Marilyn Bohn | Creative Organizer

I was out walking this morning in a different neighborhood as I am in Washington State helping my daughter organize from their move from one house to another house. I was struck by how many homes are strictly organized. They have large windows and their curtains were open. The spices in the racks were perfect, the photos lined up on the cork board, the hot pads hung perfectly and the outside landscape I think have been manicured. I thought, WOW.

Then one house jumped out at me as there were four bouquets of very old looking plastic flower arrangements by the sink. They looked out of place. I wonder if these are a joy to the woman living there or has she had them so long they have just become part of the background and her surroundings.

I was thinking; is this like it is in our own homes–we have things we have just held on to for no good reason and it is time to let go? Old pillows for instance, nick knacks that no longer bring us pleasure, books we will never read, dishes we don’t like that are just cluttering our cupboards, or old towels that need to be torn up and used for rags.

The list could go on and on. When I get home I am going to take a look and see if I am saving clutter just because I have had it so long it has become part of the woodwork surrounding me in my home. (I do this every time I return home from a trip; I dig into something to organize).

I challenge you to do the same to your home—lighten up and get rid of clutter. As a professional home and office organizer I know this is worth your time and creates a great new feeling in your home. Tell me what you have been saving that was part of the woodwork in your home and what you did to let go of it.