It’s been a fun adventure collaborating with Small Spaces, Great Life. For our first guest post, we first wanted to take a deep dive into the technical aspects of organizing and organization in small spaces. While discussing small spaces today, we are considering those around 1,000 square feet or smaller. At Meat & Potatoes Organizing, we always say that anyone can organize a large space, but it takes great skill and tenacity to organize and maintain a small space. It is arguably MORE important to keep small spaces organized as the space surrounding us can often dictate our mood, efficiency, and overall quality of life. Kudos to all of you willing to adventure into this small space-organizing journey!
1. Live. Simply.
Live Simply. Easier said than done, right? But seriously, if you live in a small space then you know that every little millimeter of storage is needed. Why would you let items that are no longer serving you hog up that oh-so-precious space? My favorite example of how big of a difference getting rid of just a few items can make is in the closet.
- If you haven’t gone through your closet in the past year, I can guarantee that you will find at least a few items that are no longer serving you and just taking up space.
- Do you have clothing that doesn’t fit you anymore, or you just don’t like the way you feel when you wear it? GET RID OF IT! Haven’t worn those jeans in the past year because you reach for other pairs more often? SEE YA!
- Do you have 20 pairs of heels but only wear fancy shoes a couple of times a year? PAIR DOWN!
- Are there t-shirts from high school in your drawer that you never wear but can’t get rid of? Maybe it’s time to move those keepsakes to a bin to be stored elsewhere.
Getting rid of a few items from your closet space will make so much extra room for you to enjoy and fill with clothing that actually celebrates who you are today, and brings you confidence! Not to mention, choosing an outfit is so much easier with a simplified wardrobe.
2. Everything needs a “home”
“A place for everything and everything in its place.” The simplest way to ensure a clutter-free home is to make sure that every item has a home where it belongs. This way, you know where to find an item when you need it and where to put it back when you’re done.
For example, can you think of where you keep your batteries? If you instantly knew where they were that’s great, however, are there any other areas in your home where you have batteries stored? Yes? Then that original spot you thought of is not a true home. If you went looking for batteries in the spot you first thought of and didn’t find any, would you look in other places around your home or would you buy a new pack of batteries?
Not being able to find what you’re looking for when you need it can create a vicious cycle of overbuying and hoarding. That is why it’s important to have one designated home for certain categories and items (and then label as necessary).
3. Let creativity flow! Fun and innovative ways to use organizing products.
Get creative! There are so many helpful organizing tools big and small that will have a huge impact on your space. One of my favorite tools for small spaces are over the door organizers. There are so many different kinds you can get ranging from affordable cloth shoe holders to nice wire over the door systems like an Elfa unit from the Container Store. These are helpful because they provide extra storage and can be out of sight out of mind when the door is closed!
Another useful tool for small spaces are command hooks and strips. When you think of command strips you probably think of just hanging pictures on the wall however they have so many other useful styles to keep you organized! They have a great line of products designed for organizing your utility closet, including gadgets that can hold your brooms and mops so they are not on the floor! One of my favorite ways to use command strips is to hang measuring cups on them inside of spice cabinets. That way your measuring spoons are right where you need them and you don’t need to rifle through a utensil drawer!
4. Ruh roh. “I’m overwhelmed and I just don’t know where to start! HELP!”
If you hear these words or have spoken them to yourself in your head, then it’s time to hire a professional. Professional Organizers can help you to sort, purge, enhance your organization systems, and make your small spaces functional for you and your family. Sometimes, it can be extremely beneficial to have an unbiased opinion to help you sort through sentimental items and things that you’ve felt “stuck” on for a while.
It can help speed up the organizing process as organizers do this type of work every day and know exactly how to help out, what questions to ask, and have access to all of the latest and greatest tips and tricks.
If you are reading this and you’re not from Minnesota, Wisconsin, or North Dakota (areas that our company currently serves), know that we offer our support through virtual consultations and organizing sessions as well as in person. The easiest way to get in touch with us is through our website contact form, which we will link below!
Additionally, feel free to read through our awesome blog of organizing advice and tips for more of a DIY approach. We also have a *very satisfying* instagram account that you can follow for inspiration or ideas: @meatandpotatoesorganizing
Contact Meat and Potatoes Organizing
Thank you for reading and until next time – stay organized and stay zen!
Olivia Link & the entire Meat & Potatoes Organizing Team (aka The Tater Tots)
