Pam Powers - Organizing & Decluttering

How to tell if you are "cluttered" or "messy"... Messy is temporary. You've spread some books and papers out for a project, or you've left the newspaper and your coffee cup on the table and gone on to do something else. Cluttered is a lifestyle. There are papers from the past week (or more) on the table, and you're drinking your coffee out of your kid's sippy cup because all the mugs are dispersed through your house and car -- half-filled. Call me if you're cluttered :D You can fix your own messy!

(Pictures created with AI; no clients have been shamed 😊)

A new season is on the horizon and I've been investigating my closet to see what will transition well into fall. I'm a big believer in light jackets, cardigans, and other "toppers" to extend the wear of lightweight shirts and blouses, so have many in a variety of colors and styles. Any solid shirt can instantly be perked up with a patterned jacket or even a solid one + a statement necklace.

The key is to have enough storage for all that mixing and matching. Many closets (especially in older homes) have one rod across and that's it. Investing in a new rod or two to double up the hanging space is key to being able to have more things without having them become wrinkled by being crammed into place.

I found this picture online that shows my favorite way to set up a closet. Two rods for shirts/jackets and pants, then a smaller area for long-hang items, like dresses and coats. I always favor a dresser for things like socks/underwear/pajamas, etc. instead of using shelves or drawers in a closet simply because drawers in a closet structure are expensive! You can get an inexpensive dresser anywhere to hold "the smalls". I have used baskets to hold those things on shelves in closets that came with an excess of shelves, but I always feel that hanging room is more important.

My husband and I have separate closets. His is very small and quirky and doesn't hold much so I built him an additional closet unit that sits against a bedroom wall that has several hanging areas as well as baskets and shelves. We hang all his clothing as he is a visual storer and needs to see everything he owns. I bought that unit on Amazon, but other companies have them as well.

Special shelves for shoes are a personal choice. I prefer stand-alone shoe racks that sit on the floor in order to have more hanging room, but nicer shoes are better off stored in boxes or shoe bags. Same with handbags; if they came with a storage bag, use it! It will keep the leather nicer.

Keep in mind the things you need to use the most so that you can use your space more efficiently. I saw a closet online recently that had a shelf filled with expensive designer sunglasses. They were important to the owner and she wanted to see them. Personally I would store each in its own case to reduce dust and scratches, but I understand the feeling of opening a closet door to see everything you own stored really well. It really is a wonderful feeling!

If new rods aren't in the cards, sort your clothing from light to dark by type of clothing so that it's really easy to find things. I go from white to black with all the colors in between. Finding a top is a snap!

Have fun with your closet and make it your own. Forget trying to make it look like something in a magazine; real people have a lot of stuff! Magazine pictures show about 20 items total which is so unrealistic. Definitely declutter; definitely donate some pieces; definitely buy a few new things to jazz up the seasonal wardrobe! Shopping is fun but organization is awesome, LOL!

Last year was a long year for our family filled with decisions for new adventures and some hard good-byes. In January, my husband and I set out for Decatur, Alabama to start our golden years of retirement. However, as anyone who knows me can attest, it is difficult for me to sit still for very long. Thus, I've decided to see what good I can do for the fine people of northern Alabama with regard to decluttering and organizing their spaces. Consultations are FREE! Call me at 714-728-3660 to get started. I'm great for folks who need to "right" size their homes or get ready for a move to a smaller place.

Pam Powers - Organizing & Decluttering Pam has been organizing professionally for the past 14 years. No job is too unusual; many times people have specific needs that just don't fit a particular category. I offer a free consultation, so call me and let's talk about it.