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What Our Clients Say:
“Your enthusiasm and energy made this project very enjoyable. You were
really good with creating systems and finding the space for all of my
clothes. I love my new closets.”
Ruth Rinek, La Jolla
( Move mouse over picture for after )
( Move mouse over picture for after )
What Our Clients Say:
“Your enthusiasm and energy made this project very enjoyable. You were
really good with creating systems and finding the space for all of my
clothes. I love my new closets.”
Ruth Rinek, La Jolla
Dear Kathi,
We have a two car garage and cannot fit one car into it. This is the year that we have vowed to turn our storage area back into a garage.I know that there has to be other ways to store my stuff and still have a grage that is useful.How do you handle a garage full of everything but the car?
Carole,
Encinitas
Carole,
Don’t despair, there are plenty of people in Southern California with the same dilemna who have solved their problem. Begin by emptying everything out of your garage. As you pick up each item to move it out, determine if it is keep, donate, recycle or toss into the trash.
If you feel that an item is a keeper, this means only one of three things: you will move it into your home and out of the garage. It lives in the garage and is regularly used ie lawnmower, holiday decorations, Costco overstock etc, Or: It will be re-purposed or passed on to someone who needs it. An item should only be kept because you know that it has a purpose or you want to see it on a daily basis.
For the other items that don’t really seem to belong in your life any longer, do yourself a favor. Get rid of them and do not put them back into your garage for the next time you clean out. Do not save anything that you have not used in the past two years ( and that is being liberal) and especially if you haven’t yet used it but have it saved a for a rainy day.
We live in Southern California, which is a desert after all! If you have a load of momentos, do yourself a favor and put them all in one pile. Go through them one by one and try to downsize to only one plastic bin per family member. Your children will not want most of their keepsakes and certainly will not want to sort through yours at a later date. Do it now during this process. Set these items aside and do not let them back into your garage until they have been downsized and refitted into plastic tubs. If they are worth keeping you do not want to store them in cardboard boxes.
A note about cardboard: Boxes are not a great medium to store anything in. The gum in the adhesive attracts bugs and they will move in over time to feast on the glue. Use plastic bins for long term storage. These bins also keep water damage at bay. As you move items back into your garage think about creating zones for different categories of items. One wall could be sports equipment like golf clubs, bicycles etc. Another wall could be the tool zone.
Keep your once a year decor up along woth your memento bins up and out of the way. They do not need to take up valuable floor space and are the perfect candidates for high in the rafters or on the top shelf.
By the time you are done with this exercise, you will probably have all of your trash cans filled plus a few more bags. Plan your garage project the day before the trash pickup. Also, be sure to call your favorite charity to schedule a pick up of your donation items at the end of the day you are working on the garage and you will have the satisfaction of being clean and clear of all of your discards.
Please submit your questions to: advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
San Diego Professional Organizer
Dear Kathi,
We are moving across country and will have a new three-car garage. We swear we won’t clutter it up this time, but I am already worried. What tips can you give me to break our garage dumping ground habit?
Ren, Business Owner
Ren,
Plan ahead and make a list of the items that you need to store in your new garage. Items that are normally kept in garages include lawn equipment, holiday decorations, sports equipment, tools and excess household supplies bought in bulk. Do you have any additional items to store? Determine how many cabinets and shelves are currently in your new garage. Before you move in, use this time to build additional storage in your garage. Efficient garages feature a row of cabinets that line an entire wall, floor to ceiling. Open shelves on the wall closest to your home entrance will conveniently store household supplies bought in bulk. Holiday decorations should be grouped together and stored high and out of the way. Sports equipment should be low and easily accessible. To avoid future garage clutter follow this rule; items that no longer work or fit inside your home do not go to your garage. Do not pass go and take your excess furniture and old light fixtures directly to your favorite charity. If the item is too big for you to haul, call the charity and schedule a pick-up. The evening before the truck arrives, place the items in front of your house. Don’t put anything “temporarily” in your garage and you will be on your way to consistently parking cars in your new garage.
Dear Kathi,
My clothes closet is bulging at the seams! How do I decide what to keep and what to get rid of?
Lyn, Encinitas
Lyn,
One technique is to go quickly through your clothes and discard everything that you haven’t worn in the last year. Keep a fast pace, make quick decisions and do not hesitate. Put these neglected clothes in large garbage bags and don’t look back. Seal the bags, put them immediately into the trunk of your car and take them away to your favorite charity. This might sound tough but trust me; you will not miss these items. If you do happen to think about them once or twice, get over it! Realize that over 80% of the clothes in the average closet will only see the light of day once a year. What a waste of space! Why not keep only the clothes that make you feel and look fabulous? In future columns there will be more tips about clothes that will make you look fabulous.
Dear Kathi,
My business partners make fun of my crazy ties with wild patterns like
chile peppers and pictures of Mickey Mouse. I could really use some help
finding that ultimate power tie.
Bob V. Carlsbad
Bob,
There is a reason that these types of ties are called novelty ties. They are not to be taken seriously and in my opinion should not be given or worn. I’m glad to hear that you are ready to reform. Power ties are easy to buy. Start your search looking for solid colors. Red is the penultimate power tie color. Gold is the second runner up. Focus your attention on finding ties with discreet patterns and a subtle sheen. Please refrain from wearing shiny ties with large patterns or images. Power is subtle and understated. The strength of a power tie is reflected in it’s refined patterning. Pinstripes are a bit more difficult. Focus on solid colors (preferably red, gold, yellow or silver) and you will be on the right track.
Kathi is a professional organizer, image consultant and event planner based in San Diego California.
Please submit your questions to: advice@addspacetoyourlife.com
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San Diego Professional Organizer
