Tag Archives: Declutter

how to spring clean your wardrobe, designer wardrobe

How to: spring clean out your wardrobe

Now that spring has arrived, the annual urge for a wardrobe reset is officially in full swing. We bet you’ve already noticed the pile of mismatched shoes or those half-hung coats, right? Well, those are the unmistakable signs telling you it’s about time for a spring clean.

But let’s be honest, tackling a wardrobe clear-out can be a little overwhelming – we find ourselves asking where to start, what supplies to buy, and most importantly, what to cull. But no worries, here at Homemaker The Valley we’ve got you covered! We’ve compiled the best steps to make the whole process easier. Simply follow our guide below and your wardrobe will be in top shape before you know it.

Step 1: Categorise First things first, it’s time to empty your wardrobe and categorise. This means you need to set aside a good chunk of time dedicated to spring cleaning your wardrobe. Take everything out and lay it on your bed or a clean surface. Then, sort your clothes into categories – think tops, bottoms, dresses, outerwear, and accessories. This is going to help you assess the quantity of each category and will make the next step a whole lot easier.

Step 2: Declutter Decluttering might just be the most difficult step, but it’s also the most crucial. It’s time to decide what you want to keep and what you want to donate, sell, or discard. If you get stuck, here are some questions to guide you: Does it fit? Have you worn it in the past year? Is it damaged? Does it match your current style?

Step 3: Donate and Sell Time for more categories! Separate the items you no longer want into two piles – one will be donated and the other will be sold. Clothes in good condition can be donated or given to friends and family. High-quality or barely used items can be sold through a consignment store, online platform, or even a garage sale.

Step 4: Clean and Organise Now that you’ve narrowed down your wardrobe, let’s clean the space. This is when all your hard work starts to pay off – the end is in sight! Be sure to dust the shelves, wipe down surfaces, and vacuum the floor (simple, but super effective!).

Step 5: Storage Solutions Your wardrobe should look like an empty canvas, which means it’s time to consider some storage solutions. Look at the space holistically and compare its size to the amount of clothes you need to fit in. If you’re looking to optimise the space, then a trip to Aspley Homemaker City is a must. Howards Storage World has a wide range of clothes hangers, drawer dividers, and hanging rails that are ideal for wardrobe organisation.

Tip: if you have limited closet space, consider rotating your wardrobe seasonally. Store out-of-season clothing in vacuum storage bags from Howards Storage World to free up some space.

All that’s left to do now is pop everything back into place and there you have it, the ultimate guide to spring cleaning your wardrobe! Remember, if you make an effort to keep your wardrobe neat and tidy, then the spring clean will get easier and easier every year.

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Our Top Kitchen Organisation Hacks

The kitchen is often described as the heart of the home and as such is required to be not only a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing space, but a functional one too. Whether you are cooking dinner, packing lunches, emptying the dishwasher, or doing homework with the kids, the kitchen functions for all types of activities. In order to keep the space functioning well and to avoid frustration, the kitchen needs to have systems and organisation tools in place. Today we are sharing with you our favourite tips, tools, and products to help you organise and create flow in your kitchen.

Create Zones

The working triangle is a common term used when designing kitchens as it refers to where the dishes are done, the food is stored, and the cooking is undertaken. Zones can also be created in other ways in the kitchen such as in your pantry, cupboards and drawers. To ensure breakfast time runs smoothly as a family and cooking dinner is a breeze, we recommend setting up zones within the pantry to enable this. Group like-minded items together such as cereals with spreads and pastas and rice with spices, sauces and oils. This saves you time in the long run as you know where everything is and can easily access the items you require. Zones can also be created within your cupboards and drawers by storing cooking items such as pots and pans near the stove and plates, bowls and glasses near the dishwasher for easy access when unloading. Create zones in your kitchen this weekend and thank us later!

 

Use Baskets And Containers To Categorise

Baskets and containers are one of our favourite tools to use when organising a kitchen and pantry. In the pantry we suggest grouping likeminded items together and dedicating a basket for each category. The most common categories to use and are snacks, cooking, meal kits, baking, rice and noodles and of course backstock. Freedom and Howard’s Storage World have some gorgeous baskets that would up level any pantry and create a beautiful look in your home. Clear or white containers are great for areas such as under the sink where you can group items together such as cleaning, dishwashing, paper towels, sponges, and bin bags. Our biggest tip is to ensure you measure each space before purchasing to make sure you are buying baskets that fit correctly and utilise the space properly.

 

Label

To create the ultimate Pinterest and Instagram-worthy organised kitchen and pantry you cannot forget to use labels. Labels not only look pretty but allow for each member of the family to know where to put things, helps with maintaining systems and makes it easy to know what items you require when creating your shopping list. We suggest adding labels to items such as decanted pantry staples in containers or jars, the categories of each basket of food products and the containers for your under-sink storage. Swing tags, acrylic tags or clips are best for baskets with handles whereas printed vinyl labels are perfect for containers.

 

Drawer Dividers

Drawer dividers are the saviour for any kitchen drawer, and we love using them to up level our kitchen organisation. The utensils drawer is the perfect place to use drawer dividers as you can sort by likeminded item and this in turn allows you to avoid rummaging around for the utensil you are looking for. They are also great for drawers that house your zip lock bags and food wraps to ensure these are stored in a neat and organised way. Other areas you can use drawer dividers in the kitchen are if you store your Tupperware, plates, bowls and pots and pans in drawers. Howard’s Storage World have some great options, so be sure to head in store to check out their range soon.

 

Maintaining Systems

Once you have implemented your organisational systems in your kitchen and pantry it is essential to spend a little bit of time every few months to maintain them. Like everything in life, maintenance is the key to ensuring things run smoothly and avoids any build up. We recommend that at the beginning of each season you complete a once over of your kitchen drawers and cupboards to ensure all items are in their correct zones and nothing has been moved or shuffled around. We also suggest checking your fridge and pantry for expired foods and throwing out any items that are out of date or donating items that will not be used.

 

We look forward to seeing you soon at Aspley Homemaker City and helping you with all your home organisation needs. If you would like any advice on ways to organise and what storage items would suit your needs, simply click here book in for your free styling session with our Resident Stylist, Eliza.

3 chic bathroom storage solutions

The bathroom is one of the most high traffic areas in any home. It’s where we go to prepare to take on the day, and it’s where we head to wash up and decompress when the day is done.

Add a Storage Cart

What a difference a storage cart can make. If you’re like so many who are short on cabinet storage, take matters into your own hands. Howards Storage offer a large range of storage solutions especially designed for the bathroom. Take it one step further and roll your towels and add a succulent or two, and you’ll feel like you’re in a spa each and every day.

Organise with draw dividers

If you’re like the so many of us who have bathroom drawers overflowing with products, miscellaneous items, and general chaos then pick up some draw dividers from Howards Storage and finished off the look with well organised draws which will make the morning rush much more satisfying.

Get creative with mason jars

When it comes to DIY organisation, the wonders of the mason jar know no bounds! Present your glosses, cotton balls, and tiny toiletries in the cutest way imaginable by taking advantage of this sweet idea. All it takes is a little paint, glue, and a few animal toppers.