Eleni

It´s all over my new apartment! I am so frustrated. I cannot work this out. I need to organize, file away (but where?), store, throw away...I just can´t get myself to think straight and decisively about it. I love our new place and it has so much potential but right now, there are still a couple of boxes in the kitchen, the kitchen counter is packed with stuff that shouldn´t be there, the guest room is full of boxes, paperwork, magazines, crap collected over the years, electricals...our bedroom is nowhere near finished and a lot of furniture has to be rearranged, and also we have to buy and set up the study area, but I cannot get myself to think the best possible scenario that would fit everything, hide the ugliness and still look good...I keep looking at my stuff and don´t know where to begin. I´m always like this with things, ît´s like a curse. I thought I would change with the move but now Ody doesn´t leave much time to work on this and DImitri complains that if it takes me another couple of months it will stay like that forever..
I really wish there was a Container Store here, I´d be willing to pay nomatter what the cost so long as the clutter would dissappear. The only storage solutions option we have is IKEA and I´m not satisfied with most of its stuff...I need to set up some serious bookshelving unit...
Anyway, I know without seeing my apt one cannot help me but I so wish I could videotape the place and post it so you all could tell me...what to do?

Carol in Maryland

It is better to do a major throw-out before even acquiring storage places. Otherwise you end up keeping stuff that really shouldn't be kept. Get several big boxes and label them "toss" "keep" "maybe." Then after you sort one room into those categories, take the toss box and toss the contents, take the keep box and sort it again as to what room it should belong in, and leave the may6be until you finish all your rooms. Then you will be left with a box of "keep" for each room, plus the big "maybe" box. Now, go through the "maybe box" and make every item either a keep or a toss, and get the "keeps" to the right room, then you will know what kind of storage you need in each room.

Eleni

Thanks Carol! I guess I have to get over my main problem which is I am a..."gatherer" and follow your advice! Notes, cards, paper clippings, memorabilia....stuff I can´t bring myself to part with...I always try to find some excuse to keep them, like an old pair of jeans can be used to make a tote, or a quilt...Funny thing is that I don´t usually do anything with them but my family is so crafty there is always a time when they mind need something (or so I tell myself). I´m crafty in my head, LOL...used to do a lot more when I was younger but now I just stash things away...

KiwiMama

Purge what you can. It is so freeing to get rid of things that have just been sitting and not touched for months or years. I agree with Carol's box suggestion. Don't sit and think too long about which box to put it in, just go with your instinct and soon you will have a clutter free home.

BigNutbrownHare

It takes a while to realize what you really can purge. Here is an idea: Start with a regular purge in one room and then move throughout the apartment, maybe one day or week at a time. By the time you are done, start back over. After you go through the same room a few times you realize what you really need and what you don't. Here is another idea: If you are overwhelmed, start with a certain number of things to purge each day. Say, for example, 25 items. Every day, toss 25 things. Seems easy right? That is 175 items per week!! 750 items per month! That can make a difference really fast with not a lot of time or effort.

(Those are two of my favorite FlyLady tips, by the way)

KATin NJ

Ally is SO right...I do the FlyLady idea of tossing every day, but I only do about 15 a day.

mcbean

It depends on the type of clutter. I'm really trying to do a "fill a bag" thing once a day. When I have a few minutes I just take an old grocery bag. I wander around the house until it is full of crap that needs to go. Even if I have to pry it from C's sticky little hand. When the bag is full, I toss it. It feels good.

Vanesa

I think is really easy to get overwhelm with a task like that. YOu need to start with litle parts. Like ok the counter and later if you feel to maybe some boxes. I agree with the others, PURGE. And once you rid of what you don't need you will have a better idea of what things you need to keep and get the storage that it's more appropriate. I when you are looking for storage solutions try to look beyond of what that piece was made for. I tell you for example I have a overdoor shoe organizer with all my gardening supplies in the garage, works great.

Eleni

Thanks again gals, you're the best! I have to check out flylady some day. Alas I have been moved to a new office without a computer of my own and no desk of my own, so gone are my web browsing days...

Your ideas have encouraged me...Now I have to convince my self that I don't need these things. I have to take them out of my own little "sticky hand", hehehe....

Lynni

Great idea!! I am going to be this.