LIFESTYLE

Hoarders, Maria Kondo, and The Home Edit // Inspiration For You to Declutter and Organize

On September 28, 2020
By Kimberly

I caught the bug, and I caught it bad. Did you? A couple years ago, I needed some inspiration to sort out our belongings when we moved out of our home due to hurricane damage. That was easy; having to move things several times makes you hone down to what you really need and use. Then came Marie Kondo, and I further slashed down to what I really loved. Next was Covid, bingewatching Netflix, and “The Home Edit” showing us how to make what we love look organized and attractive. Throw in a couple episodes of “Hoarders,” and you too will be tearing your home apart!

With two rainy weekends on my hands, I decided to truly level up my sorting and organizing. Instead of relying on empty shoeboxes, I actually ordered some drawer organizers. What I didn’t even realize is those same shoe boxes were not then waste – they moved to their third life organizing other drawers.

Organized Life

I’ve always liked to keep my closet in color order, and my shirts are folded in my drawers like file folders so I can see every one. Even when I travel, I use my system of arranging my clothing like files so I can view each item.

However, my clothing drawers and my studio drawers needed some final touches to make them even more useful, organized, and joyful.

Marie Kondo, Spark Joy
Loving and Thanking

A couple years ago, I gobbled up the Marie Kondo books and even listened to them on audio a couple times each, learning more and something new every time I listened.

What Marie Kondo couldn’t do for me, a couple views of “Hoarders” always gets me ultra-motivated. Marie helps me tremedously with identifying which items of clothing “bring me joy.” For my supplies in my studio, her technique of bringing together everything in a category helps as well.

Attacking my worst supply drawer, I was able to make groups of similar items. All cutting tools in one place, all stencils together, all baubles gathered. Now I needed to be able to see it all, Home Edit-style.

The Home Edit

Where Marie Kondo leaves off; The Home Edit picks right up. All my craft supplies bring me joy. However, when I can’t find what I need; I purchase more, only to find I had what I needed all along after that project is finished.

The beautifully-arranged items in pantries and bathrooms on The Home Edit inspired me further. I learned the most important tip; it’s so much better to be able to see all you have. My only dislike of The Home Edit is their reliance on plastic containers. I like to accomplish the same result, but by using either natural fiber baskets, or glass containers.

Purchasing Designed Products

I finally gave in. For years, I had resisted buying “things for organizing.” I convinced myself that my old shoe boxes are so smart. After watching a couple episodes of The Home Edit, I caved. Big time. I bought not only drawer organizers to replace my shoe boxes, but even a stacking jewelry system. I’m now so glad I did.

Although my shoe boxes have served me well by dividing shirts, socks, and so on, I was ready for a bit more sophisticated look. Also, I had some plastic dividers that didn’t fit very well, and irritated me in my clothing drawers. I did repurpose every plastic container in other places in the house!

Unexpected Delight

Not only did I treat myself to the jewelry stacks, eliminating a piece of furniture in the room, I also chose some clothing organizers. The shirts on the right are all very silky, and defied my filing system of fold and stand. The slip all over into heaps. An organizer with 16 individual sections solved that problem perfectly. How did I do without it all these years?

Of course, as I sorted, items had to “earn” their spot in the new systems. Although I already had purged deeply the last couple years, after watching a few more episodes of Marie Kondo, I was able to thank and let go of a few more duplicates.

Jumbled Mess

Funny enough, as I proceeded through bedroom and studio drawers alternately depending on my need to watch a few more episodes of decluttering shows, I kept passing things forward.

Anything I couldn’t figure out where it went; I just pushed items to the next drawer! Wait! What did that mean? That meant the single items I had maybe didn’t have a category, or, I just hadn’t found all it’s mates yet.

Makes Me Happy

Just lying in bed at night, thinking about my organized drawers makes me happy! That sounds really strange. But… I truly believe clutter and disorganization contribute to stress and make you uncomfortable. At least; they do for me! I’m that girl who can’t leave her shoes on the floor at night. It seems there was a character in “Friends” who lost a bet to do just that – she simply had to move them into her closet for the night, perfectly lined up but not quite touching. That’s me.

There were some surprises! I can never find a razor blade when I need one, so I keep purchasing more. Well, I found five tiny packs of them spread all over. Now they are in one section with the holders. I won’t forget. Also, I thought I didn’t have any hardware for making purses; I found I have several sets of hinges and clasps. Now I can get back to some arts and crafts!

I’ve Never Had a “Junk Drawer”

That sounds just nuts – but I never have. What we do have is a “house” drawer. And boy oh boy, was there a collection of items in there! I pared it down to tape, stapler, putty, hanging strips, chair feet pads, caulk, screen roller and spline, and taping handle.

Light tools like a couple screwdrivers and pliers are in another drawer. Anything heavier belongs in the garage. This is where the shoe boxes ended up; they don’t bother me at all in this location!

What I Chose

MISSLO Heavy Duty Over The Door Storage with 12 Mesh Pockets (White) for flip flops behind one of my closet doors, and for scarves behind the other. Free space!

DIOMMELL 4 Pack Stackable Velvet Jewelry Trays Organizer for my drawer to eliminate a stand-alone jewelry armoire. More floor space, plus, easier access to every piece! The Home Edit tends to show dresser-top varieties, but I just didn’t want any clutter on my dresser top.

TENABORT 12 Pack Foldable Drawer Organizer Dividers Cloth these are amazing! I wasn’t really sure I would like them or want to use them. I had searched so many similar products, and settled on these, and I am so glad I did. They made a lot more of a difference for my socks, foundation garments, and slippery sheer tops than I ever could have imagined.

Also, I hung both my computer monitors at my desk to increase space. I used the Dual Monitor Stand – Double Monitor Desk Stand Arm with C Clamp and that cleared up so much room.

I spent around $100 for my total home redo, and couldn’t be happier.

Then I really splurged, and in addition, I replaced my ancient office chairs in my studio for some with beautiful light blue seats from Urban Shop Swivel Mesh Task Chair, Blue. They were easy to assemble, taller than my others, and the back support hits at just the right spot. I did spray them with fabric protectant since they are a lighter color than my previous black dull versions.

Because I have hardwood floors, I removed my special Office Chair Caster Wheels and put them on the new floors. They look like roller blade wheels, and are soft enough to not damage my hardwood floors, yet firm enough to not pick up grit or items that would dent the floors.

We Don’t Go Anywhere Without:

Stream2Sea Reef Safe SPF 20 or 30 mineral, regular or tinted sunscreen, mask defog, shampoo, conditioner, rash guards and more reef-safe supplies. Use my code “DeepWH” for 10% off. The packages are biodegradeable – not just recycled and recyclable.
Crisis Medicine Tactical Casualty Care Course knowledge so we can help ourselves. With code “DeepWH” you save 20% on the TC2 course
MyMedic Individual Bleeding Control Kits, this link and my code “DeepWH15” will save you 15% on your purchase. We take ours everywhere.
North American Rescue CAT tourniquets. Use code “MAY25” for 20% off through midnight on 5/31/20. This is a huge savings!
Cycle Booty Citrus Cleanser and Post Ride Cream.
Airbnb, “Kimberly gave you up to $55 off your first trip.”
Airbnb says, “Deep gave you up to $415 off your first adventure.
Uber gives you $2 off your first three rides.
Travelex is our trip insurer – click for a free quote.
Girls That Scuba – members discount card for all things diving.
REI Co-op for great sports equipment and travel clothes.
Sailo for $100 off your next boat rental! Discount Code: “KimWa1”
PierShare to rent your dock out or rent a dock.
BoatUS for your boat towing insurance! Code: “HEWAF88”
RoadId for $5 off your cycling/running/kayaking/travel id.
Dazer Ii Ultrasonic Aggressive Dog Deterrent Repeller Dazzer – keeping dogs at bay while we cycle.
Guardline Security Wireless Driveway Alarm – alerts us when someone approaches. Less expensive directly from the company.
Thank you for using my links – your price does not change, but they may gift me a small percentage of your sale in return for my mention, which allows me to continue to bring to you fun content.
AD: affiliate links used.