Archives for April 2009

A year ago on Unclutterer

2008

2007

  • Bedrooms are for sleeping, part 1
    Ideally, your bedroom is a place for sleeping. That is, it’s a place for rest and relaxation. Anything in your room that doesn’t contribute to the relaxation will likely only keep you from recharging your batteries.
  • Bedrooms are for sleeping, part 2
    Once you’ve got everything out of your bedroom that doesn’t belong, what should you be left with?
  • Freecycle
    If you’re looking to get rid of clutter in your home, Freecycle might be one way to say goodbye to your stuff.

Posted by PJ on Apr 19, 2009 | Comments Off | Tweet This

Chalk it up!

Etsy artist Mary Kate McDevitt has three inspiring goal chalkboards for sale that are functional and adorable:

If she sells out before you can nab one (they’re only $25) or you like the idea but they aren’t exactly your style, consider making your own. Get a chalkboard and then use acrylic paint markers to add your favorite text.

Or, you can get some chalkboard paint and paint a square directly on your wall or on the back of a door. We discussed a similar project in “Organize your life on your wall.”

I’m someone who is allergic to chalk dust, so when I was a teacher I always used chalk markers. Even if you aren’t allergic to chalk dust, these are great for keeping your hands and desk drawers clean.

(Mary Kate McDevitt’s shop found via Modish)

Posted by Erin on Apr 18, 2009 | 10 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: Managing RSS feeds

Reader Lucia submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer:

I like following a lot of websites in a RSS reader — I use Google Reader — but sometimes it’s too much. I check it and there are more than I can read. Now the count is 1000+. Help!

This is a great question and a problem that I’m sure many of us have faced in our online lives. Here are two tips that I hope will help:

  1. Declare RSS Reader bankruptcy. If you have more posts than you could possibly read in two hours cluttering up your RSS reader, it’s time to start fresh. In the left-hand column of your Google Reader homepage, click on the link to “All items.” Then, in the middle column, click on the “Mark all as read” button. Poof! Instantly you are all caught up with reading your RSS feeds.
  2. Create prioritized categories. Once you are out from under the slew of unread posts, you can set up a system to prioritize future readings. Instead of organizing your RSS feeds by content, order them by priority. I have three: Must Read, Really Like, and Fun. My “Must Read” category is filled with blogs I need to read every day for professional reasons. For instance, my Unclutterer feed is in this category so that I can make sure our RSS feed is functioning properly. “Really Like” is filled with close friends and favorite business, writing, and organizing blogs. And “Fun” is filled with silly, but low-priority blogs.

    When I’m pressed for time, I go to the “Subscriptions” list in the left-hand menu and then click on the “Must Read” folder to only see the most important posts. If I get through this list quickly, I’ll click on the folder for “Really Like” and get through as many as I can before my scheduled blog-reading time has expired. Whatever I don’t get to, either gets marked as read (see tip #1) or just sits unread if I know I’ll have more time later in the day to do some reading.

    To create categories, click on the blue “Manage subscriptions >>” link in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen. Select the “Subscriptions” tab in the orange menu bar. Then, click on the drop down menu next to one of your feeds and highlight the very last option “New Folder.” Create your Must Read, Really Like and Fun folders and then assign all of your blog feeds to those three categories. When you’re finished, choose “<< Back to Google Reader" in the orange settings bar to return to your feed reader. Whenever you add a subscription, you need to manually assign it to a folder.

When reading RSS feeds, I like to set a timer and only read blogs for a set amount of time. If not, I can spend hours cruising through the internet. Obviously, I hope that Unclutterer makes your “Must Read” list! And, for anyone reading this post who doesn’t know what an RSS reader is, be sure to check out Matt’s post on this subject “RSS feeds: A primer.”

Thank you, Lucia, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column.

Do you have a question relating to organizing, cleaning, home and office projects, productivity, or any problems you think the Unclutterer team could help you solve? To submit your questions to Ask Unclutterer, go to our contact page and type your question in the content field. Please list the subject of your e-mail as “Ask Unclutterer.” If you feel comfortable sharing images of the spaces that trouble you, let us know about them. The more information we have about your specific issue, the better.

Posted by Erin on Apr 17, 2009 | 23 Comments | Tweet This

Workspace of the Week: Hide-n-Go-Living

This week’s Workspace of the Week is Lexuh’s living room office:

The arrangement of items on the desk isn’t what impresses me so much, it’s the desk itself:

In the description, Lexuh says that the desk “appeals to the ‘Hide it! Hide it all!’ minimalist in me.” And it definitely does the same for me. The desk and shelving unit are from ISS Designs, and Lexuh says that they were not so wonderful to install — but totally worth the elbow grease. I also agree. This is one of the best living room offices I’ve seen. Being able to have an office co-exist so well with a formal living room is a feat one rarely encounters. There are more pictures in the gallery, so be sure to check them out.

Want to have your own workspace featured in Workspace of the Week? Submit a picture to the Unclutterer flickr pool. Check it out because we have a nice little community brewing there. Also, don’t forget that workspaces aren’t just desks. If you’re a cook, it’s a kitchen; if you’re a carpenter, it’s your workbench.

Posted by Erin on Apr 17, 2009 | 9 Comments | Tweet This

Plan projects with a Work Breakdown Structure

I enjoy leading a project. Setting the goal, defining scope, and then using my favorite piece of the planning process: creating a Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).

Before you get to who’s going to do what and the schedule, the WBS allows you to take a project and break it into smaller, more manageable pieces. You end up with an organized, visual display of the main pieces of your project.

How it works: Once you define your final date for the project, your next step is to define the scope or magnitude of that project. How big is it? What will the project include? If your goal is to have a wedding by June 30, 2009, your scope might include dinner, invitations, decorations, entertainment, and a ceremony.

To further define the scope, a WBS offers a system to map out the work in detail. A simple way to think about it is by asking: What are the key deliverables — tangible and intangible things — that will result from the project? What will it take to get the project done?

A WBS also includes a logical list of tasks, that when completed, roll up to the deliverable. For example, the entertainment deliverable for the wedding event above might look like this:

1.0 Entertainment
- 1.1 Research bands.
- 1.2 Select band.
- 1.3 Create preferred song list.

The beauty of the WBS is that it can be used for relatively small projects (like organizing your garage), as well as large projects (like developing a piece of software).

You can create a WBS in most of the project software tools out there, or you can create one of your own on paper or in a document program like Word. On the work front, a WBS can be part of your project planning for anything from an office move to building a bridge. The more complex the project is, the more useful the WBS is to ensure that the main pieces of the project puzzle are captured.

Do you use WBSs on your projects? Let us know your experience in the comments area.

Posted by Sue on Apr 16, 2009 | 25 Comments | Tweet This

Apple wool felt laptop sleeve

Laptop sleeves are a necessity if you are regularly on the move. They protect your computer from daily wear and tear while providing a quick way to transport your precious cargo. The wool felt laptop sleeve designed by redmaloo is a nice option because it serves more than one purpose. The sleeve protects you computer, but it also unfolds to provide a work surface with a mousepad (see picture below). The sleeve is available via ex49. ex49 imports was created to provide emerging, talented artists from Germany with the opportunity to exhibit and sell their products overseas.

apple-laptop-sleeve

(via Swiss Miss)

Posted by Matt on Apr 16, 2009 | 18 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Toothpaste dispenser

toothpaste-dispenserAll Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

A streamlined morning ritual is always a good idea. Planning a morning routine is key to being on time, and the Toothpaste Dispenser is just the thing to help you with that time-wasting, strenuous task of putting toothpaste on your toothbrush. I can’t think of a single other method you could use to extract toothpaste out of the tube. This wall mounted dispenser not only saves you from extreme stress, but it also takes up a lot of space! We’re so lucky to live in 2009.

The dispenser comes in chrome (pictured) and white. So choose wisely on which color matches your decor the best. Also, don’t be afraid to invest in two (or more!) of these dispensers if your roommate, wife, husband, or child uses a different toothpaste. Your friends will be envious that you have cracked the code on how to get toothpaste out of the tube.

Posted by Matt on Apr 15, 2009 | 36 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

2008

2007

  • Tough questions for your things
    Here’s a lists of questions to ask yourself about every object in your home, and about objects that want to come into your home.
  • Clutter creeps into the car
    Traveling in a clutter-free vehicle will keep your mind on the road and make your travels safer and more enjoyable.

Posted by PJ on Apr 15, 2009 | Comments Off | Tweet This

Six tips for going paperless

Please welcome Mark W. Shead, who blogs once a week on the informative Productivity501.com. He is a business management consultant focusing on using technology to streamline businesses.

I have been moving toward a paperless office for two reasons. First the amount of paper in my life continues to grow each year and I’ve grown tired of spending so much effort just wrangling physical paper. Second I spend a lot of time on the road. It is nice to have access to all my files whether I’m in working in my office in Kansas or waiting for powder to fall in Colorado.

The move to paperless has been an interesting experiment and I’ve been amazed at just how attached I have become to the pieces of paper I have saved over the years. Here are some tips for people looking to make a similar transition.

  1. Scan what makes sense – Go for the biggest bang for your buck. It doesn’t make sense to scan every single book you own, but it does make sense to scan in your bills, receipts and insurance paperwork.
  2. Give yourself time to adjust – You are probably going to find yourself very attached to your papers. I got over this by creating a “to shred” set of files. I kept the paper around until I was comfortable with my electronic access to it and was ok with shredding it.
  3. Backup, backup, backup – Make sure you have a reliable way of backing up your data. Not only do you need to back your data up, you have to test it as well. Also make sure you store your backups in a safe place. I keep one backup in my office and another encrypted on Amazon’s servers using Jungle Disk. That way if a flood or fire destroys my computer and backup hard drive, I can still get my data back.
  4. Get some help – If you have a lot of paper to scan consider hiring someone to help. A high school or college student can go through quite a stack of papers in a few afternoons. The worst part of switching to paperless is when half of your data is on paper and the other half is digital. Getting a bit of help initially can make your system much more useful to you right away.
  5. Think “Where will I look for this?” – There are many ways to file your scanned documents. When you are designing your system, make sure you don’t fall into the trap of thinking “Where should I put this?” You need design you system around the question “How will I look for this?”
  6. Don’t skimp on your scanner – The ScanSnap is one of the best scanners for the money. You want to make sure you don’t get something that requires putting each page, one at a time, on a flat bed. If it is too much trouble to scan in a new piece of paper, you won’t do it.

Posted by Mark on Apr 15, 2009 | 29 Comments | Tweet This

Seven benefits of uncluttering

Today, we welcome Gregory Go. He is one of the personal finance and frugal living bloggers at Wise Bread, and a contributor to the new book 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget (available this May).

I come from a long line of packrats on my dad’s side of the family, and I definitely have a tendency to hold on to too much crap. But keeping my inner packrat in check is easier when I remember these 7 benefits of uncluttering.

1. Save money.

What if it only cost you $2 to read a brand new book that costs $24.95? Pretty good deal, right? Trent at The Simple Dollar shares his secret to reading brand new books for cheap (or sometimes even for a small profit). The key? Sell them as soon as you’re done reading to capitalize on the still-hot demand.

If you get rid of stuff you don’t need quickly, you can recover some portion of what you paid for the item. It’s like getting a discount on your purchase price. The faster you dump it, the bigger your “discount”.

Uncluttering (physically and emotionally) also makes a huge impact on your financial health, as Erin explains in this guest post at The Simple Dollar:

You will stop making impulse purchases because you can consciously evaluate a product and ask yourself if you really need it. You don’t operate on automatic pilot. You can easily foil retail marketing efforts. You don’t approach shopping with a “some day I might need this” attitude. You can better evaluate products because you’re aware of their components and inspect their quality. You are a mindful consumer, which is beneficial to your wallet and your commitment to simple living.

2. Make beer money.

In addition to books, electronics like cellphones, CDs, televisions, and computers are other items that retain more of their value the sooner you sell it. Dump it as soon as you don’t need it anymore. More money and less clutter for 30 minutes of eBay time? That’s a good deal.

Here’s a quick tip from The Digerati Life on how she cashes in on her clutter:

Post photos of your items on craigslist or some other web classifieds site for your local area. Ebay or other online auctions should work too if you’re able to ship the item. Amazon is great for used books, CDs and DVDs. Price your item well. I do this by checking what the going rate is for the item then knocking off 5%. Rules would obviously be different for auctions – try no reserve.

You probably won’t get what you want for your stuff, but anything is more than what you get if that crap stayed in your closet. Here’s an active discussion on Wise Bread about the kind of stuff you can offload on eBay. For example, Lynnae of Being Frugal shares in that thread:

I’ve sold “gently used” children’s clothing with some success. It does better in big lots according to size, and it helps if the clothes are name brand. Mostly I sell books, though. I’m a book-a-holic, and I always have extra books to get rid of. My books don’t fetch high prices, but every little bit adds up.

3. Get more space. Afford more house.

What percentage of your home is used for clutter storage? You may be shocked to learn the percentage of your rent or mortgage payments being used to store that old TV, extra couch, and broken coffee maker.

All I can afford here in Los Angeles are small apartments far away from the beach. If left to my packrat ways, half (or more!) of my rented space would be used to store crap. By purging regularly, I’m getting twice the apartment. I can also move a little closer to the beach because my rental budget doesn’t have to buy as much space.

4. Help others.

Why horde that second blender when your college-bound nephew could use it for mixing margaritas? Or how about all those clothes you never wear anymore?

The stuff you don’t need anymore might be useful for someone else. Donating your unused stuff is a fine way to up your charitable budget without using cash.

Bonus: Giving your stuff away helps the environment. If old toasters, hair dryers, and books are handed around to different people, less stuff would need to be produced. Give your old stuff a new lease on life with a new owner, and save the planet at the same time!

5. Save time.

Without all that clutter, it wouldn’t take so much time to prep your home for guests. Regular household chores (vacuuming, dusting) will be faster and easier without so much stuff lying around. Having less stuff piled up on your desk also makes it easier to find that important piece of paper when you need it.

6. Be more productive.

What is your current R.O.O. (return on organization)? Being more organized will provide a positive return in time (and we all know that time is money). The returns can be quite significant.

It is estimated that increased R.O.O. can yield up to an extra two hours of productive time a week.

Decluttering is so powerful it actually creates time! Get things done by getting rid of clutter.

7. Reduce stress.

Eliminating clutter reduces your stress level. Instead of your home being a sanctuary from the stress of work and real life, it adds to your stress level. It’s a terrible feeling when home is more stressful than the workplace.

Ready to purge?

Here are more helpful posts on how to unclutter:

  • Instructions for Decluttering Your Home in 5 Easy Steps (Unclutterer) – Alex Fayle explains in less than 500 words the thought-process of organizing your home.
  • 10 Ways to Declutter and Put Cash In Your Pocket (The Simple Dollar) – All of that stuff stored in the closet is money just sitting there gathering dust. Here are tactics to use to clear out a lot of your unused stuff (freeing up space in your home) while also putting some cash in your pocket.
  • 9 Tips for Decluttering (Zen Habits) – Zen master Leo Babauta offers his best tips for getting and keeping your space clutter-free.
  • How to Get Rid of All Your Crap (Wise Bread) — “Professional Hobo” Nora Dunn explains what she did with all her stuff when she left her cushy Canadian life for the adventure of vagabonding.

Good luck, fellow packrats! If I can part ways with my crap, you can definitely do it too.

Posted by Gregory on Apr 14, 2009 | 19 Comments | Tweet This

The deep drawer problem

deep-drawerOne drawer in our kitchen (pictured) is a real problem area for us. It is an incredibly deep drawer that is the depository for most of our food preparation tools. It contains everything from a whisk to a rolling pin. The depth of the drawer makes it prone to disorganization.

I looked into drawer dividers to find a stackable option and eventually came across the Lipper International Bamboo Drawer Organizer with Removable Dividers and Top Sliding Tray. This drawer organizer looks like the perfect solution for my problem. The top tray can be removed for access to larger kitchen tools below and the measurements (14-1/2-inch W by 12-1/2-inch D by 3-3/4-inch H) are just right.

Has anyone else had a problem with too-deep drawers in the kitchen? How did you solve the problem? Please share your solutions in the comments.

Posted by Matt on Apr 14, 2009 | 39 Comments | Tweet This

INCHworm shoes grow with your child’s foot

Children’s shoes don’t last very long. The main culprit is their growing bodies. I’d venture to guess an average pair of shoes lasts around six months — max. Depending on the amount of wear and tear, the shoes may not be suitable for donation after use, which is unfortunate.

inchworm-shoes

The INCHworm shoe is a decent solution to the ever-growing child’s foot. The shoe is adjustable and extends itself by one whole size, in half-size increments. So a size six can become a six and a half and then eventually a seven. This would surely extend the life of the shoe by several months. From the product description:

Inchworm shoes are design specially for kids, both boys and girls. These shoes grow with your kids as your kids feet grow, one full size in two half size increments. With the 1 fit System you have the possibility to adapt the shoes to your children feet. Inchworm shoes are made in two parts with rubber outsole & PU midsole for the best comfort and support with anatomic insole and latex heel pad. The uppers are made from quality leathers and synthetic mesh. Inchworm shoes will last approximately 3-6 months longer than an ordinary pair of shoes. Simply push the button on the side of the heel and watch in amazement as the shoe grows.

This is a pretty cool idea. What do you guys think? Let your opinions fly in the comments section.

(via CNet’s Crave)

Posted by Matt on Apr 13, 2009 | 40 Comments | Tweet This

Sure-thing investing

Once again, I would like to welcome Lauren Halagarda as a guest author on Unclutterer. Her ROI advice is perfect for the tax season. Lauren is a spectacular professional organizer living in the Washington, D.C., area.

We invest our time, energy and money on buying and acquiring things while futilely trying to achieve the life we want. I can assure you that you gain more return on your investment when you switch your focus from buying stuff to being organized. Here are just a few examples:

ROI: Self-confidence.
Put an end to the apologies you make for being late, forgotten commitments, and lost or misplaced information or belongings.
Investment: Time management basics
Stop over-scheduling. We often try to fit in “just one more thing” before moving on to our next commitment. We end up running late, frazzled, overwhelmed, and distracted. STOP and THINK, how long will it really take to get there or prepare for that meeting? Are you being realistic about traffic? Parking? Etc. Honestly, the worst thing that can happen is that you will be early. The horror! Bring a magazine or book and catch up on your pile of reading. Yes, you know, I’m talking about that “I’m gonna read it someday” stuff that has taken over your horizontal surfaces.

ROI: Quality Time with loved ones
Stop spending your “free time” maintaining, cleaning, storing, battling through, and tripping over your stuff.
Investment: Letting go
Let go of the stuff that you don’t love and don’t use that gets in the way of stuff that is important — which isn’t really stuff at all, is it?

ROI: $$
Investment: Clear your Kitchen
Unclutter your kitchen, rid your cabinets of idle appliances and gadgets, toss the excess plastic storage with no matching lids, and clear your counters of unused spice racks and unitaskers. Instead, create a functioning kitchen where you have room to breathe and the ability to access what you need. Involve the family (including children) in the cooking experience. Not only will you save money by not eating out as often, but you will be teaching your children a lifeskill.

Small investments in being organized will provide you with a huge payoff. If you are having difficulty getting started, check out the NAPO Professional Organizer Directory to find an organizer that’s right for you.

What are some small investments that you have made and what is the ROI?

Posted by Lauren on Apr 13, 2009 | 8 Comments | Tweet This

A year ago on Unclutterer

2008

2007

Posted by PJ on Apr 12, 2009 | Comments Off | Tweet This

Learning to love cleaning

Again, we welcome the phenomenal Monica Ricci as a guest author on Unclutterer. She’s the organizing adviser for Office Depot and Beazer Homes, and you may have seen her on HGTV’s Mission Organization. She’s a professional organizer hailing from Atlanta.

Creating an organized life means, among other things, taking control of your space. When did you last clean your toilets? How about your sinks? Mirrors? Floors? Whether you own or rent, live in a studio apartment or a large home, cleaning is a regular necessity. I’m willing to bet that with few exceptions you probably don’t look forward to cleaning? Yet, like it or not, housecleaning — like organizing — remains a lifelong maintenance task. In the spirit of enjoying your life as much as possible, how do you reconcile the fact that you have to do something you dislike over and over again for all of the foreseeable future? (Man, that sounds grim) The way I see it, you have only a few options…

  1. You can hire someone else to do it for you. This is a viable option for some people, but others either can’t justify the expense, or just plain can’t stomach the thought of paying someone to do something they can do for themselves.
  2. You can do it yourself and grumble and whine and dread every minute of it.
  3. You can do it yourself and enjoy it.

The first option is relatively easy. Ask for referrals from friends to find someone to clean for you who is reliable and trustworthy. The second option is the one a lot of people choose. They do clean their own homes, but only when it’s so bad they can’t stand it or when they’re expecting company. They dread thinking about it and dread doing it even more. Then when they do clean, they spend every minute wishing they were finished.

I’m all about option number three, and I want you to be too! So how do you take a task you hate and turn it around so you not only don’t dread it, but you actually begin to enjoy it? The secret is all in your mindset.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, living an organized life has a lot to do with taking control of your space. This means making sure the areas where you live and work are in a “positive state of readiness,” so they can support your life both mentally and physically. Cleanliness is part of that positive state of readiness, and here’s the secret to enjoying cleaning:

Look past the task and connect with the benefit it offers to your life.

Although housekeeping (and organizing) may seem like drudgery on the surface, if you can mentally and emotionally connect with the deeper benefit, the task becomes easier and feels more worthwhile in exchange for a larger future benefit. So, keeping your house clean and orderly is just like going to the gym, going to college, or anything with a long term benefit. You do what you must now in order to feel a certain way and have a specific result later.

Think of housekeeping as another expression of love for yourself and your family, rather than a necessary evil, and you’ll dread it less and enjoy it more.

Posted by Monica on Apr 11, 2009 | 18 Comments | Tweet This

Ask Unclutterer: How can I decorate a big room without cluttering it up?

Please welcome Holly Becker, the wonderful mind behind the design blog decor8. On decor8, Holly dishes daily on topics ranging from sofas to stationery along with ideas for living a more creative lifestyle. She was perfectly suited to answer this week’s question.

Reader Eleanor submitted the following to Ask Unclutterer along with a couple pictures:

Hi there. In one room of my apartment, I have the opposite problem of many of your readers: too much space. The living room is 21 by 17 feet, mostly featureless and with a low ceiling. I want it to be an organized, uncluttered living space but don’t want it to look like an empty warehouse! What can I do with it, besides trying to fill it up with stuff? Just FYI, moving to a smaller space is not possible right now. In the future, definitely.

Hi Eleanor! While your “problem” of having too much space isn’t the most common, it’s definitely one I’ve addressed a few times with clients who went from homes with smaller rooms to spacious open concept lofts where the lines between spaces became blurred. Once settled in, they felt overwhelmed by having to “fill” all the extra space they’d once dreamed of and, like you, compared their living quarters to an empty warehouse. You are not alone in this Eleanor, between my advice and the comments that Erin’s lovely readers will no doubt offer, I’m confident you’ll soon be on your way to a cozy space in no time!

So… where to begin? THAT is the question of the day! Since you do not live in a loft with soaring ceilings and an open floor plan, I think your space issues are a lot easier to solve because you have a predefined living room space — a gorgeous one with outstanding details (vs. 4 plain walls). You have a fireplace, built in bookcase, and the most gorgeous hardwood floors. What a gem. I am not sure if these photos are current, if not have you added furniture yet? The moment you bring in a sofa or sectional, a pair of chairs, coffee table, floor rug, window treatments, etc. you will see that space shrink immediately, so never fear — your dream home isn’t that far from reality. Here are some tips for transforming your living room into space that you’ll enjoy living in!

  1. Area rug. A must! I don’t have the dimensions of your room, but my guesstimate is an 8 x 10 would do the trick. Go with a low pile vs. high.
  2. Sofa flanked by two chairs or an L-shaped sectional would really work here. Avoid overstuffed marshmallow-like seating — bulky pieces will make that ceiling feel like it’s lower than it is. Opt for furniture with clean lines and a sofa with arms (vs. armless), and try to find pieces that sit lower to the floor but not ON the floor. I think you should show a little leg but don’t allow too much space between the sofa and the floor.
  3. I’d paint the wall where the stairwell is (right side as you walk up the steps) and continue with that color down the hallway to give that space a separateness from the living room area. Perhaps something with warm tones vs. cool tones would work there.
  4. If you are keeping this wall color, I’d change the trim to the same color as the wall paint to create height or trim it a shade or two lighter (but not darker).
  5. At the top of your stairs I’d replace that light fixture with one that mounts flush against the ceiling — again to create a sense of height.
  6. Perform this little exercise; walk up your stairs and turn slightly left looking toward your living room. Where do your eyes land first? Try it again, a few times. Ask others who will live in this space to do the same. Guests too. That is your “focal” point. I’d build the design starting from that space.
  7. Fill that lovely built-in bookcase with books — what a fantastic feature you have there. For fun, you could even paint or paper inside of those shelves (go darker not lighter). I sure would. Keep books or whatever you end up putting there, in a similar size and tone because it will look clean and neat but also provide more visual weight.
  8. Hang your curtain rods several inches higher than your window frame to create a longer line from the floor to the top of the rod — visually this makes the room look taller.
  9. If you plan to keep your television, I’d place it to the left of your fireplace vs. inside of it. (hee hee) If you don’t plan to use the fireplace, decorate the inside with a few pillar candles in varying heights.
  10. I’m not sure if your room is large enough to break out into two cozy sections, so, if not, I suggest this on furniture placement: when you are arranging things “float” pieces away from the walls vs. placing everything right up against them (not applicable to the TV unit but for sofa/chairs).
  11. Add a cozy throw folded neatly over the arm of your sofa or chair. Sounds so textbook, but a few throw pillows and a nice blanket really do create warmth.
  12. Look for drapes that touch the floor (not puddled and not too short, just skimming the floor is perfect), and replace your plastic blinds with a quality fabric shade or roll up blind — look for something tactile like wood or linen.

Thank you, Eleanor, for submitting your question for our Ask Unclutterer column. And, thank you, Holly, for providing such terrific advice!

Do you have a question relating to organizing, cleaning, home and office projects, productivity, or any problems you think the Unclutterer team could help you solve? To submit your questions to Ask Unclutterer, go to our contact page and type your question in the content field. Please list the subject of your e-mail as “Ask Unclutterer.” If you feel comfortable sharing images of the spaces that trouble you, let us know about them. The more information we have about your specific issue, the better.

Posted by Holly on Apr 10, 2009 | 22 Comments | Tweet This

Workspace of the Week: Designer’s desktop

This week’s Workspace of the Week is miss_vu’s clean and well-organized desk.

Miss Vu is an illustrator and graphic designer. The bulletin board above the desk has reference materials, current projects, and images that provide creative inspiration. The space is well-lit and free of distractions.

Want to have your own workspace featured in Workspace of the Week? Submit a picture to the Unclutterer flickr pool. Check it out because we have a nice little community brewing there. Also, don’t forget that workspaces aren’t just desks. If you’re a cook, it’s a kitchen; if you’re a carpenter, it’s your workbench.

Posted by PJ on Apr 10, 2009 | 11 Comments | Tweet This

Install a tip out tray in front of your sink

tip-out-trayOne of the things that my old kitchen was equipped with that my current kitchen doesn’t have is a tip-out tray immediately in front of the sink. My new home only has a fake attached front to a drawer that doesn’t exist. Instead of the decoration, I wish my new kitchen had a tip-out tray that helped contain our sponge, scrubber, drain plug, and garbage disposal allen wrench.

I’m not sure why all kitchens aren’t equipped with this simple solution. The tip-out tray is inexpensive and it serves a purpose. The fake drawer serve no purpose.

There are different size tip-out trays, so be sure to you measure before ordering. These 36 inch options can be cut to the size that you need, or they can fit a longer, single drawer.

Posted by Matt on Apr 9, 2009 | 33 Comments | Tweet This

Disaster Uncluttering: Aftermath

Today we welcome back Unclutterer programmer, Gary DuVall. In the first post in this series, he discussed how to prepare yourself and your home in case of a disaster. He is writing for us based on his personal experience of losing everything he owned in a fire last June.

After the fire was declared extinguished, we were allowed back into the building to survey the damage. We walked up three flights of stairs through noxious air, flooded floors, and dripping ceilings to get to our unit. The fire started in the unit immediately above ours -— which was now just a giant hole -— and the enormous amount of water, soot, chemicals, and smoke that had made their way down had left nearly everything in our place unsalvageable. Luckily enough, our important documents, which I had been in the process of organizing days before and included our insurance policies, were still mostly untouched in their airtight container. Though we tried, there wasn’t much we could do to mitigate any further damage to our things as water was still raining everywhere through the exposed timber ceiling. We grabbed our records, as many valuables as we could find, our waterproof Mag-Lite flashlight, and a digital camera that had been partially soaked but stored away from the brunt of the damage. And then we left for the night.

The first order of business was to begin our claim with the insurance company, at which time we were told to find a hotel and wait to hear back the next day from a “floating” claims adjuster. After we found a hotel and settled in with our cats, the first things we did were:

  1. Air out the camera in hopes of using it to document the damage
  2. Purchase emergency clothing and supplies, all of which would be covered under our policy
  3. Re-read through our policy, organize our priorities, and consult with family members with prior experience in the industry.

Despite the day’s events, it was surprisingly easy to sleep that night.

We received the call we were expecting the next day from the “floating” insurance adjuster and were told to stay at the hotel until Monday. Staying at the hotel until Monday turned out to only made things worse, as we were asked on Monday why we didn’t do more to mitigate the damage. This particular conversation was awkward for both sides and for entirely different reasons.

It wasn’t until Tuesday, after heated discussions with our claims adjuster, that they finally assigned us an on-site adjuster to survey the damage so we could start the process of remediation. As my wife finished snapping a few hundred photos of the damage, the on-site adjuster almost immediately deemed it a “total loss” and left it to the remediation/mitigation crew we hired to clear out the unit and help us file our property claim. It would be another week of prodding, phone calls, and unanticipated project management to make sure all sides were in sync before everything was finally removed from our unit and what little could be salvaged was taken by the remediation crew.

It was strange on that last day to look down from my office window and find almost everything we owned filling the dumpster below, but it meant we could finally concentrate on the most important part of the process: rebuilding.

These are some important tips to keep in mind after an emergency:

  1. Your first priority is to make the claim. During this call, if you don’t have a copy of your policy, demand that one be sent overnight to the address where you’re staying. Ask about the company’s obligation to have an adjuster sent out as soon as possible, your “Loss of Use” provisions, and your responsibilities as dictated by the policy.
  2. Beginning with your first call, write down and keep records of every single contact you have with anyone related to the insurance company, the on-site adjuster, the mitigation process — and in the case of renters, the landlord. Include times, dates, names, numbers, and a detailed account of what transpired, even down to the mood of all sides involved. Save all e-mail contacts in a special inbox folder if you have access to a computer. If you have problems down the road on any front, you’ll have a lot of information to reference.
  3. If you have access to your residence afterward, pull your records and valuables first, including your hard drives if possible. While some insurance companies advise heavily against moving anything and add that you may not be able to claim these items after removal, it’s better to be safe than sorry. (In some cases, you still can so long as you inform the insurance company of what’s been removed.) If you find items that could directly help you sort through what’s left, such as a heavy flashlight and/or a camera that survived, their immediate usefulness in recording evidence of the damage (and building an inventory in the absence of one) will vastly outweigh your need to claim them.
  4. Read your policy again thoroughly. Compare what’s in the policy against your logbook and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Have a copy with you at all times (along with the logbook) when going back to the premises.
  5. Take stock financially. Your insurance may cover you immediately, but you may not see that money for days or even weeks. During that time, save every single receipt, no matter how small. You’ll be required to turn them in as part of your policy’s “Loss of Use” claim. We used zip-top sandwich bags to sort receipts by type and keep them safe at the same time.
  6. Be prepared to assert yourself. Being non-confrontational after losing nearly everything won’t do any good if a company that’s supposed to be on your side tells you X and your policy or contract states Y. Although the squeaky wheel generally gets the grease, remember to be polite but firm when you state your case.
  7. Breathe. You’ll come across irreplaceable mementos and be in contact with various people bordering on infuriating at times -— all the while bearing the heavy burden of uncertainty — but it’s essential to keep your thoughts as uncluttered as possible and concentrate on what needs to be done. Maintain your composure when working directly with the situation at hand, and find ways of coping during the downtime. We went to a local town festival for a day during some well-needed downtime, and it helped us greatly.

In Part III of this series, I’ll discuss the process of rebuilding your home from nothing.

Posted by Gary on Apr 9, 2009 | 10 Comments | Tweet This

Unitasker Wednesday: Bed Made EZ

bed-made-ezAll Unitasker Wednesday posts are jokes — we don’t want you to buy these items, we want you to laugh at their ridiculousness. Enjoy!

Making the bed is one of my least favorite household chores. Is the chore difficult? Not really, but it does seem like a waste of time, especially since we don’t have pets. Hardly anyone ever sets foot in our bedroom, so we simply let the sheets and blankets be most of the time.

All of this bed-making procrastination may come to an end if I invest in the Bed Made EZ. This tool is “an ergonomic device that slides easily between the mattress and the box springs, raising the mattress so linens are easier to put on.”

If you have back pain that is a hindrance to your bed-making skills, maybe this has a purpose for you. Maybe. You’d still have to bend over quite a bit to shove the device between your mattresses. For able-bodied people, though, it actually looks like it takes more effort than tucking the sheet into the bed normally.

Posted by Matt on Apr 8, 2009 | 40 Comments | Tweet This