4 Ways To Use Storage Effectively

The day after Thanksgiving saw us putting up our holiday tree. We have a 12 foot tree (NOT my choice). So we put everything up early because it takes so much effort.

As I was hauling stuff out of the under-stair storage, I saw that clutter had been collecting there without our being aware of it. I also found, as I was putting away non-holiday place mats, the very serving dishes I had been looking for the day before.

Hidden clutter can be devious, because it isn’t on our daily radar, but when we come in contact with it it drains out our energy. Here are some ways to combat this:

• Declutter. As you are hauling stuff out or putting it away, declutter. We found my partner’s brewing supplies. Those came out and will be Freecycled.
• Inventory. Know what you have, where. This will save you from buying duplicates. I wish I had done this last year. I bought wrapping paper after the holidays, only to discover this year I have enough paper on hand to wrap the house.
• Keep like items together. One of the reasons I didn’t remember I had more serving dishes was because they weren’t with the others. It would have saved a lot of trouble if I had known where everything was.
• Make notes of needed supplies ahead of time. If you know at the end of the season you will need ribbon, make a note. That way you will know before you need it next time. I ran out of gift tags last year, and ended up having to make them. Too much energy expended.