If you’re not moving (a whole different process), we recommend starting with the space that is bothering you the most, which is often the kitchen, the primary closet, or the home office — spaces that are tied to everyday activities impacting your lifestyle and productivity. Tell us your pain points, and we’ll make a plan to address them one by one!

Which part of the house do you consider the most important to get organized?

We like to focus on what our clients feel is most important to them. That said, if they’re not sure of their priorities, we could start with any visible “clutter” on horizontal surfaces (countertops, table tops, floors), especially in rooms where they entertain guests, and move on from there to more private spaces.

What are the steps for organizing a pantry?

Our process is, in short: pull things out, sort by category, pare down (letting go of anything unwanted or expired, in the case of food), clean the empty space, assign a home for each category, containerize or install products as appropriate, label, and then review and adjust with the client to make sure it suits their needs. Author Julie Morgenstern coined the acronym “SPACE” to describe this method and it’s a great framework for almost any organizing project.

You use various organizational products — what do you like and where do you get them?

We do love a good bin! Our product choices are determined by the available space and what we’re storing there, as well as by our client’s budget and taste. We source mostly from The Container Store for the variety of merchandise and convenience of shopping and returning at multiple locations in the area.

On average, how often should you organize/reorganize your pantry?

We recommend a yearly review of your pantry — it can be part of a spring cleaning ritual or end-of-year tradition. There’s no need to reinvent systems that are working, but important to periodically check dates, clean out and replace any items that need replacing. It’s such a nice feeling when everything is fresh and in its place!

Tips for organizing a closet?

The most basic and essential organizing principle is “like with like.” When it comes to your wardrobe, this means tops with tops, jackets with jackets, pants with pants, and so forth — first by category, then by color. If you’re looking for a particular gray dress, for example, there should be just one place to find it. We discourage clients from organizing by “favorites” as these can change day to day and make it difficult to find what your’e looking for.

Tips for organizing your office?

Get input from your tax professional or attorney if needed, and then decide on some general rules about paper, i.e. how long you keep receipts and other records. When purging papers, we recommend shredding anything with signatures or account numbers. And when it comes to office supplies, be realistic about what you use the quantity you can easily keep on hand and rest assured you can always get more from Amazon and other retailers. Let them store it for you!
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