BEFORE OUR FIRST SESSION
Fill out this form: Creating a Clear Vision for Your Project
PREPARING FOR EVERY SESSION
Take pictures of your space, especially the categories and spaces that we will be working on.
Please collect any unused shoebox sized storage containers (or shoeboxes), and iPhone-sized storage containers you may have. They may come in handy. If you do not have any we’ll make due.
Create a “staging area” to process (declutter and organize your items). This could be the bed, a large table, an open, clear space on the floor, etc.
Collect medium or large cardboard-boxes and garbage bags for donation and trash. For donation, I use black bags to denote donation, and white to denote trash. Garbage bags work well for donating soft items, while sturdy, heavy, and sharp-cornered items are best donated in boxes.
PREPARING FOR CLOTHING
I recommend doing your laundry, so we allocate enough room for everything. It’s not necessary to fold or put it away.
Collect all of your clothes from everywhere and anywhere in the house, and bring them to one space.
If you want to start with a subset of clothing, as to not disrupt your life in a small space, let’s start with tops. Collect ALL tops and bring them to your staging area.
PREPARING FOR BOOKS
Collect all of your books from everywhere and anywhere in the house, and bring them to one space.
PREPARING FOR PAPERS
Collect all of your papers from everywhere and anywhere in the house, and bring them to one space.
Have these supplies handy:
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Sharpie
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Pen
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Small binder clips
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Paper clips or stapler
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3 hanging file folders PER filing system (e.g. 3 for your files, 3 for your business files, 3 for someone else’s files, etc.) it is acceptable to merge two or more systems if one contains only a few papers. These can be purchased in small quantities from The Container Store. - Hanging file-folders and a file box can be purchased after we finish papers if you prefer.
Check out this Pinterest board to give you some ideas regarding simple paper storage: Organizing Essentials
PREPARING FOR MISCELLANEOUS (KOMONO)
Create a list of sub-categories that you can identify in your space. We will use your list in combination with a generic one I made to create a master list of all of the sub-categories in your space.
If we have discussed working on particular sub-categories during our previous session, collect all items you own of said sub-categories from everywhere and anywhere in the house, and bring them to one space.
PREPARING FOR SENTIMENTAL
For the very best results, sentimental items should be processed last. There is always something easier to make a decision on, and inevitably sentimental items will be mixed in with all of your other items in each category.
Create a list of sub-categories that you can identify in your sentimental items. We will use your list in combination with a generic one I made to create a master list of all of the sub-categories that resonate with you.
If we have discussed working on particular sub-categories during our previous session, collect all items you own of said sub-categories from everywhere and anywhere in the house, and bring them to one space.
