Fall Home Organization Tips

Fall is for Getting Organized!

Forget spring cleaning, fall is for getting organized! Here in Portland it’s even more important to have your home tidy through the winter. The rainy weather, muddy yards and endless time indoors can result in a stuffy space.

Keeping your space organized is the perfect way to approach the winter holidays with ease and stave off rainy season claustrophobia.

Start by Decluttering Your Home

The easiest way to begin tidying up and organizing your home is to declutter.

There are many methods for doing this, such as the Marie Kondo’s KonMari Method™. The important thing is to find a style that works well for you, and that you can stick with.

If you’re not following a prescribed decluttering program (we don’t blame you!), simply start by going through your house room by room. The living room is often the easiest. Clear out the old magazines, books and other items you don’t pay attention to. Consider every single tchotchke. Do you still love it? Does it look great in that space? Clearing out tchotchkes is an excellent way to begin to add airiess to your space.

Other easy projects:

Clear off the fridge completely, then add back in only the essentials. A clean fridge makes a space look so fresh.

Cull through your clothing. Add damaged items to a repair or donation pile. Be sure to take them in for repair or donation within two days (or they will stay there forever - come on - you all know it).

Sort though your linens. Remove the ones that are damaged or that you never use.

This is also a good time of year to clean out your craft areas. Make sure you can access all the wrapping paper, tape and ribbon for gift giving season, look for half finished projects you can conquer on a rainy day and cull out all the junk you no longer use.

Create Storage Solutions and Systems

Do you use it every day? It can stay out.

Do you use is weekly? Keep it at the ready.

Do you use it monthly? Keep it available.

Do you use it annually, such as holiday decorations? Store it in a well marked container that does not contain unrelated items. Store it on a high shelf in the garage, attic or closet.

Has it gone untouched in three years? Assess whether or not you truly need this item. Chances are good you don’t!

Has it gone untouched in five years? Time to donate or sell it!

Heirlooms and mementos with strong sentimental value can be approached on a different timeline, but deeply consider how much you are benefitting from having these extra items in your home.

Easily Store Your Winter Gear

Let’s be honest: even if you’re not an outdoors enthusiast hiking and skiing on the weekends, you still have to contend with the elements on a regular basis, and that means wet and muddy gear.

Create a mudroom or other gear storage area of your home where the most regularly used items can live, and where you can shed them (even wet) as soon as you walk in the door. With a smart design of the space, an expert contractor can often carve out such space from your existing home without a major remodel.

Have hooks for hanging wet gear (near the heat vent for a bonus!), a spot to dump muddy shoes and an area to store all the gear you want to be able to grab on your way out the door.