BC Living
You’ve Gotta Try This in November 2024
Thankful For BC Farmers This Thanksgiving
Gut Healthy Recipes
Skincare Products for Fall
Exploring the Benefits of Cold Therapy
Back to Reality: Mental Health Tips For Managing Stress as an Entrepreneur
Inviting the Steller’s Jay to Your Garden
6 Budget-friendly Holiday Decor Pieces
Dream Home: $8 Million for a Modern Surprise
A Relaxing Getaway to the Sunshine Coast
Exploring Vancouver’s Top Wellness Spas
Great Bear Rainforest
B.C. Adventures: Our Picks for November
Fall Movie and Book Recommendations for Cozy Nights In
Cirque Du Soleil
Shopping for Wellness: Essential Products for Relaxation
Local Finds: Cozy Fall Fashion for Your Wellness Journey
Fall Fashion Trends
Soraiya Kora of POSabilites Personal Organizing reveals her secrets for reducing the mess and reorganizing your home
The MDF Italia Box Storage Units are an easy way to de-clutter your home
By de-cluttering your home and better organizing your things, from incoming mail to stockpiles of household goods, you can stop wasting time searching for items and start creating the illusion of having more room.
Soraiya Kara, trained professional organizer and owner of POSabilities, shares advice:
Q. What are the basics of home organization?
A. Number one: Know what you have. Take an inventory so you’re not always chasing your tail. Treat your home like a stockroom or pantry. If you can’t create an inventory, create zones. If you do a particular task in a particular area, host related things in that zone. It’s important that the family gets involved. Take 20 minutes a day to put things away; if not, your home becomes a holding tank.
Q. How can I get rid of the clutter?
A. People suffer from emotional guilt. We need to give ourselves permission to keep or discard something. It’s a huge process to get rid of things so you need to be ready to de-clutter. Start by picking one room – not the whole house – then pick a category, like clothes. Ask yourself why you have something and if there’s a reason to get rid of it. Does it fit? If something doesn’t make you smile, don’t keep it. If it has sentimental value, take a photo of it. Assess your core needs and re-purpose things. Be realistic and give yourself permission to give things away. Q. How can I find space to become better organized?
A. The best way to save on square footage is to put up a shelf. It’s easy and affordable and creates extra space. Sort things by commonality; tins of photos, baskets of magazines. Think about what it is you have first, and then find a container or shelf for it. Cubicle shelving is helpful. Don’t use ugly bins; find something you can work with and like.
POSabilities Personal Organizing 604-677-1512
ClosetMaid 604-576-6496
California Closets 800-758-9160
Originally published in BC Home Magazine. For monthly updates, subscribe to the free BC Home e-newsletter, or purchase a subscription to the bi-monthly magazine.