Decluttering - Simplify Contained Spaces, Part Two

Okay, you have gone through all closets, drawers, cabinets, pantries, and all other contained spaces that will be included in your home's sale. You have a pile of things you use regularly. Everything else is stored, donated, or trashed.

And, yes, you can work on the contained spaces in one room (like bedroom closet, bathroom cabinet, kitchen pantry) at a time.

Now, it is time to put things back into the contained space. The keys here are organization and space conservation.

Put like things together. Stack plates on plates. Get small boxes and put the toiletries used by individual family members in individual boxes. Get a bucket or handled plastic box and put cleaning materials there, for ease of future use. Hang shirts with shirts, dresses with dresses.

As you put things back, group them. Plates, bowls, cups, and saucers belong together. Try to leave some drawers and cabinets completely empty, but do not crowed or fill up the remaining drawers and cabinets. Show lots of open space (the more, the better).

And, as you put things back, ask yourself one more time: do I need to keep this out? Do not damage your lifestyle, but do keep contained spaces as empty as possible. Remember, in the next steps we are going to store more things in them.

Speaking of closets, and this is very important, remove all free hangers. Get a decorative or wicker box and store them on a shelf in the closet if you wish, but get empty hangers out of sight! You will be amazed how much space this opens up.

I will see you tomorrow when we start Depersonalizing!