Now that the kids are back in school and the hotter days of summer are over, it is a good time to focus on your home.\u00a0 While it may seem like a daunting task, an easy place to start is fall cleaning, the counterpart to spring cleaning. \u00a0This includes both de-cluttering & organizing.<\/p>\n
De-cluttering<\/strong>-Before you begin, have the right mindset and tools in place.\u00a0 I always find it helpful to have 5 labeled containers ready to go.\u00a0 The labels should read 1) Use 2) Store 3) Donate 4) Sell and 5) Trash. \u00a0As you move from room to room or closet to closet think about the cooler temperatures and pull out those items that will come in handy like winter clothing and bed linens. Also, you might want to take out spring and summer colors in your d\u00e9cor and place those things in your \u201cstore\u201d bin. The benefit to taking this systematic approach is that it can be much easier to make decisions on items when you only have the 5 choices right in front of you as well as a place to put items rather than on the floor in several piles.\u00a0 Using the right types of containers is also helpful-plastic bins for use and store, cardboard boxes for donate and sell and trash bags for trash.\u00a0 That way, no more thought goes into how it gets to the right place, it\u2019s all ready to go.<\/p>\n Organizing-<\/strong>After cleaning out unnecessary items, it\u2019s time to organize the things you want to keep.\u00a0 I love to containerize my things.\u00a0 What containers you use depend on what it is for; jewelry, make-up, seasonal clothes, purses, books, magazines, toys, etc.\u00a0\u00a0 All types are available at a variety of stores.\u00a0 The key is to determine what you want to place in bins and make a list of what size, shape and material you need before you head out to shop for the containers. \u00a0A place for everything and everything in its place is a smart motto.<\/p>\n From here, you will have a clean slate and can create a warm and inviting home this fall for you to enjoy with family and friends and be ready for all of the upcoming holidays.<\/p>\n