put different items in it creates a more organised garage which in turn makes it so much easier to find things.
An organised garage
Image credit: http://wonderfulengineering.com/40-awesome-ideas-to-organise-your-garage/
Organised tools
Image credit: http://wonderfulengineering.com/40-awesome-ideas-to-organise-your-garage/
5. Shelve it
You can buy different sorts of portable shelves that are easy to install and will provide extra storage space. They are also portable so you can take them to your next garage and you can make them into different configurations such as a low work bench or high shelves.
Garage Shelves
Image credit: https://www.bunnings.com.au/our-range/storage-cleaning/storage/garage/shelving
6. Create space by hanging items
If you need to store things like bikes, fishing rods, long pieces of timber or pipe you can use a range of hooks secured from the ceiling. It gets everything off the ground and keeps your work benches and floors clutter free. Or store large tools with a unit like this.
Racks for the garage
Image Credit: https://www.bunnings.com.au/storease-large-tool-hanger_p2580042
Or try this wall mounted bracket to hang your fishing rods from.
Organised fishing rods in the garage
Image Credit: https://www.bunnings.com.au/storease-15kg-wall-bracket-fishing-gear-hook_p2582761
I hope that I have given you some inspiration with my 6 ways to help organise your garage. Set aside a weekend, be prepared to get down and dirty and do some serious decluttering and get your garage organised.
A unique gift for Dad – A garage declutter
Instead of giving another boring tie or DVD give a gift that is a little more practical. Dad’s love gifts that they can use over and over again. And, if it means every time they walk into the garage it looks schmick and organised and they can find their stuff, they will love it. A garage declutter is a perfect Father’s Day, Birthday or Christmas gift.
by Natalie Morey | Aug 16, 2016 | Declutter tips
There is a lot to do when you declutter and prepare your home for sale. So I have broken the tasks you need to declutter and organise down into 4 manageable parts (1) the outside, (2), the inside declutter (3) furniture placement, and (4) on the day.
A little bit of planning, organising and decluttering your home for sale can have a big impact on the bottom line. Remember, you only have one chance to make a first impression when people come to view your home so you want it to be the right one. Plus, as you know house hunters will often do a “drive by” of properties before they attend open for inspections, so first impressions counts.
Declutter and prepare your home for sale – Start with the outside
Preparing your house for sale
Image credit: http://www.realestate.com.au/
Prepare a maintenance and declutter list and write down everything that needs to be done in the front garden. Do you need to address any of the following:?
- Gardening – either a tidy up or removing and replanting
- Lawn mowing
- Roll up any hoses and place tools out of site
- Painting including the front fence, house and front door
- Fix up or replace the mail box
- Fix the front fence/gate
- Wash down the outside of the house
- Wash the windows
- Wipe down or paint any outdoor furniture
- Place some pot plants around the garden/patio/front entrance (my tip is to plant full-size, bright annuals that will provide immediate colour)
- Replace the front door knocker, knob or other hardware if it looks worn out
- Clean up any clutter, debris, toys and gardening gear from the side of the house (remember people will poke around everywhere so there is no hiding anything).
- Purchase a new door mat.
How’s the view
- Take the time to think about the best attributes of your garden by standing inside your home and seeing what buyers will see when they are standing inside your house. What do you see from the window above the kitchen sink or the biggest window in your living room?
- Do you need to think about creating an outside focal point to draw buyers’ attention to the landscaping? For example, by planting bright flowers in the garden will help draw the eye of outside. Or, if the view is not that great, do you need to consider putting up a screen, hedging or plants?
- Are bushes overgrown and blocking out light from coming into the home?
Remember, you only get one chance to make a first impression, so you want it to be the right one. Writing down your maintenance and declutter requirements helps you to get organised and stay organised when you are decluttering and preparing your home for sale.
Also, you will then identify that some tasks will need to be done before others, so a little bit of pre planning will save you time and ensure everything will happen when it’s meant to. For example, you will want to paint before you wash the windows.
It’s also worth considering that in the spring time, you might need to book a more regular gardening service or make sure the lawns are mowed more often.
If you find that the process to declutter and prepare your home for sale is too hard or overwhelming then contact The Lifestylers Group. We can help declutter and get your home ready for sale. Click here to contact us.
by Natalie Morey | Aug 9, 2016 | Home Organisation, Tips
The laundry is often a small space so having it well organised is essential. So that often means looking at utilising some creative storage solutions to help maximise the space you have. I hope that these 8 ways to organise your laundry give you some inspiration.
8 ways to organise your laundry
1. Go vertical – put shelves or cupboards above your bench
By putting shelves above your bench you can create more storage space. They can be easily fixed to the wall by a handyman and can store things like cleaning product, toilet rolls and towels. It’s a great solution to help organise your laundry.
Organise my laundry with shelves
Organise my laundry with cupboards
Image credit: houz Image credit: onenuttygirl.com
2. Go for front loading appliances
If you stack your front loading washing machine on top of your dryer you can save valuable space.
Space saving ways to organise your laundry
Image credit: https://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=104212&index=1¤tPage=2
3. Bench space and more bench space
Place your front loader washing machine and dryer side by side under your bench top. This creates extra bench space and provides room for you to fold and organise your clothes. This helps avoids the dining room table from becoming a dumping ground for clothes and keeps your laundry organised too.
Organised laundry
Image credit: lizmarieblog.com
4. Organise your laundry baskets
Most people will do a load of whites, then a load of colours and then a load of dark clothing. You can set up this system by using 3 different baskets. Clearly label each one with the category. Now all you have to do is get the kids (and hubby) to put their clothes in the right basket when they take them off. (Which could be more challenging than you think!).
Baskets to help organise your laundry
Overhead baskets to organise your laundry
Image Credit: Pinterest Image credit: blessings.com
Use baskets to help keep your laundry organised
Image credit: http://www.amazinginteriordesign.com/15-awesome-laundry-room-storage-organization-hacks/
5. Drying lines are great
Install a drying line, such as a rail, or a fold down or retractable drying line in your laundry. They take up very little space and are the perfect solution for drying clothes during winter. They help keep wet laundry out of the living room and keep everything organised in one spot.
Drying racks in your laundry
Image credit: http://www.amazinginteriordesign.com/15-awesome-laundry-room-storage-organization-hacks/
6. Create extra storage under your washing machine
Yes, that’s right. These units are perfect if you have a front loader washing machine. Your front loader washing machine sits on the unit. Not only does it lift up your washing machine making bending over and putting clothes in easy, but it also provides valuable storage space as well in a small laundry. This clever stand features a heavy duty steel construction. It also has a lockable child proof sliding drawer and adjustable locking feet that make it safe and sturdy, especially if there are kids in the house.
Washing machine stand
Image credit: https://www.thegoodguys.com.au/easy-living-front-load-washer-stand-with-drawer-ws1
Another solution to help keep your laundry organised is to have a custom made storage solution like this one built. If you need some assistance to help organise your laundry, then we can help organise it.
7 ways to organise your laundry
Image credit: ana-white.com
7. Give your laundry some personality
Just because it’s your laundry doesn’t mean that you cannot have some fun and decorate the space.
Organise and decorate your laundry
8 ways to organise your laundry
Image credit: etsy.com
Image credit: makingitinthemitten.blogspot.com.au/2015/04/laundry-room-chalkboard-printable.html
8. Doors and more space
Maximise the hidden space behind the door with these clever storage solutions that will help organise your laundry.
Your laundry organised
Image source: thefrugalhomemaker.com
Image source: hometalk.com
8 ways to organise my laundry
Image source: indulgy.com
I hope that I have given you some inspiration with 8 ways to organise your laundry. However, if you are still struggling to organise your laundry, then contact The Lifestylers Group. Since 2005 we have been helping to organise every room in the home – the kitchen, office, laundry and bedrooms and have a wealth of ideas and knowledge to share. Based in Melbourne, our professional organising service can also assist in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
by Natalie Morey | Aug 4, 2016 | Home Office, Home Organisation, Tips
Being organised is the start of achieving work like balance. So too is commitment, focus and dedication in achieving work life balance. These 8 tips to create work life balance are aimed at helping you to create work life balance. It’s definitely not easy and the wheels are going to fall off every so often, and that’s fine. What’s important is that you stay committed to the goal of work life balance.
8 tips to create work life balance
- Sync your calendars. Consolidate all your personal and work commitments into the same calendar. That way you won’t forget anything and I find it makes me work more efficiently during the work day if they are all stored in the same spot.
- Block out your time. Block out “fun” time in your diary. Get tough and make this “not negotiable”. Don’t let work take over and therefor you miss out on social activities.
- Plan, plan and plan. The key to work life balance is all about planning. Sit down at the start of each month and update your calendar, making sure you have scheduled in all the tasks you need to do and some fun stuff too. Obviously this will keep evolving over the coming month and you will keep adding to it.
- Record key birthdays in your calendar. Put all the key birthdays in your outlook calendar and set them up as repeating events. That way they will show up every year. You will know when you need to be taking time off work to spend with loved ones.
- Start small. Try adding even the tiniest tasks to your daily to do list. Then, when you cross them off the list, you already feel a sense of accomplishment and gain the momentum you need to tackle the bigger more daunting tasks.
- Work out. Did you know that fitness is the driving force that keeps people energised, focused and motivated? Take the time you deserve to do a little bit of exercise every day. Even if that’s 30 minutes at once or 10 minutes at a time throughout the day. Don’t have 10 minutes. Then what about 7 minutes? Have you heard of the 7 Minute Workout? It’s a free daily fitness routine found on the App Store.
- Learn to say no. “Sometimes work-life balance means saying “no”, politely of course. When an opportunity, activity or request comes up that doesn’t fit into your schedule, or is going to put you under too much pressure, sometimes you’ve just have to say no.
- Prepare for the day ahead. Before going to bed, pack up anything you need for the next morning including clothes and a health lunch. Being prepared will help you get out the door quickly. Plus, you can relax going to bed knowing that you are all organised for the day ahead.
If you are struggling to achieve work life balance in your life, then perhaps you need some expert help. The Lifestylers Group is a personal concierge service that can do many of your daily tasks. Our goal is for you to have more free time to do the things you want to do, not have to do!
