Unpack to Organize after Summer Vacation

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Unpacking from a summer vacation is very similar to unpacking after moving your home. It might not be on as large of a scale, but like moving, unpacking from a trip is often stressful and tiring. The last thing you want to do after being on the road or in the air for multiple hours is have to unpack.  

Do yourself a favour and get the hard work done before the trip home! The way you pack up your belongings has a huge impact on what you will have to do once you get in the door. If you get in later in the day or the evening, unpacking your belongings in an organized way is often far from your mind – but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve got some suggestions to help you get organized before you even depart from your summer vacation. 

1. Get your laundry sorted out 

Don’t make yourself have to go through all of your clothes as soon as you get home. Instead, take a plastic bag with you before you leave on your trip, and throughout your vacation add your used clothing to the bag. This way, your dirty clothes will be separated from your clean clothes, and ready to be taken to the laundry room when you get back. 

2. Pack your essentials last 

They’re your essentials for a reason, so often they’ll be the items you pack last minute and need as soon as you get home. Instead of shoving them in any pocket or area of your suitcase that you can find, place all these items in pockets that are easily accessible, or at the top of your suitcase in the same area. When you open it up, everything you need to access right away will be in reach – no rummaging around necessary! 

3. Prioritize your items 

Items like shoes, sunscreen, books or magazines, and toys should be relegated to the bottom of your suitcase. If you don’t have time to unpack all of your bags when you get home, don’t worry about it. Give priority to your essential items, and then unpack based on how urgently you need to use your items. If you have multiple bags, it might work to categorize the items into different bags based on their level of necessity. However, make sure you know what bags have what items in them beforehand.  

4. Delegate  

Whether there is a group travelling or just yourself, don’t let anyone slack off when it comes to unpacking. Although some items don’t need to be unpacked right away, leaving suitcases half full of items for multiple days can just add unwanted clutter and disorganization. Make sure that you and other travelling companions know what needs to be unpacked and when. Lists, organizers, or even organizing and list apps (like Sortly) can help everyone stay on track of what essentials need to be unpacked and when.  

People go on vacations to relax - but there is no reason why this feeling has to go away when you unpack after vacation. Pack smart before you leave so you can easily unpack to an organized home![INSERT TWEET THIS LINK].

Outdoor patio decor tips - organized and practical!

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Summer is here, and that means getting the most out of whatever outdoor space you have. In Calgary, our summer is typically limited to two months, and even then, those two months aren’t guaranteed. It’s important to keep this in mind when decorating an outdoor space because some ideas, while they might look or sound like a good idea, might not work with the weather we can experience here in the city.

-       Establish what space there is, and what it will be used for. If the space is tiny, figure out what kind of space you want to have. A place to relax? Cook and eat food? This will help prioritize what key furniture items will be needed and where they should go. If the space is larger and can have multiple areas for cooking and relaxing, plan out what area functions best for each activity. For example, having a barbeque and eating area closer to the house is more practical because it has closer access to the kitchen inside. Also, when setting up an entertainment set, it might be best to put it in a way that either doesn’t or does get sun, depending on your preference.

-       Keep the basic furniture pieces and paint (if used) neutral or monochromatic. This way, when the items fade or become weathered, it won’t be as noticeable.

-       Make accessories and accent pieces colourful. Cushions, curtains, pillows, and table cloths typically wear out faster, so go all out with bold colours or prints, and if they fade or get old, they can easily be replaced.

-       Buy weather resistant cushions and decorations because Calgary is notorious for summer storms. Whether cushions are left out in the rain or the sun, having a waterproof and sun proof material means you don’t have to worry about replacing them as often. Furniture like couches or chairs with built in storage is also a great option for storing cushions and pillows if they are not weather resistant.

-       Utilize wall space. This advice not only works in homes, but works outdoors as well. Most backyards and patios or decks offer wall or fence space that can be used to your advantage. Shelves or cupboards can be put up, or décor accents like outdoor art pieces, hanging flower pots, and light fixtures can be added for decoration and storage options.

Ultimately, what matters is that you create a space that you can use and enjoy! [INSERT TWEET THIS LINK]

Unpack to Organize - The Garage

The garage can often be pushed to the bottom of the priority list when it comes to unpacking a home. However, the garage is often a major storage space. There are a lot of items that need to be unpacked, organized, and stored in an easily accessible way.

The first thing to do when unpacking a garage is to go through all your items and purge. It can be a challenge to part with items and easy to justify keeping old exercise equipment and gardening tools, but try asking yourself when was the last time it was used, if you are very likely to use it again, and if there will even be room for you to store it.

Once items have been decluttered, sort like items with like. For example, gather all the hardware tools, gardening tools, sports equipment, and others into separate areas.

After you determine what items you have, and they are sorted together, the next step is to plan out the storage in your garage. Creating different “zones” for each category of items is a great way to stay organized and make it easier to find specific objects. This guide can help you plan out where to set up zones around your garage. 

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 Image credit: https://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=imgres&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwiQ5cTRwIPNAhVHSlIKHfblD1UQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Flot13%2Fs-o-garage-shed%2F&psig=AFQjCNGD4a-Ih7E-Q1mrrGNldDyiCuV9PQ&ust=1464756317389099

Now, depending what objects are in each zone, the type of storage must be determined. For example, peg boards are useful for tools and hardware. Racks are good for larger tools like shovels and rakes. Check out our next blog post coming later in the month for 5 Ways to Maintain Order in Your Garage!

In these before and after photos of a garage Calm Order worked on, wall panels were installed on the wall, and hooks, baskets, and racks were added to store the items.

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Before image of a garage Calm Order organized.

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After image of a garage Calm Order organized using wall panels.

It can be easy to post pone unpacking and organizing the garage. As Peter Walsh said, “later is the best friend of clutter.” Don’t leave it until later – get unpacked to an organized garage now! [INSERT TWEET THIS LINK].