#1 Container Store Shoe Boxes

Literally, we cannot think of the last time we didn't use at least one of these in a client's home. Although they are a perfect storage solution for shoes, they can also be used for storing small kids toys, tool parts, office supplies and just about anything else you can think of.  These bad boys will cost you $1.89 each... yep you heard right - less than two dollars!

#2 Zip Ties (fun color optional but highly recommended!)

For some reason, no home is an exception when it comes to cords. Nothing makes NEAT want to hyperventilate into a brown paper bag quite like a knot of cords. When you can buy a 100 pack for $1.39, it is hard to imagine that anyone would pass up the opportunity to detangle cords (kidding...sort of). But seriously, once you have detangled and zip tied them, they are good to go.  You will be surpised how much less space they take up when they are not in a ball of electrical tumbleweed.    

#3 Labels, Labels, and More Lables!

I mean...are you really surprised? As much as we love labels we don't think you need to label your entire home, but when there are baskets involved, labels can be a great touch. Also, labels are beyond helpful for children.  Ever wonder why your child's teacher labels everything in the classroom? A print rich environment fosters literacy skills - we are officially helping your child's education while making your place look great! Our friends at Paper Source have plenty of great packs for $4.95 that are sure to be a great addition to your home and are printer friendly too!  Need we say more?

#4 Get into Twine

If you enjoy saving personal cards, consider picking up a spool of twine for $2.33 to bundle all of your favorites. We like to use this as a thoughtful way to categorize our sentimental client's cards by year or event. It can also be used to tie the labels you just purchased to your freshly organized bins.  Do you like how we just slid that comment right in there like that??? Twine has also been known to help fix a light pull in a closet at a client's house and be the finishing touch aroud a fresh bouquet of flowers. Basically what we are saying is - how have you lived without it!?

#5 Go Crafy With Chalkboard Paint

And finally, for all you DIYers out there - considering using chalkboard paint as the label to your favorite jars and bins. This is a creative way to label something but gives you the opportunity to change the contents inside without making a whole new label. Although it is typically more that $5, we were able to find it for under $5 on ebay.  We love that it is eco-friendly in that you do it once and it is labeled for life, but also very current with what we are seeing all over Pintrest!

Now get shopping!

xx

Molly & Ashley 

This??

Besides the absolute obvious, which is that the clothes from Barney’s New York are going to cost you significantly more than Forever 21, as organizers we see this scene completely different.

Lets be honest, Forever 21 is great to find that trendy piece that you have been dying to try, but as total type A’s, we can barely walk in the store without having a nervous breakdown.  That led us to wonder, why does a store like Barney’s always look so much better than a store like Forever 21?  There are probably many valid reasons that could be concluded, but, as organizers we like to think that we have the best answer.

Barney’s has made the choice to set a precedent in their store: sleek, stylish and ORGANIZED.  When you walk into Barney’s, you pick up a shirt that is folded and then do your very best to fold it EXACTLY the way you found it.  This happens without fail whether you are typically an organized person or not.  This is because you do not want to ruin how beautiful the store looks.

But what about Forever 21?  Have you honestly ever seen someone pick something up there and fold it nicely??  No.  You haven’t.  People pick things up, carry it with them, decide they don’t want it, and discard it at the nearest table, rack, or (our worst nightmare) the floor!

As organizers, we see every type of closet there is: walk-ins, reach-ins, shared, etc.  Before we begin, many of our clients have closets that look like….how shall we put this… like Forever 21.  One of the biggest concerns that we hear time and time again is, “So now you are going to make it look nice but let’s be serious, I will never be able to keep it this way.”  Well, here is your answer:

Being organized will turn you from Forever 21 to Barney’s! You will love to shop your own closet so much that when you take something out you will actually want to fold it and put it back where it belongs and not on the floor.  Why?  Because you wouldn’t dare throw a Barney’s garment on the floor would you?? Take a look at your closet right now – are you more Forever 21 or Barney’s?  If you are NEAT you will have a shopable closet that makes you want to stay organized.  If you are more of a Forever 21, save yourself the money of buying new clothes because you can’t find the ones you own and get NEAT!