Get Organized to Prepare for Your Home Renovation Project

Is it time to update your outdated kitchen cabinets? Maybe you are getting new flooring. Or a new, custom closet (from yours, truly wink, wink) finally! Any update to your home is an exciting time and a whole lot of work. Even if you are working with contractors, there is plenty of prep work to get done. The key to a successful renovation project with less stress is all in how you prepare before the project actually begins. It can feel overwhelming, but our professional organizing tips and strategies will help you plan, prepare and pack with ease.

Pre-Renovation Declutter

As with all things home organization, the process always begins with a decluttering session. Prepping for a home renovation project is no different. This is actually a perfect time to declutter as you empty drawers, shelves and cabinets. 

As you work through your items, have your donation and trash boxes or bins ready. Try to be as ruthless as possible when deciding what to keep and what to let go. Keep in mind that the less you keep, the less you have to pack away and put back later. Think of it as a fresh, clean start once your new space is ready.

how to organize for a home renovation project, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem NC

Prepare to Pack

There are a couple of planning steps to complete before you begin the packing process. You will want to gather your needed supplies like boxes or plastic bins with lids, packing tape, markers, bubble wrap or packing paper and labels. Depending on the size and scope of your home renovation project, you may need to plan for covering your existing furnishings to keep everything construction dust free.

You will need to have a storage plan. Where will all the boxes and bins live while the project is underway? You may choose to use a spare bedroom, your garage or even a temporary storage pod depending on how much stuff you have and how much space you need. The more out of the way you can place these, the easier it will be for you to peacefully exist in your “under construction” zone during the project.

Pack & Label

Now it’s time to pack your items away. When packing, think in categories to keep like items that go together. Your future self will thank you for this when it’s time to unpack. Use bubble wrap or packing paper to protect your glass or fragile items. 

One of the most important steps in packing is to clearly label your bins and boxes. Use a method that works for you~ by room, item category, or a detailed inventory list of what’s inside. Just make sure you don’t skip this step as this makes the unpacking process so much easier. 

how to organize for a home renovation project, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem NC

Temporary Living Zone

If your home renovation project is in your kitchen, bathroom, or a primary living space, you will need to plan for the in between time. Set up a temporary mini kitchen that you can use for meal prep and eating in a different area of your home with your coffee pot, microwave and crock pot. If your bathroom is on the remodel list, keep all of your daily essentials in a caddy you can carry to an alternate bathroom and easily put away when it’s not in use. Keep these temporary spaces simple. Your goal is functional, not elaborate or perfect.

Organized Unpacking

This is where all of your hard work prepping and organizing your packing pays off. Your labeled bins and boxes will be so easy to work through as you return all of your items back into your updated space. And you only have your favorite items that you actually use because you decluttered before you packed everything away. 

You will want to create an organized system as you unpack. This will help you keep your new space tidy and organized for the long term. Use organizing products like labeled baskets, drawer dividers, stackable bins and shelf dividers. This will help you not only organize your items, but also maximize and take advantage of every inch of your storage space. There are so many options to choose from. Make sure you measure before you buy so you don’t waste your time on returning products that don’t fit or work in your space.

how to organize for a home renovation project, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem NC

And there you have it. Not only do you get to enjoy your updated space but you get the calm and clarity that comes from having an organized and highly functional space. Enjoy!

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

Help To Curb Your Clutter

I love contributing to a “how it all works” article for professional home organization.
Almost as much as I love helping my clients clear their clutter and finally get organized!
Get the answers to your organizing FAQ’s, from good questions to ask to how much it costs.
Perfect if you know you need the help, but feel unsure of how it all works.


“Home organizing is a little different than other service industry businesses in that, by the time someone has booked a consultation with you, they have generally already checked out your website, social media feeds, client reviews, and portfolio,” says Moore. “The most commonly asked questions that I hear from my new clients are ‘How long have you been organizing?’ and ‘Can you please make my closet look like this picture I saw on your Instagram?'”

It’s true that an organized home is visually appealing and most home organizers display their work on social media, but the following questions are invaluable to helping you choose the right professional for your project.

If you need a hand creating lasting organized system in 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.

Low Lift, High Impact Spring Organizing

As we close the chapter on the cold, dark winter months and step into longer days filled with sunshine, it’s time to show our homes a little decluttering and organizing love. The thought of decluttering and organizing all the things can feel overwhelming. Here’s the thing. You don’t have to tackle your entire house to begin to feel the difference of less clutter and more function. The key to your success is to focus on the primary areas of your home that make the biggest impact on your day to day routines.

5 Quick Spaces to Declutter and Organize

Entryway

This space sets the tone for how you feel when you walk in the door of your home. Keeping it clutter free and organized also helps set the stage for a quicker, less stressful departure as you head out for your day. No more frantic searches for keys, purse or other daily (and highly needed) items.

  • Remove and store away all things winter
  • Add in your spring decor
  • Use baskets or bins with labels to catch daily items
  • Add hooks for hanging items like bags and purses
organized makeup drawer, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem nc

Bathroom

Your bathrooms are definitely high traffic areas. Being able to quickly and easily find what you need can help save you time when you are getting ready for the day or winding down. A well organized bathroom is a game changer for busy, frantic mornings. And who doesn’t love clear countertops!

  • Check all your products and toss anything that is expired
  • Clear your countertops, leaving only daily essentials like toothpaste
  • Use labeled bins, drawer dividers and storage containers to group like items together
  • Add a back of the door organizer to create additional vertical storage space

Linen Closet

“Extra” closets can often be a magnet for clutter. We toss the fitted sheet with a hole, but feel like we need to keep the top sheet. We don’t know why exactly, but it’s what we do. And then we shut the door and move on. Reducing the amount of linens you have on hand will make keeping that closet organized so much easier.

  • Discard or donate worn out linen, stained or excessive linens
  • Set a limit of two sheets sets per bed, one on and one in the closet
  • Add labeled baskets and bins for small items like hand towels or supplies
  • Use shelf dividers to keep everything neat and organized
organized playroom, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem nc

Playroom and Toys

If you have kids, those kids have toys. And if we are being honest, they likely have way more than they need. We all know those toys rarely stay in their dedicated space and often find their way strewn about the whole house. As we gear up to spend more time outside, this is a perfect time to sort through those toys.

  • Make this a team project working with your kid (age appropriate of course)
  • Help them decide whether to keep, donate or trash toys
  • Create play zones to help keep toys where they belong
  • Add clear, labeled bins to easily see what’s inside

Shared Living Spaces

Whether this is your living room, den or family room in the basement, any space that is shared by all can quickly become messy. Creating an organized system for these spaces can help all family members keep the space clutter free and ready for all of that family fun time.

  • Clear horizontal surfaces, using minimal decor and keeping only essential items handy
  • Consider using furniture with hidden storage like drawers in a coffee table for remotes
  • Use decorative baskets for small blankets, magazine and toys
  • Have everyone participate in a daily reset to put things back where they belong
organized living room, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem nc

Getting your home organized doesn’t (and really can’t) happen all at once. You will be amazed at the impact these seemingly small projects will make in your home. Quick wins build momentum to move on to those bigger projects like your kitchen or closet. Let’s ocus on progress, not perfection. Every drawer, shelf or surface you purge and reset helps create a calmer, more functional home for you and your family to enjoy.

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.

Rethink, Repurpose, Reorganize

I love sharing organizing advice and strategies with my community!
This interview with the Winston Salem Journal focused on how
to make room in your home for what matters most to you.


The Organized Jill team helps declutter and organize closets, pantries, bathrooms and craft rooms. They also help homebuyers unpack, find storage and create systems to help homeowners and renters start out in their new place. Every system is tailored to clients’ needs.

“We always take the time to learn about our clients, to listen to their needs, priorities or concerns and personalize the experience,” Moore said.

Organized Jill quote, investing in your home is an investment in yourself, professional home organizer, Winston Salem NC

If you need a hand creating lasting organized system in 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.

Create an Organized and Functional Closet

Does your closet feel a little overstuffed? Do you find yourself searching for what you need a little too much? Your closet plays a big role in your daily routine. We get dressed everyday. We may help family members get dressed every day. We do laundry often. Those clean clothes have to go somewhere, right? Dealing with a disorganized, messy closet every single day is likely adding unnecessary stress and overwhelm to your day. The good news is an organized closet is something you can have. With a simple plan, a little focus and the right strategies, you can create a calm, functional closet you will love using. Even better news? We have the professional organizing strategies to help you achieve the closet of your dreams!

Declutter Your Closet

The thought and process of decluttering can truly feel overwhelming. You may feel like you don’t even know where to start. You can’t organize clutter. So the first step to organizing your closet is to remove anything you don’t wear, use or love.

  • Give Yourself Time – Decluttering is a process and you will need time to sort, categorize and make decisions on what items to keep and what items need to be donated or discarded.
  • Empty The Closet – We know, we know, but this is the best way to really see what you have and do a thorough job. Make sure you have a spot to place everything and take all of your items out of the closet. This allows you to make better decisions as you sort through all the things.
  • Quick Clean – This is a perfect time to remove cobwebs, wipe down shelves and clean the floor. It will feel really good to place your keep items back into a fresh, clean space!
  • Sort & Categorize – As you work through all of your things, separate by category like t-shirts, blouses, pants, jeans, work clothes, leisure wear and athletic wear. The categories will vary depending on your wardrobe.
  • Let It Go, Let It Go – Have your donate, sell and discard bins or bags ready as you begin to sort your items. This tends to be the challenging part of the process. As you sort your clothes, ask yourself these questions. Any no’s, let it go!
    • Have I worn this in the last year?
    • Do I like the way this fits?
    • How do I feel when I put this on?
    • Would I buy this again today?

Shall We Organize?

Decluttering is complete and you are left with only the clothing items that fit you well and make you feel fabulous when you put it on! Now the fun part begins. Let’s create an organized system that makes your closet work for you! This step will feel so much lighter and doable with less stuff to organize.

The goal here is to create an organized closet system that works for you, your lifestyle and the way you go about your daily routines. Start with those categories of like items you created when decluttering. Now we want to sort those categories by how often you use or wear the item. We want to keep more frequently used items front and center and use your higher or lower areas for those items you only use occasionally.

As you return items to your closet, create zones or sections in your closet for the categories like work, casual and activewear. You will love how quick and easy the process of putting laundry away becomes with this system in place!

Add Space and Structure

To help maximize your closet space, consider storing your off season items outside of your primary closet area. You can use a spare bedroom closet, space in your attic or garage or even utilize your under bed storage. If your closet is still too full, clutter will likely creep back in. Give your clothes and accessories space and room to breathe.

Closet organizing products are great tools to help you maintain your organized system and maximize your closet space. Matching hangers are a game changer for any closet. Slim, non-slip hangers save space and create a lovely, visually appealing look. Bins and dividers work well for folded items like sweaters and t-shirts, handbags and other items you store on your shelves. You will need a shoe system. Shoe shelves or cubbies can work well. Clear, stackable shoe boxes or an over-the-door shoe organizer are great options as well, especially if you are working with limited space. You can also find a lot of options to organize your belts, scarves, jewelry and other accessories.

And just like that you have a clutter free, highly functional organized closet! Plan to do routine closet resets. It can be once a week, once a month or whatever works with your schedule. This is important to maintain all of your hard work and organized closet bliss! Small maintenance sessions prevent major redos later.

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.

Organize your home – and your life!

Sitting down with the Winston Salem Journal for this interview felt so insightful as we explored the
heavy emotional impact of clutter and why decluttering and organizing can feel overwhelming.


“We declutter, organize and style,” Moore says. “Whatever the client needs – decluttering and organizing go hand-in-hand. It can be overwhelming, which is why they need our help. And, it is therapeutic. Physical clutter often contributes to mental clutter.”

After a day spent organizing for clients, most nights Moore can be found in front of her computer browsing local shops for inventory for clients and tools of her trade to uses in her business. Hours are spent poring over websites, double checking measurements and doing research (taking in account budget, style and space specifications to bring functionality and aesthetics to each project).

working with a professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem NC

If you need a hand creating lasting organized system in 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.

Organized Kitchen Systems Designed for Real Life

Do you feel like you grab take out more than you would like? Is it because getting things out of the kitchen cabinets seems a little scary at times? If preparing and eating more meals at home, saving a little money, and perhaps even enjoying a healthier diet are changes you want to make, it’s time to assess your kitchen. Did you know an organized kitchen will actually help support your goal for an improved diet and can provide a satisfying kitchen experience? The key to setting yourself up for success is creating simple, organized kitchen systems that work for you, your family, and your routines and schedules. Take into consideration your work schedule, the kids’ sports and extra curricular activites and those busy weeknights when you know your energy will be depleted by the time you walk in the door. Best part? You don’t have to dedicate your whole Sunday to meal prep!

how to organize your kitchen to work for you, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem NC

5 Kitchen Systems That Work For You

Reduce Visual Clutter

When an area is too busy with too much stuff, it feels overwhelming and accomplishing anything in the space feels stressful. This leads to decision fatigue and mental overload. As you work to create improved systems in your kitchen, you will want to give your items room to breathe. Keep your coutertops clear, avoid overstuffing shelves, and leave space between items. Utlilize those harder to reach high and low shelves in your pantry and kitchen cabinets to store items that you need but aren’t used as often.

Organize By Category & Use

We love having like items together, but where you place those items matters too. Start with organizing by category, then organize by how and where you use things. Keep your spices, cooking oils and cooking utensils near the stove. Group your pantry items that are used for meal prep together and within easy reach. Apply that same concept to breakfast items and snacks, together and easy to grab. Keep your on hand supply to a minimum. Variety is the spice of life, but sometimes having too many choices really isn’t helpful and leads to wasting food and money.

how to organize your kitchen to work for you, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem NC

Weeknight Wins

A supportive kitchen meets you where you are; and sometimes that’s exhausted, right? Create a space in your pantry, kitchen cabinet and fridge for quick meal options for those evenings when time is limited and energy is low. Have a space for easy proteins, simple sides and pantry staples that allow you to put together a quick, family approved meal. You want items that require minimal decisions on what to make, along with minimal prep and clean up.

Space to Catch All

Life is busy and messy and pretending we can have a perfect, organized kitchen is not always a reality. To offset the clutter, and keep it off your countertops, give it a home. Add a bin for daily mail and school papers. Have a drawer dedicated to those random, but needed, tools, pens and other items. Giving everything a place to live creates order that you can maintain.

Designed to Last

This is a big one! As you work to create systems in your kitchen that work better for you, consider the long term. The goal is to create systems that can be easily maintained by everyone in your household. This includes both the prep and clean up that goes along with mealtime. Share the love and the responsibilities, right? Use open front bins, labels and flexible storage options to keep your system simple and sustainable.

how to organize your kitchen to work for you, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem NC

These systems will help you create a successful kitchen that will function beautifully for you and your family!

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.

Organized Jill in Winston-Salem Brings Calmness and Clarity to the Home

I really enjoyed sitting down for an interview with the American Society of Professional Organizers (ASPO)
to share insights into my world as a professional home organizer.
We talked about how I started my Home Organization business, as well as our approach we use to work with
our clients to declutter and organizer their spaces.


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What (or who)  inspired you to become an Organizer? 

I was inspired to become a Professional Home Organizer when the world was introduced to Marie Kondo when her book and tv show hit the mainstream and created a frenzy of decluttering. After reading and re-reading her book several times, I implemented her systems in my own home over the course of the following weeks. A few years later when The Home Edit made their splash on television, I combined the concepts of Marie Kondo’s teachings brought to life with the pop of color and style of The Home Edit and decided it was time to launch my own Home Organization company. After earning my Advanced International Organizing Professional certification from QC Design School, I opened my business and never looked back. 

If you need a hand creating lasting organized system in 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.

Organize Your Home To Support You

When you think about home organization, you may picture perfectly lined shelves, beautifully labeled bins and a color coordinated closet. We can all agree an organized space is pretty, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with pretty. While the thought of a Pinterest worthy pantry can be exciting, the real benefits of an organized home goes far beyond the look of your space. This is an important consideration as you spend time thinking about the goals for your home and life. When you create realistic systems that function for you and your family, your home then supports your mental health, your energy and your daily life. You will see the results of an organized space, but you will feel it too!

Clear the Clutter

Clutter in a home is stifling and mentally heavy. It competes for your attention as you attempt to go about your day and complete your daily tasks. Piles of paper, counters full of stuff and drawers that are overstuffed with who knows what creates interruptions to your routine. Something as simple as making dinner can feel overwhelming if your pantry is a mess. Getting dressed in the morning feels stressful if your closet is overflowing. Even if you aren’t actively working on or in the cluttered space, your are mentally tuned into the mess that surrounds you.

When you declutter and create organized systems in these spaces, you reduce the “visual noise” of the clutter. We aren’t saying letting go is easy, but it is necessary to allow you to fully focus on the task at hand or fully relax and be in the moment with your family.

organizing strategies to create a home that supports you, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem NC

Free Your Mental Energy

Have you heard of decision fatigue? When you are constantly searching for something, moving stuff around or trying to decide where to put something, you’re brain is burning so much mental energy. All of those tiny, little thoughts and decisions add up and wear you down. It can feel like those simple tasks require so much more energy than needed.

When you organize and everything has a logical home, you create seamless function that simply works. You spend less time searching for items and greatly reduce the amount of little decisions you have to make. You free up your time and energy.

organizing strategies to create a home that supports you, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem NC

Systems That Match You

Is “being more productive” something you feel you need and want in your home life? Do you feel like you aren’t doing enough? Here’s the thing. Productivity isn’t about doing more. It’s really about doing the things you want and need to do with less friction, less stuff in your way. Decluttering and creating organized systems in your home can help you get there. But they have to work for your home and your family. Home organization is very personal. What works in one person’s house may work for you at all.

Create systems that store your everyday items where they are actually used to create function that works for your family. Align your systems with your reality so they naturally support your life and can actually be consistently followed through and easy to maintain.

Support, Not Perfection

Life is messy. Having a home that is perfectly organized and always tidy is likely not a realistic goal. But having a home that works for you and your life is a very realistic goal. It provides support for your time, energy and mental load. If your home feels hard to manage, it’s not you. It’s most likely a systems issue that can be improved.

organizing strategies to create a home that supports you, professional home organizer, Organized Jill, Winston Salem NC

The key is starting small and working your way through your home slowly and with intention. Small changes will have a huge impact on how you feel in your spaces. Focus on creating maintainable systems that make your everyday tasks run smoother and easier.

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.

How Two Professional Organizers Got Their Start

It was such a pleasure to be interviewed by Business Insider in September 2022
to share my thoughts and expertise on the growing home organization industry.


“Like so many people during the pandemic, I decided that a traditional workforce job was no longer right for me,” she said, adding that one of the things that had always brought her peace of mind during chaotic times was organization. In her first 12 months in business, Moore and her team of four — which she started hiring three months into her business — helped 80 clients and organized 237 spaces. Because the business is service-based, she said, she’s able to keep overhead low, with 97% of revenue going toward paying herself and her team members. 

Today, Moore works six or even seven days a week and is booked with clients four to six weeks out. As more awareness of the industry grows, she thinks demand will continue to increase.

If you need a hand creating lasting organized system in 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.