Cut the Clutter

Is your guest room piled so high with papers and boxes, no one could sleep there? Can’t find anything in your garage because there’s junk in every corner? Cindy Tyus and Kim Lyon promise they’ve seen worse.

Tyus, a trained interior designer, and Lyon, an organization specialist, make up the Birmingham-based team Cat & Lyon. They help clients transform their homes into organized, functional and beautiful spaces.

Not sure where to start in your own space? Here are some of their best tips to help you stick to the mantra “a place for everything, everything in its place.”

Tip #1: Make a plan.

Look around each room of your home to determine which areas need organizing the most and prioritize. It’s a good idea to start small so you can finish what you start. A kitchen drawer is a lot easier to accomplish than an entire basement. Organizing a space properly usually involves removing everything, deciding how you want the space to look and function and then putting it all back the right way.

Making so many successive decisions and doing the work can be exhausting and wear you out quickly. When faced with a big job, break down tasks into mini projects to make things easier. Keep in mind that organizing can cause a domino effect. Removing items from one space will require a plan to find a home for them elsewhere.

Tip #2: Declutter before organizing.

Managing your stuff becomes much easier when you edit your items down so you are not carving out valuable space for things you should get rid of anyway. For instance, there’s no reason to hang on to Tupperware with missing lids. Sentimental items can be a challenge for many people. Rather than hanging on to every piece of your chilid’s artwork, photograph each one and keep them in an album. Consider repurposing Grandma’s antique dresser into an updated media cabinet that serves a better purpose and can still be treasured.

Set out several bins or boxes for sorting into categories such as keep, donate, sell, trash or shred to start the decluttering process.

Tip #3: Store like things together.

One of the best ways to make your home more functional is by creating zones for all your household items. Determine the place where you want each item to live and commit to keeping things in their designated places.

Limit items like light bulbs, extension cords, and batteries to the laundry room or a nearby place in the garage. This may seem like common sense, but it’s amazing how these things tend to spread into other areas of the home. This practice makes finding and replacing like items a speedier and simpler process.

Tip #4: Not all storage bins are created equally.

A lot of people go out and buy stacks of bins with lids without thinking through what will serve them best. Open containers such as baskets are better suited to items you reach for regularly, whereas bins with lids are better for items used less frequently.

Often the key to keeping things organized is implementing a system that makes putting things back in their place easier. Fabulous pantries pictured in magazines with glass jars filled with pastas, cereals and snacks may look lovely, but every trip home from the grocery store requires that extra step. Think carefully before committing to that lifestyle!

Tip #5: Keep a junk drawer and a task basket.

Not every corner of your home has to be perfect.

Every home needs a ‘catch all’ drawer to house random items like birthday candles, pens, scissors, and extra house keys. These spaces can be compartmentalized and kept neat but are invaluable to storing often used items for the home in one place.

Keep a task basket handy to collect items that you aren’t ready to deal with yet. (Think kids’ school papers, mail, bills and the like). It keeps them all corralled until you have more time and helps with clutter control.

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Before and after shots of a child's closet organized by Cat&Lyon.

‍Tip #6: Think vertical.

The basic builder closet most of us have in our homes typically features a horizontal clothes bar with a single shelf above. Maximize your storage space by adding an extra shelf higher up in your closet for items that need to be accessible but not used every day.

It may be necessary to reevaluate your existing closet systems and other storage areas to get the most out of your homes’ storage potential. Changing up some shelving can be life-changing!

Tip #7: Find a solution that works for you.

There’s no one organizational system that works for everyone. You have to find the right process that can be customized to fit your lifestyle.

Even if you have bins and baskets everywhere, the truth is items don’t magically hop back into place by themselves. Staying organized begins with finding a system that you can stick to…kind of like a diet! It is also an ongoing process that requires focus, creativity and a detailed plan.

Tip #8: Know when you’re in over your head!

We all have stuff, some more than others, but all of us could use some help from time to time. Tyus and Lyon often talk to clients who have put off projects because they were too daunting or because they can’t separate themselves from the emotional attachment to items.

Don’t be afraid to reach out for professional help if you need it. You deserve to live in a beautiful space that makes you feel happy, confident and ready to welcome a friend for a visit.