Curating a Sustainable Wardrobe

Do you stare into your closet full of clothes and feel like you have nothing to wear? You have so many items to choose from, maybe things are a little cluttered, that you struggle to decide on your outfit each day. Here comes the stress and overwhelm, right? You know we are all about decluttering and organizing, but it’s important to understand the concept of a sustainable wardrobe. You are working toward having a wardrobe that has clothing items that are made with care and last a long time. A well-organized closet isn’t just about looking pretty, although that doesn’t hurt. It’s also about making intentional shopping choices and streamlining your items in a way that keeps your closet working for you with less stuff. Let’s explore the steps to take your closet from chaotic to functional, sustainably.

Start Where You Are

We won’t be tossing everything and starting over, but knowing what you have is a key piece of this process. Pull back on shopping and making new purchases while you take the time to inventory your current wardrobe. Take everything out of your closet and place them in categories. Think t-shirts, blouses, shorts, slacks. As you sort through the categories, consider how often you wear each item. Does it fit? Do you feel good when you wear it? Is it in good condition? For anything you don’t like or wear, it’s time to let it go. Donate or sell as much as you can to reduce what goes to the landfill. You may be surprised how much space you actually have once you remove the items you don’t use.

curating a sustainable closet, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston-Salem, NC

Organize & Care

Having a closet that is decluttered and organized helps you see and know what you have. Use an organizing system that makes sense for you. Maybe you sort and hang by category or you love your items sorted by color. Finding and using a system that you like will help you maintain it. Plan to declutter seasonally. This is a great time to sort through and make sure you are only keeping what you wear before switching your wardrobe for the new season. Choose breathable storage options when putting away seasonal clothing items. Extend the life of your clothing with proper care. Use quality hangers, fold delicate items and avoid over washing. Line dry when possible to avoid extra wear and tear from the dryer. Bonus – you save on energy costs!

curating a sustainable closet, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston-Salem, NC

Shop Intentionally

 A little retail therapy just feels good sometimes. When it’s time to add some new items to your wardrobe look for pieces that lean more toward versatile and less trendy. Choose items that are well-made and durable. They will last longer and you can easily mix and match for variety in your outfits. Consider secondhand shopping. Thrift stores and consignment shops are great ways to add to your wardrobe. Don’t forget the “One In, One Out” rule! For every new item you bring in, you let one go. This rule can benefit you throughout your home, not just your closet. Shopping can be fun, but doing so mindfully will help you keep your clutter under control and save you money!

Curating a sustainable wardrobe has so many positive benefits. You will remove the stress of choosing what to wear or even just putting the laundry away. Shopping mindfully will help you continue to enjoy your clutter free space and save you money and time. All while contributing to a more sustainable environment. Start with small, intentional changes toward a more organized and sustainable closet. When it comes to clothing, less really can be more. After all, we can only wear one outfit at a time, right?

curating a sustainable closet, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston-Salem, NC

If you need a hand decluttering and organizing your home, we’re here to help! 
Are you local to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and
surrounding areas?
Contact Organized Jill for a complimentary consultation.

Prepping Your Home for Holiday Guests

Ho ho ho – here comes the holidays and the holiday guests! The holidays certainly snuck up on me, too… Family time is great with all the catching up, laughs and love. If you are the holiday host, you may be starting to feel a bit of overwhelm along with your excitement. It’s ok! We are here to help you prep your home like a pro. All you need is a little time and planning to get your home holiday ready to welcome your guests with a real smile, not the stressed out, fake smile…

professional organizer tips to prep your home for holiday guests, Organized Jill Winston-Salem, NC

6 Ways to Get Your Home Guest Ready

1. Declutter High Traffic Areas

Place your focus on the areas in your home that your guests will see and use the most. Think living room, kitchen and guest rooms. Clear out any unnecessary items to make the spaces open and inviting. You can place personal items in bins or baskets and tuck them away until the holidays are over. Your guests are bound to bring their things right? Let’s give them some room to really feel comfortable during their stay.

2. Create a Cozy Guest Area

This may be a separate room or maybe the couch. You may not have a designated guest room, and that’s ok! Make sure they have clean, fresh linens to sleep on. Clear out some closet and drawer space if possible for them to tuck their things in. If you don’t really have the extra space, set up a luggage stand or provide a clear area for suitcases. Keeping your guests’ items organized and out of the way helps you and them!.

professional organizer tips to prep your home for holiday guests, Organized Jill Winston-Salem, NC

3. Optimize Your Kitchen

The kitchen is a hot spot during the holidays and adding more people into the home gets it even hotter. You will need more free space. Start by clearing off your countertops, tucking away anything that isn’t needed or used often, like small appliances. Declutter and organize your fridge and pantry. Take inventory of what you have and might need…. make sure you don’t already have 5 open jars of pumpkin pie spices. These areas are about to be home to a ton of holiday ingredients and food. Yes, the leftovers are about to take over. Make room now to avoid clutter and disorganization when your house is full.

4. Refresh the Bathroom

The bathroom will also be a highly used area while you are hosting your guests. Make sure it’s clean and well stocked with essentials like toilet paper, hand soap and towels. Don’t overthink it. You don’t have to have color coordinated towel sets. Fresh and functional is the goal here. Fill a basket with toiletry essentials in case your guests forget their razor or toothpaste. 

5. Ready the Entryway

As your guests enter your home, your entryway can quickly become a cluttered drop zone. Stay in front of this by prepping the area ahead of time. Remove any unnecessary personal belongings, like your four pairs of shoes that hang out there. This will help open the space for your guests coats, shoes and bag. Think about the potential for wet weather and have a mat or special area for wet shoes or umbrellas. 

6. Holiday Vibes

If you go all out decorating for the holidays and this makes you happy, go for it! If it’s really not your thing that’s ok too. A simple door wreath, a bowl of ornaments and a few holiday pillows can give your home that cozy holiday feel. Even just a scented plug in can make the day shine and feel like the holidays. You can add some lights and holiday tunes to really set the mood. Sometimes less can really be more and it’s less to clean up later. 

professional organizer tips to prep your home for holiday guests, Organized Jill Winston-Salem, NC

Hosting for the holidays can be stressful. Remember that the holidays are about spending time with your favorite people and soaking up all the love and laughter. It’s really not about having a perfectly organized and spotless house. Your guests are there to see you, not judge your home. Prep as much as you can, take a deep breath and enjoy your company and holidays!

If you need a hand prepping your home for holiday guests, we’re here to help! 
Are you local to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and surrounding areas?
Contact Organized Jill for a complimentary consultation.

Declutter & Organize for Back to School Success

Summer break is quickly coming to a close, and it’s time to begin prepping for the new school year. This can be both an exciting and overwhelming time for you and your kids. It can be hard to say goodbye to the laid back days of summer. The time off likely led to overall disorganization in your kid’s room, play areas, and maybe even throughout the home. Clutter is a normal side effect of summer break. As you begin to prepare for a new school year, helping your kids create a clutter-free, organized environment, especially in their personal spaces can set the stage for academic success and personal growth. We are sharing our top tips to reset your nest and get the kids’ room organized for the school year ahead.

4 Steps to Declutter & Organize Kids’ Rooms

Step 1: Work With Your Child

Involving your kids in the process of decluttering and organizing their things is essential to teaching them important life skills. It helps them have a sense of control and requires them to use decision making skills when choosing what to keep, donate and trash. They will also likely gain more responsibility in caring for their belongings and space if included in the process.

You can add a little excitement to make this more fun and interesting for your child. Use a timer to see how much they can get done in a certain amount of time. Most kids’ love a good challenge and will work hard to win!

Step 2: Sort & Categorize

Decluttering the room is the best first step to organization. Have your keep, donate and trash boxes ready to be filled. When sorting their clothes and shoes, place anything that doesn’t fit or no longer suits their style in the donate or trash box. Once this process is done, you will have a better idea of what is needed when back to school shopping.

When sorting the books and toys, encourage your child to let go of anything that they don’t enjoy playing with or have outgrown. Have them help decide where to take their donations. There are many schools and organizations that can get great benefit from gently used toys and books.

declutter and organize for back to school success, professional organizer, Organized Jill Winston Salem NC

Step 3: Organized Storage Solutions

Now that you have decluttered and only have the keep items remaining, it’s time to organize. Creating and using storage systems will not only help to get organized, but will be imperative to helping your kid stay organized. Labeled baskets and bins are great for small toys and art supplies. Use shelves for books and decorative items.

In the closet, group similar clothing items together – pants, shirts, etc. Have hanging clothes within reach for your child. Use those labeled baskets and bins for accessories or folded clothing. Don’t forget to use vertical storage, and even the inside of closet doors if needed, to maximize the space. Not only will this help keep the closet looking great, but will help your kid get ready each morning with little hassle and stress.

Step 4: Maintenance Schedule

The key to really making all this hard work pay off for you and your kids is to create a routine to regularly maintain the organization. Pick a time in the evening to have a quick 10 minute cleanup. Keep the time consistent, for example after homework is finished or before dinner. Setting clear expectations can really help your child. Have them place all items in their clearly designated homes they helped create. This will keep the room clean and clutter free, while allowing for an organized fresh start to their day each morning.

declutter and organize for back to school success, professional organizer, Organized Jill Winston Salem NC

Pro-organizer Tip

Have a designated “drop zone” for all daily items needed for school like their book bag, jacket, and shoes. Make returning these items to their proper place part of the evening clean up routine. No one wants to start their day off searching for a missing shoe when it’s time to leave, right?

If you need a hand decluttering and organizing your home, we’re here to help! 
Are you local to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and surrounding areas?
Contact Organized Jill for a complimentary consultation.

Modular Closets Feature

Meet Jill Moore, founder and owner of Organized Jill. 
Jill is a certified Professional Home Organizer in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Together with her team, she creates systems in her clients’ homes based on their needs that are functional, manageable, and sustainable for their lifestyles. She transforms their homes, decluttering, categorizing, organizing, and styling her clients’ spaces to create beautiful and practical results. Organized Jill incorporates balance, function, and beauty through organization, and will even occasionally rearrange furniture to improve the flow and energy of a room. Whether it’s a closet, pantry, kitchen, bedroom, or even a whole home, Jill and her team are there to help! Jill’s philosophy is inspired by both Marie Kondo and The Home Edit. She combines the values of simplicity and tidiness with the sparkle of color and design in a unique approach. After decluttering, Jill works her magic to bring a space to life with a blending of colors, textures, and visual weight, as well as creating zones to make the perfect system for her clients’ needs. She maximizes storage spaces to be fully functional and optimal, often doubling the amount of storage available.(for example, replacing single rods with double-hanging components, or wire shelving with custom closet systems)Jill and her team’s skills give their clients the ability to showcase their full wardrobe in one neat space.
Let’s hear about it in Jill’s own words:
 “Our client purchased this home with a specific vision in mind.
The home is a luxury log cabin, but it was a little dated in a few areas and ready to be updated. From the kitchen & master bath, to the master closet & pantry, a timely overhaul was overdue.
“We had the privilege of designing, installing, and organizing a new pantry, master closet, and linen closet.
“For the master closet (featured), two small adjacent closets were replaced by one, large master closest by removing the dividing wall.
“In the new space, I had the opportunity to maximize storage by incorporating Modular Closet components that would help the homeowner stay organized by season.
“As this is the only closet on the main floor, it has to also pull double duty as the coat closet.
“When organizing the space, we leaned into the concepts of visual weight and color to guide the homeowner on a smooth journey through their closet space.
“Accessibility was key, as well as being able to see all the contents.
With spaces specifically designated for clothes, coats, scarves, sandals, boots, and sneakers, each component is fully optimized for storage, style, and enjoyment.” 
Amazing what you can do with double-hanging! Modular Closets has made renovating our clients’ closets a smooth and easy process.

Are you local to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and surrounding areas? Contact Organized Jill to schedule your complimentary consultation.