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.