For some reason, when the mess is behind doors, it's easy for me to forget about it and pretend it doesn't exist. [Anyone else out there procrastinate like me?? I really need a support group!] By the time I get around to doing something about it, it's TOTALLY out of control. Arghh. Sharing these pictures doesn't do anything for my pride, I can assure you!
For the sake of "keeping it real", here's the BEFORE:
And several hours later, the AFTER:
There's more I can do in the lines of organizing this area, but I'm so happy that I can actually FIND what I'm looking for without four other things hitting me on the head! And this is the kick-in-the-pants that I needed to get me de-cluttering some other equally embarrassing places in my house!!
I have a simple process that I go through to achieve order: the 4 S's.
1. Sort through all the clutter and determine which items you can actually use and what you need to get rid of.
2. Save anything that you will use. I tend to be a pack rat, so it's easy to hang onto things for their sentimental value. Just make sure you're not restocking more clutter that you'll need to eliminate in a year from now.
3. Send away good items that you have no use for to places like Goodwill or Salvation Army. I'm also starting a yard sale pile, since I'm hoping to have one in the spring.
4. Scrap the junk! I had a huge bag full, and it was quite fun to get rid of it!
And that, my friends, is my start on a journey to simplicity! Join me in getting rid of clutter (=