How to Keep Your House in Order

Every day, people face different challenges that cause them stress. If you want to remove one cause of stress in your daily life, fixing cluttered rooms around the house would be a good start. Without you realizing it, clutter can affect many aspects of your life. It could be the reason your anxiety level is suddenly out of control, you have a hard time sleeping, or you lose your ability to focus. Because of that, you start to feel stressed and all other negative emotions. Decluttering can be intimidating and confusing sometimes, so why not start with these parts?

YOUR ENTRYWAY

The entryway is one house corner prone to housing all the clutters. It is where you and your guests take off your shoes, hang up your coat, and place your keys. It is the first place people get to, thereby giving them the impression of your home and setting the tone of your space. If you want to make a positive impression from the start or go home to a peaceful and relaxing place, an organized doorway could give you that. Here are some improvements you can make for this home area:

• Allot a specific area for everything found in your entryway. If you store school bags, footwear, apparel, and sports equipment, they should have their section or storage area. 

• Place labels in these storage areas to encourage people inside your house and even visitors to follow the proper storing method.

• Add wall hooks for random clothing articles and a spot for placing keys and mail. 

• Keep out-of-season clothes and other unnecessary items out of the entryway. 

YOUR HOME OFFICE

Any office is subject to accumulating unnecessary clutter, and keeping them tidy and organized can be tough. When a person becomes too busy, they lack time to tidy their desk. However, a messy office can make one’s mind look cluttered and have slow productivity. If you want to free yourself from that, here are some methods you can use:

• Manage your papers. Papers are one of the things that pile up quickly. Create a routine that would help you manage your papers better. For example, having a filing system or shredding unnecessary documents every week would help lessen the room’s clutter potential. 

• Go digital with everything, including your bills and financial statements. That would lessen the mess you need to deal with each time.

• Instead of printing, refer to the softcopy of files you need to review. That can reduce the number of papers you use daily. 

THE BATHROOM

When thinking about the busiest rooms in the house, the bathroom would make most of the household’s list. People come in and out of this room to do their thing. The bathroom also acts as storage for many things like beauty products, first-aid items, and even medications in most houses. Keeping it organized may be challenging but can be ultimately rewarding. 

Here are some things you can do:

• Throw all expired items.

• Get rid of toiletries that you never use. You can send them to friends and family or donate to shelters and charities. 

• If you have old bath towels, donate them to animal shelters or veterinarian clinics that need repurposed beddings.

• Regularly conduct a cleaning and organizing schedule. 

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More than the impression other people would get, a disorganized and messy home can cost you your inner peace. It can make you feel like you do not have a place for all your belongings, or simply looking at them can make you feel overwhelmed. Clutter starts when a person owns more stuff and could end with removing excessive possessions in this lifetime, but the best way is finding a place where to put them at home and learning how to manage them could help you feel better.  Should you need help decluttering in Houston, call us at Rescue My Space. We are organizing consultants at your service to make your space beautiful again. We can help you improve your life functions by starting with an organized living space.

How to Organize Your Home Using the 10 Percent Rule

We all want to live in a nice, well-organized home. But sadly, our things don’t just magically organize themselves. Without any effort and maintenance, your home can easily turn into a jungle of mess. But with our busy schedules, it’s often difficult to find the time and energy to keep our homes organized. Somehow, there’s always something to clean up or organize. If only decluttering wasn’t as difficult as it is. Well, it turns out decluttering can be made easier and stress-free. What’s the secret? The 10 percent rule.

WHY HOME ORGANIZATION IS DIFFICULT FOR SOME

Before we get into the 10 percent rule, let’s first look at the source of the problem. Why is it exactly so hard to organize your home? While there can be many factors contributing to an unorganized home, the problem with the 10 percent rule is addressing the number of things you have to organize. The reason there seems to be always something to organize is the number of things you own. When you have so much stuff, your home will become more likely to turn into a mess. That’s because there are so many things you have to organize. On the other hand, if you don’t own that many things, your home can be easier to maintain. That’s why decluttering is a crucial part of home organization. It helps you reduce the number of things you need to organize. But sometimes, people are hesitant to declutter because they don’t like the idea of letting go of some of their stuff. This is where the 10 percent rule comes into play.

WHAT IS THE 10 PERCENT RULE?

Essentially, the 10 percent rule is all about reducing what you own by 10 percent. A 10 percent reduction may not seem that much, but it can actually make a big difference. Plus, it’ll be way easier for those who have trouble saying goodbye to their things when decluttering. For example, you have 10 pairs of jeans. Realistically, you only cycle through 5-7 pairs regularly. But there’s a reason you may have kept the remaining ones. Perhaps you feel guilty about throwing away a perfectly good pair of jeans, or maybe you’ve always convinced yourself you can still lose weight and fit into the ones you’ve outgrown. These reasons are probably making it difficult to let go of these unused jeans, even though it’s what’s practical. But to ease you into decluttering, you can decide to let go of one pair instead of 3-5 you don’t use. That way, it won’t feel like too much but will still make a difference. That’s how the 10 percent rule works.

HOW TO USE THE 10 PERCENT RULE TO DECLUTTER?

In the example above, you’re just letting go of one pair of jeans. So, how does that make a difference? The thing is, your jeans are just the start. Take a look at the rest of your closet. You have shirts, shorts, dresses, and other pieces of clothing. When you reduce each category by 10 percent, you’re actually making a difference in your closet. And once you’re done with the closet, you can proceed to other parts of your home. The 10 percent rule should also be done regularly. Instead of a huge decluttering session once a year, you can continuously reduce your possessions by 10 percent on a more regular basis. This could be once a month, every two weeks, or whatever timeline that’s more manageable and convenient for you. By slowly reducing your belongings throughout the year, you can see a big difference from when you started to where you are now. And the great thing about it is, at the time, it didn’t feel like such a difficult decision to make. And that’s because you only had to deal with a small portion of what you own. 

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Home organization can sometimes be difficult, especially when you have too many things to organize. That’s why decluttering is important. And to make decluttering easier and stress-free, one can follow the 10 percent rule. By reducing your belongings by 10 percent continually, you’re making it easier to keep your home organized.
Declutter your space with the help of Rescue My Space. We are a decluttering service in Houston that offers organizational solutions to homes and corporate spaces. On top of decluttering your space, we also offer interior enhancements. Contact us today to get started!

3 Things to Consider When Decluttering Your Household

Decluttering is hard to do for most people, especially since humans naturally connect objects with memories and emotions. Even worn-out clothes feel difficult to let go of if it has a special connection to the person. However, decluttering doesn’t just let you own less; it also helps you develop a healthier lifestyle.

DECLUTTERING AS A WAY TO DESTRESS

Drowning in clutter is a feeling no one wants to have. However, it takes plenty of steps toward self-actualization to realize this. For this reason, people need to be more attentive to their surroundings and how they feel in their living spaces.

Do you have trouble moving from one part of the home to the next?

Do you have trouble looking for important items?

Do you have too much of something you don’t even use too often?

These questions may seem simple to ask but can be difficult to face for people that naturally keep piles upon piles of their belongings. Constantly dealing with a disorganized living space can harm a person as a logistical and mental health concern. This is why decluttering is the only way to solve two birds with one stone. In this article, we’ll share three things you should consider before finally letting go of your valuables.

1. PRACTICALITY

The first thing you need to assess with your belongings is their practicality which will vary depending on the object. For example, losing an extra shirt is different from throwing away a spare microwave. This is why you need to measure if an object will be practical to own. Additionally, you should assess if keeping it in your home is practical or not. Understandably, many people have trouble letting go of things without practical purpose. This includes souvenirs and other items accessories. Since it’s tough to weigh their practicality based on use alone, your next step is to gauge their value.

2. VALUE

An item’s value can be its monetary or sentimental value. Using these two opposite perspectives, you get to see if an item is just taking up space or serving a purpose. Many souvenir items and accessories tend to be difficult to let go of because they add something to your rooms. It can be because they’re a part of a collection or an accent to your rooms. However, you need to access if you’re simply keeping or hoarding these items. Besides as a sentimental memento and interior design option, you may keep an object due to its potential market value. Many antiques and collector’s items can fetch a good price in the future. This is why hobbyists tend to have shelves of these items. If you’re one of these hobbyists, you should consider if it’s time to sell your collection or opt for a more effective long-term storage solution.

3. REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS

Some items are stored in your closets and above your cupboards because of the chance of repairing them. These are usually damaged clothes or broken appliances. If you’re still thinking about fixing these items, it’s best to put them in a separate box and set a deadline for yourself. If you haven’t fixed these items by then for keeping or selling, it may just be easier to put them in the trash.

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Learning to let go of old belongings isn’t easy for everyone. Nevertheless, it’s a necessary part of growing and adapting to new lifestyles. If you stay stuck in the past, you’re unlikely to grow as a person. Thankfully, you don’t have to handle these transitions yourself. Instead, you can hire decluttering experts to assist your goal in living a mess-free life.
Our team at Rescue My Space, are professionals when it comes to organizing your living spaces. If you need decluttering services in Houston, TX, to live a clutter-free life, book us today!

How to Declutter Your Pantry

Decluttering your pantry can be quite the hassle, though we all strive for that Pinterest-inspired look, accomplishing it can be much more difficult than one can anticipate! If this is something that you want to try out for yourself, the best step is to first start small. This is why we recommend starting by decluttering your pantry. But how do you go about doing this? To help you, we’ve prepared practical tips that will help you declutter your pantry:

1. DISPOSE OF THINGS THAT WONT BE USED

Get rid of anything that doesn’t spark joy. If you find it hard to assign such personal feelings to the contents of your pantry, then a good alternative would be to get rid of anything that you won’t be using. This includes but is not limited to things that have gone past their best by dates. Try to be discerning when you do this and really consider if you’ll be using an item. A good rule of thumb would be to try and remember when you last used an item, as this can be a good benchmark for determining if you’ll ever use it again.

2. MAXIMIZE YOUR SPACE

Keep in mind that decluttering is more than just getting rid of things, as it also means making most of the space that you already have. There are a number of ways you can approach this. In fact, one great way is to maximize all of the surfaces in your pantry. One spot that is always wasted is the interiors of the door because you can use the space to hang spices. All you have to do is to install a rack, and you should be good to go. Another way you can maximize space is by transferring things into compact containers. If you think about it, your pantry is loaded with cardboard boxes that take up more space than they actually should. By transferring the contents into a smaller container, you can effectively double the amount of storage space you have!

3. MAKE A LIST OF EVERYTHING INSIDE

You’ll also want to make sure that you aren’t buying anything that you already have because it is actually a quick way to build up an excess of a certain product. To make sure this never happens to you again, we recommend making a list of everything that’s inside of your pantry. While this may seem like a small change, this list will help you determine what items you already have so that you can avoid buying more of them whenever you go out on a grocery run. Small changes like this go a long way when it comes to decluttering your pantry!

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While it may seem like a lot of work at first, decluttering your pantry will definitely be worth it in the end, as having a clean and organized space can yield a slew of different benefits. Indeed, our article on pantry organization highlights how an organized pantry will make your life as a homeowner significantly easier. Hopefully, the tips we’ve shared above will prove to be useful and help you declutter your pantry effectively and efficiently! Rescue My Space is a reliable decluttering service in Houston with years of experience in the industry. We offer organizing solutions for both residential and commercial spaces. For more information about our services, contact us today!

5 Doable Tips on How to Keep Your Home Free From Clutter

Sometimes, decluttering is a struggle and can be a little overwhelming, especially when you see a lot of things in your area that you can’t even pinpoint where to start. Also, when you start trying, you see yourself looking through your items and end up being distracted until you realize nothing is organized—don’t worry; you are not alone! While it’s hard for you to get rid of stuff because you worry you won’t have enough when you need it, there can be a way to keep everything in order. There will come a time when it’s easier to let go of things, and your decluttering experience will eventually be therapeutic. If you’re planning to commit to decluttering at once, here are some of the tips to help you know where and how you can start. 

1. REDUCE YOUR BARGAIN CLUTTER

Everyone loves bargains! However, it’s time to limit your bargain items to give space for the things you really need. While taking advantage of good deals is only natural, it may not be necessary because you might end up having expired or unused items sitting in your storage. Stop fearing about getting rid of something because you might need it later. A good technique on how you can let go of those is to ask yourself if you can still buy the item if it was at its full price or if you will regularly use it. If not, toss it immediately and start having a shopping list so you won’t be tempted to buy half-price items that you don’t actually need. 

2. STORE YOUR SENTIMENTAL KEEPSAKES

There are times that you feel so attached to an item because the person they came from meant something to you. That attachment is not kept in an object, and whether you keep the item or not, your heart will always remember their memory. If it’s really sentimental and you can’t let go, then you can find ways to use or repurpose them so that you can appreciate them every day. Otherwise, you can take photos of the item before letting it go, or you can store it in your basement in a storage box. 

3. DEDICATE STORAGE FOR ITEMS IN BULK

Stocking up is only natural and brings good intentions, but you must hardly consider your storage space before buying items in bulk. Without proper storage, your stock will be all over the place, or worse, you run the risk of items spoiling because you hardly notice them. What you can do is to find a storage area for all your stock and organize them according to item type. You can also put labels and tag their expiration dates to have a clearer picture of what you should use first. Also, give yourself an unwritten rule to only buy items you’re running out of stock. 

4. RENT OR BORROW YOUR DREAM ITEMS BEFORE BUYINH

There’s no harm in rewarding yourself with your dream items but ensure that you can use them more than once. Unused items will only take up space in your home and can even turn into one of your items for sale. If a special occasion occurs and you ultimately need the item, consider renting or borrowing instead so you won’t have to struggle with how to store it after. 

5. LEARN HOW TO DECLUTTER

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed and not know where you should start, but the best way to do it is to simply just start! Even small progress is progress, so do anything to tidy things up and be consistent. Keep in mind that you also need to learn how to let go of the items you don’t need without hesitations, and once you master them, decluttering will be easier for you. 

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Organizing clutter will keep things easier to notice and store. Not to mention, you can keep things that you really want without having to worry about throwing them away because of lack of space. By slowly applying these tips, you can achieve more space, time, and freedom to do anything you want with your items! If you are looking for a decluttering service in Houston, Rescue My Space is just what you need! We help in organizing your spaces to make them beautiful and clutter-free again. Additionally, we rescue your space, from the pantry to the bedroom, with honesty, confidentiality, and patience. Contact us today to get started!

7 Easy Tips to Make Your Pantry Spacious and Organized

The kitchen pantry is one of the spots in your house that experiences the most traffic. With a bustle of activities in making sure your family is fed, it can be safe to say that you need everything organized and have ample space for snacks and all the other food items you have. Here are some ways you can start pantry organization and make your space usable, functional, and efficient.

1. LABLE ALL YOUR ITEMS

Keep your organization easily manageable by labeling everything. This way, even though things are hidden, separated, and categorized, you won’t have a hard time finding everything. First, label main sections and categories, then, label each container so you can save up on time.

2. PURCHASE DRAWER SEPARATORS

Another thing that can help you have an organized pantry is drawer separators. These are practical solutions that can help you avoid items from toppling over and getting mixed up. You can use separators for things that can easily get broken or damaged, like cans, bottles, and utensils—but just about everything, really!

3. TURN YOUR SHELVES INTO DRAWERS

One thing that can mess up a pantry is thinking about having to reach back for an item and worrying about breaking things or messing up an entire shelf. As a solution, you can opt to convert the shelves into drawers instead. Not only do drawers look more clean and appealing, they also allow you to pull out ingredients without messing up your initial organization.

4. STACK PLASTIC CONTAINERS

You can also shop for flat plastic containers to help you divide items into categories while being able to see what’s inside. These plastic containers are perfect for storing items like grains, cereals, rice, breadcrumbs, and other similar items.

5. USE A PEGBOARD FOR POTS AND PANS

Most of the time, a huge part of storage space in the kitchen or pantry can be eaten up by your huge pots and pans. Often, the only option is to stack them on top of each other and you use up essential shelf space that could’ve been utilized for other important items. What you can do instead is invest in a pegboard and hang your pans up on a free wall. This way, your heavier items will be on display, easily accessed, and won’t take up so much space in drawers or cabinets.

6. REPURPOSE WOODEN CRATES

Do you want to have something to spice up your shelves and add a layer of decor? Repurpose your wooden crates and add them as separators for your essentials, especially those that are not really visually appealing. Do take note, though, that wooden crates are harder to get through, so use them for things that you do not really have to use every day, so you won’t stress yourself out with daily handling these crates.

7. USE STRAW BINS

Straw bins are becoming a storage solution favorite in offices, playrooms, and closets, but they are perfect for a pantry, too. When you use straw bins, you can utilize them as a category divider for different items. For instance, you can use a bin for canned goods, another one for vegetables, and another for table napkins and tablecloths.

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Organizing your pantry can be a daunting task, but decluttering and putting things in their proper places can change your kitchen experience and save you time in the long run. There are many more solutions aside from these seven organizing tips, but these can be a good starting point for your new and improved kitchen pantry.

Are you leaning towards getting your pantry organized, but you just don’t have the time? Rescue My Space offers organizing services, particularly professional home organization for numerous locations all over Texas. Work with our expert pantry organizers by sending a message today and see the difference!

Using the KonMari Method to Tidy Up Your Home: 4 Tips to Try

Decluttering our spaces is all the rave nowadays, especially because many of us now work and study at home. Moreover, organizing expert Marie Kondo’s book “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” has inspired many people to remove excess clutter and keep the essentials. It can be distracting and troublesome to perform our daily tasks with the mess all around us, after all, so reorganizing is often necessary. Some homes are messier than others, and it can be challenging to know where to start. However, Marie Kondo’s technique—the KonMari Method—sets some guidelines for decluttering and reorganizing. The KonMari Method entails reevaluating our possessions and assessing which of our belongings no longer serve a purpose. If something does not have personal value or “spark joy” anymore, it’s time to thank the item and discard it.  While the philosophy of the KonMari Method may not resonate with everyone, it is a helpful way to start the process of decluttering a home or office. With this, here are some tips to try as you reorganize your space:

1. MENTALLY PREPARE YOURSELF TO TIDY UP YOUR SPACE

The KonMari Method is not just a technique to physically tidy up your property—it also entails reorganizing your mind and adopting a new philosophy regarding decluttering the home or office. It requires you to envision what kind of space you want to live or work in and strive toward your ideal lifestyle. Many find Kondo’s approach rather extreme because it involves getting rid of many of our possessions that no longer serve a purpose. People often view the discarding part as stressful because they’re afraid of letting go of items that have sentimental value. However, they fail to realize that unused and unnecessary items will just end up hogging space and collecting dust. The KonMari Method helps people open themselves up to change and to keep only the items they use or hold closest to their hearts. If something does not spark joy, thank it and say goodbye.

2. DISCARD FIRST, THEN REORGANIZE

The KonMari Method requires getting rid of items that no longer spark joy because it lessens the clutter inside the home. There will be less to reorganize if you have fewer things to move around and store. However, it also highlights the importance of certain belongings, as they will be the ones you’ll be keeping. After discarding objects that don’t serve a purpose, you can then reorganize the space according to the lifestyle you envision.

3. REORGANIZE ITEMS BY CATEGORY

Rather than sifting through your belongings one room at a time, Marie Kondo suggests reorganizing items by category. For example, if you start with clothes, make sure to bring all of them together regardless of the room they’re in or whether they’re in a closet or drawer. Afterward, begin sorting them at once. 

4. DO IT IN ONE GO

Marie Kondo suggests treating decluttering as a special occasion, tidying everything in the home at once rather than small steps. Doing so ensures that you don’t forget and revert to your cluttered way of living. However, if it’s too much work, you may opt to hire decluttering services to help you out.

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The KonMari Method is a helpful guide for decluttering your space. Aside from the act of discarding and reorganizing, it also entails shifting your mindset toward ensuring everything in your home has value and sparks joy to you. With these tips in mind, you can now prepare for an exciting session of tidying up! If you’re looking for home organization consultants in Texas, Rescue My Space is here to help. We’ll assist you in decluttering and reorganizing your home or office, transforming it into a more welcoming place to work, play, study, and live in. Contact us today!

4 Tips to Organize Your Kitchen Space with Kitchen Jars

It is critical to keep a clean and well-organized atmosphere in any kitchen. When you commit to an organizing system, you make cooking and cleaning easier and your kitchen more visually appealing. Furthermore, having a method for storing spices and ingredients in discrete containers may save you a lot of time. Kitchen jars are particularly useful since they allow you to neatly arrange things while also keeping the space clean. All that remains is for you to select how you will organize all of the jars. Here are a few tips that could be useful!

1. MAXIMIZE SMALL SPACED

Every inch of space counts in a compact kitchen, so make the most of it. Use even the narrowest spaces for your jars, and make sure they are easy to access and stow away. For practical reasons, place the jars you use frequently on the bottom level and those you don't use on a daily basis on the upper shelf.

2. MIND THE DETAILS

Meanwhile, if you have a large kitchen, you have the means to construct a well-organized storage room or pantry. Spacious shelves and wine racks can be used to store jars, bottles, and containers. Use clear jars for the spices and keep the ones you use the most in the center, where you can see them fast, while the ones you seldom use on the higher shelves, and the bottles and containers on the lower shelves, where they are safest.

3. ORGANIZE AND MAKE MORE SPACE

If you’re into organizing, a wall unit that is specially built for bottles and containers might be ideal. Cabinets don’t need doors, but they help in delivering a clean and consistent appearance. When using jars of the same type, get them in various sizes. If you find yourself with more space after organizing, we suggest that you incorporate a uniform space where more jars can be on display and neatly grouped. Show off the many different hues of the spices as you go for that rustic feel with smart décor and a very pleasant ambiance.

4. GET CREATIVE

Now that you have everything cleaned up and organized, it’s time to have fun. In case you want to add a pop of color here and there, play with prints, or add custom artworks, know that you are free to get creative in your own space! Don’t fall prey to ultra-minimalist trends if you want to go for a more vibrant ambiance! A trick that we love to do is to use chalkboard paint for labeling jars. They’re classy, rustic, and easy to remove if you wish to replace their contents.

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Take note that your home is your sacred space, and for many, the kitchen is a special area where family and friends gather to celebrate with an abundance of delicious food. If you need a hand in organizing your kitchen space, get in touch with professional organizers and watch them keep your countertops, cabinets, and basically any corner of your kitchen in order.

Are you looking for home organization consultants in Texas? Rescue My Space offers solutions to declutter your space as well as give you the interior recommendations you never knew you needed! Schedule an appointment with us and make your space beautiful again!