Unpack to Organize - The Bathroom

The bathroom may be a small room, but there are a lot of items that are used and stored in that room. It makes unpacking and organizing a difficult task, but these tips and suggestions just might help make organizing more manageable.

Before unpacking and organizing, it’s important to go over EVERYTHING. Toss out any expired products, like medication, any anything else that is old or broken, like stretched-out hair elastics. Give away any unused items like lotions, perfumes, soaps, and makeup. Keep in mind that it isn’t always necessary to keep extras of everything you own. Often, these items just sit and take up space and don’t get used, or get lost and forgotten. Only keep extras if it’s an item that you go through regularly, or something that you aren’t able to purchase at the store right away.

Once your items have been narrowed down to what you need, group like items with like. For example, store all the makeup together, hair accessories and tools, and tooth care items in the same place. Items that you use everyday should be stored on the counter if possible, or in an easily accessible cabinet or drawer near the sink. Extras or not as frequently used items should be regulated to lower drawers or upper cabinets.

When it comes to actually storing objects, draw inserts work great to keep smaller objects neat and organized. Shelving and drawer units can be added into cabinets or vanities under the sink to maximize storage space. For storage units, think tall and narrow. The square footage in bathrooms is sparse, so stick to units that take up less floor space, and more wall to ceiling space.

While some people may want to add in décor pieces in their bathroom, try to keep them to a minimum. They take up space, and just get dirty and collect dust. If it is at all possible, try and take products out of bulky packaging. Space in bathrooms is limited, so don’t keep anything in there that you don’t have to!

Interested in learning more about organizing products you can use in your bathroom? Catch our next blog post later in the month where we highlight 5 essential organizing products to use in your bathroom.

Unpack to Organize - The Cluttered Closet

While moving into a new home can be an exciting prospect, moving all of your belongings into your new home and organizing them into the different areas in your home can be a very daunting and stressful process – but it doesn’t have to be!

Calm Order’s Unpack to Organizer service will unpack and organize all of your items – right down to the books on your nightstand – so your new home is move-in ready. Our professional organizing team will unpack all your boxes and determine where they need to be stored in a way that works with you and/or your family’s lifestyle.

We are going to talk about the process of unpacking and organizing a master bedroom closet.

First, the team establishes a foundation which the organizational process will build upon: how big the closet is, whether or not it’s a his and hers and who has which side, what items are being stored in it, how to maximize the space, what is the best way to use the space?

We ask ourselves questions such as should clothes should be hung or folded? Will we be adding accessories, hanging belts, rolling belts, will we need shallow or deep baskets? How are the shoes to be stored? Do we have enough space?

Although space planning a master closet organization may seems like a daunting task, it is important to ask the key questions to set you up for organizing success. 

Can Hangers really make a difference? What may seem like an inconsequential factor, the whole organization of a closet can be greatly impacted in how the clothes are folded, or what type of hangers are used. When folding clothes for a closet there are popular methods. But how does each method work with your lifestyle, your drawer, shelf or bin. Is it even necessary to fold?

Calm Order swapped out metal and plastic hangers from a master bedroom closet to a slim line felt hanger adding space and eye appealing uniformity.

As for hangers, having the right tools, or hangers, makes all the difference! The classic tubular plastic hangers take up a lot of unnecessary space, and clothes tend to slide off the hangers, which only adds more clutter to the closet. We recommend using thin, non-slip, huggable hangers to maximize storage space, (usually with a velvety finish, so the clothes stay on!) and natural wood hangers with a rounded base for weighted items such as jackets to prevent pointy shoulder marks. For pants, a hanger with a rolled or rounded rod helps to lessen a crease or hanger mark on your pants.

Calm Order recommends these hangers to maximize space and prevent clothes from falling off.

These hangers are perfect for pants and jackets.

When it displaying the look the clothing itself, we transition different clothes through colour. For working professionals, clothes will be separated by formal attire and casual weekend attire. Often using a separate bar or space. 

Once categorized into work and casual wear, we like to see a transition through use of colours into the next colour, Keeping black and navy blue clearly separated. Often Closets don’t have adequate lighting and it is hard to distinguish navy from black when your sleepy eyed and trying to get ready for work.

An example of colour transition may be placing shirts in the following order: black shirts, black and white shirts, - white shirts - red and white shirts - red shirts,  red and navy,  navy,  - navy and green - green and so on.

Take a look at this before an after of closet that Calm Order organized using this transitional method:

A master bedroom closet before Calm Order...

The closet after Calm Order using colour transition!

Learn more about Calm Order’s Unpack to Organize service here, and stay tuned to the blog for more examples of how we can help you unpack to an organized home! 

Say no to stuff!

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Less is always more - especially when it comes to stuff! Toys, books, clothes, knick knacks, are just some of the objects that count as “stuff” in your home. A lot of the time, this “stuff” collects in cupboards, drawers, and any open surface until it threatens to take over not just your home, but your life.

The less tangible stuff you have cluttering up your home, the less intangible stuff you have cluttering up your mind. Having a clean and clear space to sit, relax, and visit in is important – no one wants to walk by piles of stuff and be reminded of all the cleaning and organizing that they’ve been meaning to do but haven’t got around to.

Clutter creates unnecessary stress in your life. Just think of how much time, energy, and money could be saved if all the clutter in your home isn’t weighing you down!

Making a commitment to getting organized and staying organized is not always easy. However, every person can find a system that works for them. Whether it’s taking 10-15 minutes each day to do a quick clean, or dedicating a certain amount of time each week or each month to do a bigger de-cluttering, everyone has the ability to clear the clutter from their life. 

Once you start getting rid of the items that you don’t need and are just collecting dust in your home, you may feel more motivated to maintain your organized state.

It’s a lot easier to stay organized once you’ve finally got yourself organized, with a system in place that works for you and your family. However, it’s more than just getting organized – it’s making a lifestyle change.

Next time you go shopping or see something you think you need online, ask yourself if there is a real need for the item in your home and if there is space for it in your life. Being mindful of the stuff you bring into your home can save you money, time, and space in the long run!