Pantries are one of the most frequently used spaces in your home. they can get messy quickly because there are many things in your pantry and perhaps many hands accessing them. but organizing products are only one piece of the puzzle, along with planning, measuring, sorting, editing, and labeling. that said, here are my four favorite products to use in your pantry:
1. turn tables, or lazy susans. sometimes called 'those spinny things', turn tables come in all different sizes and materials. we love to use turn tables in pantries for oils + vinegars, spreads, and condiments. 2. Can risers 
Can risers are typically 3 tiers, and we love the acrylic version the best. they enable you to use vertical space efficiently and some even expand laterally to fill your shelves completely.
3. bins 
There are literally hundreds of bins or containers for you to use in your pantry. we love these woven water hyacinth bins to create a boundary for your categories. When your snack bin is full, you need to finish those snacks before buying more. clear acrylic bins, solid white bins, or metal bins are also great choices depending on your style and space.
4. canisters for decanting 
our favorites are the oxo pop containers, which come in several sizes. we suggest decanting your baking ingredients to keep them fresher longer and ditching the flimsy bags or boxes. also cereals and any snacks that you use frequently, can be decanted.
i reviewed all of these items on 3.15.23 on my first real milwaukee segment. see the video below. happy organizing!
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 Nearly every discovery call I have with a new client includes something like this: "I can't stand the clutter in my house anymore, but I just don't have the time to tackle it myself. I need help." Another common theme is that they might have heard a few common myths about organizers, so they aren't too sure if this is the right journey for them. Today, I will disprove 5 pro organizing myths to the best of my ability… Myth #1: Pro Organizers Are Judging Your HomEWhen I enter a client's home for an initial consultation, I literally get starry-eyed looking at their 'mess.' My brain kicks into overdrive with ideas, and I start to form solutions to their problems. I come with zero judgment because this is real life; you do not live in a museum, and life happens here. What a beautiful thing! When you reach the point of being overwhelmed and want to transform your space, I am giddy with excitement and never judgmental - it's the reason I have a job, after all.  Myth #2: Pro Organizers Are Too Expensive Organizing is not a cheap service. That is true. But if you ask me and my past clients, it's worth every penny. Why? Having an organized home pays for itself by saving you time, which is the most precious resource in this one wild and free life you have. My price point is competitive for our Milwaukee market, and you'll find all of the details on my website.  Myth #3: Pro Organizers Make You Get Rid of EverythinG It's true that you cannot organize clutter, and editing your space to include items that you use and love is crucial to the long-term maintenance of your home. That said, I would never force you to let go of anything - that is always your decision to make while I guide you. Once you've decided what is staying, the fun part really begins - organizing! I love creating a place for every item in your house so that you have a system that is easy to maintain.  Myth #4: Pro Organizers Require You to Provide Storage ProductS One of the biggest perks of hiring Move Over Mess is that we plan for your project, shop for all products, haul them with us to the job, and then handle any returns for items we don't use in your space. I always tell my clients that I prefer to bring several options with me for project day to be sure that we get the perfect fit and style for your space. Taking all returns with us is key, and the cherry on top? We also take a single carload of donations when we leave if you have anything to donate.  Myth #5: Pro Organizers Organize Your Home in a Single DaY Although I'd love to snap my fingers and have your entire home perfectly organized in a day, most of the time, my clients prefer to take this journey one step at a time. We typically tackle one space in a day, but we can certainly spread the project out over weeks or months. This is beneficial for clients financially and emotionally, as transforming your entire home will take time, money, and some emotion. Sometimes, clients are worried that they will never be able to maintain such a beautiful, organized space when we leave. I strive to create easily maintained systems, but if life happens and you need a little refresh, you're in luck. We offer maintenance packages where we can switch bins, add new labels, help with a toy rotation, seasonal clothing changes, and integrate new items that have entered the home since we last visited.  If you're ready for a home that feels effortless and supports your busy life, I would be honored to help. Reach out, and let's chat!
Until next time, Julia  I often hear a variation of: "What are your favorite products to use in (insert room of the house here)? I'm going to tackle this project over the weekend!" And although I fully support anyone trying to get organized alone, there just isn't a one-size-fits-all product that works for every space. Besides product selection, many other aspects of decluttering and organizing require a custom solution. This is why I often respond with, “Well, it completely depends,” because I can't give you enough generic advice to help you along your way. Today, I'll share my 3 biggest reasons why decluttering with an organizer is better than DIY. Reason #1: A Pro Will Help You Purge More Effectively When a client books me for a project, I'm officially on their calendar as the day that used to be 'someday.' Someday is now when you've paid for an organizer to hold you accountable. Many of my clients say that they'd never get this done without me here, which is precisely why they've hired me: to finally take care of this pain point of a space, once and for all.  Reason #2: An Organizer is Happy to Manage Discards & Donations As a bonus to my clients, I will haul away one carload of trash, donations, or recycling. Whatever can fit in my SUV will poof—be gone from your life forever. I would love to use a few local thrift stores for donations, and we can discuss where your items will go after our session. Let's take one more thing off of your to-do list, and let me handle the errand of discarding items you no longer need.  Reason #3: A Coach Blends Their Expertise with Your Lifestyle
I love to work alongside my clients and really dig into their lifestyles, discovering how their brains work while forming a custom solution for their space. Above all, I want our new system to be easy to maintain. I want it to make sense for my clients, which is why I ask a ton of questions at our consultation: to ensure a solution that works for you. Is this a service that could benefit you? Here at Move Over Mess, we offer both decluttering and organizing for overwhelmed women (and families). If you are interested, book a free discovery call with me today on my website. I'd love to hear more about your project! If you're ready for a home that feels effortless and supports your busy life, I would be honored to help. Reach out, and let's chat! Until next time, Julia  Professional Organizing is a relatively new (and amazing) service; many folks don't completely understand what we do. I find that when someone asks what I do for a living, I'll tell them I'm a professional organizer, and I'll get a lot of blank stares or “What does that mean?" lines of questioning. But the good news is that I love to explain my services to those curious, and maybe if you're reading this post, it's you! FAQ #1: Will I have to get rid of most of my things? Decluttering, or letting go of items that no longer serve you, is a hugely important part of the organizing process. I truly believe you cannot organize clutter; any new system will not last until you pare down to the essentials. That said, every client will have a different level of decluttering depending on their space and needs. I won't make you get rid of everything, but I will coach you through some pivotal decisions along the way.  FAQ #2: How much do professional organizers charge for their services? Currently, my rates are $100 per hour for the first organizer (me!) and $75 per hour for each additional organizer. This is absolutely a luxury, custom service for clients who want to get organized without having to do the actual work of the process. My past clients will tell you it's worth every penny. Learn more about my service here.  FAQ #3: How long does a project take? Project length depends on several factors, including the space size, how much stuff you have inside the space, and your goal for the space. For example, an entire kitchen typically takes us 18 labor hours at a minimum. A smaller closet may take just 4 hours. This is why the in-home consultation process is so important: so that I can provide you with a custom quote for my labor time on a project.  FAQ #4: How does the process work from start to finish?
Lucky for you, I created a highly detailed document about my process. By signing up for my monthly newsletter, you'll receive this freebie PDF file highlighting any questions about my process. See the button at the top of this website for details! If you want to discuss your home's organization, we would love to help! Reach out, and let's get to know each other. Until next time, Julia  It's our first 'fake' spring in Milwaukee, which means the weather is nice right now, and you might be getting the itch to upgrade your house. Maybe that means you are exploring options for building an addition onto your beloved but too small house, or maybe that means you're ready to list your current home and find a bigger/better one. The first step I always recommend before packing for a big move, or beginning a renovation, is decluttering. Here's MY simple guide to decluttering that lasts… The Challenge of Decluttering Most people cannot declutter their entire home without calling in the professionals for help. I find that many of my clients feel extremely overwhelmed when they consider this process of letting go. Even if they are well aware that they have too much stuff, it's still really challenging to sort through their belongings and decide what's coming along in the next chapter. If this sounds familiar, you are in luck: I have a big tip that will help!  Decluttering that Lasts What's the best way to declutter your home with confidence and success? Stay true to your goal. If you want to live a simpler life full of less stuff to manage, you'll have to remind yourself of this goal over and over again. Less is more, my friend. When you hold onto items from your past that are no longer serving you, it absolutely affects your mental clarity and stress levels in your daily life. letting go is powerful and it can make you feel lighter and help you breathe easier.  Tackle Clutter Once and For AllWhen you are ready to declutter, I'd love for you to start small and pick one junk drawer or a single shelf in your closet. Set a timer for 15 minutes and tell yourself that's as long as you'll need to commit to this process, and you might surprise yourself and be ready to tackle even more after the timer goes off. I love to ask my clients this question: "If you lost this, would you buy it again?" It really makes you think, doesn't it? For more helpful tips, read 4 Organizing Tips to Regain Control of Your Kid’s Bedroom  Decluttering can feel daunting, but so can living in a home filled with too much stuff. I'm here for you if you need backup in this process, as decluttering is always the first stage of getting organized with me. I'll help guide you to make decisions about what should stay in your life, and I'll take donations along with me the same day as our session to make your life even easier.
Need help assessing what should stay or go when organizing your home? That's what i do. Reach out, and let's chat. Until next time, Julia  Kids can't always verbalize the stress they feel when their bedrooms are cluttered, but many studies show children have difficulty concentrating in rooms with too much visual stimuli. I believe that kids thrive on structure and routine, and it's our job as parents to teach them how to be tidy! Organization is a learned skill that takes practice and plenty of reminders as kids grow. This is a skill that they will appreciate someday, which is what I tell myself about several aspects of motherhood. Step #1: Assess the Space When entering a child's bedroom for the first time, I immediately take into consideration three factors: clothing, toys, and books. Clothing: Is this child old enough to do their own laundry, including putting away all of their clothes when they are clean? If so, is their routine working for them, and do they have the right amount of clothing for their physical space? Toys: Does this child have toys in their room, and if so how are the toys stored? Have they outgrown some of the toys in this space, or is everything still loved? Books: Most kids have books in their bedrooms, but I assess whether there are books stored in a bookshelf or if they are scattered all over the room.  Step #2: Sort Items Thoughtfully When I'm working on a child's bedroom project, I always start by pulling everything out. I'll usually start with their clothing, categorizing by type - group all sweatshirts here, all the t-shirts there, etc. With the help of my client, we will select items that are too small and set aside for donation. After that, I'll put the “keepers” back in functional order. I want my littlest clients to easily find something to wear each morning, without stress or tears.  Step #3: Add Systems to the Routine One of my favorite tips for fostering daily organization habits in kids? A stair basket. Placing a simple basket at the bottom of your stairs will encourage every family member to place “upstairs” items in the basket, so that each item can be relocated to its proper location every night. Kids can put their library books, pajamas, papers, hair products, or anything else in this basket. Everyone should work together as a team to keep the house tidy, so it shouldn't just be Mom carrying this basket up the stairs each night!  Step #4: Set the Example Kids learn by watching their parents. This isn't meant to put pressure on you, but rather inspire you to teach them how to tidy up and why it's important. I find that making organization a priority in small, everyday tasks is the way to go. Avoid the drama in making it a giant “clean up the entire house” session. Baby steps go a long way with children and adults, too.  Organizing as a Family
Decluttering and organizing don't have to be a drag, and it can be really fun and empowering to include your kids in the process. The sense of pride little ones feel after accomplishing a task like decluttering a shelf in their bedroom goes a long way. And if it all feels too hard and impossible to accomplish in your limited hours each day, I'm here to help if you need my services. Want to love every room in your home again? We can help! Reach out here, and let's organize your kids' bedrooms this year. Cheers, Julia |
AuthorI'm Julia, Professional Organizer and owner of Move Over Mess. In a different lifetime (2007-2017) I was also a mommy blogger. :) Archives
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