There is a connection between how you maintain your physical space and your mental state. What we know is people who live in clutter are more likely to experience feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression. In its most extreme form, the television show Hoarders comes to mind. In fact, living in a cluttered space is a constant visual reminder to your brain that’s drains you emotionally and decreases your ability to focus. Think about this, there are people who have built massive businesses helping others get organized, insert, “The Home Edit” on Netflix! I’ve personally noticed that when my environment is unorganized or cluttered, I feel disoriented, unproductive, and simply all over the place.
Since we’re about to enter a new year and I’ll be working from home for an additional 6 months, I’ve decided to explore some home decor that will help me get more organized. There are several spaces within my apartment that I need to declutter and/or organize. I’ll be starting with my entryway, spice cabinet, and bedroom closet. I need some positive reinforcement, so I’m starting with things I know I can do before going on to the next. The 3 spaces I’m tackling are my entryway, spice cabinet, and bedroom closet – and in that order!
I have a tiny space to place about 3 pairs of shoes when I enter my apartment and it’s not nearly enough. I regularly pile more than 3 pairs of shoes there and it just becomes a mess, so that’s the first thing I want to tackle. I don’t want to trip over shoes when entering my apartment – the end! The next thing is my spice cabinet. I want to make it easier to find and reach my spices. The last thing I want to organize is my bedroom closet. I can’t even begin to tell you what a disaster it is. This project is going to take a lot of purging. I need to get rid of some things and then organize what remains.
I really spent time searching for the right pieces for my space, taking measurements, thinking of what was the most practical, and If you’re trying to get more organized in this upcoming year, Amazon has tons of home organization and shelving options for all of your needs! I’ll share what I ultimately decided to buy in an effort to get my whole life together.
My entryway is small and I wanted something that looked nice, not just a normal shoe rack. I actually use shoe racks in my coat closet, not in my open spaces. I decided to go with the Vasagle Daintee Coat Rack. It was about $60. I don’t plan on hanging coats on it, but will instead use it for keys and my purse. When I find a product that I like on Amazon, I go to the storefront from that company to see what else I might like. Vasagle has really cute entryway, storage, and shelving products. I purchased the one on the right, but linked to another cute option below.
My kitchen cabinets are on the smaller side – this is one of the downsides to apartment living. So, it was really hard for me to find the type of shelving that would make the most sense for my spice cabinet. I didn’t want to purchase a unit and then have it not accommodate all of my spices. I’m realizing that cabinet reorganization is all about figuring out what you want to accomplish other than just organizing for the sake of getting organized. For me it became apparent that I needed something that would help me create more space. I went straight to Amazon because they have so many options. I ultimately decided to go with YouCopia’s UpSpace Box Organizer. I actually got 2 of the picture on the left so I can see how they might work in my other cabinets. I added one on the right an another option. It really is a matter of preference and utility. YouCopia has some really cute options for your kitchen organization needs. They range from $20-$40 on average.
I use our bedroom closet for more than clothes – I also use it as storage space because I don’t have any place else to put random things. So, I’ve decided to do it to purge it first. I’ll be getting rid of anything I’m not using. I’ve purchased a couple of bins to get me started. For this project, I shopped Amazon and I decided to go with the Decomomo Foldable Storage Bins. They have such a beautiful collection and nice neutral colors and sizes. They cost about $25-$45 for a 3-pack.
Recommendations
If you’re considering getting organized in the new year, here are some recommendations to help get you started.
- Start small. Pick one or two spaces you’d like to purge or organize. It could be your desk, closet, kitchen counters, etc. If you pick one or two smaller projects, you won’t feel overwhelmed.
- Finish one room or task before going on to the next. If you start, be sure to hold yourself accountable and finish before moving on to the next project. You will feel a great sense of accomplishment once you complete one area and this will give you the momentum to tackle the next.
- Purge, then organize. Get rid of things you no longer wear or use. I came to the realization that after pandemic life, I’ll probably not wear a number of things that are in my closet. Many of them will be 3+ years old once I can get back out there and I’m looking forward to figuring out what I want my post-pandemic style to be. Head on over to the shoppe page to check out more of my favorites!
