Let’s Get Organized
I'm about two weeks into being a Bismarck resident, and I've spent about one week in my new apartment. It's almost 400 square feet larger than the lovely shoebox I previously lived in. Seriously, I need to go on about 30 shopping sprees to fill this place up. Though moving can be daunting, there is something wonderful about moving into a "blank space" (like my Taylor Swift reference?), and starting new.
That being said, I think one of the toughest things about unpacking, is figuring out how to put everything away. I'm not the greatest at organizing anything. I mean, I can barely figure out how to piece a room together, let alone organize cupboards and closets. Thank goodness for internet help. Here are some good pointers I've found:
- TAKE EVERYTHING OUT OF THE SPACE - This is meant to give you a visual on what you have and assess what your storage needs are. Since I just moved and everything is in boxes - done and done.
- TOSS IT - The "inner hoarder" in some of us will have a hard time with this one. Basically, if it's old, worn out, broken, or just unused, get rid of it. I thought I got rid of a lot when I packed, but I could still stand to part with more items.
- COMBINE "LIKE" ITEMS - After purging unneeded things, separate "like" items into groups. Then, use bins (buy new or get creative with what you have) to store those items.
- LABEL - By labeling containers, it is easier to find what you need when you go looking for your newly-organized items.
- REFILL THE EMPTY SPACE - Put the items and bins away. Make sure the items used most, have the easiest accessibility. Then, fill in empty spaces with other items that aren't used as much.
- TRAIN YOURSELF TO PUT ITEMS BACK IN THEIR PLACES - This one will be the toughest for me. I'm terrible about putting things back where they belong. But, hey, it's almost a new year, so it's time to make changes for the better.
Now, who wants to help me organize my kitchen?