inside: Carolyn Lamour ... - Floridawise Magazine

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DecoratingWise AAccording to Harris Interactive, 50 percent of homeowners rate their garage as the most disorganized place in their home. For most families, every member contributes to their garage’s clutter and disarray. You may have made many attempts at organizing your garage. However, because Florida homes do not have basements, most families use their garage to store out-of-season items that would typically be stored in a basement. Without that option, it becomes even more imperative for Florida families to maintain a neat, organized garage. Instead of haphazardly tackling the overwhelming task of once-and-for-all getting that garage organized, here is a step-by-step process that will help you navigate your way to neatness: 1. Do an initial assessment of all items, including things on shelves, on the floor, in corners or hanging on the walls. Use bright sticky dots to place on items you know you should get rid of. The rule of thumb is that if you have not used the item in over a year, chances are you will never use it. Remove those items immediately and place them in one of four piles. This will make room for your continued organizational work. 2. Assign all items to one of four piles: a) things that need to be thrown away which would not be of use to anyone who currently lives on this planet; b) things that could be donated to your favorite non-profit organization such as The Vietnam Veterans, Hadassah or Good Will; c) things that could be sold in a yard sale – even those $1 items could add up to pay for some new shelving, a new outfit or a night out; d) things you know you will want to keep. 10 October 2006 How to Organize What is Probably the Most Disorganized Place in Your Home: By Cindy Reavis “We can achieve order and harmony in every aspect of our lives with a habit of neatness . . . We can never feel we’re at our best when we’re surrounded by a mess.” — Edwene Gaines 3. Take everything off shelves, hooks, in corners or on the floor, and place all items in a spacious area or set up folding tables if you need more space. Organize all items into categories, such as games, sports equipment, tools, seasonal decorations, etc. 4. Evaluate these separate piles and assess how often each item will be used. Some items, such as seasonal decorations used once a year, may be placed in colorcoded storage bins and stored in your attic. You could purchase black bins for Halloween, gold bins for Thanksgiving, green bins for Christmas, etc. 5. Use your four pile strategy again: a) items that should be thrown away or given away; b) items that could be donated; c) items you want to keep and store; d) items that could be sold in a yard sale. If you are not up for the task of organizing a yard sale yourself, see if a friend or neighbor wants to collaborate and plan one together. You could share in the cost of advertising, too. 6. Store all items in plastic bins with lids. You may use different sizes to accommodate the size and shape of your
storage items. Maintain the categories you used Photo: Scott Rothstein/Dreamstime.com when you first separated items into piles. Stack storage bins neatly on shelves, storing items you use frequently within reach. For many homeowners, this task is a bit overwhelming, and it may seem impossible to find time to undertake this challenge alone. If this is your dilemma, contact a professional organizer who is skilled to handle the job. Organizers are efficient and are able to get the job done in a timely, organized way. It is guaranteed that you, and your entire family, will look forward to opening that door to your garage and taking just a few seconds to find exactly what you were looking for. — Cindy Reavis is a professional organizer. Claiming to be “born an organizer,” Cindy founded “Organize U” and joined NAPO – The National Association of Professional Organizers when she moved to West Palm Beach in 2005. In her work as an organizer, Cindy also incorporates Fung Shui, a process where objects are placed to create optimal energy flow in the environment. Call P: 561-471-1336. ❂ Take Your Living Room Outside Furniture For Outdoor Living Mention FloridaWise and get $100 OFF any purchase of $900 or more. Exp. 11/1/06 • Withstands Florida’s climate • Many in-stock colors, fabrics and designs to choose from • Wicker • Deep Seating Sets • Aluminum Sling Furniture • Cast Aluminum • Low maintenance • Same day delivery & set-up (on in stock items) 561•967•4424 6169 Jog Rd., Suite C7 Lake Worth, FL 33467
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