Tag Archives: NAPO

Jan 2 2013
Video

Get Organized Month 2013 is Underway!

What better way to kick of Get Organized Month 2013 than with a video from our members?

Throughout the month of January, NAPO members will be out introducing the importance of organizing and productivity to their local communities. Each week we will be posting about the great events happening around the country, sharing product information from our GO Month sponsors, welcoming guest bloggers from NAPO’s social media committee and more!

Be sure to follow us to receive updates as they’re posted and share comments and feedback about what you’re doing to celebrate GO Month in your community.

A heartfelt thanks goes out to NAPO members Kate Brown, CPO®, Ellen Faye, CPO® and Josh Zerkel, CPO® for their wonderful on-camera talent. Thank you for helping us showcase the wonderful things that NAPO members are doing all across the country.

Happy GO Month!

Jan 17 2012

OMG! (Oh My Garage)

For many homeowners, an enclosed garage is a key selling point in selecting their home. The appeal of storing your car in an area unaffected by seasonal elements makes for a much easier morning commute.  Unfortunately, for many families it is also the catch-all for the entire household and can quickly accumulate clutter. Make a commitment to control clutter before it becomes out of hand.

Garage Quick Tips:

  • ImageTake Inventory. Do you know what each of the storage bins and boxes in your garage contain? If the answer is no, its time to pull them down and take a look.  In many cases, you will be able to toss or donate many of the items that haven’t been used in a prolonged period of time. For those remaining items, consider repacking them in clear storage bins allowing you to visually assess the contents.
  • Utilize wall space.  By investing in peg boards, shelving units, or specially designed organizing systems, you can store tools, sporting equipment and seasonal items where they are visible and accessible.
  • Watch the temperature. A garage space is not often climate controlled. Check to be sure that you’re not storing items that will become damaged from extreme temperatures in this area. Objects such as photographs, candles and certain chemical products should move into an insulated space in your home.
  • Contact a Professional Organizer.  If you’re not sure how and where to start, and you feel like you need additional support and ideas, you may consider hiring a professional organizer to guide you through the process.  Locate a PO in your area.

Fore more helpful advice on organizing your garage check out:

Jan 16 2012

Who’s on the GO this week?

Here are just a few of the great GO Month events that NAPO Chapters are involved in this week. See something in your area? Attend the event and leave us a comment to let us know how it helped motivate you or a client get organized.

January 18

Alpharetta, GA: SpaceMakers Wine, Cheese, and Organizing Event
When: Wednesday, January 18 between 6:30pm and 8:30pm Eastern Time
Where: SpaceMakers Showroom11415 Old Roswell Rd. Ste. 300Alpharetta,GA30009

January 19

Houston, TX: Address the Mess
Submitted by NAPOHouston.
When: January 19th from 9am to 12pm Central Time
Where: 2302 Fannin Street,Suite 200,Houston,TX77002

January 20

Chicago, IL: Organizing Family Services Shelter
When: 1/20/11 Central Time
Where: DuPageCountyIL

January 21

Marietta, GA: Electronic Recylcing Event
When: Saturday, January 21 between 10am and 2pm Eastern Time
Where: ShelfGenie Parking Lot:1642 Powers Ferry RoadSE Marietta,GA30067

January 21

Charleston, SC: NAPO Charleston Shred Event
When: January 21, 10am – 12 noon Eastern Time
Where: Habitat For Humanity ReStore -469 Long Point Road,Mount Pleasant,SC29464

Jan 11 2012

What’s the Cost of Closet Clutter?

Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City must have been channeling her inner Professional Organizer when she said “I like my money right where I can see it…hanging in my closet”. 

In a recent article on wave3.com, the National Association of Professional Organizers shared that clutter can cost families hundreds if not thousands of dollars every year! In many cases, the closet can be one of the biggest culprits of this money-sucking phenomenon. Can’t find a belt? Buy a new one. Can’t find winter boots? Buy a new pair.

Taking inventory of your closet, and keeping it well organized can save you time, money and the frustration of not being able to find the appropriate outfit to wear.

To keep you on track, NAPO has put together some quick tips for organizing your closet and keeping it that way:

  • Go through your closet, and pull out everything you haven’t worn in the last year. Clothes tend not to improve with age.
  • Consider donating unworn shoes to Soles4Souls®, a program that provides shoes to those in need. Click here to find a drop off location near you.
  • Decide what you want at your fingertips and what can be hidden away in containers under the bed, on top shelves, or in drawers.
  • The closet should be bright and inviting, and you should be able to see what you have. If not, consider installing good lighting.
  • Hang like items together—group shirts together, pants together, dresses, etc.

Check out NAPO’s Closet Pinboard on Pinterest for more tips, photos and ideas.

What are your favorite tips and tricks for keeping your closet clutter free?
Leave us a comment and let us know!
Jan 6 2012

OPA!

It’s a common occurrence: You open your kitchen cabinets and see stacks and stacks of mismatched plates staring back at you. Unless you’re planning on going to a Greek wedding where you can smash these plates in celebration, you may feel like smashing them in frustration.

But before you do…here is another option!  Try hanging them up on your walls and creating wall décor for your kitchen!

What creative tips do you have for your extra kitchen products?

Jan 5 2012

Celebrate Small Victories

Rome wasn’t built in a day

For many of us, tackling home-organization projects can be overwhelming…and It’s OK to feel that way! Just remember, if you don’t take that first step you’ll never make it to the finish line.  So, start small.  Identify one section (a drawer, a counter top, etc.) of a the larger room or area you’re working in and start there. Celebrate the small victories on your way to greater organization and you’ll have a much more enjoyable and rewarding time!

If the idea of doing it alone is daunting, you many want to consider enlisting the help of  a Professional Organizer.  The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) provides a free search toll to help you find a Professional Organizer in your area.

Jan 5 2012

Kitchen Quick Tips

It’s been said that the kitchen is the heart of the home, so what better place to start organizing adventure? Here are a few helpful hints and ideas for making your kitchen space more organized and efficient.  Have an additional tip you’d like to share? Leave us a comment and let us know what we’re missing!

  • Things that work together should be stored together, such as baking pans, electrical appliances, plastic containers (with lids), pots and pans, and large platters and bowls.
  • Drawer dividers are a good way to keep utensils in order.
  • Rotate food staples out of your pantry. Create menus to use up dated canned goods.
  • Observe the flow of activity in your kitchen and organize around it. Place glasses near the sink or the refrigerator, for example, and put snacks in a convenient drawer or cupboard.
  • Invest in a lazy Susan.  There is nothing lazy about this device; it makes your cabinet searching easy and organized

For more Kitchen tips and organizing ideas visit our Kitchen Pinboard on Pinterest: