Are You Thinking About Downsizing?

Whether you are a Baby Boomer who is ready to simplify life, an empty nester who would like a cozier space with less upkeep and maintenance or perhaps someone who has recently lost a spouse-downsizing may be on your mind. If so, you are not alone!

Our team at Tidy Style is here to help you usher in this next chapter with a sense of renewal and joy. It is important to us that we honor your belongings while helping you make an intentional decision about what items you will take with you as opposed to those items you will part with.

Here’s a story from one of our Professional Organizers at Tidy Style, Tamara. “From personal experience, downsizing my belongings while I was still alive was THE BEST thing I have ever done. Watching my kids pick out what mattered to them and leave behind what didn’t gave me deeper insight into them as humans and we all relived some awesome memories together. I have never felt more free in my life…and I own about 80% less than I did before downsizing.

From a practical perspective Tamara suggests it comes down to a mindset change. Ask yourself, “Do I need this specialized cake pan or could I borrow from a friend or even the library (yes, library) on the rare occasion that I might need it?” She also suggests that you can be just as festive decorating a smaller area of your home instead of the whole house. Tamara recommends reading this book to help you get into the right mindset, “Your Kids Don’t Want Your Stuff-A Memoir”.

On a similar note is a Scandinavian movement that is catching on despite it’s in your face name “Swedish Death Cleaning.” Don’t let the name scare you, this is really about intentional decluttering with the aim to not burden your loved ones with stuff they neither want or need after you have passed. The talented team at The Spruce has compiled a helpful Swedish Death Cleaning Checklist that you may find helpful to kickstart the process of downsizing.

Cary, our Director Of Marketing, shares that the process of clearing out her parent’s space after unexpectedly losing her father was “brutal and exhausting.” She says, “I would NEVER want my kids to have that much stuff to sort through. In my house, if I don’t use it, I don’t keep it.”

Shea, one of our Project Managers at Tidy Style, shares that her parents proactively asked her and her siblings about what they would want after they pass away. She really appreciated that they asked rather than assumed.

Our Tidy Style team is here to hold your hand (literally or figuratively) through the process of downsizing. We are a compassionate team who will help you part with the items that you don’t want to bring into this next chapter in a way that honors those items and the memories attached. We have so many ideas that go beyond simply donating or boxing up for a loved one to deal with.

Cary gifted her mom and in-laws a Storyworth Book. Every week your loved one will get sent a writing prompt about their life. After a year of writing, Storyworth compiles everything into an elegant book of memories. This is just as much a gift for them as it is for you.

Katie, another one of our talented organizers recently helped a couple in their 80’s declutter. This presented an opportunity to turn years of collected t-shirts into a beautiful quilt with the help of Project Repat. When the quilt arrived it sparked a meaningful story telling session between the couple, their daughter and granddaughter. Unfortunately, the husband died two weeks after the quilt arrived but the family will cherish this quilt and that day for years to come.

Dianna, who also organizes for team Tidy Style, shares some practical advice. “I was on the team that helped an elderly couple downsize last year and the sheer amount of linens was very overwhelming to the clients and their space. You really only need two sets of linens for each bed (at the most). This gives you one set to use and one set to put on when the first set is being laundered. The same idea applies to towels in the bathroom. One set in use with a spare set for when that set is in the wash.”

If you or a loved one is ready to downsize or even just minimize the clutter, reach out today via this link. We look forward to connecting and hearing about your goals for your home (and the stuff in it)!

Ever Thought About Starting Your Own Organizing Business?

I started this business in 2016 with the hopes of serving one client a week. At that time, that was a fairly optimistic goal because much of the population didn’t yet know that hiring a professional organizer was even an option! I would classify my first couple of years in business as slow and steady. It was perfect! My kids were still quite young and it all felt manageable. I built myself a small team of 4 and we felt like family. We were all gratified by the life changing work we were doing in our client’s homes and we truly loved what we were doing.

Fast forward to 2019 and a little show called Tidying Up with Marie Kondo premiered on Netflix. All of a sudden EVERYONE was interested in how an organized home could change your life. Initially I thought that maybe people would just do it themselves…boy was I wrong. This created a bit of a frenzy. Everyone wanted an organized home but most didn’t have the time or inclination to do it all on their own. Add another year and a pandemic and things went bananas! We were booking more jobs and lots more unpack and home setups. I was leading all of my on-site organization projects, calling leads on my way home and then doing marketing and social media at night after putting my kids to bed. I don’t know how but I did this for about a year before my husband looked at me and asked me a simple question. “Why?” The answer was, I’m a perfectionist and I can’t turn any part of my business over to anyone else…it’s too important.

In the interest of time, I’ll just say that I did some soul searching and realized that I was holding my business back by holding the reins so tight. It was time to take a leap of faith and I can say it was the best decision I have ever made with regard to my business. We now have 4 Team Leads and 6 Co-Leads and a team of over 25. We typically run two jobs a day but with the addition of our Tidy Assist and Tidy Lite can sometimes run 3-4 . We have recently expanded to Eastern Idaho and are looking forward to continuing to grow throughout Idaho.

I have learned a lot about this industry and running a small business. I have certainly made some mistakes along the way but I’m so happy for where we are today. I have an amazing team of women who are about the most compassionate group you will ever meet and we are always learning and growing. We have grown year over year with a slight dip in 2023 (we chalk that up to 2022 being the end of a bubble with a huge influx of new movers from out of state).

My latest passion has been building a semi-passive income for myself and mentoring other women who have an interest in starting or growing a professional home organization business on how to scale their businesses toward that same goal. My skillset includes over a decade in corporate sales and marketing combined with an ever restless mind that is always keen to learn.

I have created a digital download called The Ultimate Guide: How To Launch A Thriving Home Organization Company which can be purchased here. This is a 41 page comprehensive guide that I feel includes all the most practical and applicable information you might need when either starting or scaling your small home organization business.

In addition to that I do offer one on one coaching via Zoom. Those appointments can be set up here.

I can’t wait to help you build your business!

My Custom Pantry Designed By The Container Store

As a professional organizer I have had the opportunity to see so many beautiful pantries and I have always dreamed of the day that I would be able to custom design my own dream pantry. Through my ambassadorship with The Container Store I was given that opportunity this year and I JUMPED at it!

The process was so fun and not at all overwhelming, thanks to my wonderful designer from the Custom Spaces Group at The Container Store, Colleen. The process was collaborative and simple and I could not be happier with the end result! I decided on the Preston line and we went with a two tone look which fit perfectly with my home’s interior. For reference we chose Sahara and Summit Oak. I was especially excited about the option to add lighting (which you can see here). The bank of drawers added some much needed functionality and enabled me to store the snack zone in a way that my kids love and I adore for the fact that we were able to conceal the visual noise that comes with packaged foods! We agreed that we should maximize the vertical space so we went all the way to the top with the wine storage.

I’ve always wanted a counter in my pantry but didn’t know if I had the space to make it happen…well Colleen showed me the way and I’m so glad she did. We added an outlet so I could store our toaster and tea kettle (two highly used appliances) in this beautiful new pantry.

The icing on the cake was adding wallpaper. It was so fun to head down to our local wallpaper store, Paper & Paste and check out all the fun options. I quickly gravitated toward this French Marigold pattern by York Wallcoverings.

Check out more of this pantry on my Instagram here!

Now Serving Idaho Falls & Surrounding!

We have hired an amazing Project Manager based in Idaho Falls and are ready to serve Idaho Falls, Pocatello and surrounding areas! So whether you would like your pantry organized and beautiful before the holidays or desperately need a closet clean out we are here for you!

Love to organize and live in Idaho Falls? Head to our careers page to fill out an application. We are looking to round out our East Idaho team and would love to chat with you!

Check Us Out In The Scout Guide! Scouted Organizers In The West!

Heather and her team are obsessed with organization, but are careful to make it realistic and something that each client can maintain. In addition to home organizing, they also offer moving and unpacking services. When you’re exhausted and overwhelmed from a move, having someone come in and unpack the kitchen can be a godsend. Click logo below for full article.

How To Declutter Your Mind-With Cary Fong, Director of Marketing

As professional organizers, we talk a LOT about decluttering. Or as some would call it, the edit. I mean, it is a BIG part of organization. The less stuff you have the easier it is to organize and keep it organized. Most of us can admit we probably have too much stuff. After all, here in America, millions of people spend $100-$500 a month or more on storage units! That’s thousands of dollars a year to store stuff that they probably wouldn’t even miss. But that’s for another article…

When I refer to clutter, I am talking about the stuff that takes up our precious space. The stuff that has no meaning or purpose. This looks very different house to house, person to person. Let’s take that definition and apply it to clutter in our minds. Let me repeat-clutter is something (or some thought) that takes up space that has no meaning or purpose.

We live in a world that allows clutter to enter our mind every second of every day. We can check the news from around the world wherever we are whenever we want. We get alerts on our phone when a storm is approaching or a package will be delayed. We can see what our friends or even strangers are having for dinner, watch their kid hit their first home run and be a part of someone’s most intimate moments in life. Everything is content.

Think about it. Engagements used to be just for the couple and a few lucky family members who were able to be a part of the planning. But now there are professional photographers, live streaming, etc. Birthday parties can be a full on YouTube web series if you want and no doubt, someone will tune in!

Now don’t get me wrong, not all of this is bad. It’s just an example of how easily clutter can fill our minds and how easily that clutter can distract us from the things our minds were actually designed to do.

Think about this. How many seconds, minutes or hours a day do you spend thinking about something you saw on Instagram? Or the news?

How many seconds do you spend thinking about your purpose? Or how many seconds a day do you spend being grateful? Maybe a decluttered mind would allow you to spend more time on those thoughts…and those are “feel good” thoughts!

We teach our client’s to be mindful of what they bring into their home and you should also be mindful of what you allow into your mind. Be intentional with it. This doesn’t mean that you delete your social apps or all your push notifications. This might mean that you intentionally spend 20 minutes a day on the gram looking at accounts that truly make you feel good or better you in some way (versus mindlessly scrolling). Go ahead and turn off all those pesky push notifications aside from just a few that are really helpful.

This is just a starting point. Below we have made a list that will help you take this idea to the next level.

5 Habits to Declutter Your Mind Daily

1. Journal-Get those thoughts out on paper! Don’t worry about grammar or punctuation. Use lists or bullet points or run on sentences, it doesn’t matter. The only goal is to get what is on your mind out on paper. The release that you will feel from this exercise is tangible!

2. Work out-Clear your head with a workout. The options are unlimited. You will know you found the right work out for you when you no longer dread doing it and it quickly becomes something you look forward to! Try different things until you find that activity that you feel excited to commit to. Getting outside is a bonus! When we get outside it truly allows us to get out of our heads.

3. Prayer/Meditation-Start small if you want to. Some days you might feel moved to pray or meditate for just a minute or two...it all matters!

4. Talk it out-There has been a culture of positivity taking over lately. We love that, but it can be taken too far. There is a difference between venting and complaining. Don’t hold things in! Those feelings that you push down will always bubble back up. Find a safe space (a friend, therapist, etc.) where you can speak your mind.

5. Sleep-The NIH has actually been doing studies that point to new research that proves while we sleep our brain flushes out toxins that have built up over the day! The power of a good night’s rest is very real. Minimize the physical clutter in your room and make sure to have a digital free period leading up to your head hitting the pillow.

https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/how-sleep-clears-brain

Five Game Changing Tips For An Organized Home

At Tidy Style we’re BIG believers in what having an organized home can do for you. I always say it’s about a feeling. The feeling of calm that comes over you when you walk into a space that is streamlined and tidy. Our clients have mentioned that not only can they relax better in their home after we have organized it they also experience increased focus. This phenomenon is further explained in this excerpt from an article I found on House Beautiful.

According to Dr. Bethany Cook, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Chicago there’s a physical benefit to being organized, too. “Studies have shown that it’s more difficult for a person to focus when their visual cortex is over-stimulated. As such, when the space is organized, it doesn't deplete an individual's energy level just to concentrate,” says Dr. Cook.

Often when writing about the “how to” aspect of getting organized I focus on our Tidy Style process. In this blog post I wanted to focus on a few simple organizational tips that are often not obvious to the DIY organizer.

1. Adjust your shelves.  Our team brings in pliers and extra pegs just for this purpose.  It is an absolute game changer to adjust your shelves down so that more of your space is accessible.  If you are building or remodeling be sure to have your contractor drill holes every inch and a half all the way from the top to the bottom shelf.  This tip alone can really give you an accessibility upgrade in your space.

2. Visibility=Accessibility.  We have re-organized many spaces that the client themselves had organized to a visually pleasing place but later called us in after finding the space wasn't functioning how they envisioned.  An example we see time and time again is a pantry organized with baskets that are too tall to see what's inside.  We typically keep baskets that are 7-8" in height (typical basket height)  to the bottom shelves so that you can see into them.  We abstain from using woven baskets on shelves that are at eye level or above and instead incorporate canisters, jars, trays or non-woven baskets that provide some visibility to what's inside.

3. Like items are easier to organize!  Not only is organizing like items simpler and faster but it also gives your space a cohesive and calming vibe.  An example that we love is minimizing down to just one type of food storage container.  We prefer glass!  If you have just one type then they will easily stack inside of each other and you will eliminate the pain point of searching for matching lids.

4. Think vertical!  If you really need to maximize space, think outside the box and look at how you can use the vertical space.  That may look like utilizing the space in between the shelves by incorporating a stackable product or the often overlooked space behind the door by adding an over the door shelf.  Even adding a set of drawers to the space under the kitchen or bathroom sink gives you a ton of extra storage space to work with.

5. Minimize to Maximize. It may seem obvious that by minimizing your stuff, home organization will be much less of a challenge.  Less stuff really does mean less time dealing with said stuff and more time maximizing life.  An added bonus is that once you have streamlined your home you will be so much more mindful of the things that you buy.  

New Year Same You (Just A Little More Organized) By: Cary Fong-Director of Marketing

Quality Over Quantity. What does that mean for you? What areas of your home will you apply this principle?

The New Year is upon us. I don’t know about you but for me, the last couple of years have just been a big blur. There has been chaos, both inside of my house, and out of it. There have been high highs and low lows and everything in between. I love goals but to be honest coming into this year, I was a bit hesitant to set any goals. In fact, I was recently giving my office a refresh (because that is what professional organizers do when they are bored) and I came across a planning and goal setting journal for 2020. January was filled in with high hopes and dreams! I was going to conquer the world (or at least my little corner of the world). February had a little bit filled in here and there, but March through December were…you guessed it. BLANK. Everything was cancelled. Which meant a lot of plans we all had for growth and development were cancelled. 

However, most of us probably ended up achieving goals we didn’t even know we had. Building home gyms, learning how to bake sourdough bread, binge watching Tiger King (BTW, is anyone else ready for more episodes to air? Come on, Netflix!) Okay maybe some of those don’t count, but we did get some unexpected gifts during that time, right? More family dinners, enjoying home cooked meals (or discovering Door Dash for the first time), learning how to navigate Zoom (still not sure if that was a gift) and I am sure you have your own list of silver linings from the past couple crazy years! 

One of the coolest silver linings for me was that I had more time to discover some things about myself that I didn’t know or had  forgotten. Being a mom for the last 19 years and staying home with my kids for 12 of those years, caused me to lose a little bit of who I really was. I kind of forgot about things that I really enjoyed doing and was actually kind of good at. Things like encouraging friends and women around me. Things like writing. Things like organizing and creating beautiful spaces that make people feel at peace. One of the things 2020/2021 taught me is that sometimes goals are intentional and sometimes they really do just happen. Last year, instead of setting specific goals, I chose a word that, for me, encompassed how I wanted to live through the year. In keeping with that tradition this year, I chose a new word. 

My word for 2022 is QUALITY. In everything I do. Spending quality time with my husband and kids, being a quality friend, daughter, mother, sister and organizer. Making sure the things I put in my body are quality and getting in quality workouts throughout the week! 

When I think about the word quality, I automatically think of organization. Tidy Style is all about calming the chaos in your home and so much of that has to do with getting rid of those things that don’t serve you.  Think Quality over Quantity.  We love beautiful things at Tidy Style but we don’t use organizational product just because it’s pretty. If it doesn’t bring quality (add function) or maximize the space, we don’t incorporate it. 

When you are working on DIY organization projects at home, let QUALITY be your mantra. The editing process can be a lot smoother with this word top of mind!  Strive to only hold onto those items in your home that are quality, useful and loved.  This is how YOU will calm the chaos in your home.  At least the visual kind of chaos!

Happy New Year! May 2022 be your best yet!