Our Guide to transform Your Home through Decluttering

When transitioning your home, most people tend to overlook how useful decluttering is. It’s not surprising, though, because decluttering is not always an easy thing to do. It is especially tricky when you have to let go of the things you’ve collected over the past years. Some of them may have sentimental value, so even when they are out of place, you just want to keep them somewhere.

Now, if decorating is something you are trying to do in your home and you may not have the funds to do so, here are some useful tips for you.

Some things are just hard to let go, while some can easily be thrown out. If you’re the type of person who wants to think carefully first or who can’t decide in an instant, start by sorting the items in the below categories.

1. “MUST GO” PILE

This pile is for the things you can let go without hesitation. These are the items that don’t have emotional, sentimental, or practical value to you. Maybe you bought them impulsively a long time ago, and now it doesn’t appeal to you anymore.

2. “SHOULD GO” PILE

This is for the things that you are having second-thoughts to let go because “it might be useful someday” or “but I like it.” The first step to decluttering these things is just to put them in a pile. Don’t fret for now because you are not getting rid of them yet.

3. “CAN GO” PILE

It’s another level of difficulty for things that you believe should go, but deep inside, you feel like you are going to regret it later. So for now, just put them in a pile. Once you’ve gone through all of your items, you can go through this pile again and figure out which of the other three piles the items in this pile can be placed in.

4. “CANNOT” PILE

Perhaps this is the happiest for you. These are the things that you are sure should not go anywhere. You can set them aside and find a better spot for later as you decorate your home.

1. A THOROUGH THINKER APPROACH

When you want to think first before getting rid of anything, this approach is best for you. You go over each drawer and cabinet methodically and create each pile carefully. You examine each item and ask yourself if you can let it go immediately, if you still need to think about it later, or if you simply want to keep it. When you’ve created far too large piles of stuff that “should go” or “can go,” you can go over them again later and rethink.

2. THE TORNADO APPROACH

If you’re the type who is likely to keep everything the more that you think about it, the tornado approach can work for you. It’s also great when you don’t have much time for decluttering. This method works by spending ten minutes on finding things that you can donate, recycle, or throw away. You can do this once or twice a week, one room at a time, until you’ve gotten rid of all the clutter in your space.

3. THE MAGIC TRICK APPROACH

When you’ve sorted out the things that you need to declutter but still have a pile of “should go” and “must go,” a little trick can be helpful. Put them in a box, seal them, and add an “expiration” date. For example, you can give the “should go” pile four weeks. After that, try to remember what’s inside the box. If you can’t remember anything in it, voila! Donate them all.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Over the years, we buy and collect so many things that end up just gathering dust at home or staying at the back of the closet. Decluttering is a useful method to free up space and get rid of unnecessary things. It is a first step towards decorating your home better.

If you’re looking for a decluttering service to help organize your space, Rescue My Space is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.

6 Helpful Steps to Break the Clutter Cycle in Your Space

Clutter attracts more clutter. Leave one cup in your kitchen sink, and the pile will increase as the day progresses. Likewise, empty spaces are vulnerable to a collection of random objects that pile up over time. To break from the shackles of clutter and enjoy more space in your home, here are six steps that will help you do so:

Call them these areas of clutter collection as hot spots because they attract the most clutter. The tendency is to get used to a pile of objects until they seem to be invisible. Look where the clutter accumulates the most by pretending to be a first-time visitor. Go around your house to see cluttered areas that you often pass by. You can also take pictures of these areas to bring them into your consciousness and to compel yourself to do something about it.

Take note of the benefits that a less-cluttered home provides and intentionally decide to reclaim those spaces. Picturing the outcome in your head will give the determination to complete the decluttering task. Share your thoughts with other people in your household to convince them to reduce clutter as well.

After sorting out your items, grab some bags or boxes to store them. Start with broad categories and create another classification for items that don’t fit the general groupings. Have a relocation bag as well for things that belong to other areas in the house. After finishing the main brackets, choose one and discern if sorting into sub-categories is possible. Then, determine if these items are appropriate in that room or if you need to move them. Repeat this process until you finish the decluttering process.

Since the situation did not appear overnight, completing the decluttering process will take some time. Look at the area that you like to get rid of clutter and determine how much time you’ll need to go over each item before deciding whether or not to keep them. Add more time to your estimate, but don’t turn sentimental in materials that you haven’t used or opened for a long time.

Break the tasks into manageable steps to avoid being overwhelmed. Write all of these steps in order and allow ample time to finish each goal. If you need more time, add more to avoid rushing through the task. Include rest periods in between cleaning tasks to recharge your energy as well.

Take time to celebrate your accomplishments, especially the ones that proved to be challenging. If you can’t face the ordeal alone, you can always ask for help from people who are dear to you.

FINAL WORDS

With the help of removal companies, such as Remove My Space, they will help identify the mental or emotional reason for cluttering and address the matter through a gradual process. They can also set up customized systems that help maintain order in your house. 

If you’re looking for a decluttering service in Houston TX, Rescue My Space is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.

7 Fun & Creative Ways to Declutter Your Home

The idea of living with fewer things is appealing to many modern consumers. Shopping is so easy and accumulating items is all but inevitable. Thanks to a surge in advocates for minimalism many people now strive to live simple lifestyles which comes with benefits such as less cleaning, organizing, debt, and stress. It also allows us to save more money and energy to do the things we love.

If you're thinking of embarking on a minimalistic journey, you may feel anxious and overwhelmed at the idea of owning less. However, don't worry about the process—decluttering is much more enjoyable than most people make it out to be. Here are seven creative ways to help you get started living the minimalist lifestyle:

1. GIVE YOURSELF 5 MINUTES

Toying with the idea of going minimal is nothing like actually taking the plunge. It all starts with taking a step forward. To begin without becoming overwhelmed, pick a  minimalism tip from this list and dedicate five minutes of your time to completing it. An example would something as simple as picking up the piles of clothes from the floor or even taking out the dishes from the dishwasher and putting them away in their designated spaces.

2. GIVE AWAY ONE ITEM A DAY

A great way to enjoy the process of going minimal is by seeing the joy of those around you as you give away items you deem unnecessary. Donate clothes, books, toys, and other things to those in need.

3. FILL A TRASH BAG

This tip is one of the best ways to get started. Grab a trash bag and see how fast you can fill it up. Once it is full of items you no longer need, hand the bag over to shops to your local charity.

4. TRY THE ‘OPRAH WINFREY CLOSET HANGER’ EXPERIMENT

Although Oprah did not create this idea, she can be credited with bringing awareness to the technique. This method is specifically meant for your clothes. 

To begin, hang your clothes on hangers facing in the opposite direction. After you’ve worn them, put them back, but this time, face the hangers in the right direction. After six months have passed, get rid of the clothes on hangers still facing the other way round. 

This technique can also be applied to many other items, such as toys, tools, linens, and much more.

5. CREATE A LIST

Create a list of areas in your home you want to start decluttering. This can be your drawers, wardrobes, kitchen, and anything else. Once you're done with one area, stop and you’re done for the day. Stopping helps prevent you from feeling overwhelmed about having to declutter your entire home in one go.

6. TAKE ON THE 12-12-12 CHALLENGE

Look for 12 items to throw away, donate, and return to their proper places. This method can be a fun and creative way to remove 36 objects from your home. Make it even more exciting by turning it into a game and see who can complete the 12-12-12 challenge the fastest!

7. CHANGING YOUR PERSPECTIVE

If you're having trouble figuring out why decluttering is helpful, professional organizers are there to help you. They'll give you powerful approaches to help you not only clean up your space but to change your perspective. They offer ideas such as asking your boss to meet you in your office, taking photos of your home, and inviting friends to your place. The end goal here is to allow yourself to see your house in a new light.

Now you're asking, "When should I start decluttering?" The answer will depend on you. If you feel bogged down by your possessions, it’s probably about time to make a change.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

If you’re looking for a decluttering service to help take care of your garage, Rescue My Space is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.

3 Simple Reasons Why Decluttering Feels Good - What to Know

When you live in a full household, everyone is bound to deal with some degree of clutter regularly. However, when it starts to become overwhelming, clutter can eventually take a toll on your physical and mental health. That’s why when you take the time to organize your home, more often than not, you start to feel like there’s more room for you to breathe, relax, and be happy. 

The reason for the sudden surge of satisfaction is the fact that clutter represents anything you don’t like, use, or need. Think of it as a negative force that promotes stagnation and exhaustion in your living space, which is why it can be tiring to clean up yet freeing once it’s done. To that end, here are some reasons why organizing and decluttering can turn your life for the better: 

BENEFIT #1: PROVIDES YOU MORE SPACE

Many times, clutter can get in the way of your life. Unkept clothes, books, and toys can take up space in your home that serves as a roadblock for you to properly think, work, or move around in your place. Other times, it can also clutter up your thoughts and cause negative emotions as it can act as a psychological crutch.

Just thinking about the mess surrounding you can look and feel exhausting already, which can make it difficult for you to navigate your way around your daily routine. For that reason, decluttering can feel physically and mentally relieving as you make more space. This helps you have more room to breathe in, as well as have more control over your physical space. 

BENEFIT #2: DECLUTTERING IMPROVES YOUR FOCUS

Clutter doesn’t just create a mess around your environment, and it can also represent unfinished tasks. Whether it’s unfinished projects, a pile of bills, or a household chore you’ve been ignoring, clutter reminds you of a responsibility you’re trying to put off. 

This causes your brain to linger on responsibilities, which leads to a constant, irritating, and nagging feeling. With that in mind, cleaning up your clutter can clear out your worries, too, as you get a sense of putting your life in order. 

BENEFIT #3: IMPROVES YOUR HEALTH

Ignoring your mess around the house can attract dust, dirt, and cause mold contamination. Leaving it to settle in your home will eventually compromise the air quality, leaving you to suffer in a stuffy room. If you ever find yourself feeling sluggish in your own home, decluttering may just be what you need to do.

To that end, decluttering your space will have a brighter and sunnier feel, along with superior airflow. This will help turn around your mood and improve your overall physical health down the road. 

Taking control of your clutter reflects how you take charge of your state of mind. By making an effort to organize your space, you’ll be ridding your home of dust bunnies, impurities, as well as anxieties. After all, your home is where the heart is, so taking care of it means you can improve all areas in your life. 

If you’re looking for a decluttering service in Houston TX, Rescue My Space is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.

5 ways to Save Space by Organizing Your home

Anything you collect and hold onto will take up space in your home, giving you less room to enjoy. Books, outdated clothes, card collections, even cookware can leave your room cluttered if you don't get rid of them.

Marie Kondo became a renowned organizing consultant thanks to her simple yet practical tips. After writing four books and starring in her own Netflix series, the principles of the Japanese tidying expert always boils down to whether an item still sparks joy. Taking inspiration from her wisdom, here are simple ways to make your home into a stress-free environment:

S T A R T I N G O R G A N I Z I N G A N D D E C L U T T E R I N G N O W

A busy schedule is a good excuse to delay the decluttering process. Unfortunately, you will not be able to finish the project if you don't start at all. Designate a day where you don’t have any plans but to go through the clutter in your home and discard items that you don't need. Have the discipline to finish the task in one day, whether the task is working on a corner in your room or to getting the whole closet done so that you can revel an organized space once completed.

H A V E T H E G O A L I N M I N D

A cluttered space will add to your stress and subtract from your usable area. Therefore, it helps to imagine how spacious and appealing your home will be if it has been tidied up thoroughly. Once your goal is set and you put in the action to start, you can start living and enjoying your space peacefully.

S T E P-B Y-S T E P D E C L U T T E R I N G

Don't force to accomplish organizing in one day if it seems overwhelming. Rather, you can parlay the project into different steps to track your progress. Here's how Marie Kondo will commence the staggered approach.

First, tidy up a category of things instead of one room at a time. If you decide to sort out clothes first, go through every room in your apartment and pull out the items that you haven't worn in a long time or don't fit anymore. You can even break down the category further by focusing on shoes first, then hats, and then shirts. Make a list of these subcategories, and check them off once you are done. You'll be surprised by the number of unnecessary items that you have discarded by following this method.

Second, determine the value that each item brings to you. Sentimental value may be attached to some (if not all) of the items, but you must be honest if the value is real. You have to discard the item if it has outlived its purpose, or it doesn't make you smile anymore. While keeping items that bring you important memories are nice, fawning sentimentality on everything makes your apartment look more like a thrift shop.

Third, decide to part way with the clutter for good. Don't place them inside a closet or rent a storage unit that you can still return to. Instead, let go of them totally and sort them into categories, such as trash, items for donation, things for recycling, and materials to sell at pawnshops or second-hand stores.

K E E P I N G Y O U R S P A C E T I D Y

Now that the clutter is gone, you can't go back to your old ways and collect new items again. With more living space to enjoy and fewer items left behind, maintain the tidiness of your space by creating a sustainable organizing routine. For example, folding your clothes and placing them upright into drawers to save space. Also, designate a home for all of your possessions, and put them back in their rightful place after every use.

Keep the surfaces clean and free of accumulating items. Maintaining breathing space between your items eliminates the cluttered feel and looks more pleasing to the eyes.

F I N D A H E L P I N G H A N D

You can seek the assistance of professional organizers if the task is more than what you can handle. Our systematic work of identifying pain points and in-home consultation has left clients satisfied with sustainable results. Because you deserve to live a better life, one way to guarantee that reality is by contacting dependable organizers right now who can help you achieve your home goals.

If you’re looking for a decluttering service to help take care of your apartment, Rescue My Space is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help.

7 Easy-to-Follow Tips on How to Maximize Space in Your Home

Our homes typically have underutilized areas that we seem to avoid using. To maximize every space you have, all you need is a sharp eye and spark of creativity to turn what seems like dusty corners into a useable and functional area. Here are some tips and tricks to help you make use of every corner of your living space.

1. MAKE USE OF THE SPACE OVER DOORS

When you’re looking far and wide to find the perfect shelving spot for your living room, sometimes all you need is to look up. You may notice a vast, open space available above doors, which can be a great spot to use for simple, straight shelving. Add your souvenirs, decor items, or books to spice up and otherwise stark entryway.

2. CREATE INSTANT SHELVING ON YOUR WALLS

If you’re looking to add some character to your living room, you can install shelves on any sliver of wall space. It adds a DIY, rustic vibe, but beyond the aesthetics, it can save you money and space rather than having to buy bulky bookshelves.

3. MAXIMIZE ALCOVES

Alcoves are recesses in the room that screams extra storage space. It’s a fun spot to design as you can use it in multiple ways. From a cozy reading nook where you can have shelves installed for your books, or turn it into a dedicated craft corner where you can place your record collection and other tools for your hobbies.

4. MAKE A COFFEE TABLE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL

Put your coffee table to work by buying something that offers more than just one surface area. It typically takes up much space in your living room, so it’s best to maximize this by choosing one with extra storage where you can place books, extra throw blankets and other trinkets in.

5. ADD CUSTOM FRAMING AROUND YOUR TV

Television sets are usually hung up on unadorned walls, but leaving it to hang alone is a wasted opportunity for additional shelving. Adding a framing around the TV offers various storage opportunities, all of which can be used to hold your DVDs, record collection, picture frames, and other things you’d like to showcase.

6. MAXIMIZE SPACE USING YOUR FURNITURE

Your couch may be made for sitting, but that doesn’t mean it can’t do double duty. Have your couch custom built with secret storage spaces at the bottom area to fully maximize its functionality.

7. CAPITALIZE ON CORNERS

Most corners are often overlooked, but a keen eye would know that it can be used beyond being an awkward point in your living room. Turn it around by adding a small chair, ottoman, or even a side-table to give your space some supplemental functionality. You can also use a corner wall and have hooks installed to hang frames, medallions, or even keys for an efficient and practical design.

THE BOTTOM LINE

When the inevitable clutter of family, pets, and personal life happens, you may struggle with getting more space in your home to contain it all. When a home renovation is far off your budget and calendar, the next best move is to maximize the sneaky storage spaces you didn’t know exists.

If you’re looking for a decluttering service to help take care of your home, Rescue My Space is your best option. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!

3 Steps to Cleaning Out Your Junk Drawer - Our Guide

No matter what kind of person you are, what type of house you own, or what lifestyle you lead, chances are that you probably have something in common with the majority of the world’s population: a junk drawer. 

Having a junk drawer can be inevitable at times. No matter how neat you are, there will always be items that just don’t seem to belong anywhere. Combine that with a tiring daily routine, and you’ve got yourself a formula for messy drawers. Although you may blame someone else in the household for the mess, chances are that you’ve lazily thrown items into a random drawer more than you’d like to admit. This is a habit that has probably had you panicking at one point because you couldn’t find something you needed. 

Whether you call it a multi-use drawer or a catch-all, it can be incredibly hard to find the energy to organize your junk drawer. However, unbeknownst to most people, cleaning out the junk drawer (and making it an actual, well, drawer?) can be a therapeutic chore that just may inspire you to be a more organized person. 

A junk drawer is a space where many people store all the trinkets that don’t have a home. Sure, it’s convenient, but there’s no doubt that you’ll have to clean it sooner or later. Perhaps it’s time for you to clean yours.

Before you get started, it’s important to understand that you’re most likely going to be overwhelmed by the sight of many more items than you would expect to see. Worry not, because you can actually clean out and organize your junk drawer in half an hour or less with a bit of elbow grease and the following helpful tips:

1. TAKE EVERYTHING OUT AND PURGE

In order to put your junk drawer back into order, you’ll have to take out all the contents in it and set it aside in a pile that you’ll have to go through later. Although it may seem like this is the whole step in itself, the truth about decluttering a junk drawer is that you haven’t really taken everything out until you’ve thrown away items with no use out the way. 

When going through the pile of junk, be realistic about what you have to throw away and what you can keep - with an emphasis on what to keep. This is crucial for purging out items that you shouldn’t be holding onto anymore. While it might seem wasteful to throw all the forks, sauce packets, receipts, and other trinkets that you’ve accumulated, you need to remember that it’s even more wasteful to take up an unnecessary amount of space!

2. SORT, GROUP AND ARRANGE!

After clearing out your drawer and purging all the things you will be throwing or giving away, it’s time to sort! Take the remaining items and divide them into different groups or piles according to their purpose. During the sorting process, you may find a few items that don’t belong in the junk drawer (such as pens, scissors, and spoons), so make sure to put those items in the right places though it’s okay to keep a few pens or even scissors in your organized junk drawer.

3. ADD A FEW STORAGE SOLUTIONS

One way to prevent your junk drawer from reverting back into being a dumpster after you’ve cleaned it up is to add a few storage solutions. As you look for organizers, make sure to measure the height and width of your drawer in order to narrow down your storage choices. Here are a few solutions that can bring your drawer back to normalcy:

• Expand-a-drawer organizers

• 4-section drawer organizers

• Shallow drawer organizers

• Deep drawer organizers

• Muffin tins

• Ice cube trays

• Makeup trays

Once you’ve gotten your dividers into place, start arranging the remaining items from your pile into the appropriate spaces. This way, it will be much easier to keep your drawer looking and functioning as normally as possible. 

STAY ORGANIZED

Voila! Your junk drawer is no more, thanks to a simple process that will probably take 30 minutes or less to carry out. The only step that you need to follow after the previous ones is to keep your habits in check, which means that you’ll have to discipline yourself into not turning your newly organized drawer back into what it was.

In all honesty, the junk drawer has been accumulating random items for months or maybe even years but now it’s time for a fresh start. Organize your junk drawer today, and we promise you’ll feel better once you get it done.

If you’re looking for a decluttering service to help take care of your home, Rescue My Space is your best option. Feel free to get in touch with us today to see how we can help.

A CLOSET READY FOR FALL

If you live in the Houston area as I do, then this probably means little to nothing to you (Fall that is). Experiencing different seasons isn't a thing here and if we were to feel a hint of cool air, it may last for less than a week. I may be exaggerating a bit, but you get it. With Fall coming soon, it's important that we begin to get our homes ready for the changing seasons. I'm not saying to completely Fall-e-tize your home rather, going through the items you didn't wear in the warmer months, decide if you should still hold onto them, and reposition your kept belongings to fit your newly decluttered space.

With that said, it’s time to bring out your long sleeves, sweaters, jackets and coats so that you are ready for the colder months. If you’re interested in seeing one of our client’s closets where we organized and prepared it for Fall, keep reading.

One of the first things we did to Fall-e-tize this closet was to go through everything and decide what to keep. Because this is a time-consuming process, we tackled it section by section to ensure we didn’t miss anything. Once that was complete, meaning the left over items were going to be kept, we changed out all of the plastic hangers to velvet hangers, which took about 4 hours due to the amount of clothes our client had.

After all hangers were switched out, we categorized the entire closet. One side was for all things tops, the other were for shoes and the another was for dresses. Categorizing your space not only helps create order, it makes the process of putting everything back in it’s place easier.

In order to use all areas in the closet, we also designated a few drawers to all the warmer accessories. The scarves, hats and gloves now have a place to call their home. We even added a small label as a reminder for their housekeeper so she knows where everything goes.

Even the sandals have a place to call home!

To complete the closet, we made sure we created a special place for boots. Because our client is fashionable and has a beautiful collection to show for, we made them the focal point of her closet so when she walks in she is greeted with her lovely shoes. Plus, since the colder months are upon us, she can now see her boots, therefore they’re easily accessible plus, she can easily choose the ones she wants to wear.

Lets us know your favorite part of this closet!! We have one.