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

Home Ideas Ben Soreff Home Ideas Ben Soreff

Tips for Organizing Your Home Before the Holiday Season

We have tips that’ll help you organize your home before the holiday season so you can focus on the joyous festivities and not worry about the aftermath too much.

The holidays are quickly approaching and if you’re planning on hosting festivities this year, now’s the perfect time to deep clean and organize your home. Even if you aren’t hosting a big shindig, these tips can also be helpful if you’re planning on selling your home or just want to add a little more organization to your life!

Prioritize what needs to be done first

We all have rooms in our houses that are more cluttered than others and although we may have the best intentions, there’s no way we can get to everything in a few short weeks! That is why you’ll want to prioritize what rooms need to be cleaned and organized first. It’s easier to manage your expectations that way. 

Set a cleaning schedule

After prioritizing what needs to be done, you can then plan a cleaning schedule around it. THis will give you a timeline of what tasks need to be done first and how long you have to do it. We find that a schedule just helps us stay on track and not miss anything along the way.

Enlist the family for help

Cleaning and organizing isn’t a one man job - it takes a whole household to make the mess so it should take the whole household to clean it! Now understandably if you have young children, this isn’t going to be a walk in the park, but if you turn it into a game, they may be less inclined to complain. 

Limited edition scents can add to the festive feel

You can make the whole house a little more festive by using limited edition holiday/seasonal scents to deodorize your home. There are air fresheners, soaps, and cleaning supplies that are themed around the holidays, but you can also use essential oils and an oil diffuser to achieve that seasonal fragrance, too.

Organize the entryway

Organizing the entryway is one of the best ways to keep your home tidy because that tends to be the place where everything is dropped and forgotten. When the kids come home from school, instead of leaving their jackets, backpacks and shoes by the door, have them take their belongings to their room. When it comes to guests, set up a space in your laundry room or hall closet where guests can hang their jackets, instead of leaving them on a coat rack near the door.

Declutter the guest room and bathrooms

If you plan on having guests stay over during the holidays, you’ll definitely want to take the time to declutter the guest room and bathrooms. The name of the game here is to give your guests a space that feels like a home away from home and they can’t really do that if the dresser or closet is filled with everything under the sun and there’s no space for their things!

Declutter and organize the children’s spaces

Cleaning the kids’ rooms and play areas is always something that feels like a monumental task, especially around the holidays! You have to make room for the new stuff they’re bound to get throughout the holidays and, let’s face it, there’s probably a lot of stuff your children don’t even use anymore! This is the perfect time to go through their stuff and donate items that have been all but forgotten. Not only will doing this teach your kids about charity and giving to the less fortunate, but it also teaches them how to clean and organize their toys as well. 

Cleaning and organizing can be a daunting task even without the holidays coming up, but for new homeowners that are hosting their first gathering… It can be down-right overwhelming. Hopefully these organization and decluttering tips can help get the ball rolling!

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Design Ben Soreff Design Ben Soreff

How to Decorate your Home for Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s once again time to decorate your home in accordance with the holiday spirit. However, with all the cooking and preparing of presents in the way, it can be a bit difficult to focus on decorating. Therefore, we’ve created this Christmas home decoration guide to give you a helping hand.

holiday

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s once again time to decorate your home in accordance with the holiday spirit. However, with all the cooking and preparing of presents in the way, it can be a bit difficult to focus on decorating. Therefore, we’ve created this Christmas home decoration guide to give you a helping hand.

Below you will find tips on how to decorate all of the rooms inside your home and achieve that beloved Christmas aesthetic.

Choose your desired color scheme

Choosing the right decoration color scheme for your home can be a bit frustrating especially when there are so many great options to choose from.  And considering that there are many who decorate each room in a different color to evoke a different mood, choosing color combinations becomes even harder.

The classic color schemes that look good in almost any household they’re used are white gold, silver and white, red and green. 

However as of recently, black and cashmere brown have become quite popular as well. When going for a black decor it’s best the ornaments are of the glossy kind so that they can reflect light off them. 

Cashmere brown on the other hand goes well very with other colors such as dull matte gold and pearl creams. 

Picking the right Christmas tree

When picking a real Christmas tree for you home, there are certain details you must be on the lookout for.

First, make sure the tree is healthy and will last longer. To do this simply run your finger through its branches. If no needles fall straight away, this is an indication that the tree will last longer. Avoid buying Christmas trees which are thin and dry and have falling needles.

If you’re wondering which species of Christmas trees to choose, we recommend going with either a Fraser fir or a Nordmann fir. These two types of trees can handle heavy decorations and also tend to last longer than other species when looked after at home.

Decorating the living room

The living room is usually the heart of each home, especially during the holidays. A great way of decorating your living space for Christmas is to give it a botanical aesthetic.

Buy some hyacinth vases and populate them with white hyacinths. These will give the room a nice fragrant scent and will also work as great eye candy. Also, consider decorating your walls with eucalyptus to really make them pop out.

Since the living room is the area where the Christmas tree goes, you will have to deal with its decorations as well. You can decorate the tree in the color scheme of your liking. Just make sure it matches that of the rest of the room. 

If you have a fireplace in your living room avoid real plants and instead opt for faux ones. And try to keep your Christmas tree as far away from the fireplace as possible.

Decorating the dining room

The main focal point of the dining room decoration should be the table. First, choose the tablecloth, we recommend going with white. Then start decorating the table, place some greenery in the middle like flowers and berries. And last but not least put up some fancy candles.

If you want to put the candles near the greenery, firstly, place them in jars to prevent any spontaneous fires.

As for the color scheme, go with gold. This way the with the help of the candles, your dining room will shine in a gold color.

Decorating the hallway

Since the hallway is the first room your guests will see once they go inside your home, it should be decorated in a way to set the stage.

A great way to do this is to first place garlands around the inside and outside of the front door.

Then, wrap your stairs’ banisters with faux green decor and hang some red baubles on them.

Decorating the bedroom

When it comes to the bedroom, go with a lighter decoration.

Perhaps add a chain of twinkling fairy lights and a small faux Christmas tree.

You can always go the extra mile and hang paper stars and snowflakes over the bed as well, giving the room a whimsical feel.

Decorating your outdoor area

The outside of your house will be what everyone passing by will see, so make it count. You have two options here, either go guns blazing and completely embrace the festive spirit or take a more subtle approach.

If you’re planning to go all out, hang white paper star lights from your windows or scatter icicle string lights throughout the exterior of your home. For the icicle string lights, you can charge them using a plug point you put inside your garage.

Conclusion

It’s always best to start decorating your home for Christmas at least a month in advance. Because the longer you wait the harder it will be. After all, the Christmas holiday is that time of year when most people spend their time with their friends and family and free time is scarce. So take some time off around the end of November and if you need any tips on how to decorate your home, simply follow this guide.

Author Bio: Desiree Thomson is a gardening and landscaping expert working at Fantastic Gardeners. When she’s not running around in her back garden, she can be seen blogging for various online outlets or fixated on decluttering her house.

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Home Organization Ben Soreff Home Organization Ben Soreff

Organizing for the Holidays

So you’re having a holiday at your house this year. You are excited to host but between your children’s schedules, work, taking care of an elderly parent and general life commitments how are you going to purchase the food and drinks, create the meal, set the table(s), and look happy and relaxed when your guests arrive? Let’s face it, it’s challenging enough to cook dinner on a weeknight, how are you going to pull off a holiday with relatives and friends? 

Check list

So you’re having a holiday at your house this year. You are excited to host but between your children’s schedules, work, taking care of an elderly parent and general life commitments how are you going to purchase the food and drinks, create the meal, set the table(s), and look happy and relaxed when your guests arrive? Let’s face it, it’s challenging enough to cook dinner on a weeknight, how are you going to pull off a holiday with relatives and friends? 

Here are some tips from H2H to help you through:

Lists, lists, lists – whether on your phone or paper start your lists as soon as possible.

  • List 1: The Guests. How many will be joining you? Knowing the number of guests will help you figure out how much food you will need to purchase, and how many tables and chairs you will need. 

  • List 2: The Menu. Put together the foods you think will make everyone the most happy. Don’t be shy about asking people to bring food or drinks. Maybe they have an amazing family sweet potato recipe or pecan pie recipe. Not having to worry about making all the food yourself is extremely helpful. If you don’t have time to cook yourself, (or just dislike cooking) ask your friends for local recommendations on where to buy tasty prepared foods especially if some of your guests have dietary restrictions. Parenting groups on Facebook is also a good resource for recommendations.

  • List 3: Food shopping. Once you have determined what you will be cooking, make your shopping lists. We usually make 2 lists. One for things you can purchase in advance such as canned goods, condiments, and baking products; and one for things that you need to purchase closer to the holiday such as produce, meats and dairy. Try to get what you can into your home sooner than later. This will help alleviate long lines at the food market as you get closer to the holiday.

  • Check your menu. What can be made in advance? Some foods such as certain breads and casseroles can be made and frozen in advance. 

  • Set the table(s). The weekend before (or sooner) arrange your room(s). Set your tables in advance. Take out your linens, napkins, place-mats, whatever you are using. Items like decorations and centerpieces are not used frequently they should be stored in remote areas of your space like the attic or basement. If you have certain centerpieces you only use for entertaining, don’t think of them as centerpieces but as the category “entertaining.”

  • Guest Rooms. If you have any guest rooms or bonus areas in your home, take the time to get them ready. During the year these spaces tend to become “make it go away” areas. Even if you don’t have family or friends spending the night, chances are someone will want to lie down at some point. Taking the time to organize now will save you from throwing everything in the closet and drawers. Eventually, the holiday season will end and you want to be able to find everything.

Is everything clean? Do you need to replace anything? If you are using china or crystal  does it need to be washed? If you are using paper products what do you need to purchase? Do you need extra chairs? Do you use different utensils or serving dishes at the holidays? Do you need to buy new candles? By setting up in advance it gives you time to make sure everything is in good shape and now you can focus on the delicious food and drinks.

wine
  • Make a quick trip to the liquor store. Don’t wait till the last minute. Hit up the liquor store the weekend before your event. You don’t want to be searching for the perfect wine to pair with turkey the day before Thanksgiving when you should be home cooking!

  • Take out anything frozen. A day or two before remember to take out anything you froze to de-thaw in time.

  • Food prep the night before. Is there any food you can clean, chop, dice, the night before? If so, do it. This will be a huge time saver as you are cooking the next day.

  • Start your cooking. After a good night’s sleep get up early to start your cooking. Try to do one recipe at a time. Cooking too many things at once is a recipe for disaster. Keep your menu list nearby. Check it off after each dish is made. Ask family members to help, remember holidays are a family affair.

  • Make a list of when to put things in the oven to heat up. Keep a list by the oven of what temperature to have your oven on and what time to put things in. How many times have you finished a holiday only to remember you forgot something? 

  • Relax and smile. -All the food is ready, the drinks are out, the table is set. Light the candles and enjoy your family and friends!

At H2H we can help you organize your home and get you holiday ready. Contact us Today!

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New Habits Ben Soreff New Habits Ben Soreff

A New Way to Celebrate

Linda offers insight and suggestions regarding holiday giving.

Linda offers insight and suggestions regarding holiday giving.

LovePop

As Mother’s Day just past and Father’s Day approaching next month, we celebrate the special women and men who influence our lives. These days can be filled with family, flowers and may center around brunch or dinner. However, for some it can be a difficult time. Maybe some have recently lost their mother or father? Maybe they have lost a child? The question always arises as to how to acknowledge the day appropriately for everyone. If thinking of giving a gift, how to give a meaningful one? As with every holiday, we are constantly bombarded by the media as to what gifts to give. For Mother’s Day the media suggests flowers, chocolate covered strawberries, jewelry, a new kitchen appliance, etc… Flowers, although pretty to look at, do not last long, chocolate covered strawberries are delicious but consumed quickly, jewelry is expensive, and who needs a new baking sheet to sit in your cabinet with four others already there!

Being professional organizers, we see many gifts that are given and not used. New mixing bowls in boxes, jewelry never worn, clothes with tags and candles never burnt to name a few. We cannot stress enough the idea of GIVING EXPERIENCES or DONATING TO A CHARITY as opposed to purchasing "stuff". How about a gift card to a restaurant, concert or sporting event? For all you moms out there, wouldn’t a one-hour reflexology foot rub session be glorious?

As a mother of three adult children, this year I received the best gifts yet. A lovely pop-up card from lovepop.com, with a beautiful sentiment inside. The card is from the heart and as a professional organizer I love that it takes up very little space! I can easily save it as a keepsake and unlike real flowers it doesn’t wilt and therefore no need to be tossed!

rescue.org

My other incredible gift was a donation in my name to in International Rescue Committee, rescue.org. The donation is for a newborn baby kit for new moms in Zimbabwe. The kit comes filled with clothing, baby soap, diapers and other newborn necessities. How awesome that we have the ability to help less fortunate moms on the other side of the world using our fingertips!

So when you are planning your next holiday, instead of “stuff” maybe think out of the box. Experiences and charities will make for less clutter in your life, and make for more meaningful and memorable gifts. From House to Home Organizing, we wish you all a relaxing and peaceful Mother’s & Father's Day weekends.

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