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Organization Post, One of Many
Nov. 20th, 2011 04:57 pmSo since there's been interest in my organizational process (which is deeply appreciated <3), I decided to do a post with my opinions of a good way to start. I try to do things very thoroughly the first time around, because doing it over is so exhausting and I am not going to spend another year on all this. :|
First, get a LOT of boxes. Plain, cardboard boxes. If you're sorting books, Barnes and Noble might give you some of their boxes (the ones with their logo on it), which are uniform in size and it's difficult to overload them to the point where you can't lift them. (Unless you fill one with magazines, I have learned this the hard way.) Do NOT start buying plastic tubs for organizing yet, because it's really difficult to judge how many and what sizes you're going to need.
I sorted most of my stuff by categories like books, fabric, yarn, art stuff, etc. Keep your categories pretty general, since you're resort later and refine each pile into smaller, more specific piles.
Once you get a good feel of how much stuff you have, and how many containers you need, you can start buying containers. I went to Target, which had an amazing variety of plastic bins. However, some of the edges are sharp, and you might want to find some sandpaper to smooth the rough bits. Get a few extra of each, because you'll always need more than you think, and unless you're dedicated to downsizing your total possessions, eventually you have more stuff. I also advise doing this in the summer, because the bins will come in covered in a film of dust, and you'll want to hose them off and and hand clean the crevices.
When you buy your containers, I'd really, really advise getting an electronic labeling device. (And the clear tape with black print, if you're as picky as I am.) It makes labeling your containers so much easier than trying to write neatly with Sharpie.
A different subject, but somewhat related. While I have been organizing, I've also been relocating things. Which is fighting fifteen year old habits. o_x; The key thing I learned is placing things WHERE YOU WILL USE THEM. The laundry hamper may look nicer in the closet, but I still dropped all my dirty clothes behind the door. I moved my pajamas and underthings from the furthest dresser to the closer one.
Next post I'll take photos detailing some specifics of what I did to organize my stuff, particularly my crafting shit. <3 This post wasn't particularly photo-friendly, since it's almost all prep.
First, get a LOT of boxes. Plain, cardboard boxes. If you're sorting books, Barnes and Noble might give you some of their boxes (the ones with their logo on it), which are uniform in size and it's difficult to overload them to the point where you can't lift them. (Unless you fill one with magazines, I have learned this the hard way.) Do NOT start buying plastic tubs for organizing yet, because it's really difficult to judge how many and what sizes you're going to need.
I sorted most of my stuff by categories like books, fabric, yarn, art stuff, etc. Keep your categories pretty general, since you're resort later and refine each pile into smaller, more specific piles.
Once you get a good feel of how much stuff you have, and how many containers you need, you can start buying containers. I went to Target, which had an amazing variety of plastic bins. However, some of the edges are sharp, and you might want to find some sandpaper to smooth the rough bits. Get a few extra of each, because you'll always need more than you think, and unless you're dedicated to downsizing your total possessions, eventually you have more stuff. I also advise doing this in the summer, because the bins will come in covered in a film of dust, and you'll want to hose them off and and hand clean the crevices.
When you buy your containers, I'd really, really advise getting an electronic labeling device. (And the clear tape with black print, if you're as picky as I am.) It makes labeling your containers so much easier than trying to write neatly with Sharpie.
A different subject, but somewhat related. While I have been organizing, I've also been relocating things. Which is fighting fifteen year old habits. o_x; The key thing I learned is placing things WHERE YOU WILL USE THEM. The laundry hamper may look nicer in the closet, but I still dropped all my dirty clothes behind the door. I moved my pajamas and underthings from the furthest dresser to the closer one.
Next post I'll take photos detailing some specifics of what I did to organize my stuff, particularly my crafting shit. <3 This post wasn't particularly photo-friendly, since it's almost all prep.
