Welcome Spring with a Few Organizing Projects

Dear friends, I have another special guest today. It’s been such a pleasure having my friends step in and share, originally while I was in school and then while I recover from kidney surgery. Friends, yes, friends. I often share the importance of my bloggy friends. My friends were ready to jump in and help so quickly. Such a blessing. Today I’m sharing my blog with Seana. If you haven’t heard of the Seana Method ( freedom through organization) then today is a great way to get organized for spring.

Spring is in the air. I can smell it when I open my front door. I love the freshness in the air, and the sense of possibility. Around the beginning of March, I long to have a similar sense of newness and lightness in and around my home. If you feel the same, here are some ideas for how to welcome spring with a few organizing projects.

Declutter Weather-Sensitive Spaces

Spring is the perfect time to head out into the garage or up into the attic. During winter and summer, these spaces can be either very hot or very cold, so spring is the perfect time to dig in and lighten up.

If you have a lot in these spaces, and only small snippets of time, I suggest you spread the project over a couple of weeks, tackling a different zone each time. For instance, you might work on a set of shelves in your garage one day, and then move onto items hanging from the wall the next. In the attic, you may bring down, open up, and review one or two boxes each day.

Alternatively, if you have the time and space, you might want to empty out a space entirely. A project like this usually requires extra hands, so consider inviting some friends or hiring a professional organizer. The beauty of this approach is you can clean the space when it is empty and be very mindful about what you truly want to return to storage. I find most people let go of more if they pull everything out of the space.

If you need more tips for organizing a garage, you can find information here.

Review Outdoor Equipment

In the winter, we often have items like snow blowers and snow shovels out for easy access. In spring, we can tuck these into more remote storage locations, such as hanging from high hooks or in the back of a garage/shed.

Now is the time to pull forward the items that will be used in the warmer months, such as lawn mowers, garden equipment, and leaf blowers. If you hang bicycles during the winter, you may want to get them down on the ground so family members can easily access them.

While you are outside, take a look at outdoor recreational spaces and equipment, and check to make sure everything is in order. For example:

• Give your swing set a visual inspection for nails that might be sticking out or ropes that may have rotted during the winter.
• Check your grill to ensure no critters have taken up residence and take note of whether you need new tools and/or propane tanks.
• Clear the area around your fire pit and make sure everything is ready for use.

Prepare Outdoor Entertaining Spaces

Spring gets us longing to return to enjoying the great outdoors. This typically requires a general cleaning of our entertaining spaces, such as decks, patios, and porches. Wipe everything down while the spaces are relatively empty, and then you can start bringing out cushions, furniture, and summer décor.

One tip is to make a note on any containers you have been using for winter storage of what exactly goes inside. For instance, place labels on cushion bags noting exactly which cushions go inside, and then fold up the bags and tuck them away. Or label a plastic bin with exactly what should be returned here, e.g., hurricane lamps, coasters, centerpiece, etc. When winter arrives, this trick will make packing up quick and easy.

Prepare for Spring and Summer Activities

A shift in seasons frequently involves a change in our activities. In order to prevent crowding in our most heavily used spaces, such as the mudroom and entryway, remove and store winter items in more remote locations to make space for the items you will be using in the summer.

For instance:

• Move hats, gloves, scarves, and mittens to a bin or basket on a high shelf, and then bring down swim goggles, sunscreen, bug spray, etc.
• Remove winter boots and replace them with rain boots.
• Pack ski and snow gear up into large duffle bags and that can live under a bed or in an attic for summer. [Note: you can keep items inside clear bags, grouped by size and/or type, to add further order, making it easy to find what you need come next fall.]
• Return winter shoes and boots to bedroom closets to free space for flip flops and sandals in the mudroom.

It is also a good idea to review leisure equipment that may have fallen into disrepair over the winter. See if balls need inflating, golf equipment needs cleaning, bicycles need lubrication, tires need inflating, etc. You don’t want a family member to get injured on the first warm and sunny day. Donate anything you no longer use that is in good working order (charities will be happy to receive in-season items), and dispose of anything that is broken.

Switch Out Seasonal Wardrobes

If you are space constrained in your closet and drawers, consider moving “heavily seasonal” items to a cedar closet, under-the-bed box, attic, or remote closet. Transitional clothing (such as a cotton sweater) can live in your primary clothing storage location all year long, but something like a bulky, extra heavy wool sweater doesn’t need to be in your top drawer all summer long.

Remember, the more frequently you use an item, the easier it should be to access. Spring (and fall!) are the perfect times to reconsider whether you have your most important items close at hand.

Refresh Display Boards

Most of us are quick to add to display boards but rarely ever take items off. The change of seasons is always a great time to take a look what has accumulated on your bulletin or magnetic board. If you tend to hang things on your refrigerator door, consider this space as well.

Remove any outdated invitations, announcements, schedules, etc. Free up space for new events, memories, activities, and thoughts that may be entering your life in the next few months.

You can find more ideas for how to arrange display boards here.

Declutter Food Storage Locations

As with display boards, we often buy food, stick it in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer, and then forget about it. Periodically, it is a good idea to conduct a purge. If this feels intimidating, remember that you don’t have to do this all at once. Simply move along through the kitchen, looking at once small space each day. This can take as little as five minutes. Maybe you review one shelf at a time. With the refrigerator, you might assess the items on the door one day, items in drawers another, and items on the shelves another.

Expiration dates can be a handy way to decide if an item should be pitched. The inability to identify a food item (what is that thing in the freezer?) is another. If you bought something hoping people would eat it, but no one really liked it, just let it go. Family members probably won’t like something more after it has been sitting in a cabinet for months.

Spring is a time we long to be light and free. Before the best days arrive, take advantage of the next few weeks to remove whatever you have in your space that isn’t adding value to your life. Do you have a habit of refreshing and organizing in the spring? What are your favorite projects?

Thank you Seana, for sharing these wonderful organizing tips and projects. I know I love being organized and I’m continuing to purge, donate and toss.

You can follow Seana on her blog HERE on Pinterest Instagram and Facebook