1. Always take inventory of your closet before shopping and create a list of items that you absolutely need.
2. Resist the urge to buy things that aren’t on your list and focus only on the essentials.
3. As soon as you get home, make space for your new item by placing one piece of clothing you no longer wear in your donate bag and schedule a pick-up.
Following these tips will help you build a wardrobe full of clothes that you actually wear!
1. Clear the clutter: Before implementing any new strategies, take time to remove the excess from your home. Sort through a drawer or two at night and create a place for everything. Use baskets to organize kids’ toys, games, etc., and while you’re organizing be sure to toss out the things that are damaged and donate the things that you no longer use, but that are still in good condition.
2. Create a cleaning chart: Since you may not be used to cleaning and organizing your home on a regular basis this chart will work well because it will give you some structure. If you can’t find enough time to clean during the week, consider moving some of the chores over to Saturday and/or Sunday. If your children are old enough to help, then by all means, delegate those tasks!
3. Make a weekly meal plan: Each week plan out what you will make for dinner and create a shopping list of the ingredients you need. Here’s an excellent template.
4. Tackle the kids’ rooms: Start by organizing their toys, these 5 tips will help.
5. Get the bathroom in order: First take inventory of your products and throw out medicines that have expired and anything you no longer use. Next, organize the items you plan to keep: get a caddy for bath products, use drawer dividers for items, such as make up, hair ties, brushes, etc., if you need extra space, this terry-cloth tidy is an excellent option and this magnetic strip is great for small items. Store your child’s bath toys in a mesh bag, or in a corner basket and put the toys away after each bath. Save space in the bathroom by donating the toys your child has outgrown.
6. Simplify things: Create go-bags for your home so that you’re always prepared when you leave the house. Fill the bags with snacks, coloring books, crayons, and whatever other goodies your little one likes to have while out and about.
Getting started will be the most difficult part, but once you have a plan in place it will be smooth sailing! Share your organization tips with us on Facebook and on Twitter at @clodonations.
Written By: Natalie Martin
Elliot’s Room by Amy Gizienski Licensed Under CC by 2.0
If you feel that it’s finally time to make some changes in your living room, it’s important to find a look that fits both your taste and lifestyle, before investing in new furniture and decorative touches.
Our how-to guide will help you turn your living room into the cozy oasis it should be:
Inspiration: Check out magazines and websites, such as House Beautiful. You can also create a board on Pinterest and pin your favorite pieces of furniture and living room ideas. After you’ve decided on the look you’re going for, pick a color scheme that you like, these eight tips from HGTV can help.
Furniture: If you’re on a budget, start with just the essentials; think about which pieces need to be replaced right away and which things you can make do with for a little while.Before heading to the store or ordering online, take measurements of your living room area and take note of how your living room is shaped. Additionally, be realistic about your lifestyle, for example if you have little children who eat or drink in the living room, the white couch you’ve been coveting may not be the best fit for your home. As you start buying new furniture donate the items that you’ve replaced, rather than filling up your storage space with old stuff.
Decorating: Resist the urge to fill up empty space with generic pieces. Buy some new frames that complement the color scheme you’ve chosen. If you have mementos that you would like to show off, find shelving that goes well with the colors and style you’ve chosen. Rue Magazine shows you how to display your possessions in a stylish way that doesn’t look cluttered, here’s a good example: decorating tip. After you’ve decorated, you will likely find that there are things you chose not to show off and unless they are family heirlooms, you may want to donate those discarded items along with the old furniture.
Have fun furnishing and decorating! If you have leftover furniture and other things that you want to get rid of, be sure to schedule a pickup. When you’re finished making over your living room, share your photos with us on our Facebook page!
Written by: Natalie Martin
Vietnam Veterans of America will pick up many of your used and unwanted things, including televisions!
Here are a few things to note before scheduling your pick-up:
1. VVA cannot accept console televisions.
2. All televisions must be in good working condition.
3. Most locations do accept portable televisions that are no larger than 27″, but it’s a good idea to call the pick-up service in your area to confirm.
4. All flat screen televisions are accepted.
Schedule a pick-up today and remember, your used things help veterans of all eras!
1. Store your out-of-season clothing and get rid of the clothes that you no longer wear. A good rule to go by: if you have clothes that you haven’t worn in a year, it’s time to let go. Keep only the clothes that you feel comfortable in and that look good on you, regardless of how great they may look on the hanger. After you’ve finished your purge donate the items that you won’t keep.
2. Maximize your space by going vertical! Utilize the back of your closet and walls; hooks, shelves, a belt hanger, and an over-the-door shoe organizer are just some ideas.
3. Use shower hooks to hang scarves. Or, if you don’t like the idea of hanging shower hooks in your closet you can try one of these other DIY ideas.
4.Upcycle soda cans to hang more clothes. Bonus: this trick allows you to hang entire outfits, which will save you time in the morning!
5. Install an extra rod and use that for shorter items, such as skirts and shirts. Here’s a tutorial to help you out: Double Your Closet Space.
For more ideas check out the Pinterest board we created for you!
