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Tuesday

Organize Now: Organize Your Kitchen In 24 Hours


The kitchen is often a gathering place for friends and family to not only eat, but talk about current events and life in general. It’s a place to post notices on the refrigerator about chores and things to do during a busy day. It’s sometimes a place to feed pets and keep a collection of kid art, bills, assorted papers and magazines.

In fact, the kitchen can become a gathering place for lots of – junk.

Have you forgotten what your kitchen looks like?

Well, if you have, it’s time to dig through the clutter and get things organized so that you and your family can enjoy your kitchen again like it was meant to be enjoyed.

Before you can get organized, you need to decide what kinds of activities you want to use the kitchen for besides cooking and eating.

Do you pay bills sitting at the kitchen table?

Do you or any family members do craft projects in the kitchen?

Are the kids doing their homework in the kitchen?

Is it used for casual reading?

When you host parties, are guests allowed to roam freely in the kitchen?

These are all things to consider when deciding how your kitchen space will be used. Actually, your kitchen can accommodate all of the above activities, but you must organize things so that each activity doesn’t conflict with anything else you’re trying to do in there.

Grab some boxes or plastic bags and begin removing each item, section by section. You can label the boxes or bags i.e. appliances, bills, books, crafts, knick knacks, etc.

Now take a good look at the space and figure out how you want to arrange your kitchen into stations that can keep things neat and efficient. The first station, should be the cooking station. Appliances that you use frequently should be put within easy reach. Stuff you don’t use too much should be stored.

Utilize all of your storage space. Maybe you can purchase some dividers and racks to add to the space you already have in your cabinets. Figure out as many ways as possible to increase your storage space.

Next, if you pay bills in the kitchen, get a letter/bill organizer and place all of your current bills in there for safe keeping. This will help you keep track of what bill you owe and when you need to pay it. All older bill related paperwork should be filed away in a filing cabinet or thrown out if no longer relevant.

Likewise for crafts and things. Any loose craft items should be stored inside of a container or box. Pull items out and work at the kitchen table, then store them when you’re done.

If the kids normally do their homework at the kitchen table, keep supplies like pens, pencils, and paper handy in a separate container or box. Label it clearly so that the kids know where to find it. They should also put their supplies back when finished.

If you have a small place, the kitchen is often a gathering place for friends and party guests. You may want to invest in a rolling cart where you can easily store party beverages and utensils – that way you won’t have to clutter up your nice kitchen in order to entertain guests.

With the right organization, your kitchen can be a place to cook good meals, and also a multipurpose room that is warm and practical.

Monday

Hiring a Professional Closet Organizer


It may sound crazy, but some people actually make a living out of organizing other people’s closets! In fact, they are well trained in the art of closet organization and often have a certificate to verify their training. They can come to your home and assess your storage needs. They will come up with various layouts for you to choose from.

If you want to get your closet organized but you are overwhelmed by the task, hiring a professional closet organizer may be exactly what you need to get nightmare of a closet that is in utter disarray resolved. How much does a professional closet organizer cost? The answer to that question depends on many factors. The type of closet organization system you choose, the type of materials you want it done with, the level of difficulty, and the amount of time needed to complete your project will all play a role in the cost.

Many professional closet organizers use various types of software to come up with different layouts for organizing your closet. They can show you pictures of how your closet space will look with various layouts. This is an excellent way to ensure you are going to like the end result of the project.

Finding a professional closet organizer should be simple with the internet. Make sure you check out the reputation of such an individual or business. You will want to ask for references and pictures of other projects that they have completed. To prevent any issues, make sure everything regarding the project is in writing including the layout, the materials to be used, the time frame for completing the project, and the total cost.

There are even online professional closet organizers that will assist you with your project. They will chat with you over the computer or the will talk with you buy phone. You will have to send them digital pictures of your closet and the dimensions. They will come up with some layout options for you and email them to you. This type of professional closet organization is less expensive because you will be paying for their ideas. You will still have to complete the installation of the organizer materials your self. It is very likely these online professional closet organizers use the types of software mentioned earlier.

Professional closet organizers are an excellent choice for anyone who wants to organize their closet but isn’t comfortable about doing it themselves. You can use a professional closet organizer to help you come up with only ideas or to complete the entire project for you. Keep in mind you will have to be there to help them sort through the items in your closet, but they can help you devise a system for storing everything once you decide what you are keeping.

Remember that you get what you pay for so hiring the lowest professional closet organizer might not get you the results you are looking for. That doesn’t mean that you have to use the most expensive person out there though to get a great closet that is exactly what you are looking for.

To make the experience a good one, always ask for references and compare costs. You want to work with a professional closet organizer that listens to what you are looking for and can give you information on what will work and what won’t. They should also be able to visually show you several possible layouts either on the computer or with drawings.

To get a feel for a professional closet organizer, take advantage of free initial consultations. If you don’t feel like the individual has your best interests in mind then keep looking for someone else. Finding a professional closet organizer who is willing to work with your ideas, has great references, and is affordable is the key to getting the closet organization system that is going to work for you.