What’s hiding under your bed?
Tidy Nest was recently featured in this article on under the bed storage.
Kiddo Centric Garage Project
More often than not, garages are one of the most cluttered spaces in the homes we visit. It kind of makes sense though, right? With all of the cleaning and organizing to do in your home, why would you spend time perfecting your garage? Well… we’ll tell you why! Read below…!
This garage project was a fun one. There was lots of space so we had options with respect to making homes for everything. The primary goals for this project were to declutter and to introduce organizational systems (mostly for 3 active boys ) into one garage bay.
As many garages do, this one had accumulated lots of old toys, old furniture and garbage from the past several years and moves. With most projects we like to start with big projects first, so in this case, we tore out the old built ins and demolished them. According to Shannon, there was quite a lot of ‘grunting’ noises emitted from the sledgehammer operator, however those remarks were promptly ignored. Afterwards, we emptied the entire garage, inventoried every item and broke them into manageable categories: keep, donate, trash.
From there we assembled and installed all storage solutions and eventually began repopulating the space with all items grouped together. We even created parking spaces for ride-ons.
The photos below tell the story well. What started as an overwhelming, unusable space, was brought back to life over a weekend. So why is it important to spend time getting your garage in order? Because now everyone knows exactly where everything is. There’s no more “MOM!! HAVE YOU SEEN MY SOCCER BALL?”
We’ve since checked in, and the client proudly reported that the space looks just the way it did the day we left. And most importantly, we got three thumbs up from the kids, so we called it a win!
Pro Tip: Bring kids into these projects. They’re not going to have the chance to learn just by seeing the cluttered space in the beginning and the organized space at the end. Instead, engage them and see if they want to help find their old toys a new home.
Project Tally:
🚚 950lbs of trash removed
🔨1 large built-in demolished
🛴10 children’s ride on toys donated
👩🏼🤝👨🏾2 happy parents
Project Recap: Creating Inspiration in a Master Closet
Need: Our client’s master closet, while quite large, was overwhelmed with inventory that was no longer being worn. The space was cluttered making it difficult to find items and it made getting dressed a dreaded task. The closet island acted as an unloading station for paperwork, purchases and handbag contents.
Solution: We reviewed every single item in the closet and with the help of a very participatory client, we quickly made decisions whether to keep, donate, repair or discard.
We then spent some time thinking about what her day-to-day looks like — and you can ask yourself the same questions we asked her.
What kinds of clothes do you wear most frequently?
What do you have the most trouble keeping organized in your closet?
Are there certain areas of your closet that are tough to access?
Do you plan your outfits out each night?
After understanding her needs, we mapped out the closet and started adding the inventory!
We implemented new folding systems - rolling and file folding when appropriate.
We created distinct sections throughout her closet - ie. shoe wall - so every category has a home - no more asking “where is that silk blouse?!”
Contents on the open shelves were contained in baskets (custom labeled, of course) to immediately eliminate any sense of clutter when walking into the closet.
We created an “unloading station” for paperwork and handbag contents, wallet, lip gloss, etc.
Finally, we wanted this space to be inspiring so we incorporated our client’s keepsakes and treasures throughout the closet and made sure to display all the pieces that make her happy.
Pro Tip: This may sound crazy but it is a game changer… Unpack your backpack/purse/tote/briefcase every week. Put the contents in the same place each time, weed out the trash, and relocate the items you don’t need to carry. This forces constant editing and eliminates the annoying problem of having to remember what purse contains that favorite lip gloss...or your car keys.
Container Store Products:
Grey Montauk Woven Rectangular Storage
Stackers Medium Expandable Jewelry Storage Tray
32-Compartment Drawer Organizer
Premium Non-Slip Velvet Suit Hangers
Project Photos
Tidy Nest Featured Press: How to Finally Organize All of Your Pet’s Stuff Once and For All, According to Home Organization Experts (Chewy)
Chewy recently published “How to Finally Organize All of Your Pet’s Stuff Once and For All According to Home Organization Experts”
Take a look at our contributions to the article.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Hey Everyone! No organizing tips for you today — we just wanted to wish you all a happy Valentine’s Day. We usually use today as a reminder to do something nice for each other. So we’re taking time to do just that and hope that you do too. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Lots of love,
Shannon + Jared
Tidy Nest Featured Press: Readers Choice Award for Best Organizer (Ridgefield Magazine)
BIG NEWS!
We are SO excited and honored to receive the Readers Choice Award for Best Organizer in Ridgefield, Connecticut! Thank you to all our amazing clients, friends and family for the continued support. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We are thrilled to be recognized just before Tidy Nest’s first birthday!! 2020 is off to a great start!
Checklists: The Key to Successful Packing
Packing for a trip? Packing for the gym? Packing for your commute? Some people love it...some people dread it. You probably know where we stand….Yup, we LOVE it. Especially because we have super fun pouches and bags and lots of checklists. Many clients have ask us for packing tips so we designed a bunch of different checklists to help with the process. If this is new to you, it may seem like extra work, but these checklists are a foolproof way of ensuring that you never get on the plane only to realize you forgot to pack your headphones!
Our team all have different ways of doing things, so we made sure all of our styles and techniques were represented in our new checklists.
If you'd like our packing checklist series emailed to you, sign up for our newsletter and we’ll send them over to you!
Tidy Tips: Food Storage
Keep it Air Tight: Food should be transferred into airtight containers like the OXO POP canisters, mason jars, or Stasher bags to extend shelf life.
Decant Packaged Food: Decanting packaged food will help if you’re bothered by “label noise” and inconsistent packaging (bags, boxes, tins, etc)… It’s a little extra work, but the result is totally worth it. Why is it worth it you might ask? For three main reasons:
For Convenience - you no longer need to dig through bags of grains or jars of spices labeled in various ways. Everything is uniform and clearly labeled.
For Continuity - you won’t be bombarded with various brands and their in-your-face labels and everything fits evenly on your shelves. This is ONE of Shannon’s pet peeves (there are many).
For Freshness - have you noticed your brown sugar becomes a brick instantly after opening the package? Most of the time the packages your food comes in does not preserve freshness.
Glass Over Plastic: Recycle mismatched plastic containers and invest in a matching glass set. It’s better for the environment, eliminates bacteria, looks nicer, and it’s safer to use in the microwave!
Pro Tip: If you’re editing your mismatched Tupperwear and you happen to need drawer organizers, try using your mismatched plastic containers. It will save you some money and help to organize another space.
Labels: You know by now we LOVE a label. Jot down the expiration date AND the date the package was opened and attach it to the container. We like to use washi tape for easy removal. Labels help you identify when you’re running low and need to replenish, eliminates wasted time spent looking for items and helps the rest of the household find items without asking.
Tidy Tips: Labeling
Reminders are key
Labels show the household and guests where to find things and act as a reminder to store things in their proper home.
Avoid running out of an item
Labeled areas help you identify when you’re running low and need to replenish.
Add notes
Add expiration dates and cooking instructions to decanted containers using washi tape or masking tape. Conceal the expiration date by placing a label on the bottom of the container.
‘Miscellaneous’ is not a category!
Avoid using this label. It invites a junk drawer/basket/shelf. Everything should have a home.
Get Creative
You don't have to buy fancy labels or an expensive label maker; just use what you have around the house. The back of business cards, masking tape, paint swatch cards, etc... Just be sure your labels are uniform, that they’ll last and that they’re legible (remember, you're not the only one who will be reading them).
Tidy Tips: Productivity at Home and at Work!
A client recently asked us to share some of our go-to productivity tips (both personally & professionally). As members of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, and as owners of an organizing business, we love getting these kinds of questions. Here are 6 quick Tidy Nest approved productivity tips that we use every day.
1. Create a to-do list (every night)
Always end the day by creating a to-do list for the next day (whether it’s for work or for personal tasts) in order of priority. This way you’ll know exactly what needs to be done before you wake up. There’s no wasted time figuring out what needs doing or coming up with the day’s schedule. Wake up and dive right in!
2. Designate time slots
At the office, designate time slots for answering emails otherwise you will be answering emails all day....think proactive vs reactive! At home, designate time slots for your self-care practice...if your mind and body are not recharged, your productivity will suffer the following day.
3. Take breaks
There’s no rule for the amount of time you should work and break - just do whatever works for you. Shannon likes to work for an hour and take a 10 minute break. Taylor likes to work for a few hours and take a longer break and Jared takes breaks based on project completion, not necessarily specific timing. Just have some sort of break factored into your day!
4. Identify time traps
Try to identify time traps - what takes a long time to accomplish? Can someone help lift the burden? Is there an app / program / system to help streamline the process? Is the task a good use of your time? Everyone is super busy so it’s important to weed out the unnecessary tasks so you have more room for the important items on your agenda (and more free time for yourself/family/friends).
5. Only touch something once
When tidying, only touch something once. Otherwise you may find myself moving the item from room to room or even counter to counter and never actually dealing with it. You can apply this to tasks at the office - get a project or task done first before moving on to something else.
6. Tackle Quick Tasks First
If a task can be done in less than five minutes, tackle it immediately. Don’t add it to your to-do list for a later date. As Benjamin Franklin (and Shannon’s grandma) would say “don’t put off until tomorrow, what you can do today.”
Project Recap: Taming Toys in a Family Room
Tidy Nest was hired to tackle a mountain of toys and books in this household’s family room. As with any house with kids, trying to keep toys stored in their intended spaces can feel like a losing battle. Recently we’ve begun including kids in our process a little more, and explaining to them what we’re doing. By the end of our jobs, more often than not, they’re playing ‘home organizer’ in their own rooms, and helping Mom and Dad without even being asked! See below for our most recent example…
Need: The parents wanted to create a tidier family room. While there is a playroom in the house, this space is used most frequently and by all members of the household. The children’s toys, books and dress-up supplies needed to be easily accessible but also contained so the adults wouldn’t feel like they were relaxing in their children’s space.
Solution: We worked with the family on editing the inventory and relocating infrequently used items to the playroom. Luckily they already had great storage solutions (they just weren’t being used to their full capacity) so we were able to avoid having to buy new products. In addition to repurposing their existing storage solutions, we introduced labels to teach the children that everything has a home!
Pro Tip: Depending on the ages of the children, get them involved in the editing process. Make it fun - have them try to find 10 items in the room that they’d like to share with another friend or someone in need.
Try the KonMari method…”does it spark joy?” “Does it make you happy?”
Take them to the donation center when dropping the items off; it’s a great time to teach them about giving back.
What’s not helpful is asking the children “when was the last time you played with this?” Inevitably, they’ll say” right now” or tell you “all the time.”
Products:
The client had some great storage solutions already in place so we did not have to buy any new products. Here are the products that are pictured:
The Container Store: 3 Sprouts Toy Storage Cube
The Container Store: 3 Sprouts Toy Storage Bin
The Container Store: Bin Clip Labels
Back-to-School Tips
We asked our clients to identify some of their back-to-school organization woes. Below are their answers along with our tips to help reduce back-to-school stress.
Getting Dressed
Getting everyone dressed for school can be a nightmare for some parents. We suggest taking inventory of each child’s clothes - remove the items that no longer fit, are stained, out of style, or that they just won’t wear again.
Make sure you have each type of clothing grouped together (long sleeve shirts, pants, school uniforms, polos, etc.) to avoid digging through the closet for that specific item.
This may be an ambitious ask, but ask your child to pick out his/her own clothes the night before, or help you select their outfits. This way, you avoid morning meltdowns right before it’s time to catch the bus.
Managing the supplies
Homework assignments and projects tend to require extra supplies like posterboard, construction paper, index cards, art supplies, etc. Have the basics on hand before the school year starts.
Keep the supplies in clear, labeled containers, and in one designated area. This will cut down on those late night runs to Target for pipe cleaners and glue sticks..
Keeping everyone on track
With the start of the school year comes the start of after-school activities / sports which invariably brings scheduling headaches. A calendar system is key to making sure everyone is where they need to be. Each household is different so it’s important to figure out what will work for you. A simple google calendar usually works well or a weekly paper calendar on the refrigerator can still get the job done.
Keeping equipment, uniforms, instruments, etc. in designated places will eliminate those frantic searches for the baseball glove. Take some time to create cubbies, a part of a closet or even bins/totes/baskets in the garage to corral the items for each activity.
Managing the paperwork and projects that enter the home
Create an inbox/outbox in a central location like the kitchen, family office or garage where important papers from school can be dropped off and picked up. Coach the household to drop off the important papers as soon as they come home, and pick up important papers as soon as they leave. No more missing permission slips!
Everyone loves to see the artwork and projects the kids work on at school but the quantity can be overwhelming. Create folders or containers for each child and have them drop their favorite artwork and projects in the folder or container throughout the year. At the end of the year, have them edit the collection and file away the keepsakes. Repeat each year.
If you’re a digital household, try Artkive. They will send you a box that you can full up with your kids’ art, you send back to Arkive, they’ll professionally photograph it and turn it into a stunning keepsake book. If you have time to photograph the art yourself, just download the artkive app! Click to learn more the Box or the App!
Organizing the snack cabinets
Creating lunches and packing snacks for after-school activities can be challenging if your cabinets are disorganized. A quick tidying of the cabinets will go a long way. Group like-items together such as breakfast snacks, lunch snacks, post-game snacks, etc.
Don't forget to label!
If your children are old enough, keep the snacks in a spot they can reach so they can serve themselves
Tidy Tips: Denim Storage
Many of our clients struggle with storing their denim. There's no right or wrong method - it depends on the space, lifestyle, collection. Scroll through to see some methods we use to store denim.
Hang pants using pant hangers
Pro: Visually pleasing, open-end hanger design allows for fast access, non-slip coating, good for high inventory
Con: Hangers are pricey, need to have the hanging space in closet
Hang pants using crisscross method
Pro: Easily access the waistband to see size/style, great for closet with short hanging space, good for high inventory
Con: More time consuming to hang
Tidy Note: This is Jared’s go-to method for storing his denim because he has a ton of different styles and sizes.
File Folding
Pro: Quantity is visible, good for low inventory
Con: Challenging to identify different sizes and styles, need a drawer or basket, does not work on shelves
Tidy Note: This is Taylor’s go-to method for storing her denim because she has a low inventory and limited space.
(One File Folding Image)
Flat Folding
Pro: Quick method, good for low inventory, ideal for open shelves so inventory is visible
Con: Waist band has more material than the hem causing the stack to be lopsided - to eliminate this issue, you can alternate stacking the waistband and hem sides. Difficult to remove denim from bottom of the stack
Tidy Note: This is Shannon’s go-to method for storing her denim because she has a low inventory of denim (and her days working in retail have made folding denim second nature).
(Two Flat Folding images)
Editing Your Beauty & Skincare Products
Editing is not just for clothes! Beauty products and skincare products need to be edited from time-to-time to avoid the clutter. Follow these easy steps to keep your product inventory manageable.
Lay everything out on a solid background - think white towel - so you can easily see colors.
Group items by makeup, skincare, haircare.
Check the consistency of the products - if things are discolored, smell different or the consistency has changed, set aside to discard.
Check expiration dates. Discard anything that has expired. Check out our recent blog post on beauty expiration dates here.
Eliminate duplicates (give to friends, create a travel bag, set aside to discard).
Place remaining inventory back in your storage system grouping by type (makeup, skincare, haircare) then subcategorize as you see fit. Check out our previous blog posts on the systems we like to use.
Repeat this a few times a year!
Pro Tip: When it comes to discarding - If it’s unused, donate it. If it’s been used and still good but not in your repertoire, offer it to a friend. If the product has expired, check the packaging to see if it can be recycled. Some companies like Lush and MAC accept empties. Companies like Colgate and Garnier have partnered with TerraCycle and will accept empty product packaging from any brand.
Expiration Dates: Beauty Products
An extremely important part of editing is checking the expiration dates of your products! We’re trained to check expiration dates on food but have you checked expiration dates on your beauty products? We put together a quick list of most commonly used beauty products and their expiration dates.
Quick Tidying of a Closet
This closet wasn’t in terrible shape per se; it was just a bit chaotic. Dedicating just an hour to the closet (and an hour to the shoe collection) we were able to give this closet a quick facelift.
The best way to handle this kind of project is to get right into it. We pulled everything out and edited the contents. There were great organizing products already being used, so there was no need to order anything new. Even though this closet is edited seasonally, we still wound up with a few bags of donations, which made a big difference. If we did purchase products, we would have added in shelf dividers to keep the stacks of clothes upright.
The closet contained different types of hangers - plastic tubular hangers in four styles and three colors and velvet hangers. Instead of buying all new matching hangers, we choose to group the different styles together within the closet. As Shannon’s mom says “like with like.”
Pro Tip: Grouping like hangers together in a closet is a budget-friendly way of taming the chaotic mismatched hanger situation without investing in new hangers.
We refolded everything on the shelves using the file folding method and rolling when applicable. Bulkier items were folded flat and denim was folded rather than hung. We contained as much as we could using the Y-Weave baskets from Target.
We noticed that plastic garment bags (even the nicer ones from The Container Store) attract mold after a few years so we recommend cotton hanging bags for storing formal wear. They come in various sizes for coats, suits, gowns, etc. We used the coat and gown size.
Finally, we wiped down all the shoe boxes (using Grove All Purpose Cleaner) and relabeled the boxes using chalkboard stickers, leftover scrapbook paper and oil based sharpies. The previous labeling system (post-its) was not working and looked very messy.
Products found in this closet:
Amazon: Ultra Thin Velvet Hangers
The Container Store: Tubular Hangers
The Container Store: Children’s Tubular Hangers
The Container Store: Shoe Box
The Container Store: Natural Cotton Hanging Storage Bag
Target: Y-Weave Storage bins
Gladiator Gear Track
Utilizing wall space in closets and stairwells is a great way to store your supplies, but sometimes installing random hooks and shelves can look messy.
As NAPO members, we get introduced to new products all the time. We just recently tried the Gladiator GarageWorks Geartrack in this small space and we think it makes the wall look much tidier and much more functional. The channel holds up to 75 lbs and the various hooks can hold items from 5 to 50 lbs. If you’re all about that DIY life, we recommend checking out Gladiator - you can customize each rack with your choice of hooks, bins, baskets and caddies.
Summer Organizing Tips
It’s Summer (yasssss) and that means lots of outdoor activities. To be properly prepared for each requires just a little bit of planning, and that little bit of planning can make all the difference in creating your picture perfect summer. We’re sharing some of our favorite Summer Organizing Tips to get you ready for the grill, the beach, road trips and picnics. Enjoy!
BBQ/Picnic Supplies
Create a caddy for BBQ supplies so you’re not rummaging through your kitchen cabinets everytime you want to eat outside. Pick a caddy that holds silverware, napkins, plates, condiments, etc.
•Target: Thirstystone Galvanized Steel Silverware Caddy
•Williams Sonoma: White Hapao Flatware Caddy
Grilling Tools
Grilling tools are cumbersome and shouldn’t take up prime real estate in the kitchen. Try storing them in a long lidded container, hang them on the grill using a rack or if you have room, get a weatherproof prep cart to store all BBQ supplies.
If you travel to BBQ… Camping Tool Organizer
If you have a grill… Grillinator BBQ Tool Rack
If you have the space…. Keter Unity Indoor Outdoor BBQ Entertainment Storage Table/Prep Station
Charcoal Storage
Keep charcoal in a galvanized trash can to ensure it stays dry. Side Note: We use this for Bird Seed too (not the same can…)
Amazon: Galvanized Steel Trash Can
Car Organization
You’re most likely living out of your car during the summer months - traveling to parks, hiking, picnics, impromptu pool parties, etc. Keep a bag of essentials in your car to avoid packing each time you leave the house. We like bags with structure so they stand up - Scout Bags are super durable, multifunctional and come in fun prints. For specific trunk organizers try a solution with straps to keep secure.
Amazon: SCOUT BAG, Large Utility Tote Bag with 4 Exterior Pockets and Max-Capacity Zipper
Amazon: Drive Auto Products Car Trunk Organizer Storage with Straps
Picnic Supplies
Having a picnic in the park or tailgating at a concert can be a lot of work gathering all the supplies. Pack a picnic supply kit in the beginning of the season and keep it on hand so all you need to do is pack food! We use Scout bags because we love our multifunctional they are (see link above). Mark & Graham has a smart design - three sections, collapsible and has a removable cooler.
Mark & Graham: Calistoga 2-in-1 Car Organizer, Thick Navy Stripe
Don’t forget to pack:
Picnic blanket
Frisbee / Lawn games
Playing cards
Bug spray and SPF
Reusable bottles, cutlery, napkins, plates, etc.
Bottle opener
First-aid kit
Baby wipes/ wet naps / antibacterial spray
Beach Towels
Bathing Suits
Sweatshirt
The Refrigerator
This one may not be as obvious, but with kids in and out of the refrigerator, more entertaining and (hopefully) a plentiful bounty from the backyard garden, the refrigerator can get a little chaotic.
While rainbow sorted refrigerators are gorgeous, they don’t work for many households. A quick fix - keep everything in glass containers and jars so everything is visible. Kids snacks should be contained in a drawer or area of the refrigerator so the don’t have to spend time rummaging around. We like to keep items corralled in bins and drawers lined for easy clean-up.
The Container Store: InterDesign Linus fridge bins (in various sizes).
If you’re avoiding plastic of any kind (good for you), try using baskets instead.
Project Recap: Unpacking a house in 5 days
Need: Our client needed help unpacking from their first move in 30 years. To make things challenging, the client wanted to host Easter dinner just 5 days after the move-in date.
Solution: We created an aggressive schedule and stuck to it!
All boxes were housed in the garage. They were brought into the house ONLY when it came time to unpack the box. This way the client was not living amongst boxes and worst case, if there were a few unpacked boxes at the time of the party, they wouldn’t be crowding the living area.
We started with the bedrooms & bathrooms on the first day – the most important rooms! After a long day of moving, the best feeling is having your bedroom and bathroom ready for you. Two days were dedicated to the kitchen, the third day was dedicated to the living spaces (family room, living room, office) and the final day was dedicated to the seasonal and miscellaneous storage items. We even had time to decorate for Easter.
Pro Tip: Map out all the cabinets, drawers & closets before you start to unpack. Use post-it notes to label. This will speed up unpacking time and will help the residents learn where all their belongings are housed.
