Latest news with #AlyFinkelstein
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ready to tackle the clutter? Experts say these tips will see you through to the end
In theory, decluttering is a wonderful idea: Pare down what you have so you can live a more organized and less stressed life. In practice? Well, when was the last time you tried to declutter your home? For many of us, this task feels overwhelming, if not downright impossible. But it's not, I promise! How do I know? I'll use myself as an example: As a home editor and cleaning products tester, I like my space to look tidy. But I also consider myself a "collector" of beautiful things (okay, if I'm honest, "hoarder" might be more accurate). What I'm saying is that I love stuff and have a lot of it, so I understand the desire to declutter — and the paralysis that desire can create. After interviewing a small army of professional organizers for this story, I decided to put their tips for decluttering into practice. I found that the secret is starting small — you don't have to do it all in a day. And once you start organizing, set up a system that's easy to maintain (are you going to follow that complicated filing system? If not, skip it). Because in the end, consistency is what'll keep even us avid "collectors" organized for the long haul. Black and white garbage bags Heavy-duty tote bags (for bringing things to a donation center) Storage bins Sticky notes or painter's tape (for labeling categories) "What space is bothering you the most? Start with the most disorganized spot because once you get through it, everything will feel easier," says professional organizer Aly Finkelstein. The exception: areas that contain lots of sentimental items or collections you feel attached to, advises Marissa Hagmeyer, NEAT Method co-founder and author of The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book. Before tackling them, get into the groove with a spot like the pantry, where you can toss obviously old or expired food with minimal guilt. And write it down! "Treat decluttering like any other important task on your to-do list," says Rachel Rosenthal, an organizational expert and Post-it Brand ambassador. Allot a few hours per room, and spread the sessions over a few weeks, if needed, so you're not doing the entire house in one day. If a few hours feels like too much, "break it down into bite-sized chunks," Rosenthal says. "Set a timer for 15 minutes, and focus on just one area, drawer or shelf at a time. This way, you're not overwhelmed, and you'll start seeing progress quickly — no matter how small the task feels." Another trick for short decluttering sessions: Turn them into a game! Jennifer Johnson, owner of The Orderly Space, likes the "one song challenge" (declutter as much as you can during one song) and the "toss 10 challenge" (find 10 things to donate or trash ASAP). If you're decluttering with someone else like a spouse, set a timer and see who can declutter the most in that period, suggests Robyn Reynolds, owner of Organize2Harmonize. "The competition will help you get it done." Before you start the actual decluttering, create a system. Designate an area for each of the following categories: donate, recycle, toss and relocate. "Anything in good condition should go to local donation centers (Goodwill, shelters, or even Buy Nothing groups). Selling? Make it easy — Facebook Marketplace or consignment stores work best for quick cash. For items beyond repair, check out to find proper recycling centers," says Johnson. Set up trash bags for items you'll throw out or recycle, heavy-duty totes (or different color trash bags) for donated items, and bins for stuff you're keeping. Finkelstein, for example, uses black garbage bags for trash and white ones for donations. Label everything. Time to get down to business! Pick a spot to declutter and take everything out so you can sort it into the categories above, one by one, says Finkelstein. Organize items by type, which will allow you to quickly identify unnecessary duplicates within the same category. "Do you have three pizza cutters? That's probably an indicator that you could say goodbye to two of them," says Hagmeyer. When deciding what to part with, keep in mind this simple mantra from Rosenthal: "If it doesn't make your life easier or better, it doesn't need to take up space in your home." "Decluttering can be tough because it forces us to acknowledge when something no longer serves us — even if it once did," she adds. "Trust yourself to know when it's time to let go." That means releasing any guilt you feel for donating an expensive purchase, a family memento or a gift someone gave you. "Remember, you're not erasing memories by decluttering. It's about creating space for the memories that matter now, not holding onto things 'just because,'" she says. Reynolds calls this the "one-day syndrome." She explains, "So many people hold onto things thinking they will need them one day. The problem is that one day rarely comes and if it does, is it worth having held onto that item for years waiting for it to happen? Probably not." The bottom line is it's just stuff. And if you really can't decide what to do, let your house do it for you. "The biggest piece of advice I would give is let your space dictate the volume of stuff you have," says Finkelstein. Once you've made the hard decisions, don't let the items you're parting with sit around. "Generally it's best to remove them from your environment ASAP," says Anne Mooney, a professional organizer for TaskRabbit. "If you are donating, choose the easiest, closest place to donate, and place items in an opaque container or bag so that you don't take a second look before you drop off. This helps you from second-guessing your decisions." Can't get to the donation center right away? Move that pile to a less visible spot and carve out time in the near future for a drop-off. "Make it a habit to drop off donations regularly so you're not holding onto things longer than necessary. It'll make decluttering feel less like a chore and more like a natural part of your routine!" suggests Rosenthal. As tempting as it is to grab bins, baskets and pretty storage solutions before you've started decluttering, resist the urge, says Rosenthal. Declutter first, organize second. "Once you've cleared the space, then you can see exactly what you need to store things effectively."
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
The best closet organizers for 2025 — and the clever ways pros use them
Getting dressed is hard enough without having to pick through a jumble of pants and mountains of shoes. Tidying up your closet doesn't just make mornings easier. It can help you wear your clothes more often and prevent overbuying. "If you don't see it, you probably won't wear it," says Julie Bestry, owner of Best Results Organizing. That's where the best closet organizers come into play. And we're not just talking about whole-closet systems — though they can be a game changer. Space-saving, affordable items like clear storage bins, shelf dividers and rows of hooks will help you create more efficient storage in your existing space. The picks in this story come straight from professional organizers, but they didn't just give us their must-buys and call it a day. They also shared closet organizing tips and hacks to maximize every square inch. Once you've controlled your closet, continue your organizing kick with the best kitchen organizers and expert-approved bathroom organizers. Order in the house is yours! Closet organizer systems | Storage bins | Hooks | Shoe organizers | Other closet organizers | Hangers | What to look for when shopping for closet organizers | How we chose these closet organizers | How to organize your closet | Meet our experts Julie Bestry, owner of Best Results Organizing Aly Finkelstein, professional organizer Shira Gill, organizing expert and author of LifeStyled Marissa Hagmeyer, NEAT Method co-founder and author of The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book Anne Mooney, professional organizer for TaskRabbit Jakia Muhammad, owner of SoleOrganizer Ashley Murphy, NEAT Method co-founder and author of The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book Robyn Reynolds, owner of Organize2Harmonize Katrina Teeple, founder of Operation Organization Carly Tizzano, owner of Masterpeace Organizing As a longtime home editor who has lived in New York City apartments for nearly 20 years, it's part of my job — and also very useful for my personal life! — to know and follow professional organizers. I consulted with the 10 experts listed above for their tips and product recommendations. If they suggest a specific organizer to their clients, we wanted to hear about it! We then researched each organizer, checking its materials, price and reviews from real-life shoppers. All the products here come highly rated and deliver great value for the money. "I cannot over-emphasize enough how important a closet system is," says professional organizer Aly Finkelstein. Carly Tizzano, owner of Masterpeace Organizing, agrees: "Having a closet system installed can create a really cohesive look and make getting dressed in the morning feel like such an experience!" she says. Custom organizers are great, but prices can run well into the thousands. Instead, look for a semi-custom modular kit that comes with adjustable shelves and rods so you can move things around to best fit your space. Clear or opaque, bins are helpful for all those seasonal items and accessories you don't often use, say our experts. "I like using them for accessories like scarves or hats — they keep everything from looking cluttered!" says Jakia Muhammad, owner of SoleOrganizer, who often works with ClosetMaid. Just make sure if you're using solid-colored bins to label them. Nearly every organizer we spoke with mentioned how useful hooks are for adding extra storage — on walls, doors and in tight spaces where you might not be able to fit a shelf. "Hooks are one of my top organizing tools because they're small, sturdy and wildly versatile," says Shira Gill, organizing expert and author of LifeStyled. Anne Mooney, a professional organizer for TaskRabbit, points out that hooks let you put away items with a single hand. "This ease of use leads to far greater compliance with closet cleanup." Bestry recommends storage that is uniform, makes it easy to see your shoes and has some kind of structure to it. "People are willing to spend all ranges of money on their clothing and accessories, but often won't spend money (or effort) for products that help care for these possessions. But good shoe storage helps preserve the lives of shoes," she says. And she advises skipping shoe storage furniture like the buzzy Ikea Stall cabinet. "They're enormous, and the other thing is, if you put your shoes away with any bit of dirt or schmutz inside a heavy piece of furniture, it's just going to get gross." Try these options instead. Between purses, belts, jewelry, sunglasses and scarves, our closets need to hold a whole lot more than just clothes. Accessories can be especially tough to organize because they tend to land wherever you put them last — your sunglasses by your front door, for example, or your rings on your nightstand. Setting up a few simple, minimalist organizers for these items can help keep them in one place. When it comes to the best hangers, Bestry says, "The short answer is, whatever hanger will get you to hang up your clothes instead of piling them on the treadmill or the bedroom chair is the best!" She does have a guideline, though: Aim for uniformity. "If you always buy the same brand and style, then everything in your closet will fall the same number of inches below the rod, and will appear more organized and tidy. Using all the same types of hangers, at least in the same clothing type/group (blouses, trousers, jackets, dresses) will keep the 'necks' of the hangers from tangling," she says. When you're shopping for closet organizers, the pros say that the most important thing to keep in mind is your space and the type of clothing you need to organize. Make sure to measure your space — twice! — says Murphy. Your closet's dimensions will determine what kind of organizers you need: For example, if you have a closet with high ceilings, you'll want to take advantage of that vertical space. If it's especially deep, you may have lots of shelves that could benefit from shelf dividers and bins so things don't fall to the back out of sight. So take a few extra minutes to make sure what you buy works with your setup. Also, look for durable, smooth materials that won't snag or pull at your clothing. For shoes, make sure you buy organizers made from sturdy metal, plastic and wood that can easily wipe clean. When it comes to the best brands for closet organization, many pros rely on The Container Store and NEAT Method. But a lot of them also mentioned how many affordable storage solutions are available at Amazon, Walmart, Target and The Home Depot. We hate to say it, but there's not a one-size-all solution! "There really are no rules," says Finkelstein. That said, here are some top tips on organizing a closet from experts: Declutter first: Take out all your clothing (break it into parts so this doesn't become an all-day affair) and really consider each item. You don't have to get rid of something if you haven't worn it in a year, says Finkelstein, as long as you really love it and it means something to you. But if it's a shirt you don't like or shoes that pinch, follow the wise words of Elsa from Frozen and "let it go!" Let your space determine how you organize: For example, if you have a lot of hanging space, hang as much as possible. Finkelstein says she just did a project with a client who had a ton of rods, so she hung even workout tops. Got lots of shelves? Fold your pants instead of hanging them and use shelf dividers to help keep the stacks upright. Group like with like: "To maintain a neat and organized closet, I find that creating designated zones and specific sections within the space is key. By dividing the closet into clear categories, it becomes much easier to locate and access items quickly," says Muhammad. In her own closet, she has sections for sweaters/dresses, pants/skirts and shirts. Because everything is grouped together, she's able to effortlessly return items to their right place after washing them.
