Top Ten of 2020
Little Red Stool Organizing has been official for 4 years now and it has been a delight to be in so many homes! Choosing only 10 after photos of all the hard work that went in to decluttering and organizing during a pandemic is going to be next to impossible. If I don't limit myself, though, you'll be here reading for days as I had the absolute honor of working in 33 households in 2020. I'm going to stick with sharing my favorites in chronological order to keep from really showing favorites. I love each and every client that I worked with this year and each of them deserves a reward for the work they did!
Do the Hard Thing
Years ago I created the image below. Little did I know that I would be continually learning this. I’m not a huge fan of doing things that are hard for me. (Helping you declutter and organize is easy for me so never you fear!) I keep choosing to do the hard things first and I keep growing to be able to do more and more things.
No More Junk Drawers
If I were to go on an organizing mission, "No More Junk Drawers" would be a top contender. We all have them (or have had them) and maybe there are multiple in your home. There is no need to feel shame and there is an easy way to get rid of them.
Parents and Their Grown Children
Two of the most common phrases I hear when I tell people what I do for a living are, 1. "You should see my house," and, 2. "My parents need you." We have put ourselves into storage units with all the stuff we collect and keep in our homes. And sometimes it's not even our own stuff! Whether you are the parent or the adult child, there is something for you in this article.
A Kitchen Issue: A Personal Story
I have had an issue in my kitchen that I've wanted a solution to for quite some time. I thought there would be a product that would be a quick fix but just couldn't find what would meet my needs. Sometimes the easiest solution is also the most simple solution. For example, instead of a complex strawberry huller, a knife will do. It turns out the same principle was true for my kitchen issue.
The Problem with Paper
The problem with paper isn't just that there is so much of it. The problem with paper isn't just that it's coming into our homes from every direction. The problem with paper isn't just that there is so much unsolicited paper. The problem with paper is all of these things on top of which we put...
Appliance Closet
As our homes have gotten bigger so have the the number of different things you can put in them. I am not telling you to go buy a bigger place to store all of the things you own. In fact, I would tell you to go through all of the things you own, keep only the things you want and love... then spread them out giving them (and you) room to breathe.
Squatters or Residents: Why it can be so difficult to let things go
If you've been around for a while you've noticed that I like a good analogy. I find it easier for people to understand what you are saying if they have a category to put it in. As with any analogy, sometimes you can't carry them over one-to-one but the spirit is what we're going for. When helping people see that they get to choose what stays in their homes and what leaves their homes this might be a good way for you to think about it.
Not Your Usual Suspects
During the month of April I ran a series on social media using #covidcleanout in which I posted a different area to focus on cleaning, decluttering, or organizing each weekday. They were not meant as a challenge but prompts for those who were looking to get some things done and just couldn't figure out where to work next.
When "Lazy" is a Rescue
One of my favorite product solutions is a "lazy susan" or "turntable." See a before and after using this product.
Covid Cleanout
While we are staying home for the good of our friends, family, and neighbors let's take some time to clean out our spaces. That can look like whatever you want it to look like.
Need to declutter?
Need to actually clean?
Need to reorganize?
Need some structure?
How to Clean Your Entire House, Top to Bottom
Spring cleaning is upon us! That's the time of year when we do the baseboards, back splashes, and grout cleaning. We get into the cracks, corners, and crevices where things have been sitting but we haven't had time to get to them.
In Case of Fire
I ask a lot of questions when working with people to find peace and freedom in their home. The questions vary by person and situation. "Do you like this item?" "Do you want to keep up with the care and storage of this item?" "Is this item an excess duplicate?" And so on.
Just in Case: The 20/20 Rule
There are dozens of tips and questions to ask to help you decide what to keep in your home. There are too many to say all at once while in a decluttering session. Some, however, hold more bang for their buck. One of them is the 20/20 rule.
Top Ten of 2019
Choosing only 10 after photos of all the work I did with the greatest people this year was super tough! I had the honor of walking with people through tremendous growth and that just doesn't show up in a two dimensional image. For that reason, I'll share my favorite images and the stories behind them. And to make it even easier on me I'm going to do them chronologically. I just can't show favoritism! I love everyone I work with so much!