Design Folder: Your Online Design and Decorating Resource

diy tips: a fresh start for your space (part 1)

If you want to give yourself a fresh start this year, try cleaning and organizing your surroundings first–detoxify your space and declutter.

Essentially, the first and most difficult step is to sort out your things. Keep only those that are important, and part with things that you have not worn/used in a couple of years, as well as items that are outdated or stained. You can dispose them by organizing a garage sale or by giving them all to charity.

When your space (a room, closet, or tabletop) is already free from “trash”, you can already begin organizing. Always remember, the key element in organizing and maximizing any given space is to compartmentalize. Divide the area into smaller compartments using adjustable shelves, baskets, bins, boxes and containers to neatly hold things in place.

In this four-part post, we’ll be listing some helpful tips on how to de-clutter some of the messiest spaces.

DECLUTTER YOUR TABLES

Maintain a tidy night table. Use a dish or a shallow bowl to keep those small items– keys, coins, watch, and daily jewelry– from scattering and taking up all the table space. You can also use this trick to maintain a clean vanity in the bathroom or a console table in the foyer.

For your office desk, use a mug or a small box to keep pens, markers, and pencils in place. Post reminders and your daily to-do list using a small note clip. Because it can only hold one or two notes at a time, you have no choice but to update your list and throw away old notes.

For those who are planning to put up workstation dividers, you can make them functional by using these surface materials to finish them: a cork board for posting notes & memos, and a glass panel (preferably the one with a painted back like Graphicote glass) for writing reminders.

Next: shelves, closet & drawer, functional walls