Bye, Bye Clutter
The #1, most important thing you can do to prepare your home for sale is to get rid of clutter. One of the major contributors to a cluttered look is having too much furniture. Professional stagers often whisk away as much as half the owner’s furnishings, and the house looks much bigger for it. Be sure to take a hard look at what you have and ask yourself what you can live without.

Furniture Groupings
There’s a common belief that rooms will feel larger and be easier to use if all the furniture is pushed against the walls, but that isn’t the case. Instead, furnish your space by floating furniture away from walls. Reposition sofas and chairs into cozy conversational groups, and place pieces so that the traffic flow in a room is obvious. Not only will this make the space more user-friendly, but it will open up the room and make it seem larger.

Musical Furniture
Give yourself permission to move furniture, artwork and accessories among rooms on a whim. Just because you bought that armchair for the living room doesn’t mean it won’t look great anchoring a sitting area in your bedroom. And try perching a little used dining room table in front of a pretty window, top it with buffet lamps and other accessories, transforming it into a beautiful writing desk or library table.

Room Transformations
If you have a room that serves only to gather junk, repurpose it into something that will add to the value of your home. The simple addition of a comfortable armchair, a small table and a lamp in a stairwell nook will transform it into a cozy reading spot. Or drape fabric on the walls of your basement, lay inexpensive rubber padding or a carpet remnant on the floor and toss in a few cushy pillows. Voila – a new meditation room or yoga studio!

Home Lighting
One of the things that make staged homes look so warm and welcoming is great lighting. To remedy inadequate lighting, increase the wattage in your lamps and fixtures. Aim for a total of 100 watts for each 50 square feet. Don’t depend on just one or two fixtures per room, either. Make sure you have three types of lighting: ambient (general or overhead), task (pendant, under-cabinet or reading) and accent (table and wall).

Make It Bigger
To make a room appear to be bigger than it is, paint it the same color as the adjacent room. If you have a small kitchen and dining room, a seamless look will make both rooms feel like one big space. A sun porch will look bigger and more inviting by painting it green to reflect the color of nature. Another design trick: If you want to create the illusion of more space, paint the walls the same color as your drapery. It will give you a seamless and sophisticated look.

Neutral and Appealing
Painting a living room a fresh neutral color helps tone down any dated finishes in the space. Even if you were weaned on off-white walls, take a chance and test a quart of paint in a warm, neutral hue. These days, the definition of neutral extends way beyond beige, from warm tans and honeys to soft blue-greens. As for bold wall colors in large spaces, they have a way of reducing offers, so go with neutrals instead.

Color Experiment
Don’t be afraid to use a darker paint in a powder room, dining room or bedroom. A deep tone on the walls can make the space more intimate, dramatic and cozy. And you don’t have to go whole hog – you can paint just an accent wall to draw attention to a dramatic fireplace or a lovely set of windows. If you have built-in bookcases or niches, experiment with painting the insides a color that will make them pop — say, a soft sage green to set off the white pottery displayed within.

Vary Wall Hangings
If your home is like most, the art is hung in a high line encircling each room. Placing your pictures, paintings and prints in such stereotypical spots can render them almost invisible. Art displayed creatively makes it stand out and shows off your space. So break up that line and vary the patterning and grouping.

Three’s Company
Mixing the right accessories can make a room more inviting. When it comes to eye-pleasing accessorizing, odd numbers are preferable, especially three. Rather than lining up a trio of accessories in a row, imagine a triangle and place one object at each point. Scale is important, too, so in your group of three, be sure to vary height and width, with the largest item at the back and the smallest in front. For maximum effect, group accessories by color, shape, texture or some other unifying element.

Serene and Inviting
Create a relaxing bedroom setting with luxurious linens and soft colors that will make a potential home buyer want to hang out. Bedroom staging trick: If you don’t have the money to buy a new bed, just get the frame, buy an inexpensive air mattress and dress it up with neutral-patterned bedding. Don’t forget to declutter. By cleaning out your closets, you’re showing off your storage space, which sells houses – it always ranks high on buyers’ priority lists.

Prim and Polished
Having tile professionally painted can make a bathroom look brand new. And accessorizing can make buyers feel like they’re in a spa. Put out items like rolled-up towels, decorative baskets and candles. It’s a great way to create a polished look, and it doesn’t cost much to do.

Keep in Inbox
A simple way to manage e-mail action items is to keep them in your email inbox until they are completed. However, this only works if you are committed to staying on top of incoming messages and moving out those for which no action is required or that are completed. Otherwise, you’ll end up with hundreds of messages in your inbox. Trust me, I’ve seen this happen many times with my clients!

Your goal is to keep your inbox relatively empty, moving all messages that require no action out of the inbox. Only e-mail that you haven’t yet read or still must take action on should remain in your inbox. All other e-mail should ideally be deleted or moved to a folder so that you can return to those messages as you need them. This approach keeps your inbox current and highlights the items you must take action on next. 

Use Flags
An alternative method is to use the “flag” function, available in Microsoft Outlook and a number of other email programs. Using the flag feature in Outlook allows you to add a date and time to be reminded to return to an item. You may want to create a “Follow-up” folder to store all flagged messages so that you can find them in one place.

Use Calendar or Task Functions
For action-related e-mails that need to be done by a specific future date, create a calendar item. In Outlook, simply left click and drag a message into Calendar or Task folder and Outlook will automatically create a new window with the body of the e-mail in the text section. This function copies the message and does not remove it from your Inbox.

Create Action Folders
You can also create action folders similar to what you have for managing paper. Examples are:

• TO DO/URGENT – for things that must be done immediately
• TO DECIDE – requires research or decision
• PENDING/IN PROGRESS – holding place while waiting for response or other information
• TO READ – miscellaneous items to read (magazines go elsewhere)
• UPCOMING EVENTS – holding place for invitations, directions, itineraries and tickets

This strategy is only recommended if you find it easier to manage action items in separate file folders. If you choose this option, you will have to be diligent about reviewing your folders daily; otherwise the action items will be forgotten.

Managing action items, whether in paper or email format, needs to be one of your priorities to stay on top of things. Be sure to schedule time for it, along with other tasks you need to complete each day. Set aside an appropriate amount of time to read, respond and manage your incoming papers and e-mail. Utilize a system that works for you to process those things that can be dealt with immediately and to manage those that will be addressed later.

Managing Paper

One way to manage all of the paper in our lives and make sure that nothing falls through the cracks is to create Action Files. If you’re not already using an action file system, here are a few professional organizer tips:

Short Term Actions
Set up separate file folders (I recommend translucent ones) for specific and repetitive actions that need to be completed in the near future. Folders can be kept on the desktop in a vertical file sorter or other readily accessible place. Folders should be labeled according to needs and could include the following:

• TO DO/URGENT – for things that must be done immediately
• TO PAY – bills to pay
• TO CONTACT – people to call, e-mail or write
• TO DECIDE –  requires research or decision
• TO COMPLETE – forms to complete and return
• PENDING/IN PROGRESS – holding place while waiting for response or other information
• TO READ – things to read – miscellaneous items to read (magazines go elsewhere)
• TO COMPUTER – anything that needs to be entered into the computer
• TO DELEGATE – action for someone else or to discuss with a specific person
• UPCOMING EVENTS – holding place for invitations, directions, itineraries and tickets
• TO FILE – papers to be filed

Long Term Actions
Actions that do not fall into the above categories and/or do not need to be handled for two or more months still need a “home” so they don’t get lost or forgotten.  One way to deal with these items is to use an accordion folder, labeled with each month of the year. Put a reminder in your system (either paper for electronic) to look in the folder so it’s not forgotten.

If you have the space, trays (clearly labeled) on your desk are also very useful in staying organized: 

• INCOMING
• CURRENT PROJECTS
• FILING
• SHRED

Managing action items, whether in paper or email format, needs to be one of your priorities to stay on top of things. Be sure to schedule time for it, along with other tasks you need to complete each day. Set aside an appropriate amount of time to read, respond and manage your incoming papers and e-mail. Utilize a system that works for you to process those things that can be dealt with immediately and to manage those that will be addressed later.

Since email is a vital part of most people’s lives, my next blog will talk specifically about managing To Do’s that enter your life electronically. 

As tax season wraps up, this is a great time to get a jump on managing paperwork by cleaning out your files, storing away those papers you need to keep and getting rid of those you don’t. Archived files should be stored in a safe place, protected from moisture. If you don’t have room in your home or office, consider an off-site storage facility that will catalog and safely store your files, retrieve a document when you it, and can destroy your records once they have outlived their usefulness.

When deciding what documents to archive, you may not need to keep as much as you think. Consumer advisor Clark Howard shares the suggestions below. Keep in mind, however, that these are general guidelines and you should always check with your accountant or attorney if you have questions or need clarification.

RECORDS TO KEEP
Tax returns – keep forever
Tax return documentation – 6 years
Contracts – keep forever
Real estate records – keep forever
Last pay stub of the year for your current job
Last pay stub of a job if you leave that job
Loan payment documents – until the loan is paid off
Bank statements – 7 years
Cancelled checks – 7 years
Bank deposit slips – keep until reconciled with bank statement
Home improvement records – ownership period plus 7 years
Investment records – ownership period plus 7 years
Bills for purchases – keep until you have confirmation payment has been received, then shred; however, bills for big purchases (jewelry, rugs, appliances, antiques, cars, collectibles, furniture, computers, etc.) should be kept for proof of their value in the event of loss or damage.
 

WHAT YOU CAN TOSS
Credit card statements – anything more than 1year old, unless needed for tax purposes  
Recently paid bills/statements – once you have confirmation they’ve been paid
Past insurance statements
Old utility bills, except the most recent one from your old address if you’ve moved

All documents that contain personal information should be shredded before discarding them. Small in-home shredders are an inexpensive and easy way to dispose of personal paperwork. If you have a large amount of paper to be shredded, a commercial document management company to do the work for you. Located throughout metro Atlanta and beyond, some companies will even pick up your documents.  

Having a system for managing your active paperwork is critically important. It’s just as important, however, to keep files cleaned out by archiving old documents that you need and shredding those you don’t.

Pinterest is different than Facebook or Twitter in that your profile doesn’t include much personal information and the stuff you share often isn’t your original content. In fact, 80% of the content posted on Pinterest is re-pinned from other users. For example, I have a Pinterest board for Craft Room Organizing. On it, I’ve pinned photos of organizing solutions I like and want to share with my followers or try out myself. I may have seen them on other Pinterest boards or I’ve “clipped” them from favorite product or organizing websites. Other Pinterest users can re-pin the photos from my board onto theirs, sharing the recommendations to an ever-expanding group of users. It’s not only a great way to get the word out about the organizing work that I do, but is a simple way to share my expertise with a larger audience.

While much of the content posted on Pinterest can be utilized for home organization and improvement projects, some of it is just fun! You can review book and movie recommendations, find innovative recipes, check out fun party decorating themes and keep a list of rainy-day craft projects to keep your kids entertained. You can spend a good bit of time browsing categories that range from fashion to gardening to antique diamond rings. As one woman I know put it, laughingly, “I want to live in Pinterest. Literally, I just want to climb inside and live there.” 

Pinterest is growing like crazy – from September 2011 to February 2012, the number of unique visits to the site grew more than 866%. That’s not a typo – in just six months, site visits increased over eight hundred percent! The average user spends 98 minutes a month on Pinterest, which pales in comparison to the seven hours a month Facebook users are typically logged in, but is nevertheless impressive. It’s also an invitation-only site, which may turn off some users but being “invited” is simple – any current Pinterest subscriber can issue invitations. Post a comment below and I’ll send an invitation if you want to try it out; if you’re already subscribed, follow my pins!

First Impressions
You should interview several interior designers before making your final selection. Be sure to review pictures of their recent work for similar home improvement projects. A good designer will have a portfolio of pictures from several of their recent projects for you to review. Pay particular attention to their style and consider whether it aligns with your goals. Ask the designer for referrals and contact each prior client. The most important question to ask is “Would you re-use the designer for a future remodeling project?”

Attentive Listening
Many interior designers will appear to be listening, but then politely ignore your suggestions. It may be acceptable if the designer is very good at what they do, has taken the time to understand your overall objectives and then chooses to offer alternatives if your suggestions do not fit well with their overall design plan. It is generally bad when an inexperienced designer ignores your suggestions, does his or her own thing and then ultimately you are unhappy with the results.

Experience Matters
The ideal interior designer will have many years of experience working with builders, remodelers, contractors, vendors and other suppliers. They should have depth of experience in fabric, furniture, appliances, and other accessories. After listening to your desires, they should be able to take you to showrooms, fabric stores and other suppliers that will offer you products that complement your individual style.

Where were you born? Did you have a nickname when you were child? What was your favorite school subject? Did you play sports?

Professional Organizers in Atlanta and around the world often work with clients whose homes are disorganized and filled with clutter. It’s common to see photos, mementos, letters and irreplaceable evidence of lives lived get lost in the clutter. I often offer organizing solutions for memorabilia and keepsakes, but I’d like to focus here on some unique ways to share memories with family and friends.

When your children or grandchildren plead, “Tell me a story,” why not tell them your story? Though we share photos on Facebook and can Skype with family members across the country, creating an account of life’s experiences is more important than ever. Consider how much has changed in our world since your grandparents, or even your parents, were born. 

With books to record memories from parents and grandparents, sharing the details of life and family creates a cherished keepsake for children and grandchildren. A Grandparent’s Book poses more than 100 questions to make recording memories easier than writing in journal or chronological form. A Grandparent’s Memory Book:  Did You Really Walk Five Miles to School? includes both the expected questions (“What was my mom or dad like?”) and some offbeat ones (“Did you have to eat carrots when you were seven?”). A fun conversation starter, answers to the questions can lead to sharing stories that perhaps no one in the family has ever heard before.

Recognizing the importance of sharing our personal histories, StoryCorps is an independent nonprofit whose mission is to provide Americans with the opportunity to record, share, and preserve the stories of our lives. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

There are many ways to record your story with StoryCorps. Permanent recording booths are located in Atlanta, New York and San Francisco, with mobile booths rotating through several other cities. You can also record stories at home with a rentable StoryKit. Listen to a few stories and you’ll realize that we all have something important to say.

Consider a memory book or StoryCorps session as a gift for a new parent or grandparent – it’s one that becomes a gift for the entire family.

We inherit from our ancestors gifts so often taken for granted … We are links between the ages, containing past and present expectations, sacred memories and future promise.  ~ Edward Sellner

Establish a Routine
Settle on a spot for incoming mail – a basket, hanging file bin or drawer near your door – where you will always place mail before sorting it. Establish a regular time to go through your mail every day. This can be as soon as you walk in the door, after dinner, or another block of time that works for you and your schedule. The every day part is key to preventing mail from piling up and making this a daily task will keep it to just 5-10 minutes.

Establish a System
Have a trashcan or recycling bin nearby as you open mail so that pieces you don’t need can be tossed. Keep files for bills, events and other mail that needs to be kept stored so that you can file mail right away rather than leaving it to do later. If several people in your home receive mail, establish a place for each person’s mail so that they know where to find it and can review it every day. This can be a container with a section for each person, a desk in their room or other spot that makes it easy for them to find and process their mail.

Junk mail – Advertisements, postcards, catalogs, credit card offers, anything you don’t need – should be trashed or recycled immediately. Any items with personal information or pre-filled applications should be shredded. If you don’t have a shredder, invest in a small one for home use – it’s far cheaper than dealing with identity theft.

Catalogs can pile up quickly, especially around the holidays. To reduce the number of catalogs in your mailbox, sign up with Catalog Choice. This online service allows you to stop catalogs you don’t wish to receive, lightening your mail load and helping the environment.

Invitations and event announcements should be noted on your calendar right away, and if you need to keep the invitation for event details, file it in an “Upcoming Events” folder or clip it to your calendar.

Bills are typically time sensitive and late payments can be costly – in terms of both late fees and damage to your credit score. Create a home for unpaid bills and file them immediately. This can be an accordion file divided by date, a hanging file or in box. Use the system that works best for you to find and pay bills on time. Once bills are paid, file statements away.

Magazines, trade journals and newspapers are a great source of information and entertainment, but only if you actually take the time to read them. Consider canceling those you no longer need or enjoy. Check into to the availability of an online subscription, where you can catch up on reading during breaks in your day. Place print copies you want to keep in places where you’re most likely to actually read them – in your car (perfect to pass the time in carpool line), in your briefcase (catch up while you wait for an appointment), on your night stand, etc. Old magazines should be recycled or donated to local hospitals, nursing homes, or charitable organizations.

With a little pre-planning and commitment to a routine, mail processing can be short daily task rather than a dreaded project. What systems and products do you use for sorting and filing mail? Please share your favorites in the comments below or tell us on Facebook.

In this space I’ll regularly share organizing tips, recommendations for some of my favorite organizing products, case studies and updates on projects I’m working on. Moreover, I want to hear from you!

What questions do you have? What topics interest you? What organizing challenges do you struggle with? I always welcome your comments and questions here and on future posts. My hope is for this to be a conversation, where we share ideas, suggestions and our own brands of expertise.

We’ll also continue to send out our monthly e-newsletter (if you’re not already receiving it, sign up here – on the left side of the page), which typically focuses on one particular organizing theme each month, such as organizing for a move, planning a vacation or being prepared for emergencies.

So give it some thought and let me know what you’d like to read about. Share your questions and suggestions in the comments box below, or contact us directly. We look forward to the conversation!

Well, for starters I knew it would be a big project, having done my original website back in 2003. Part of the problem now was that I wasn’t totally ignorant. In fact, I had amassed a wealth of information about what a good website should be like. I wanted it to be perfect and it felt overwhelming and confusing. I could completely emphasize with the feelings of my clients who felt overwhelmed and paralyzed. I finally reached the conclusion that I couldn’t complete this project on my own without support and accountability.

Part of my support was hiring a fellow professional organizer who helps other organizers with marketing tasks. Sara Pedersen with Time to Organize helped me whittle down my wordy text and tweak it so it makes sense. My web designer, Todd Withrow with NicheLabs has been patient with my many revisions and dumb questions. I want to thank Sara and Todd for helping me overcome what felt like a huge hurdle so I could reach my goal of a new, greatly improved website. In the end it’s all been worthwhile. Still, I don’t want to do this again anytime soon! Feel free to poke around the site and let me know what you think. Constructive comments are welcome.