 It was "just another day at the office" for me, as I set out to transform a dysfunctional closet into an awe-inspiring one......you know - the kind of closet that draws gasps of envy from friends and is a sheer pleasure to gaze upon each day. I started as I always do - by surveying the top of my client's closet. I always start at the top. It just makes sense to work from top to bottom, because that way, I'm sure to tackle every nook and cranny. It's part of my "no-stone-left-unturned" approach to organizing (a closet), and you'd be amazed at some of the things that have turned up......like long-forgotten letters, an antique engagement ring, a Play-Dough menorah, deer antlers, and Admiral Farragut's sword, to name a few. And then there's the one thing I'm almost always sure to find..........the ubiquitous over-sized storage bin (I'm talking 40 gallons!) - often perched precariously and slightly protruding on the highest shelf. How I on earth, I always wonder, did someone get that heavy, unwieldy bin up there in the first place? And how am I going to get it down?
I ascended the ladder, eye on my prey, determined to remove that unruly bin. I was all the more motivated because I was told it hadn't been opened in years, and I knew I could use that space more efficiently. So, perched on the highest rung of the ladder, I tried gingerly to angle the bin around the door frame so I could finesse it out easily........................when the bin came crashing down on my head, contents spilling out along the way. I must have been a little dazed, but after the "little birdies" subsided (true!) and I regained my composure, I was amazed at what I saw. That bin contained one of the most comprehensive - and HEAVY- collections of holiday paraphernalia I'd ever seen (wreathes with their holders, tree lights and trees, holiday dishes, holiday towels, a nativity scene made out of resin, countless tree ornaments, Christmas cards, baskets and bowls, Christmas candles and more! I asked my client how she celebrated Christmas, and she told me she never took the bin down; it hadn't been used in years. No surprise to me really, because it was just too big and unmanageable, and the thought of taking it down was too daunting. It's a common mistake many people make - overstuffing large bins which pose such a great challenge in retrieving them, that many people simply don't. We sorted out the massive holiday bin (which was an artifact of her days growing up in a large family in the country), and we edited out nearly half. The "keepers" (a fair amount), were divided into five much smaller containers, and each was clearly labeled (ornaments, nativity, lights, dishes, wreathes). The small bins were returned to the top shelf of the closet, grouped together, where I knew they stood a far greater chance of being used and enjoyed, and a far smaller chance of becoming an avalanche. The point of this story is simply this: Proper storage is important CRUCIAL! Over-size bins work best on industrial shelving units, but are often "accidents waiting to happen" when placed too high. So as a rule of thumb, store the heaviest items either lower in the closet, OR subdivided into manageable units. A bin labeled winter clothes might easily be broken down into several, more manageable bins (i.e. "winter pants", "ski clothes", etc). The real advantage is being able to access the things you need more easily. Yes, I'm a big fan of storing things we seldom need on high, in the farthest recesses of our home or closet. Just be smart. The top shelf of the closet is never the right spot for the Kitchen Aid Mixer. Remember.....heavy objects, when possible, are best stored on a low shelf. Accidents are strange phenomena. We don't plan for them (we should, and we can), and they often happen in a nanosecond. As you think about organizing - your home, your closet, your office - I urge you to think about safety. Re-think the KitchenAide mixer you have on the top of your closet; be mindful of rickety ladders.......and as always, be well, be safe, be organized. xxx's, Nancy |
