Page 6   Design décor & Year New New Organization By Dana Bjornsen, The Clutter Chick How to get a handle on all that clutter Work on one room at a time. Start with one room or space at a time and have five bags or boxes ready. Fill each bag or box with the following: 1. Things you’ll keep. These will get put back after you’ve finished the cleanout project. 2. Things you’ll throw away. These can go out with the trash. 3. Things you’ll donate (or sell). Once you’ve accumulated your outgoing items, put them in your car and take them where they need to go the next time it’s convenient. 4. Things you’re not sure about. Ask other members of your household about these. Things that remain homeless for more than three months can be tossed. 5. Things that belong in other places. After you’ve gone through everything, these things can be put where they belong, which is often in another room. Decide how much is too much. If you want to maintain the same amount of items (books, toys, jeans, etc.), practice the “one in, one out” rule; if you want to reduce what you have, start getting rid of more than one thing each time you get a newer version of that same thing. Select a “ landing place ” for your discarded items. If you know where your items will go, it can make the letting-go process easier. Charities, schools, churches and senior centers are always happy to accept donations. If you’d like to earn some cash, sell your items at one of our local resale shops. Keep a bag or box in your closet for donations. When it fills up, take it away and start again. The Clutter Chick’s favorite de-cluttering items: D id an abundance of new things come into your home over the holidays, but you still have the same number of closets? Are the 70 degree temps inspiring you to do some spring cleaning? Whatever might be motivating you to address the stuff in your space, here’s a shortlist of steps to help get your home in shape and keep it in shape for 2015. • Huggable Hangers. They’re thin, allowing for more clothes in your space and everything clings to them. Try: Joy Mangano 34-pack Huggable Hangers Combo Pack – Black. • Clear shoebox storage bins. They are perfect for individual pairs of shoes, but also have infinite uses in every room of the house. Try: Our Shoe Box from the Container Store. • A label maker. Labeling is often the key to knowing what's inside a container. My P-Touch labeler is my best friend. Try: Brother P-Touch PT 70BM Electronic Handheld Labeler at Office Depot and OfficeMax. An organized home is a happy home. 480.518.7992 Dependable-Divas.com • Professional Organizing since 2006 de-clutter | organize | simplify

447 Lighting Factory | Custom Lighting HINKLEYSLIGHTING.COM SCOTTSDALE 16049 N. Greenway Hayden Loop 480.948.8799 PHOENIX 4620 N. Central Avenue 602.279.6267 16049 N. Greenway Hayden Loop Courtesy to the trade PRECISION A ppeal