THE Extended Mini-Edit (Day 15-28!)

This is our new normal…but it won’t last forever. At some point, we’ll all come out on the other side this, very traumatized, but with really organized homes (and also kids who refuse to ever attend real school again).

Originally, we created this Mini-Edit because we needed something to do. Well, other than panicking.

It also helps that organizing is a way to feel more secure and calm in our own homes, and that’s all we can control right now. So why don’t we all do another 14 days of mini-edits and see where it goes?

Day 15: Declutter Your Documents

Are you really in the mood for paper clutter right now? That’s panic attack territory. If you don’t create a system ASAP, that stack of paper will turn into a giant mountain of paper, and then you’ll ignore it for years. Separate your papers into three categories: Recycle, To-Do, and File. Categorize and use document boxes or acrylic file boxes for storing your files. For the To-Do papers, trays will keep them easily accessible.

Day 16: Streamline Your Laundry Routine

Laundry is easier when it only consists of pajamas, towels, socks, and underwear. But at some point, we’ll all be washing inside clothes and outside clothes, multiple times a day because that is our future. AND THAT IS A LOT OF CLOTHES. In addition to storing your staple items in labeled bins and canisters, a laundry hamper on wheels offers true efficiency.

Day 17: Edit Your Jewelry

Like paper clutter, no one is in the mood for a tangled necklace or a damaged heirloom. To organize jewelry is to protect it. We love using a product line called Stackers. They look like a leather case from the outside, but the inside is a velvet material with compartments to keep things safe. There’s a variety of colors and options to fit any aesthetic and need.

Day 18: Canister Your Snacks

Stress-eating is a real thing, but it helps. To avoid running low on your favorite snacks, buy them in bulk and canister them. If you need to add a custom label with your name on it, we have you covered.

Day 19: Switch Up Your Hangers

Wire and plastic hangers are the worst. Sorry if that offends anybody, but it’s true. If you’re looking for the easiest way to update your closet and maximize hanging room, invest in slim velvet hangers in a matching color.

Day 20: Edit Your Art Supplies

If you haven’t put every pen and marker you own to the test with scratch paper, then have you ever truly lived? It’s a form of meditation. It feels good to start fresh again, and have more of a reason to practice your signature in different colors. Once you toss anything that dried up or broken, you can organize your freshened supply by color and type in drawer inserts, turntables, or canisters.

Day 21: Tackle Your Tupperware

Tupperware can be a real nightmare; why do lids just magically disappear? Start by compiling each set, and purging what is broken, stained, or without a match. To create a functional system, use expandable deep drawer dividers, shallow bins, or sectioned dividers, and store by category.

Day 22: Dock Your Devices

To create a charging station, all you need is an acrylic divider and a large USB port. This also doubles as a storage solution to keep them protected.

Day 23: Label Your Linens

If you keep your linens on a high or deep shelf, it helps to store them by category in labeled bins. No more reaching for the wrong item and then having to refold it. It’s better to get as specific as possible with linens, as they can be for specific uses, but virtually look the same. We sell labels here on the site, but we can also make them custom!

Day 24: Designate a Coffee/Tea Station

We’re basically the human version of “Don’t Talk To Me Until I’ve Had My Coffee” mugs. Mornings are hard but creating a place where you can get caffeinated with little effort makes a huge difference. Store your items in labeled canisters or drawer inserts, directly by your coffee maker, tea pot, and mugs. P.S. It helps when your station is as close to a water source as possible.

Day 24: File Fold Your Drawers

File folding is so calming—it’s basically a cheap form of therapy. This technique turns stacks of clothing or linens upright so you can quickly identify what you have, and helps maximize drawer space when you really need it.

1. Start by laying the t-shirt flat in front of you, with the front of the shirt facing down.
2. Fold in the right sleeve
3. Fold both sleeves to the middle of the shirt. Fold the sides of the shirt slightly, it should never go past where the hem (aka the neckline stitching) begins on either side
4. Fold the shirt in half from the bottom hem, then again.
5. You’re done! The trick to knowing whether you folded it correctly is if the shirt stands up by itself with the folded side up.

Day 25: Maximize Your Shoe Storage

It’s going to be weird to wear real shoes again. In the meantime, optimize your closet shelves with stackable shoe boxes. You can double, or even quadruple the number of shoes you’re able to store *and* keep them protected from dust and damage at the same time.

Day 26: Sort Your Handbags

Sure, you probably won’t be taking your purses anywhere soon, but in the meantime, they still deserve to be protected and organized. We like to use acrylic dividers for small clutches, shelf dividers for medium-sized bags, and tote hangers for anything large or bulky.

(Speaking of bulky: At Dan Levy’s house, Joanna called one of his sweaters a “bulkster” because it was hard to fold and we’ll never let her live it down. )

For bags that aren’t structured, a removable quilted insert helps it stand upright and maintain its shape.

Day 27: Swap Out Your Seasonal Items

To free up valuable closet space, create seasonal bins for your summer and winter accessories. Place one on a high shelf, and one within reach, and rotate them as the weather changes.

P.S. Don’t forget to tag us in your organized spaces—we are proud Instagram moms that find true happiness from it. Just saying!!!!!!

xo,

clea + joanna

The post THE Extended Mini-Edit (Day 15-28!) appeared first on The Home Edit.