Whether you’re planning a home office, finishing a basement, or just cleaning out a messy room, reorganizing can be a daunting task, but quite rewarding, if you follow a few simple steps.
1. List the activities you plan to use the space for.
All good things start with a plan and reorganization is no exception. You might want to reclaim that extra bedroom for a sewing room, for example, but still want to use it for wrapping gifts, ironing clothes, and storing luggage. You may want a home office, but the closet can be a place to store clothes out of season.
2. Visualize areas for each activity, then plan to keep everything needed for that activity as close to that location as possible.
For sewing, you’ll want an area of the room for the sewing machine, but also some storage bins for extra material, buttons, and various notions you’ll need. For a home office, plan for immediate access to extra paper, a file cabinet, and various supplies.
For other activities, plan another area of the room and, as before, keep all activity-related items within easy reach.
Make a list of items to make sure you have the right amount of storage space. As your ideas take shape, draw a floor plan. Estimate how much space you have in each area, noting the position of doors, windows, electrical outlets, and phone jacks.
3. Reduce clutter in the area by getting rid of or storing elsewhere anything you don’t like or don’t use regularly.
Don’t let yourself get sidetracked. People often get caught up in memories during this stage. I’m refraining from doing this by allocating a “memory box” and promise myself I’ll check it out in a week or two. This helps me stay focused on the project at hand.
Some people have a hard time getting rid of things and wonder if they will need them later. One remedy is to set up an area in the basement, attic, or other storage area for the things you plan to give away. I once put up a pallet in my basement and referred to it as the “yard sale pallet.” Every time I thought of getting rid of something that wasn’t worn out, I kept it there. Occasionally, I retrieved things from the pallet. But after six months I gave away everything that was left to charity. I also felt really good about it, because I had had enough time to see if I needed the items. This works best if you have a lot of storage space. If not, it’s best to give the items to charity right away.
As you go through your things, keep plenty of boxes on hand for items you’ll be storing elsewhere, and label the boxes well. You’ll save a lot of time later.
4. Once you’ve reduced the clutter, it’s time to start rebuilding the area. Start by arranging the largest pieces of furniture.
Even though you’ve sketched out a floor plan, sometimes it’s helpful to rearrange your furniture to try out different options. An office, for example, can work very well in a U, J, or L pattern. Try different shapes to see what feels most comfortable to you. Consider where the windows are placed, if you want a good view while you work.
Once you have the larger pieces in place, add anything that requires electrical outlets and phone jacks. Next, add storage items. Resist the urge to rush out and buy storage containers piecemeal before this point. It’s best to have everything matching and the right size for your needs. Be sure to measure the available space before you go shopping and consider your supply list for each activity. Plan to buy all matching or matching colors and styles for storage, keeping in mind the overall design of the room.
After you begin to reuse the space, reevaluate your design in two weeks and make adjustments if necessary.
