Let’s Get Organized With Some Help From ’The Home Edit’
If you haven't check out 'The Home Edit', the satisfying home organizing show on Netflix, you've been missing out!We're here to tell you a little more about their organizing concept in hopes that it will help you to tackle any clutter in your home and bring a sense of calm , which is especially important this time of year when people are visiting your home the most!
The goal in starting The Home Edit was to reinvent traditional organizing, and merge it with design and interior styling for a specific and signature look that is now known across the globe. Since the company’s inception, the business has grown into over 5 markets spanning the United States. Clea and Joanna are also the authors of two New York Times bestselling books, The Home Edit and The Home Edit Life; are the stars and executive producers of the Emmy-nominated Netflix show, Get Organized with The Home Edit and have a line of organizational products sold in over 25 countries.
The goal in starting The Home Edit was to reinvent traditional organizing, and merge it with design and interior styling for a specific and signature look that is now known across the globe. Since the company’s inception, the business has grown into over 5 markets spanning the United States. Clea and Joanna are also the authors of two New York Times bestselling books, The Home Edit and The Home Edit Life; are the stars and executive producers of the Emmy-nominated Netflix show, Get Organized with The Home Edit and have a line of organizational products sold in over 25 countries.
The Home Edit team swears by four concrete steps in their organizing process: edit, categorize, contain, and maintain. And there's a very obvious reason that the “edit” portion is first—it's what sets the foundation for any space that's transitioning into a more organized one.
Conquer one space at a time
While "Get Organized" may have you excited and ready to organize your entire home, you may want to slow down. Clea and Joanna are big advocates of starting small for organizing. For example, instead of trying to tackle your whole kitchen at once, start with a drawer. "You should always tackle one space from start to finish before moving onto the next.
Some refer to this as microproductivity, a strategy that will help you conquer many tasks, not just organizing (via Trello). Due to the overwhelming nature of large projects and the human need to receive feedback, breaking a project into smaller parts makes it much more manageable and will make you more likely to complete the whole project. "Breaking tasks down helps us to see large tasks as more approachable and doable, and reduces our propensity to procrastinate or defer tasks, because we simply don't know where to begin," Melissa Gratias, a workplace productivity coach and speaker, told Trello. Once you decide which area to conquer first, it's time to get to work.
EDIT
What many call "purging," Joanna and Clea refer to as the "edit" stage. When you edit, you go through your items and determine what you need and do not need. Many experts agree that this step is not only the most crucial but can also be very cathartic. "When people go through the process of decluttering, they feel a sense of freedom and liberation. It's a reclaiming of a sense of mastery and control. They feel more competent and efficient,
With this knowledge, The Home Edit developed some tips to make the editing stage as painless as possible and shared them in their book, "The Home Edit Life." When assessing whether to donate, trash, or keep an item, the team recommends that you ask yourself: Do I need it? Do I use it? Do I ever want to use it? Do I like it? Is it sentimental? If you answer yes to these questions, keep it and find a space for it in your categories. If not, it's time to say goodbye.
With this knowledge, The Home Edit developed some tips to make the editing stage as painless as possible and shared them in their book, "The Home Edit Life." When assessing whether to donate, trash, or keep an item, the team recommends that you ask yourself: Do I need it? Do I use it? Do I ever want to use it? Do I like it? Is it sentimental? If you answer yes to these questions, keep it and find a space for it in your categories. If not, it's time to say goodbye.
CATEGORIZE
Once you have determined what items you are keeping, it is time to divide those items into categories or zones. In a shared space like a pantry, for example, thoughtful zones are a primary pillar to maintaining long-term organization. In an interview with Today, Clea said, "We love having different zones for different categories so that kids and adults can easily put things away." Snacks, breakfast, baking, sweets, dinner, baby food, and paper goods are all examples of categories that can exist in your pantry (via The Home Edit). The ones you choose should meet the needs of your family.
Sometimes finding the right category can be tricky, even for seasoned professionals like Clea and Joanna. In Season 1 of "Get Organized," the team hits a bump in the road when they can't place red pepper flakes in a category (via Netflix). Should it go alongside salt and pepper? Or is the international flavors category more appropriate? While this dilemma would not affect the typical organizer, it's a good reminder that the categories you create should be inclusive enough that you can properly execute them without too many questions.
CONTAIN
After completing your edit and dividing the remaining items into thoughtful categories, it's time to contain them. Containing is a crucial step in The Home Edit process because it helps give your items a place to go and lets you take advantage of vertical space by stacking up.
Among the many bins, baskets, hangers, and tubs that the team uses, acrylic bins are their signature. These clear bins provide ideal storage space and allow you to see the items inside. Another benefit of using containers is that it opens up space in the closet or pantry you're organizing. If you're worried that putting things in containers means you won't be able to store as much, think again! They actually make stackable containers that will allow you to utilize the vertical space you can't use now. Once you can see everything you have (because they're in the clear bins), you may realize that you don't need to buy as much. If you're unsure where to begin, you can shop The Home Edit collections at The Container Store and Walmart — you know the products are approved!
LABEL
Once your items are divided and contained within their categories, it's time to label. Labeling ensures the longevity of your organizing efforts because it keeps you accountable for where every item should go. According to Vicki Norris' Restoring Order, labeling makes it difficult to become disorganized.
MAINTAIN
The Home Edit philosophy is about more than organizing a space. They are creating an organizing system that users will be able to maintain. Maintenance is a part of the organizing process because maintenance is only possible when the rest of the system is in place. If you have edited out the items you don't love, categorized them thoughtfully, and contained them in products that make sense for your space, then you will be able to maintain it.