[...]... totally transform your mood Try it! Your own do- it- yourself kit Are you committed to organizing your bedroom? Your whole home? Your workplace? If you see do- it- yourself organizing in your future, treat yourself to a kit that holds your tools and sources of inspiration Think of it as your briefcase! 13 14 Part I: Preparing for Your Organizing Projects Figure 2-3: A few finishing touches for an organized... and clear of clutter Introduction How This Book Is Organized Organizing Do- It- Yourself For Dummies is divided into four parts that deal with the preparation, execution, and finishing touches of organizing your home Part I: Preparing for Your Organizing Projects What do you need to do before you get started? Begin by preparing yourself for the process both mentally and physically By this, I mean read... just grab my kit and take it with me room to room Given that the kit is visible in the room, I wanted to select a box that’s attractive and coordinates with the décor of my home office My kit is silver; what color inspires you? Figure 2-4: A handy do- it- yourself kit loaded with organizing essentials Chapter 2: The Tools and Time You Need Estimating Your Organizing Time This book arms you with inspirational... household without a to -do box and a donate box Even my kids are onboard! When they’ve outgrown an item of clothing or toy, they add it to the donate box When you get a phone call from a charity soliciting donations, say “Yes!” and relish in the fact that your donations are packed and ready to go ߜ Use baskets, bins, and boxes Group like items together, find an appropriate home for them, and label it Resist... shelters, charities, and schools Use your purchasing power to support local businesses and help your chosen neighborhood flourish A community is built from within, so do your part! Be frugal Once it s organized, the best way to maintain your space is to reduce the influx of items coming in When you’re about to buy an item, ask yourself this series of questions: Do I need it? ,” “Can I afford it? ,” “Can... The limitations of the space may be its small size, lack of entryway, and the reality that it s the only room in the house for the home office The fusion of the goal and its limitations is a living room with an entryway table for guests, a single sofa with an ottoman/ coffee table to provide additional seating, and a discreet office nook Step 3: Sort the room After you set a realistic goal for your... spending any time searching for missing items With time, you’ll see that you spend less money because you aren’t repurchasing items that you already have Best of all, your home will be a relaxing sanctuary that your family looks forward to returning to at the end of the day If you’re ready to create an orderly living space, Organizing DoIt -Yourself For Dummies is the book for you About This Book My... maintain your organized space going forward Here are a few helpful items for finishing a room (see Figure 2-3): ߜ Bins, baskets, and boxes: Good job on the sorting now put it all away Review your collection of STAY items and decide on the best container for them A bin? A basket? A box? Select a container with features that make sense for your items Do you want something with an open top or closed? Clear,... advanced for the average homeowner; as soon as you know how to find a wall stud and use a level, you’re well on your way I present you with a straightforward, five-step organization plan that provides the framework necessary to transform an entire room In those five steps, I guide you through the process of evaluating the goals of the room, identifying the limitations of 2 Organizing Do- It- Yourself For Dummies. .. Fill your do- it- yourself kit with the following items (see Figure 2-4): ߜ Tools: Label maker, labels, screwdrivers, screws, small hammer, nails, stud finder, small level, measuring tape, pencil, marker, and a small pad of paper ߜ Inspiration: Color wheel, paint swatches, inspirational photos from magazines, and home organization catalogs I store my do- it- yourself kit in my office because it s centrally . “HOW” at Dummies. com *Sweepstakes not currently available in all countries; visit Dummies. com for offi cial rules. Organizing FOR DUMmIES ‰ DO- IT- YOURSELF by. 86 Storing items under the bed 86 Dresser drawer do s and don’ts 86 Hanging ties and belts 87 Arranging your clothes neatly 88 vi Organizing Do- It- Yourself For Dummies