9 Home Organization Mistakes and Their Easy Fixes

walk-in closet with cabinetry and mirror

It’s easy to make home organization mistakes that hinder our efforts to keep our living spaces tidy.

Using inferior storage systems and poor decluttering methods are two examples of common home organization mistakes.

Many of us struggle to find enough time to organize and clean. That can lead to corner-cutting just to feel like we’re doing the bare minimum to keep our homes livable and functional.

Unfortunately, not keeping up with the amount of work it takes to maintain a tidy house or condo only makes home organization problems get progressively worse. That makes the thought of dealing with a major decluttering and organizing project feel daunting and overwhelming.

Another reason some of us are organizationally challenged is that we simply aren’t aware of the best home organization tips and methods to use.

If maintaining an orderly home feels like a constant battle for you, find out how making some practical changes to the way you organize can be a big difference-maker.

4 benefits of better home organization

It can be difficult to get motivated to start any household chores and stay motivated enough to complete them. An occasional reminder about the great benefits of having a more organized home might help to inspire you.

bedroom with plenty of storage space

Here are some of the biggest benefits of better home organization:

  1. It’s better for our mental health: many studies have found that a disorganized home contributes to higher stress and anxiety levels. Too much clutter overtaxes our brains, which drains our energy and can impact our sleep quality. Relationships between family members may become more strained as well.
  2. Taking more pride in our homes: a tidy living space is more aesthetically pleasing and makes us feel proud about the home we’ve created. Our homes are one of the greatest reflections of who we are. A well-organized home allows guests to stop by at any time without worrying that our living space isn’t presentable.
  3. We’re more productive: it’s easier to be more productive in an organized space with optimal functionality. Focussing on tasks becomes easier and we feel more relaxed and comfortable. That’s extra important nowadays with so many of us working from home.
  4. Less time gets wasted: better home organization reduces the amount of time we waste looking for lost or misplaced items. It also saves us from wasting money on replacement purchases. One survey found that the average search time for a misplaced item in the home is five minutes and twenty seconds.

Avoid making these home organization mistakes

By eliminating the following common home organization mistakes, you’ll find it much easier to establish and maintain order in your home.

1. Not having a practical home organization plan

One of the biggest home organization mistakes is starting a clean-up project without clear goals and a solid plan. This often leads to:

  • inefficient work progress
  • unsatisfying results
  • frustration
  • burnout

Before getting started, take some time to define your decluttering and organizing goals and prioritize the areas of the home that need the most attention. Create a realistic timeline and break tasks into smaller, more manageable steps if necessary.

The smartest approach is to focus on completing one area or room at a time. Also, consider taking care of some smaller decluttering and organizing tasks before you dive into the bigger ones. That can include everything from clearing out a junk drawer to tidying up a home office desktop to making the bed.

A satisfying sense of accomplishment is an amazing motivator. Seeing a closet, countertop, or other area of your home that has just been tidied up can help fuel you to move on to the next part of your living space that needs attention.

2. Organizing before decluttering

Many people jump straight into organizing without taking the time to declutter first, which is counter-productive.

It’s a common misconception that decluttering and organizing are the same thing. They’re actually different processes that complement each other. Here are the differences between decluttering and organizing:

  • decluttering removes unnecessary items from a space
  • organizing is the process of putting items where they’re supposed to be and establishing systems to keep spaces tidy

It doesn’t make sense to organize and store things that we never use. That only makes it harder to keep a space organized. Decluttering weekly, monthly, or even a couple of times per year frees up valuable storage space for the things we use regularly.

3. Failing to use effective home organization systems

A surprisingly common home organization mistake is to rearrange where your belongings are stored instead of properly reorganizing them. This is one area where effective decluttering takes on greater importance. You can reorganize clutter all you want, but organized clutter is still just clutter.

It’s essential to have effective organization methods or systems in place to keep things tidy with less effort. Without good organization systems, home spaces are guaranteed to become cluttered and disorganized faster.

One fundamental that works for any organizing purpose is to create designated homes for everything you own. This takes the guesswork out of deciding where items should be stored and encourages more consistent organizing habits. Some people find it useful to label a lot of their home storage spaces.

open laundry hamper white cabinetry

Another easy way to keep a home tidier is to set up simple organization systems that accommodate your daily routines and lifestyle. Here are a few examples:

  • keep your house and car keys in a designated spot like a wall key hook
  • use dividers to keep drawers tidier and eliminate those dreaded junk drawers
  • create an incoming mail drop zone near the front door along with a recycling bin
  • use laundry hampers to corral dirty clothes

4. Not investing in better storage and organization solutions

Using effective organizing systems like the examples above helps significantly. However, there’s more anyone in pursuit of a tidy home can do to make it even easier to maintain order: invest in better storage and organization solutions.

That doesn’t include buying a bunch of storage bins and containers. Many people make the mistake of storing too many of their belongings in storage bins. Although they are practical for some storage needs, bins tend to get used more to keep clutter out of sight and out of mind.

It’s wiser to consider your specific storage needs and choose storage solutions that make better use of your space, while keeping items visible and accessible. Well-designed storage products work hand-in-hand with your organizing systems for better organizing efficiency.

Higher-quality storage and organization products also last longer, function more reliably, and look nicer than low-cost storage and organization products.

Home organization solution ideas

Custom closet systems are one home organization solution that are well worth the investment. Professionally-designed closet organizers maximize your wardrobe storage space. Convenient accessories like pullout racks and extra hanging rods can be incorporated into the design, too.

Here are some additional home organization solutions worth considering:

  • adding a mudroom to keep your front entryway tidier
  • adding a walk-in kitchen pantry
  • remodeling or adding a home office
  • update your bathroom’s storage areas
  • give your laundry room a makeover

mudroom storage

Make sure you declutter and reorganize before buying any new storage products. It’s much harder to properly assess what your storage needs are until you’ve cleared out all of that space-hogging clutter!

5. Trying to do too much by ourselves

Home organization is a time-consuming, always-ongoing process. Trying to handle too much of the work alone simply isn’t practical.

This only causes us to feel more stressed, fatigued, and perhaps even resentful of other family members who aren’t pulling their weight to keep the home tidy and functional. It’s a tricky thing to navigate, too, because everyone has different organizational standards.

The best strategy is to delegate decluttering and organizing tasks among family members. Try to maintain a regular home organizing and cleaning schedule.

Good communication is a key part of the organizing process in any home with more than one dweller.

A family member may have a different attachment to a belonging than you’re aware of. That can cause issues when you clean up after them and their belongings get stashed away or thrown out, so keep the lines of communication open to maintain peace in the home.

6. Being handcuffed by obligation and sentimentality

Homes tend to have more clutter than they should because we sometimes let feelings of obligation and sentimentality cloud our judgement when it’s time to declutter.

How many times have you been reluctant to get rid of something that was given to you as a gift? We also feel obligated to keep more expensive things, even if we rarely or never use them.

Guilt is another negative feeling that holds us back from clearing out some of the clutter from our lives (like holding onto clothes we bought and never wore).

Sentimentality is another major reason we don’t have more free space in our homes. Things we rarely, if ever, use or take the time to appreciate often hold too much emotional power over us and end up collecting dust.

man selecting shirt from closet

Also, try not to get caught up in too much of the “I might use it one day” mindset for things you never use. In some cases, such forward-thinking might pay off, but this is usually the exception, not the norm.

Home organizing guru Marie Kondo’s “does it spark joy?” philosophy works for some people when they’re decluttering and reorganizing. Whichever criteria you use, just try to be selective and practical about the items you choose to share space with in your home.

7. Paying to store stuff we never use

Another home organization mistake a surprising number of people make is to deal with their clutter problem by simply moving most of it to a self-storage unit. A Self-Storage Association survey found that 9% of American homeowners rent storage space, even though 65% of them have a garage.

A newer variation of the remote storage concept is on-demand/pick-up storage services. They’ll pick up your extra belongings, store them at their warehouse, and bring specific items back to you (for a fee, of course) when they’re eventually needed.

Using self-storage companies never turns out to be a practical long-term home organization solution. They should only be used if you’re dealing with a major life event like a divorce, a death in the family, or a move and need to store some things on a short-term basis.

All of that stuff is never really “out of sight, out of mind”, either. The monthly or yearly storage bills you’ll be paying will make sure you’re regularly reminded that those remotely stored belongings will eventually need to be dealt with.

On a related note, another misplaced use of home storage is sacrificing your garage to store junk instead of the things it was invented to store – your vehicles. A remodeled garage can create a lot more room for home storage and leave you with valuable indoor parking space. Contact Garage Living to learn more about how they can transform your garage.

8. Not getting rid of things after decluttering

Decluttering and organizing are cathartic processes that are good for our mental health because they help us regain control of our living spaces.

However, you won’t experience the full reward for the hard work you’ve put in until all of those boxes and bins of items that are being donated, given away, thrown out, or sold are finally removed from your home.

Allowing these things to continue occupying space in the home negates the positive impact of decluttering. Once they are finally gone, it opens up space (literally) for new possibilities in your home. You can upgrade some areas to create more space for:

• entertaining
• hobbies
• enjoying entertainment
• lounging
• remote working

If you don’t have much free time to drop off items you want to donate, call the charity or thrift store you have in mind. They may be able to save you a car trip by picking your things up.

9. Not decluttering and organizing regularly

Decluttering and organizing are not one-time events you can take care of when a new year begins or in the spring. They’re always-ongoing processes that prevent clutter from accumulating.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s all-too-easy to neglect the regular maintenance that is required to keep our homes organized and functioning smoothly.

According to HuffPost.com, studies have found that “people are significantly more likely to litter in already-messy environments than they are in clean environments. The same theory applies to the home as well – when you have a clean, relaxing space, you’ll want to keep it that way.”

white built-ins organized den

Make it a habit to devote a few minutes each day for quick organization touch-ups and maintenance. Try to dedicate a specific day once a week for some more thorough organizing and cleaning. And follow these three organizing best practices:

  • return items to their proper places
  • occasionally assess how efficiently your storage systems are working
  • declutter periodically to prevent the buildup of unnecessary items

One more overlooked benefit of having an organized, clutter-free home is that it makes it easier to clean and you can be more thorough while cleaning. You won’t need to spend as much time moving things to vacuum and dust around and underneath them.

Invest in reliable home organization solutions

By recognizing and sidestepping these common home organization mistakes, you should be well on your way to creating a more orderly living space.

Organized Interiors has home organization solutions that can transform your living space into a clutter-free, more functional environment that improves your quality of life.

Our custom cabinetry offers hundreds of attractive finishes to choose from. Wood texture, high gloss, and matte styles are available so you can personalize and stylize the look of your storage and organization systems.

Schedule a free design consultation with us today.

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Walk-in Closet Investment: 7 Must-Know Benefits

woman in walk-in closet

The best home improvement projects improve your quality of living and have a good return on investment. A walk-in closet investment provides both of these benefits.

More homeowners are learning that walk-in closets can significantly enhance our living spaces.

Storing clothes and accessories isn’t the only thing walk-in closets are being primarily used for, either. Walk-ins also serve as luxurious, personal home sanctuary spaces that can fundamentally change your daily dressing routine, too.

Walk-in closets have also become an in-demand feature for homebuyers who want more storage room and functionality from their prime bedroom’s closets. 

The ideal home for 59% of Canadian homebuyers includes a walk-in closet, according to a recent survey by real estate marketplace Zolo.

7 walk-in closet investment benefits

A survey by House Digest found that the most preferred type of closet for 79% of homeowners is a walk-in closet.

Whereas walk-in closets were once viewed as a niche amenity found almost exclusively in mansions, they’re more commonplace nowadays. Homes of all sizes and property values now include walk-ins.

Walk-in closets also have much more mainstream appeal nowadays because we see them so often on TV and streaming makeover shows, social media, and interior design websites.

Let’s find out why this home design trend is so popular and what benefits a walk-in closet investment provides.

1. Walk-in closets solve storage issues

We own so many things that it’s harder than ever to stay organized. Recent data from Statista shows that the closets of consumers worldwide had an average of 136 apparel items in them.

Untidy closets tend to spill over into the main bedroom area. They’re also more frustrating and time-consuming to use because it’s harder to locate specific items in the closet. One reason clutter and disorganization cause so much stress is that it makes us feel like we’re not in control of our environment.

Has it been years since you last saw the back wall of your master bedroom’s overstuffed reach-in closet? If so, here’s how a walk-in closet can be a wardrobe organization game-changer:

  • the ample space comfortably fits your entire wardrobe
  • walk-ins can be optimized for maximum storage efficiency
  • custom closet systems allow for superior organization
  • you can give each clothing item a proper home
  • everything you own is viewable at a glance
  • establish organization systems that work best for you and are easy to maintain
  • sharing a closet with a partner becomes easier
walk-in closet with green walls

A walk-in closet provides enough space to give everything you wear a proper home and better visibility.

2. A walk-in closet investment boosts your home value

Smart homeowners considering a renovation project cast an eye toward the future and how their investment can pay dividends later on.

Architectural Digest recently analyzed the National Association of Realtors’ annual Remodeling Impact Report. Their article lists the best interior remodeling projects for return on investment percentage. Here are the top five results:

  1. Hardwood flooring refinish (147%)
  2. New wood flooring (118%)
  3. Insulation upgrade (100%)
  4. Basement conversion to living area (86%)
  5. Closet renovation (83%)

Remodelled closets have such an impressive return on investment and stand out to homebuyers for a few reasons.

For starters, most homes have fairly basic closets. In a lot of cases, not much has been done to update a master bedroom’s builder closet. Some may contain little more than a single rod and shelf. Naturally, a spacious, stylish walk-in closet with premium functionality will look positively heavenly in comparison! 

A homebuyer who sees a tidy closet with plenty of storage capacity and practical functionality will envision how nice the space would be to use for themselves.

And the more luxurious a walk-in closet is, the more its “wow factor” goes up. A well-appointed walk-in tells potential buyers that you have high standards for your living space, which leaves a positive impression.

Walk-in closets with the right upgrades and high-quality materials don’t just give your home a competitive edge to help it sell faster, it can boost your selling price, too.

walk-in closet infographic

Walk-in closets are one of the most desirable home features for Canadian homebuyers. (infographic from Zolo.ca)

3. Customize your walk-in closet design

The ample space available in a walk-in closet allows you to design to your heart’s content. It can be as simple or elaborate as required. 

Here are some popular walk-in closet ideas worth considering for your custom design:

  • enclosed cabinetry
  • dresser-style drawer towers
  • open shelves with dividers
  • extra hanging rods
  • a tiered or pullout shoe rack
  • pullout laundry hampers
  • closet accessories like valet rods, pullout pant racks, and jewellery drawer inserts

Why custom closets are worth it

The beauty of custom closets is that you have a lot more design options compared to off-the-shelf closet organizing systems. You’re not limited by the “one size fits all” philosophy that comes with buying mass-produced closet organizer products.

Organized Interiors’ Classic and Monogram closet systems are ideal for walk-in closets. Choose from hundreds of options for cabinetry finishes and decorative hardware. The widths, depths, and heights of everything in your walk-in closet can be tailored to your specifications by our designers.

Yes, custom closets do cost more than DIY closet organizers, but for a good reason. As you can imagine, custom-designing, manufacturing, and installing a walk-in closet takes time.

The higher-quality materials that are used also increase the cost, but the result is a far superior product compared to budget-friendly walk-in closet systems. All of these details factor into how much you’ll recoup from a walk-in closet investment.

4. Create a luxurious home space

Walk-in closets are often designed with luxurious aesthetics in mind to produce stylish and upscale spaces to showcase your wardrobe and accessories. 

Professional closet design companies like Organized Interiors can create bespoke walk-in closets with as many luxury features as you need.

Depending on your budget and requirements, it’s possible to create a home showpiece that inspires closet envy. If this is your goal, our fully customizable Monogram closet system is exactly what you’re looking for.

Lighting upgrades will improve the space’s functionality and can significantly impact the luxurious look and feel of a walk-in closet. Touches like adding an elegant chandelier and dynamic accent and ambient lighting features create a chic, boutique-style aesthetic.

Consider some of these other additions to help you style up a luxury walk-in closet:

  • a centre island
  • luxurious countertops
  • a makeup vanity
  • a comfy chair or bench
  • décor features such as crown and base moulding
  • cabinets with glass doors
  • full-length mirrors
white walk-in closet storage

The right luxury touches can make a walk-in closet look like a high-end clothing boutique.

5. Enjoy the comfort of a dressing room

Let’s expand on one of the walk-in closet investment benefits we’ve briefly touched upon: using it as a dressing space.

Having an all-in-one home area where you can store your wardrobe, get dressed and undressed, and do your makeup, hair, and grooming is invaluable.

A dedicated home dressing room becomes a personal sanctuary that provides privacy, comfort, and convenience.

The efficiency of your morning routine will improve and you’ll waste less time getting ready for work. This fosters a positive mindset and sets a better tone for the rest of your day.

At the day’s end, you’ll appreciate having a personalized, cozy, and tranquil space where you can unwind and reflect on your day.

6. Closet renovations “spark joy”

Another reason a walk-in closet investment is worth it is because closet renovations are one of the most satisfying types of remodeling projects homeowners can do.

The Remodeling Impact Report’s “Joy Score” measures the enjoyment homeowners get from their remodels on a scale of 1 to 10. Closet renovations, along with a few other types of projects, scored a perfect 10 out of 10 for interior renovations. That’s higher than popular home improvement projects like bathroom and kitchen remodels.

Closet renovations are one of the remodeling projects that give homeowners the most enjoyment. (infographic from the National Association of Realtors)

A recent Today’s Homeowner study found that 39% of people who renovate do it to increase their enjoyment of their home. And 93% of homeowners who did a renovation felt their quality of life was better afterwards.

There are so many benefits of having an orderly walk-in closet with easy grab-and-go functionality, so it’s no wonder that homeowners love what a revamped closet space offers.

7. Make better use of a spare room

One more practical benefit of adding a walk-in closet is that it gives a spare room more functionality. Having an empty room in a home is nothing more than wasted space. An underused room doesn’t make the most of your home’s square footage, either.

The best location for a walk-in closet is in a spare room adjoining the master bedroom (or across the hall from it). Another benefit of using a spare room is that it allows you to take advantage of its natural light.

The room doesn’t have to be huge because you can do a lot with a walk-in closet design in a smaller room.

For some people, converting an entire room into a closet may seem extravagant and impractical. Keep in mind, however, that a walk-in closet with built-in storage allows you to get rid of bedroom furniture like a dresser and wardrobe.

A walk-in closet can even be designed to incorporate a home office space. As more people find themselves working from home, the cloffice has become a practical way to get more functionality from our living spaces. Learn more about a cloffice and whether it’s right for your home.

Bring your walk-in closet ideas to life!

A walk-in closet investment transforms your master bedroom closet from ordinary to extraordinary.

Organized Interiors has walk-in and reach-in closet solutions to fit your style and meet your organizing needs.

Schedule a free design consultation with one of our design professionals to experience for yourself the enjoyment of owning a beautiful walk-in closet.

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Spring Closet Cleaning: 5 Essential Tips for a Refreshed Wardrobe

woman doing spring closet cleaning

Spring is well underway, so there’s a good chance you’ve been working away on your home spring cleaning projects.

As time-consuming as it can be to give your home some extra cleaning and organizing attention, it always feels rewarding to refresh and renew your living space.

Obvious tasks like dusting blinds, washing windows, vacuuming baseboards, and cleaning out the pantry are likely on your spring cleaning checklist.

One project you might be overlooking, however, is a spring closet cleaning.

Don’t overlook your closets while spring cleaning

Although most of the closets in our homes get used every day, they often get overlooked come spring cleaning time. We tend to focus our work efforts on the more visible home areas. It’s all too easy to hide messy closets by just keeping their doors closed as much as possible.

The “out of sight, out of mind” philosophy simply doesn’t work very long with an untidy closet…as we’re always reminded the next time we use it.

A change of season presents the perfect opportunity to declutter and organize your closets. They’re one of the home’s major clutter hotspots and there are lots of benefits of having tidier closets.

Here are some spring closet cleaning tips to help you create more functional and efficient closet spaces.

Benefits of spring closet cleaning

Let’s start with the benefits of doing a spring closet cleaning. Here’s why it’s worth the time and effort to do a spring closet refresh:

  1. Organized closets are a time-saver: overstuffed closets make it harder to find things to wear every day. Curating your wardrobe to accommodate the current season and making better use of your storage space eliminates hours of wasted time every year.
  2. Using tidy closets reduces stress: an easy-to-manage closet space makes it less stressful to get dressed. With all of your clothes and accessories visible at a glance, you’ll experience less “mess stress” and decision fatigue and enjoy a smoother morning routine.
  3. Maximize your wardrobe usage: A National Association of Professional Organizers study found that 80% of our clothes are only worn 20% of the time. Organized closets reduce the likelihood of losing and misplacing clothes and allow you to get the most use from what you own.
  4. Get a better idea of what clothing you need to buy: an occasional wardrobe curation and closet reorganization helps you make smarter clothing purchases. You’ll be more informed about the gaps and surplusses in your clothing collection.
  5. Extend the life of your clothing: messy, overstuffed closets lead to poor storage habits. That usually leaves clothes looking a little worse for wear, which can damage them and shorten their lives.

5 essential spring closet cleaning tips

In addition to these specific closet-cleaning benefits, spring cleaning is an age-old ritual because it helps lighten our mood, increase our productivity, and improve the air quality in our homes.

Every part of a home needs an occasional refresh. Even the most beautiful room will lose its visual appeal after years of seeing it day after day. All areas of a living space (including the closets) can benefit from a refresh and revamp every once in a while.

If all of these benefits sound like worthwhile reasons to get your closets in order, here are some tips to make your spring closet cleaning project a little easier.

1. Curate your wardrobe

Recent data from Statistics Canada shows that the average Canadian household spends $3,344 on clothing and accessories annually.

Whether it’s the garage, kitchen pantry, or your closets, any space is naturally easier to keep tidy if it contains fewer things to store. Our bedroom closets work the hardest and are most in need of a spring closet clean-out and some wardrobe curation.

The curation process will typically take up the most amount of time while spring closet cleaning, especially if it’s something you don’t do at least once a year. Try on anything you haven’t worn in ages to see what fits and which items still align with your style. Set up “keep”, “donate”, “sell”, and “throw-away” sections.

An effective closet purge requires making some difficult choices about what to keep and what to let go of. Be mindful of finding a sensible balance between practicality and sentimentality during the process.

Once you’ve eliminated the unnecessary items from your wardrobe, now you’re more able to “shop your closet”. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it means to create new outfits using the lesser-worn and overlooked items in your existing wardrobe. And if you do need to fill in a few wardrobe gaps, now you have more closet space for any new additions.

woman sorting clothes

Try to curate your wardrobe at least once a year to prevent your closets from getting overstuffed and unmanageable.

2. Refresh your closet interiors

We’ve detailed one type of closet cleaning that involves decluttering and curating. It’s impossible to give a full closet a proper cleaning in the traditional sense, however. Since your closets will be mostly emptied during this process, take advantage of this opportunity to give them a deep cleaning.

Even in a home that is regularly vacuumed, a surprising amount of dust can get into enclosed spaces like closets. Give the ceilings, walls, and shelves in your closets a thorough dusting and remove any cobwebs. Don’t forget to wipe down any baseboards, light fixtures, and small personal items that have accumulated dust, too.

Vacuum the closet floors and consider refreshing any carpets or rugs with a steam cleaning or shampoo if it’s been a while since they’ve last had one.

Look for signs of mould and mildew, which can occur in dark closets with high humidity levels and overly restricted airflow. Avoid storing wet shoes and sweaty clothes in closets to keep out the moisture that mould and mildew thrive on.

Keep an eye out for signs of clothing moths as well. They’re attracted to natural fibres and also enjoy warm and dark spaces. To make your closets less hospitable for moths, mothballs aren’t your only option (in fact, they’re quite toxic). Here are some alternative ways to avoid any moth issues in your closets:

  • don’t put dirty clothes in closets
  • use pheromone strips
  • keep cedar blocks or hangers in your closets
  • use sachets containing spices like lavender, cinnamon, mint, and cloves

3. Use good closet organizing systems

After carefully considering which of your belongings deserve space in your closets, now it’s time to put everything back. But before doing so, ask yourself one question: could my closets be improved with better storage and organization systems?

A high-quality custom closet system maximizes your closet storage space, reduces clutter, and makes it much easier to stay organized. Professionally-designed custom closet systems are superior to store-bought closet organizers for a few reasons:

  • they’re tailored specifically for the dimensions of your home’s closets, resulting in maximum functionality
  • there’s more flexibility to accommodate your storage and organization habits
  • they look nicer and complement your existing décor better
  • higher-quality materials provide greater durability and a better user experience

Organized Interiors offers storage solutions for reach-in and walk-in closets that can be a game-changer if you’re dealing with closet organization issues. Another option is to add a built-in or standalone custom wardrobe closet if you need a little more clothes storage space.

men's walk-in closet

4. Prioritize your storage needs

Once you’ve decided on how your closets will be set up and what’s going back in them, establish how you want to organize them.

Out-of-season clothes that won’t be touched for a few months ideally shouldn’t be taking up any space in your bedroom closets. An exception would be if you have a walk-in or extra-large reach-in closet.

Since this is a spring closet cleaning project, give your spring wardrobe basics the prime closet real estate. It’s a good idea to leave one or two warmer clothing items available for those cooler spring and early summer days.

There are many different methods to organize your closets in a way that works the easiest and best for you. Some people like to group items by colour or fabric type. Others prefer to group things according to clothing type or length.

5. Donate, recycle, and repurpose your old clothing

A 2022 report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology found that only about 15% of used clothes and other textiles get reused or recycled in the U.S.

There are a few eco-friendly options available to get rid of your old clothing. Donating anything that is still in good condition is the best solution. As with any type of donation, you should always check the reputation of any local organization you choose to support. Here are a few suggestions:

  • clothing banks
  • women’s shelters
  • refugee centres
  • homeless shelters
  • thrift stores
  • churches
  • organizations that provide employment assistance via business attire donations

Selling your old clothes online isn’t for everybody, but it is another option. Local animal shelters may be able to use some of your old clothing as bedding. Some types of worn-out clothes that aren’t suitable for donating can be repurposed as cleaning rags.

Virtually all types of clothing and textiles are recyclable. Reputable charities like Goodwill and The Salvation Army recycle any donated clothing that can’t be used. Textile recycling companies and most municipalities can also accept your old clothing for recycling.

donated clothes in clear container

An excess of old clothing ends up in landfills instead of being donated, recycled, resold, or repurposed.

Reset your closets with a spring closet cleaning

Don’t let untidy closets waste your valuable time every day because they’re too unmanageable. Take the time to give them a spring closet cleaning and you’ll appreciate having tidy and refreshed spaces to store your clothing.

Organized Interiors can upgrade any closet in your home with our stylish closet systems. Get started on your custom closet remodel project by scheduling a free design consultation with us.

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The Best Home Organization Shows to Watch Right Now

Photo by Vecislavas Popa from Pexels

When the calendar turns to January, many of us get the urge to tidy up after a busy holiday season to get our homes in order.

Having the idea to get some January home cleaning done and actually being motivated enough to follow through on those good intentions doesn’t always happen, however.

A little extra inspiration can always help. Why not watch some of the best home organization shows for some ideas and inspiration to get your new year home organization project started?

Get inspired by these home organization shows

Home organization shows have had a major impact on pop culture in recent years. Thanks to everyone from Marie Kondo to The Minimalists to the Get Organized with The Home Edit ladies, decluttering and home organizing have become their own subgenre of TV entertainment.

Who would have thought?

Homeowners have no shortage of choices on their TV screens and devices to educate, entertain, and inspire them to declutter and refresh their living spaces.

Luckily, these shows cater to a variety of organizing styles, so at least one of them should align with your personality and lifestyle.

Don’t wait until the spring to get your home in tip-top shape. Start the year off on a positive note by checking out these binge-worthy home organization shows to spark some inspiration to restore order to your home.

1. Get Organized with The Home Edit

home organization shows

Photo: Netflix Canada

Home organizing experts Joanna Teplin and Clea Shearer founded their Home Edit company in 2015. Their goal was to “reinvent traditional organizing and merge it with design and interior styling for a specific and signature look”.

The Nashville-based duo have rapidly grown The Home Edit into a major lifestyle brand that includes the following:

  • a podcast
  • two bestselling books
  • a product line that is sold in over two dozen countries
  • a huge social media following

Teplin and Shearer also executive produce and star in Get Organized with The Home Edit on Netflix. That show is also executive produced by actress Reese Witherspoon, whose Hello Sunshine media company bought The Home Edit company in 2022.  

The show features the pair’s signature organizing style that relies on using colour-coordinated storage and clear acrylic containers to make spaces more aesthetically pleasing. Using lots of labels is another strategy they recommend to make it easier to keep things tidy.

They help celebrities (including Witherspoon, Neil Patrick Harris, and Eva Longoria) and average families organize everything from their pantries to playrooms to home offices to bedroom closets. Joanna and Clea’s own homes and personal lives get some attention, too.

Season one premiered in 2020 and includes eight episodes ranging from 40 to 45 minutes each. 2022’s season two includes eight more episodes.

Where you can watch it: Netflix

2. Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

A list of the best home organization shows wouldn’t be complete without including Marie Kondo. In the last several years, the Japanese minimalist and organizing guru have become a household name in North America.

Kondo has authored several bestselling books (including 2014’s breakout hit The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up), makes public speaking appearances, appears regularly on TV, is a major social media influencer, and is also an in-demand organizing consultant.

Her “KonMari” organization philosophies are showcased in Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo series. Kondo helps her clients declutter their homes by sharing her wisdom about the benefits of living with fewer things. She also shows them how to deal with the emotional connection we form with some of our belongings, which makes it harder to detach from them. 

Kondo’s decluttering methods of asking whether or not your belongings “spark joy” for you and literally expressing gratitude towards items you part with aren’t for everyone, admittedly. But we think anyone whose name has become a verb for decluttering (as in “I Marie Kondo-ed my messy closet”) is worth paying to.

The 2019 show includes one season of eight episodes ranging from 35 to 50 minutes each.

Where you can watch it: Netflix

3. Hot Mess House

Photo: HGTV Canada

Chatham-born Cassandra Aarssen’s ClutterBug home organizing business has helped millions of people live with less clutter. Aarssen’s home organizing tips and hacks are also available through her YouTube channel, podcast, blog, books, and on her Hot Mess House HGTV show.

Hot Mess House’s first season was filmed in the early days of the pandemic, so the organizing expert works with her clients virtually. After getting a video tour of the clients’ homes and hearing about their issues, she recommends home organizing solutions that will help them and organizationally-challenged viewers. 

In season two, Aarssen gets to work with her clients in-person at their homes on organization projects that transform their messy spaces into tidy living areas. Builder Wendell Holland works with Aarssen to create the custom organization systems the homeowners need.

Season one of the series includes four 22-minute episodes. Season two features a lot more content with six episodes that are 43 minutes each.

Where you can watch it: HGTV Canada, Discovery+, Amazon Prime Video

4. The Minimalists: Less Is Now

Kondo may have raised the profile of the minimalist lifestyle over the last decade, but The Minimalists (Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus) preceded her arrival by a few years.

The pair, who have been close friends since childhood, began evangelizing about the benefits of minimalism in 2011. Like the other home organization show hosts, they’ve published books, host a podcast, make public speaking appearances, and brought their message to the online streaming world.

The Minimalists: Less Is Now is the follow-up to Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things, their popular 2015 Netflix documentary. It further examines the pitfalls of consumer culture and challenges viewers to reevaluate their consumer habits.

Unlike the other home organization shows listed here, this one is a single documentary that packs a lot of food for thought into its shorter 53-minute running time.

Where you can watch it: Netflix

5. Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo

Photo: Netflix Canada

Sparking Joy, Kondo’s follow-up series to Tidying Up takes a different approach to organizing her clients’ lives. The show focuses on helping some small business owners and a church worker achieve a better work-life balance.

In one episode, Kondo helps the father and son owners of an organic garden centre organize their workspace to help relieve some of the strain in their relationship. Another episode finds Kondo helping a coffee shop owner bring more order to her cafe and home office space. A mother who has recently dealt with a lot of upheaval in her life turns to Kondo for her expertise as she attempts to tidy up her church and home in another episode.

The series updates the progress of Kondo’s clients by checking in with them a little while after consulting with the organizing expert. The series also provides a glimpse into Kondo’s family and home life.

Sparking Joy consists of three episodes that are 40 minutes each, so you can easily watch the entire series in one sitting.

Where you can watch it: Netflix

Get the best home organization solutions

Getting ideas, tips, and inspiration from these home organization shows will help restore order in your house or condo.

There’s no substitute for using well-made, highly efficient organization systems to maximize your home storage space, however.

It helps if the organization systems you rely on look nice, too. In recent years, home organization shows like the ones we’ve covered have spotlighted how the storage we use in our homes can also be more aesthetically pleasing.

“Storage isn’t just part of the home’s form or function anymore. It’s also a major contributor to its style,” writes Builderonline.

Organized Interiors has the expertise and stylish, user-friendly products to make your home tidier and more comfortable.

To organize and upgrade your closets, home office, bedrooms, laundry room, and other areas of your home, all it takes to get started is to schedule a free design consultation with us.

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9 Laundry Room Storage Ideas To Maximize Your Space

laundry room storage

Rooms like the kitchen, bathroom, and garage never take a day off. The laundry room may not similarly be used every day, but it’s still one of the hardest working home spaces.

The average Canadian family does 6-8 laundry loads per week. That means most of us spend dozens of hours in the laundry room every year.

One of the biggest problems with the most frequently used areas in our homes is that they’re hard to keep tidy. An inadequate amount of laundry room storage space tends to leave the room cluttered and disorganized. That makes it less functional, which adds to our time spent doing the laundry.

Laundry rooms are commonly the least cozy room in a house, too. It’s no wonder it’s so hard to get motivated to do an admittedly mundane, yet essential task in an untidy, dungeon-like atmosphere week after week.

Upgrading your laundry room has many benefits and there are plenty of ways to do it with these laundry room storage ideas.

Having more laundry room storage saves you time

Doing the laundry is one of the most time-consuming household tasks. According to a recent Arm & Hammer survey, the average American parent spends almost five hours per month doing the laundry. For large families, that number is undoubtedly higher.

Redesigning your laundry room to better accommodate your storage needs and laundry habits creates a space that is more enjoyable, convenient, and efficient to use.

If you could save yourself just 20 minutes a week doing the laundry with a smarter room setup, that’s more than 17 hours over the course of a year you can spend on other things!

Infographic source: Arm & Hammer

The laundry process involves using a lot of different products, tools, and accessories. All of those items need proper homes so things are always easy to find and put back in their place. Grouping like items together also keeps everything more organized. Following these two simple organizing fundamentals will go a long way toward preventing clutter from accumulating in any space.

Other smart laundry room storage solutions such as having hampers to sort dirty clothes and space-saving systems for an ironing board and drying racks will help, too.

Get some inspiration to improve how your laundry room functions with these laundry room storage ideas.

1. Cabinets are essential for laundry room storage

Anyone who is thorough when they do the laundry potentially requires storage space for a couple of dozen types of items or more that they use regularly. This includes things like detergent bottles and pods, fabric softener, stain remover, bleach, mesh washing bags, dryer sheets, an iron, and clothes pins, just to name a few.

Instead of the cheap laundry storage systems that a lot of homes use, invest in custom laundry room cabinets to store your supplies. Cabinets are essential for a laundry room and custom cabinetry is a better option compared to mass-produced cabinets that you have to assemble. Here’s why:

  • custom cabinets are tailored for a laundry room’s dimensions so storage space is used more efficiently
  • you get a wider variety of styles, finishes, and hardware
  • cheap cabinetry is less durable and more likely to fall apart faster (something worth considering in a room with fluctuating temperature and moisture levels)

Using cabinets for most of your laundry room storage needs keeps things hidden so the room looks tidier. Enclosed storage also keeps the space cleaner compared to keeping everything on shelves because you’ll have less dust accumulating on all your laundry supplies.

laundry room storage cabinets

The abundance of cabinetry in this laundry room handles all of its storage needs. Hidden storage also keeps the room looking tidier.

2. Install a few shelves

Laundry room shelves are useful for keeping your most frequently used items stored above the washer, dryer, sink, and the room’s primary work area. Shelves provide quick grab-and-go functionality, which is always convenient.

Use floating shelves and/or open shelf sections in your custom cabinet design. Set up distinct zones on the shelves to help maintain an organized space and eliminate any guesswork as to where something is located.

Adding shelves in a laundry room also lets you decoratively use them to make the space feel cozier. Pour your detergents, pods, and other supplies into stylish containers to bring some much-needed charm to the utilitarian space.

3. Add a multi-purpose laundry room island

Another great laundry room storage idea is to add an island if your room is large enough. A multi-purpose laundry room island adds more storage space and an extra work surface.

The base of the island can be designed for a variety of functions. Add several drawers for storing additional laundry and sewing supplies. Pullouts with hanging racks and an ironing board add space-saving functionality.

The island countertop also functions as a handy space to sort and mend your clothes and can be used as a folding station.  Undercabinet lighting helps brighten up your main countertop area to make working easier. This type of task lighting can be replicated above the island with a pendant or chandelier, which adds decorative appeal.

4. Upgrade or add a laundry room closet

If your laundry room has a closet, take advantage of that valuable hidden storage space. Ask your laundry room designer how to maximize the closet’s storage space.

They might suggest adding more shelving or reconfiguring the shelf spacing so the closet interior is used more efficiently. Perhaps pullout racks can be added. To refresh the closet’s appearance, give it a new coat of paint and add or upgrade the lighting.

For laundry rooms without a closet, consider adding a tall wardrobe-style cabinet that functions just as well as a traditional closet.

laundry room closet, hamper, ironing board

This cabinet closet with a pullout rack provides storage space for the home’s cleaning supplies. Pullouts with a drying rack, ironing board, and hamper add space-saving functionality.

5. Boost and store more with pedestals

You can never have enough laundry room storage space and a very easy way to add some more is with washer and dryer pedestals.

Pedestals, which raise front-loading washers and dryers 12-16″ to make them more accessible to load and unload, come in a few different styles. The most popular type has a built-in drawer below the platform the appliance sits on. This small space is ideal for storing your laundry day essentials and extra supplies.

Some pedestals lack a drawer and just have an open cutout that also serves as a useful storage area. The other kind of pedestal costs a good deal more and doesn’t offer storage. It incorporates a bottom compartment that lets you do a small laundry load or a second load along with the washer’s main load.

6. Add plenty of laundry hampers

Having a smart sorting system set up so that dirty clothes get sorted quicker will save your home’s main laundry-doers from having to do it.

Accomplishing this is fairly easy. As part of your remodel, have several pullout hampers incorporated into the laundry room cabinetry so dirty clothes can be separated by colours and delicate fabrics. Organized Interiors’ pullout hampers can also be built into our closet organizer systems and have an easily removable cloth bag with handles.

Label the hampers so there’s no confusion and have the wearers sort their own dirty clothes when they bring them to the laundry room. That’s easier said than done, of course, but it’s really not too much to ask.

You could also use laundry baskets, but hampers are a better choice. They look nicer and keep smelly and unsightly dirty clothes hidden.

pullout hampers

Pullout laundry hampers keep dirty clothes sorted and out of sight.

7. Use a space-saving ironing board

The ironing boards we use aren’t given much thought. They’re usually stored in a closet or leaned against a wall in the laundry room’s corner. More organized folks may hang them on a wall hook or rack.

Why not use a smarter ironing board storage method that also makes it easier to use? Pullout ironing boards that are incorporated into a cabinet drawer space are one option. Fold-down ironing boards that are mounted on the wall or built into the wall are another option. Just flip the ironing board down and it’s set at the perfect height and good to go.

Pullout and fold-down ironing boards improve a laundry space in the following ways:

  • they save space
  • they’re more stable than foldable freestanding ironing boards
  • there’s no hassle setting them up and less danger of pinching your fingers
  • pullout and built-in ironing boards stay hidden when they’re not in use

8. Hang ’em out to dry

Hanging washed clothes to air-dry qualifies as laundry room storage, even if they’re only using the space for a short time.

Modern dryers may be better than ever, but there are a few reasons someone might want to air-dry their washed clothes. For example, most delicate fabrics don’t do well in the dryer. Eco-conscious people also prefer to use their dryer less often. Perhaps someone wants to save their favourite clothing items from the extra wear and tear that comes from heavy dryer use. Hanging space is also needed for freshly ironed clothes.

The most popular laundry room hanging solutions include:

  • hanging rods
  • freestanding or fold-down drying racks
  • a pullout drying rack
  • a retractable clothesline
  • a valet rod
Second floor laundry room.

A hanging rod over the counter and sink is one of several solutions for air-drying and hanging clothes in a laundry room.

9. Use the laundry room for extra home storage

A large laundry room is practical for storing a lot more than laundry supplies. Have it designed to create extra home storage space for things like luggage, off-season clothing, and holiday decorations.

Most homes have a utility closet. Why not locate it in the laundry room to store your vacuum, brooms, mops, cleaning supplies, and tools? Emptying out a hallway utility closet can free it up so you can remodel it into a handy linen closet.

Add value to your home with a laundry room remodel

Making some décor upgrades and increasing your laundry room’s storage space will transform your experience doing the laundry.

There’s a reason modern laundry rooms are consistently named by homebuyers as one of the features they want the most.

The National Association of Realtors’ annual Remodeling Impact Report also found that laundry room remodels were one of the most satisfying types of home improvement projects for homeowners.

A laundry room upgrade is one of the remodel projects that gave homeowners the most enjoyment and satisfaction. (image from the National Association of Realtors)

Maximize your laundry room storage space

Are you ready to address your laundry room’s lack of storage space and drab appearance?

Organized Interiors has solutions to transform your laundry room into a brand-new space with ample storage, stylish décor, and added value for your home.

Schedule a free design consultation with us to begin planning your laundry room makeover.

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