A resource for those seeking information on organizing and transforming spaces.

Home Organization Ben Soreff Home Organization Ben Soreff

Getting a Fresh Start? Here's Why You Should Declutter Your Home Before and After the Move

Packing everything you own and moving into a new house is not an easy task. But it gives you an excellent opportunity to start over and create a home that you can fully enjoy. To do that, you need to take a good look at all your stuff and decide what deserves to come with you into the next chapter of your life and what you should leave behind.

If you decide to declutter your home before and after the move, you will experience a number of benefits. Let's take a look at some of them.

Packing everything you own and moving into a new house is not an easy task. But it gives you an excellent opportunity to start over and create a home that you can fully enjoy. To do that, you need to take a good look at all your stuff and decide what deserves to come with you into the next chapter of your life and what you should leave behind.  A good moving plan should start with identifying the possessions that really matter.

If you decide to declutter your home before and after the move, you will experience a number of benefits. Let's take a look at some of them. 

Immediate Benefits of Decluttering Before the Move

Did you know that people don't use around 80% of things they keep in their homes? So, as you pack your belongings, take the chance to sort through them and set aside everything you don't need, use, or like anymore. That can be, for instance, clothes that are two sizes too small, broken appliances, or your old school books and teen magazines. If you get rid of them before the Connecticut movers arrive, here's what you will gain.

You Will Save Some Money

Less stuff leads to fewer packing supplies, such as boxes, packing wrap, and tape. Also, you will have fewer boxes and furniture to move to your new place. Since movers usually charge by the volume or the time spent, that means you won't have to pay them as much for their services. That way, you will save money on transporting the things you have no use of anyway. 

You Can Earn Some Cash

Getting rid of unwanted items doesn't necessarily mean throwing them away. You can organize a yard sale before the moving day, post your things on eBay, and make some extra cash.

You Will Save Time

There are 300,000 items in an average American home, and packing and unpacking every one of them is very time-consuming. But you can cut that time by focusing only on the things you actually cherish and need. Everything else you can simply set aside and deal with as you see fit. That will leave you with more time to prepare for the move and later help you settle in your new home more quickly. 

Benefits You Will Experience at Your New Place

You didn't have time to declutter before the moving day? That's okay. Unpacking also gives you a good opportunity to decide what you want to keep and what you don't want with you as you turn a new page. Here's what you'll achieve if you dispose of all the unnecessary belongings at your new place.

You Will Have More Space

According to the US self-storage industry statistics, in 2021, almost 11% of American families rented a storage unit for their excess stuff. Since a national average for the unit price is $89.12 a month, that means they spend more than $1000 a year holding onto things they do not utilize. Another surprising fact is that 25% of people who own two-car garages have so much stuff in them, they don't have enough room to park a car. The point is that all that stuff is taking up your valuable space and cost you money, while you basically get nothing in return. 

So, say goodbye to the items you deep down know you will never wear, repair, or use anymore. You'll get an empty space that might inspire you to reorganize your home or start a hobby you always wanted.

Your New House Will Be Better Organized

According to one study, we lose up to nine items every day or 198,743 in a lifetime. Sunglasses, keys, papers, and phones are at the top of the list. At the same time, we spend a total of 3,680 hours or 153 days of our lives looking for those misplaced things. But if you knew where everything in your home was, you could spend those 153 days with your family or doing something you love. 

Decluttering your home after the move lets you keep better track of your possessions. That means no more wasting time searching the back of your closet or your drawers for lost items. Also, just imagine how much money you will save on double purchases. 

In the Long Run

As you probably already know, removing the excess clutter from your house has many benefits for your physical and mental health as well. Listed below are just a few of them. 

Better Focus

Clutter makes it hard to find what you're looking for. It may also distract you from the task at hand. So, getting rid of visual clutter might help you focus better on whatever activity you're working on.

Higher self-esteem

When you struggle to keep your home organized, you may feel out of control. However, clearing out your living area might help you regain a sense of competence and self-respect.

Better Relationships

Conflicts among family members and roommates often arise because someone has difficulty controlling their clutter. Also, when your house is tidy, you may feel more comfortable inviting guests in.

Reduced of Allergies and Asthma

You probably think your home is messy but not dirty. However, it is not easy to clean thoroughly around the piles of possessions. That’s why decluttering can help keep pests at bay and minimize dust, mold, and mildew, all of which can cause asthma and allergies.

Conclusion

When planning your fresh start, begin with decluttering. Take some time to consider all the furniture and belongings you have, which of them are functional and which are just taking up room. Keep only what adds value to your life and donate or sell the rest. It will make moving easier, less costly, and may result in a more quality life in your new house.

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Toy Organizing Ideas for Small Spaces

If you are looking for inspiration for making the most of your kids' small room, check out our simple toy organizing ideas for small spaces.

Living in a small home, especially if you have kids, can be pretty challenging, and the most significant difficulty for most people seems to be a lack of storage space. Small living spaces are great for encouraging your family togetherness and strengthening your bonds. However, at some point, it is inevitable to start feeling like your home is shrinking and every inch of it is getting taken over by toys. Nevertheless, this doesn't mean you should start looking for a new family home. To help you, we've selected several toy organizing ideas for small spaces, and you can find them further in this article. 

Or explore an even easier way to keep your home neat and organized. Visit h2horganizing.com and get in touch with experienced professionals that will organize your home while you can enjoy quality time with your family.

Simple yet effective toy organizing ideas for small spaces

Does it seem that the pile of your kids' toys keeps getting bigger and slowly taking over every room in your home? Well, you're not the only one. Parents worldwide struggle with the same issue so much that most of them decide to hire organizing services for parents

However, if you want to try to tackle this challenge on your own before getting in touch with professionals, try some of our toy organizing ideas for small spaces.

First - declutter

Be honest - how many toys do your kids have, and how many of them do they actually play with? So, the first thing to do to make your small living space more organized is to declutter their toys:

  • First, watch your kids play for at least a week. This way, you can get an insight into which toys your kids play with and which ones they don't.

  • Regardless of your kid's age, make sure to include them in the process, as they'll learn valuable lessons from it.

  • Dump all of their toys in one area because this will help you negotiate what to get rid of. When they realize how many toys they have, it will be easier for them to let go of some. 

  • Use the golden rule of decluttering and create three piles - keep, toss/recycle, and donate/gift. Talk to your older kids and negotiate which toys to get rid of. Make sure you're firm. Otherwise, you'll end up keeping most of them.

  • If you want to keep items for their sentimental value or your future kids, there is a way to save them without taking up space in your home. The team from spydermoving.com suggests renting a storage unit as a perfect solution for safely storing everything you have no room for.

Repurpose

You'd be surprised how many things you already own can be repurposed and used for storing toys. For example, if you have just moved into your home, you probably still have a pile of moving boxes lying around. They are a perfect solution for storing all kinds of things.

Also, if you have an old laundry basket, you can use it for toys your kids play with the most. They're practical, they don't take up much space, and you'll make it so much easier for your kids to pick up and return their toys to their place.

Woven baskets and plastic tubs

One of the most aesthetically appealing ways for storing your kids' toys is to buy woven baskets. They are a perfect fit for any room in your home as they go well with any furniture or wall color. If you're worried they might look too childish for adult space, tuck them behind furniture.

Another great way to store your kids' toys and save space is to purchase plastic tubs. If you check, we're sure you'll probably find some in your home. Even if you don't, they are very affordable and come in all shapes and sizes. You can use them to organize your kids' toys according to their type, label them, and stack them on shelves or inside a closet.

Invest in multi-functional furniture

Multi-functional furniture is a true life-saver when it comes to living in a small home. The best part is that there are so many options for furniture that doubles as storage space. For instance, ottomans or benches that open could be perfect for storing your kids' books or family board games.

Another great idea is to buy a coffee table or an end table with drawers or cupboards underneath. They could be a perfect place for stashing puzzles, PlayStation games, or similar. 

So if you're organizing your new home after moving in and you want to start on the right foot, investing in multi-functional furniture is the way to go. Or, if you're looking for an excuse to re-decorate, replacing some old pieces of furniture with new, more practical versions will completely transform your small space.

Maximize wall space

One of the best ways to maximize storage space in your home is to use walls. By this, we're not just referring to floating shelves or other similar solutions. There are plenty of other ways to get creative and maximize wall space.

For instance, adding a pegboard can be an interesting and fun storage idea. Plus, they're trendy nowadays. You can even use shoe racks for storing your kids' toys! Hang them on the back of the door, and you can use them for storing anything from stuffed animals to craft supplies.

The bottom line

We hope our toy organizing ideas for small spaces helped you make the most of available storage space in your home. Of course, if you ever feel stuck, get in touch with experienced professionals, and they'll take care of everything for you. This way, you'll be sure that every inch of your home is used in the best way possible. 

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Smart Wardrobe Organizing Hacks

Regardless of whether you are blessed with a huge walk-in closet or if have to work with small closet space, the chances are that it’s not as organized as it can be. There are numerous organizing hacks that can help you organize your closet more efficiently. It is important to keep it well-organized, neat and tidy as it helps you choose your outfit more quickly as you have a clearer overview. When your closet is disorganized, you can’t really see everything you have, and that makes it more difficult to think of fashionable outfits.

We partnered with a home supply company for this post. The opinions in the post are honest. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on our personal views. We are excited because we know you will love it.

Regardless of whether you are blessed with a huge walk-in closet or if have to work with small closet space, the chances are that it’s not as organized as it can be. There are numerous organizing hacks that can help you organize your closet more efficiently. It is important to keep it well-organized, neat and tidy as it helps you choose your outfit more quickly as you have a clearer overview. When your closet is disorganized, you can’t really see everything you have, and that makes it more difficult to think of fashionable outfits. 

Our closets contain many things besides clothes. And they are all essential elements of our daily outfits. Obviously, our closet space is mostly occupied by our clothes. And there are different ways we can organize it more efficiently. You should use the same hangers and specialized space-saving hangers as well as rods, baskets and drawers. You can use different racks, rods and shelves to organize your shoes. Moreover, we also have plenty of accessories that include jewellery, watches, scarves and bags we can organize in multiple ways. According to Wurkin Stiffs, organizing accessories such as watches and jewelry with the right tools can make a huge difference in maintaining a tidy and stylish wardrobe.

 Clothes

Hangers

Undoubtedly, clothes make the biggest part of our closet. In order to keep them organized and neat, we should carefully consider the best ways of displaying them. So, we all use hangers. However, to make your closet look more orderly, you should have all the same hangers - it is really space-savvy. Moreover, you can consider those specialized hangers that are intended for hanging a few pants or multiple shirts. 

Rods

In order to have a place for all those hangers, you should consider adding a few more rods in your closet. Try using up space vertically. For instance, you can use the concept many stores use for displaying their wholesale jackets, dresses or skirts. That means classifying clothes: jackets and coats on one rod, shirts on the other and so on. You should also have rods that are higher for long dresses.

Baskets

Baskets are a great option both for open closets and closets with doors. They are great for organizing some special items such as swimsuits, stockings or some small things alike. What’s more, they are visually appealing. You can put a cute little label on them for an even faster and better overview.

Drawers

Drawers often come as part of dressers and they are really handy for storing socks and underwear. You can even place drawer organizers inside to organize all the items even more. They come in a few shapes and sizes. 

Shoes

Racks

Probably the second-biggest category in your closet is shoes. There are multiple ways of organizing them. You can get different racks that stand on their own or that you hang on the door. There are also racks that can be put inside a wardrobe. They can even be rotating. There are even special boot racks available.

Rods

Besides racks, you can also use rods to store shoes. You can place these rods wherever you have space for them. It’s great that they go vertically,  so you really use the space to its full potential. You can use rods that you need to fixate into the wall or you can simply use shower rods. They are easy and convenient to install and everybody can do it. 

Shelves

Another great way to display all your shoes is on shelves. These are usually built-in shelves with plenty of space and they are usually a part of a bigger walk-in closet. However, even if you have a small closet, you can buy some shelves and use them to store your shoes. 

Accessories

Hangers

And the third category is dedicated to accessories. Some of the most common accessories we can find in our closets are hats, jewellery, watches and bags. You can use different kinds of hangers to hand jewellery pieces as well as scarves. Consider using unused door space for scarves - it’s a great way to save space and keep them organized. 

Boxes

Boxes are also great for storing jewellery, especially those more precious pieces. Storing them in a jewellery box protects them from dust. You can also store watches in boxes or on some small racks. 

Hooks

Hooks are another great way for using unused space. You can use them to hang bags, jewellery, scarves, hats and other tiny accessories. 

These are just some ideas to get you going. You should consider your own space, these and other organizing hacks and decide which options work best for you. You’ll maybe even get some new ideas!

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Creative Ways to Make an Office in a Small Home

There are many reasons why you may want to create an at-home office space, whether it's for helping the kids with their homework, organizing important papers and bills, or working a primary job.

Since the pandemic started, more workers have begun telecommuting and have yet to return to the office. According to a recent Gallup survey, 45% of employees worked remotely full-time in 2021, while an additional 20% worked remotely part-time.

While some houses have extra rooms available for designing an office, smaller homes may require you to develop clever ways to utilize space. Here are five creative ways to make an office in a small home or apartment.

There are many reasons why you may want to create an at-home office space, whether it's for helping the kids with their homework, organizing important papers and bills, or working a primary job.

Since the pandemic started, more workers have begun telecommuting and have yet to return to the office. According to a recent Gallup survey, 45% of employees worked remotely full-time in 2021, while an additional 20% worked remotely part-time.

While some houses have extra rooms available for designing an office, smaller homes may require you to develop clever ways to utilize space. Here are five creative ways to make an office in a small home or apartment.

1. Use a Corner of Your Living Room

If you're dealing with limited space, you may need to double up on room functionality. One way to organize an office in a small home is to designate a corner of your living room for a desk and storage setup.

Although it isn't the most private space, you can paint the part of the wall you're using in a contrasting color, apply wallpaper, or add pictures to define your work area better. If you're lucky enough to have a window, you can also place your desk in front of it for a view.

2. Turn Your Garage Into an Office

Our garages are some of the most cluttered areas of our homes. According to a Sparefoot survey, 47% of Americans struggle to park their car in their garages because there isn't enough room.

If you typically have to park your car on the driveway, why stop now? You can declutter, apply a fresh coat of paint, and turn your garage into your workspace instead. Garages are usually big enough to convert into an extra living area, allowing you to include a sofa and coffee table, ample shelving, or cabinets.

You may also want to speak with a contractor about adding air conditioning and heating or call an electrician to install additional lighting.

3. Hide Your Office in a Cupboard or Closet

Making sure you're able to keep your personal and professional lives separate may require a little imagination in a small home.

Although 95% of remote employees say productivity is higher or the same as going into the office, it's important to be able to step away at the end of the day and spend time doing other things.

Converting an old cupboard into a desk area with storage will allow you to close up your computer and essential files and documents when they're not in use. This is also a helpful way to decompress and enjoy quality time with family and friends instead.

A hallway or bedroom closet is another option for an office where you can shut the door, as well.

4. Add a Floating Shelf as a Desk

Whether you're in a small house or apartment, you're going to want to save as much space as possible. A floating desk can be installed on any wall, dividing wall, or in a corner, allowing you to keep an open, clean computer station.

If you put a floating desk in your bedroom, you can add a mirror above it to create a multipurpose feature, such as a vanity.

Of course, because floating desks tend to be a bit smaller than a regular desk, you may want to keep your office essentials – notepads, pens, calendars, and laptop – to a minimum to give yourself enough room to work.

5. Use the Space Under the Stairs

Do you have an open area under your stairwell that's not in use? Place a small desk and open shelving in the cubby to create your new office.

Bespoke furniture may come in intriguing shapes and designs that better fit awkward spaces, while open shelves allow you to display objects or keep your workspace clean. Of course, organization is key in any stairwell office, especially since guests are likely to walk by frequently.

An Office Can Fit in a Small Home

With some planning and creativity, you can fit an office into your small house without any issue. There are plenty of areas you can work a desk and some cubbies into, such as the living room, bedroom, garage, or maybe even the kitchen

Keep it simple. All you need is a comfortable space to put your computer and writing materials, and perhaps a little storage to hide your important papers.

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