Tehama Country Real Estate

Tackle Wardrobe ORGANIZATION C ooler weather keeps many people indoors. Although this may cause a bit of cabin fever, time spent inside gives people a chance to tackle some much-needed organization projects without the distractions of outdoor activities. One task to tackle as winter settles in is sorting through wardrobes and making room for new clothes, as extra clothing can quickly take over a home. In fact, according to the National Associa- tion of Professional Organizers, too much clutter, general disorganization and difficulty determining what to keep and/or discard are the primary rea- sons individuals reach out to professional organiz- ers. If clearing away closet clutter is on the top of your winter to-do list, consider the following tips. • Know what you have. It's easier to determine what you can keep and what you can donate or discard when you have an idea of what's in your closet. Take all of your clothes out of closets and drawers and place them on the bed or floor. • Clean the closets thoroughly. e closet organi- zation company Closets by Design suggests a year- ly and thorough cleaning of closets. is includes dusting shelving and vacuuming the floor of the closet. You can do the same with armoires and dresser drawers. • Take inventory of your clothing. Create three main sorting piles. Label one "keep," another "do- nate" and the third one "sell." As you look at your clothing, keep only those items that fit you well and suit both your tastes and your lifestyle. If a piece is high-quality and worth the cost of repair, bring it to a tailor or make the modifica- tions yourself. Let go of items you never wear or those you bought on a whim because you wanted to try something trendy. In addition, figure out which type of clothing best suits your lifestyle. If you have 10 pairs of yoga pants but never hit the gym, you can thin out that collection. • Immediately bag donation items. Move items you will be donating out of the room. Place them by the front door and make a plan to drop them off at a thri store or in a nearby clothing bin. • Don't overlook sales opportunities. An easy way to make a little extra money is to sell used belongings at consignment stores. Such stores are popular in towns all across the country as more people attempt to conserve and cut back on their spending. Consignment shops typically do most of the work, including marketing the items, which can be less hectic and safer than selling things on your own. Only bring in items that are clean and in good condition. Opt to have clothing donated aer the consignment period is over if items hav- en't sold so they don't end up back in your closet. • Group remaining "keep" clothes in the closet by category. Organize the clothing you keep by color or style (i.e., casual, formal, exercise, etc.). Arrange the clothes in a way that makes most sense to you. • Consider moving off-season clothes. Sturdy storage containers and bags can be used to keep off-season clothing out of the closet until it's need- ed. is frees up more space. HOW TO

• Cover