OT ~ Organization
has anyone ever hired a professional organizer? or does anyone have any tips on how to begin and ultimately conquer. i know this is sad, but i have a 750 sq.ft. room that is in chaos (and that's not even including the garage ~ that's a whole different mess). i let it get out of hand and now i am just too overwhelmed by it all.
the room started out as a project that was going to be divided and made into a small office and hopefully nursery (if not, then guest room), well that never started so we just started putting stuff in here alittle at a time. now it has become like the kicthen junk drawer, just a shit load bigger. it's not like i'm a slob, just this room has become the catch all.
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EXACTLY!
EXACTLY!
Been there. Done that. I've
Been there. Done that. I've always started with getting my hands on some large bins or boxes, and start with dividing things into broad categories and dumping them in bins. For me, that might be categories like "book" or "dog stuff" or "things I might not even want to keep". Get the bulk of it broken down like that, and deal with the odds and ends left over.
Next, shove all the bins but one off into a corner, and tackle ONE bin/category at a time. Becomes a LOT less overwhelming. You may even say "Okay, THIS bin will be further divided into these four categories.
By not having to deal with ANYTHING in there in a final, finished sort of way...just dividing things down by gradually more specific criteria, and THEN dealing with small manageable categories at a time, it keeps it from being quite so overwhelming.
Dunno if that helps, but the price for the advice was reasonable!
I've been there, too! I agree
I've been there, too! I agree with j-dog's method. It seems like the least stressful and overwhelming option. I also focus on ONE corner until that's cleaned out/separated, then move from there along the walls. Otherwise you could be picking through the entire room and it won't seem like you're doing anything or gaining any progress. If you can see one area that has been cleaned out it makes you more motivated to keep going!
And please don't do what my fiance does...I will put all his tools and stuff that HE needs to put away into a box or a bucket or a basket, and he'll take it and set it down somewhere...until the next time I make him a box/bucket/basket...and that one gets added to the other one...He's terrible!
So basically, don't take your bins ANYWHERE else in your house unless you're actively cleaning it out as you put things away and find places for it 
thanks, jd. i see that done,
thanks, jd. i see that done, but it seems so like so much and just flat out undoable. i just need to bite the bullet and start.
thanks for the advice and i'm really hip on the price!!
After many years of acquiring
After many years of acquiring we decided to purge every few years or so. If we had not used something in 1-2yrs it went in the truck and was dumped at GoodWill. Even "treasures" were purged. My wife had boxes of SS's baby clothes, gone. An antique crib that my wife slept in and SS slept in, gone (given to friends for their kid). Boxes of college text books, gone. Cassette tape music collection, gone. Old stereo equipment, gone, etc, etc, etc .... gone.
If you don't know what is in a box or a storage room, you don't need it.
GoodWill has the added advantage that you don't have to throw things away. Let them sort it out and either scrap it or sell it. The good news, whether they scrap it or not you get the tax write off for the donation.
Now we have a big house with two completely empty rooms. Just the way I like it. Our unused 4th bedroom is the luggage, Christmas room. The tree is in there completely decorated. It takes me about 30mins to move it back in forth to the living room at Christmas.
I am buying metal shelving to put in the attic for the stuff that does not need to be stored in climate controlled space. Storage is great but even stuff you put in your attic is crap if you don't use it regularly.
Even nice stuff with sentimental value is crap if it is not used.
So, I recommend that you take half of next Sat, load the truck and dump the crap at GoodWill and let them deal with it.
Don't forget to ask for your charitable donation form.
rags, that sounds great....
rags, that sounds great.... however, dh & i both being pack rats is going to create some problems....
but i have got to do something, this situation is way out of control!
50-100/hr is a little out of
50-100/hr is a little out of my budget right now ~ if it's ok with you, i just might pm and pick your brain!! i get excited about the thought of this room being cleaned so we can plan the renovation of the room, i just need to stay pumped and "focused" like you said and get started!
LD, good stuff.. are you in
LD, good stuff.. are you in florida?? hahahaha
thank you all, i'm going to start this project sunday!
I would do a little at a
I would do a little at a time, just one thing a day. & I have to say I'm totally jealous you have any room, much less one that size that could possible be unneeded so much it could get like that.
Once I get started on a
Once I get started on a project, the good feeling of getting it done will usually keep me going. The problem is getting the initial "gumption."
Even if you can get to it for x amount of time every week/day/month. Eventually, it WILL get done.
It's like, if you take an axe and take 5 swings at a tree each day, no matter how large the tree is, eventually it WILL come down!
simi, yeah i love that we
simi, yeah i love that we have the space, but it's just wasted space at this point in time.
evryone's right, i need to stay motivated, get started and stay at it! wish i could take "not sentimental" pill and go hog wild.
Just watch an episode or two
Just watch an episode or two of Clean House or Hoarders...this makes me get into an organizing frenzy EVERY time!