Oh! Results

“Tweak” My Office, Please.

February 21st, 2009

dsr-office-before

Problem: Unlike extreme “news worthy” cases we often see on television these days, many of my clients don’t need a miracle cure for their disorganization. They just need to “tweak” their current systems. The smallest, inexpensive changes can take a space from ordinary to extraordinary. Donna’s office was no exception.

dsr-office-after

Solution: The fundamental thinking behind Donna’s systems were sound. However, aesthetically, the furniture layout did not support her work flow and did not allow her to take full advantage of the window — one of the room’s best features. Grouping the file cabinets together allowed us to move her beautiful plant off the floor, near her desk and also allowed us place her printer on a lower cabinet improving accessibility for Donna. We spent time clarifying and labeling what information lived where within this space as well as merging and purging additional documentation from a neighboring desk. With Donna neatly compressed into her small space, the adjoining desk was available for another worker. In such tight quarters, this was a welcomed bonus to our afternoon of organizing.

The total time for this project was 3 hours (including assessment conversations, measuring, sorting, purging, and putting things away). Total cost of this project was $0 (as I teamed with 6 other organizers to provide an afternoon of volunteering at Cascade Aids Project and all the materials we used were already owned by the organization).

Time to take your office from ordinary to extraordinary? Contact Totally O today, we can help.

Golden Rules of Closet Efficiency

February 4th, 2009

Martha Stewart always gives good, simple, practical advice for organizing. Closet solutions seem to be a constant inquiry so I couldn’t pass up the chance to pass along some tips from the queen of simplicity.

1. Double up on rods. Two or even three short rods installed one above the other, rather than one high one, will maximize hanging space in one area of the closet for short items like shirts, skirts, and folded trousers. Reserve another area for storage of longer items such as coats and dresses.

2. Opt for adjustable shelves rather than fixed ones. They will allow you to change the arrangement of the closet as your storage needs evolve.

3. Utilize floor space — install shelves or cubbies at the base of a closet and you’ll never have to rifle through items strewn across the floor.

4. Use every square inch. Examine the closet closely for potential storage: If the ceiling is high, install shelves above the rods to store items you don’t use every day, such as hats, gloves, and other off-season clothing. Walls and the backs of closet doors are also handy spots often overlooked; they can support hooks, Peg-Board (to which you can secure any number of hooks), mirrors, and even built-in bulletin boards and display areas for messages, photos, and other mementos.

5. Keep small items in containers. Corralling like things together in bins, baskets, or boxes is a sure way to minimize chaos.

6. Consider convenience. Heavy items should be stored below waist level; rarely used items, on high shelves. Stash a step stool inside the closet, especially if there are high shelves. A foldaway model will take up little space. Make sure the legs are secure and, if the stool is metal, that there are rubber feet to keep it from sliding.

7. Illuminate the space. If a closet is dark, it will be difficult to locate what you need (as well as to get rid of the things you don’t). Consider battery-operated lighting if your closet has no power source. Better yet, have an electrician install recessed ceiling lights that turn on automatically when the door is opened. An incandescent light can also help prevent mildew.

8. Reassess regularly. To keep your closets functioning optimally, reexamine them every six months. If the types of items you’re storing have changed, rearrange the shelves, rods, and bins.

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