Clutter free gift ideas from KonMari organizing professionals

December 16, 2020 Kam Oi Lee

Buying the right gift for someone can be stressful and 2020’s COVID crisis makes it even more challenging. Whether you don’t want to wait in long lines, go to the stores, or have a minimalist mindset, you have to come to the right place for inspiration. Christmas is right around the corner and here are some favorite, meaningful, clutter-free gift ideas from KonMari organizing professionals. 🌱

Kammy Lee from Organized by Kammy:

Here's a clutter-free holiday gift idea for the loved ones on your list who haven't yet discovered the joy of listening to podcasts. Choose just the right podcast, one you know they'll enjoy, and provide them with simple instructions to start listening. It's a great gift for people who are hard to buy for, or simply don't want more things, and it's budget-friendly too.

To make giving a podcast even easier, visit this link: giftofpodcast.com (thanks Gretchen Rubin!) The site lets you download a PDF gift certificate (which you'll personalize with the name of the podcast your recipient will love and why), along with easy instructions for how to listen on iPhone or iPad, Android phone, or smart speaker.

Sandy Park from Tidy with Spark:

There is no better season than Christmas to share your love for deliciousness. Baking for friends and family during the holidays is my number one hands down best clutter free idea. It’s my go-to present and it’s really for me just as much as it is for the receivers. You see, I love to create delicious treats and it is a creative extension that is low cost, fun and won’t clutter up anyone’s home because my treats never last. Whether it’s cut out sugar cookies or easy peasy drop cookies, delight those on your Christmas list with this clutter free gift idea. Over the years I found that rarely people will remember my store bought gifts, but they always remember personalized homemade cookies. This mindful gift won’t break the bank and won’t clutter up the homes of those you love. It’s really a win-win gift idea. Try it today and thank me later.

This mindful gift won’t break the bank and won’t clutter up the homes of those you love.

Photo credit: Jill Wellington from Pexels

Aparna Sundar from Global Mindful Journey:

Ever since my family and I began our minimalist journey, we have become mindful of not only what we give to others but also of our requests for gifts. We focus more on experience-based gifts and/or those that serve the needs of the less fortunate in our communities. The idea is to cherish the memories from these experiences. When we do decide on ‘product-based’ gifts, we look at supporting local businesses, a ‘need’ that requires to be fulfilled, the versatility of the item and/or if they are sustainably produced. That being said, even if a gift we receive doesn’t necessarily “spark joy” to us, showing gratitude to the people who love and think of us when they gift us something is important. Our children will also learn from us to give relationships far more significance than to worry about what enters our homes.

Victoria Nicholsen from My Wardrobe Zen:

Photo credit: Daria Sannikova from Pexels

I love art and like to gift annual membership to art galleries so friends and family can enjoy beautiful pieces without cluttering up their homes. It’s also fun to pair a museum or gallery to the recipient, for example, science museum membership for a nephew, film museum membership for the movie buff in your life. It’s a gift that keeps giving and supports these amazing institutions.

Selina Mills from Restful Space writes:

My all-time favorite clutter-free gift are home-made vouchers and let me tell you why:

They can be handmade, simply or in artistic detail, by any member of the family.
They can be made out of recycled bits of colored paper or whatever’s lying around so are truly zero monetary cost.
They are a great creative project in themselves for children.
They are a lovely exercise in connecting with what family members genuinely treasure as individuals.
They make a super (small!) keepsake – I still have a “Kitchen Tidying Voucher”, a “Dog Care Voucher” and even a “Love Voucher” from my children. I use one under my home office cuppa.
They can incorporate a heartfelt message easily and who doesn’t love one of those.
They can be for ANYTHING!

This blog post was originally posted by Tidy Closet owner and founder Janine Morales, a professional home organizer and certified KonMari Consultant based in San Diego.

12 Household Organizing Ideas for the Holiday Season

December 9, 2020 Kam Oi Lee

🌱 Today’s post is a collaboration with 11 other professional organizers from across the USA, including fellow KonMari consultants Dr. Jessica Louie and Megan Spillman, and fellow NAPO Chicago member Amy Trager. So glad to participate!

The holiday season is in full swing, which means decorating your home with lights and ornaments galore.

But with all this winter cheer and seasonal décor, you might be struggling to keep your home organized. Don’t worry, we’ve consulted with organizing experts across the country and they’ve revealed their best household organizing ideas for the holiday season. So whether you’re living in sunny Sacramento, CA or chilly Philadelphia, PA you’ll want to know how to keep all your holiday items organized this December and for many years to come.

1) Set intentions on what decorations are most meaningful and spark joy for you. Ask yourself – do I want to store these decorations year-round? Do they take up valuable space in my home? Would I rather rent or borrow decorations to limit the number I own? Remember, the less stuff we display, the more meaning we find in each piece. – Dr. Jessica Louie, Host of The Burnout Doctor Podcast & Master-Level Certified KonMari Consultant

2) Let go of any holiday decorations that no longer spark joy. By making intentional choices about which holiday decorations you keep and display, you let the decorations that you really love shine. As you are putting away decorations, ask yourself, will I be happy to see this again next holiday season? Write a “note to self” and tuck it away in your decorations as you pack up for the season. The note could include highlights of the season and suggestions for next year. – Megan Spillman, Peace and Tidy

3) Reuse what you have and make sure to label. When packing away holiday décor, save the used, ripped tissue from gift-giving to wrap and protect fragile items. When packing multiple bins or boxes you’ll use, be specific: label “Mantle & Staircase” or “Blue & Silver Décor” instead of “Hanukkah.” When putting all the décor away, if there’s anything that didn’t make it out this season, consider donating it if it no longer fits your aesthetic. – Amy Trager, CPO®

4) Clean out your storage closet for the season. The winter season is a great time to declutter and organize your storage closet(s). Sorting light bulbs, batteries, and Command hooks into separate clear bins and adding labels, help make holiday decorating a breeze and put away a cinch too! You may also consider moving these items down to a convenient shelf (at least temporarily) for easy access during the winter. – Melissa Rogers, Modified by Melissa

5) Decide what to donate before decorating. Before you bring gifts into the house, set a timer for 15 minutes, put on fun holiday music and skim the house for things you can donate. Thrift stores need items at the holidays and now more than ever that’s where people are shopping. Reduce reuse recycle. The kids can get involved, too! Make it fun by letting them know other families will love their hand me downs. – Amy Fritz, Thoughtful Organizing

6) Donate items you no longer display. For much of the year, your winter holiday decorations are out of sight and out of mind. When you’re getting out your festive décor for the holiday season, that’s a perfect time to let go of items you no longer display. Not only will this leave you feeling lighter, but by donating your excess decorations before rather than after the holidays, you could help make someone else’s celebration a little brighter this year. – Kammy Lee, Organized by Kammy

7) Store ornaments by shape and size. When storing tree ornaments, keep similar sizes/shapes together! Keep flat ornaments separate from balls and round ornaments, as it is more space-efficient and they will fit better in boxes. Wrap any delicate ornaments in tissue to avoid damage. – Adeilah Dahlke, Jigsaw Organizing Solutions

8) Reuse boxes to store your ornaments. Save money by using wine boxes from a local liquor store to preserve holiday ornaments. The dividers keep ornaments from breaking, and even heavy ornaments are safe in these sturdy boxes. – Barbara Reich, Life Organized

Photo: Kaboompics .com from Pexels — Photo: **Kaboompics .com** from **Pexels**

9) Plan for next year. Declutter your holiday décor as you are returning it to storage bins, purging the items that year after year don’t make the cut. While it’s easier to ball up the lights and toss them in a box, wrap them around a piece of cardboard or invest in a light storage reel to make future setup a breeze. – Azure MacCannell, Live Composed

10) Clean your holiday items as you store them. Dust and clean all holiday items as you put them away. As you excitedly open the boxes next year you are all good to go and don’t have any housekeeping to do. Just decorate for your holidays and enjoy! – June Carter, GYST* Solutions

11) Store seasonal décor so you can see it. Keep all seasonal decorations in clear bins (not orange for Halloween or red for Christmas!) When everything is in a clear bin, you can see what’s inside and then label the outside! Make sure to get rid of anything you don’t use this year, so that you don’t accumulate clutter. – Whitney Tevis, The Organized Nest, LLC

12) Make storage a breeze. We are all getting ready for the winter holidays pulling out decorations and clothing we have not used since last year. We recommend using clear containers is a great way to go for storage. Searching through the attic space or garage can become less of a chore if you can see what was packed a year ago. We also suggest when packing up the use of dry packs of Silica Gel which will absorb the moisture to keep the damp and musty smells from your keepsakes for the following year. – Kathleen Dahan, Uncluttered Places

This blog post was originally posted on the Redfin Blog.

Feel Great in your Fall Sweaters!

November 12, 2020 Kam Oi Lee

🌱 Today’s post is by guest blogger Laura Sinclair, a professional home organizer and certified KonMari™ Consultant.

(Photo credit: Laura Sinclair)

Fall is upon us, and with it comes cozy fall sweaters!

You may also be thinking about fall cleaning and getting your home ready for the holidays... Feeling overwhelmed? You are not alone.

Getting physically organized helps with our mental well-being. Spending some time organizing can decrease your stress and overwhelm this season. However, the act of organizing can be very overwhelming, too. So where to start? And how to proceed? Marie Kondo is a Japanese organizer who created The KonMari Method™ in her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. She recommends that you always begin with your clothes.

Why not start with one small category—your fall sweaters. You know you're excited to see these old friends! ;)

Step 1: Make a pile

Remove all of your sweaters from the closets, drawers, etc. Check every room of the house and any boxes where you may store seasonal items. It is important to find ALL of your sweaters before you begin.

Step 2: Top Three

Pick out your favorite three sweaters from the pile. Hold them. Notice the joy and positive feelings you get when you hold them. As Marie Kondo would say, do they "spark joy"? Those are the feelings that you want to replicate.  

Step 3: One-by-One

Now, go through the pile and pick up one sweater at a time. Notice how it makes you feel. Do you feel joy? Do you love it? Do you want to put it on and wear it all day? If so, keep it with confidence! Do this with each item.

Step 4: Reflect

Are you unsure about your feelings? Ask yourself WHY you are having a hard time deciding whether or not to keep a sweater. What is getting in the way? Was it a gift? Was it expensive? Did it used to be your favorite? Take the time to reflect on the "why". You can journal or talk it out with a friend, too.

Step 5: Fold & Store

Have you tried folding and storing your sweaters vertically? It makes it easier to see them all at once, and it reduces wrinkles!

Click here for a great thirty-second youtube video that demonstrates how to fold using the KonMari Method. The video was created by KonMari Consultant Ann Dooley of Simple Joy with Ann. 

Step 6: Gratitude

Donate those sweaters that no longer support you today. Be grateful for the support they have you in the past.

Great job! You have just finished your first tidying session! Now, pick a sweater and enjoy the rest of this fall day. :)

This blog post was originally posted on the Flourish Organizing website.

Laura Sinclair is a professional home organizer and certified KonMari Consultant. As the owner of Flourish Organizing, she combines her love of teaching and organizing to help people to declutter, reorganize, and solve their daily frustrations. Find out more at https://flourishorganizing.com/about.html