Manage > Step 9: Organize 101

​ORGANIZE TUTORIAL + FREE PRINTABLE
Time: 1 hour          Cost:  $0 - Varies

​In this tutorial, you will:

1. gather materials
2. design your space
3. clear & sort
4. containerize

"Don't agonize. Organize."
​-Florynce Kennedy

STEP 1:  GATHER MATERIALS

​You will need:

1. ​Room-by-Room Design Sheet or Note Pad
2. French Labels Free Printable
3. Pen or Pencil
4. Fridge File*

​
*Optional item is included in the Quick Start Kit.

Need help designing your space?  Snap a picture of it on Instagram with #totalhomemakeover #before, and you could be selected for a personal design by me. 

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STEP 2:  Design Your Space

Look objectively at your current space and ask yourself, "What activities do you want to take place in this room?"
(Renee's Studio is an example -in parenthesis.)

1. Make a list of activities for the room (art, sew, write)
2. ​​Choose activity zones for your room  (zone 1: project storage + zone 2: project table + zone 3: project books)
3. Draw a room layout on graph paper with general pieces of furniture (this doesn't have to be perfect or to-scale)

Tip!  Think about pieces of furniture you already have that could be re-purposed. 

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STEP 3:  Clear & Sort

Next, clear out items from the space so you can start with a clean slate!  ​As you clear, sort items into 3 piles:

• Trash Pile
• Give-Away Pile (donate, yard sale, or sell on-line)
• Keep Pile

Ask, "Have we used this item in the past year?"  If not, it goes!

Now, deal with your piles.  Take out the trash pile!  Take give-away pile to either donation center, yard sale storage, or on-line storage (post for sale).  The Keep Pile remains!

Tip!  A basic 3-part laundry sorter works great for sorting.

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STEP 4:  Containerize

1. Place basic furniture pieces (curio cabinet & table) in your space. 
2. Get out the Keep Pile and sort items into like piles on the floor (art, sewing, writing supplies).
3. Choose containers (for art, sewing, and writing supplies) that will hold like-items and fit into your furniture.
4. Label containers and place containers on furniture.

Tip!  Consider detail cleaning the room before this step and decorating the room after this step.

Now, be sure to show us your completed step 9 on Instagram!

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Additional Resources

ON THE BLOG

• Renee's Studio
• French Labels Free Printable

IN THE SHOP

• Room-by-Room Design Sheet
• Customized French Labels
• Quick Start Kit

Decorate 101

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