Organize your home for a fresh start with new goals and aspirations.
By Brianna Chavez
With another year behind us, it’s great to have a fresh start, fresh ideas and a fresh mind. Whether you’re going through which clothes and shoes are worth keeping in your closet or decluttering and reorganizing the kitchen pantry, OM Organizing’s owner, Karie Winfree, shares how organization and mental clarity go hand-in-hand.
Put your best self forward
Organizing is a way to declutter and reevaluate what’s important in your life and what makes you happy. Some items may be weighing you down, so it’s beneficial to let go of that unneeded weight while thinking about what material items define you.
“New Year’s is a really great time to start thinking about the kind of changes that you want to make in your life and make your life easier,” Winfree said. “How do you want your year to look? How do you want things to work in your household?”
To avoid being overwhelmed, Winfree said to begin small and start with a simple junk drawer or shelf. Remember to give yourself grace as you go through one item at a time and celebrate your progress.
“The best thing to do is just start,” Winfree said. “Transform one space at a time, one area at a time, one category at a time.”
Learn what is a “need” and what is taking up space
Sometimes it’s hard to let go of those cute pair of boots that haven’t been worn since 2017 – even though you think you’ll wear them again. While organizing, be honest with yourself on what you wear or use on a regular basis. Winfree shared that it’s important to ask yourself these questions while going through what to keep and what not to keep:
- Do you like this item?
- Do you love this item?
- When was the last time you used this item?
“Your things are only loved whenever we get to actually look at them and enjoy them,” Winfree said. “There’s so many things that we keep. And if it’s not out or being used or worn, we’re not even noticing it.”
Notice what brings meaningful or sentimental value to your life. If that teddy bear or pair of jeans has a connection to you, to a place or to a moment in time you don’t want to forget, it’s okay to keep those items.
“There’s psychology behind all these things,” Winfree said. “They’re not simply ‘things.’ They’re mementos, memories, pieces of people that we don’t have with us anymore. It’s important to be sensitive to that and not completely clear the decks. You got to keep things that matter.”
Discover your personal style
When scrolling through Pinterest or watching HGTV you may see spotless, gleaming kitchens and floors with little to no clutter anywhere. However, Winfree shared that organization doesn’t have to be cookie-cutter picture perfect. It’s about making the space your own, whether you’re a maximalist or a minimalist.
“The things we see online or in magazines are lovely, but it’s not real life,” Winfree said. “I think that everybody is capable of creating a beautiful and organized space, but it’s not going to look like that all the time.”
For those who have collections or simply too many items to count, displaying all or some of that stuff can bring you happiness. If more space is needed, the walls are your best friend for shelves, frames and cases.
“You can make anything and everything beautiful,” Winfree said. “Perfection is not attainable, you really have to find the best thing for you that works. Everybody is different.”
Find inspiration online
There are different online sources that can help you see and envision ways to keep your space tidy. Some organizers and designers have websites and blogs to serve as inspiration. There are specialized organizers that work with neurodivergent populations or organizers that specialize in collectors items. Organizing styles and tips vary from person to person.
“There’s a whole broad range to organizing, there’s not just one way to do it,” Winfree said.
Many of the picture perfect rooms and homes we see online are mainly aspirational, not something to compare to your space. It doesn’t hurt to have less clutter in our environment. And it’s valuable to remember that what may be cluttering your life now can typically be replaced.
“What’s really important in our lives are the people, not the things,” Winfree said. “Things are meant to be used, tossed away or given away someday, but people are what we cherish.”