Here are some top tips to help you get organised:
Set Clear Goals: Define your short-term and long-term goals for the year. Break them down into smaller, manageable tasks. This will give you a roadmap to follow throughout the year.
Create a Schedule: Use a planner or digital calendar to organise your schedule. Allocate specific time blocks for work, personal activities, and leisure. Stick to your schedule as much as possible to establish a routine.
Declutter Your Space: Start the year with a clean and organised environment. Declutter your home and workspace by getting rid of unnecessary items. Donate or recycle items you no longer need.
Prioritise Tasks: Identify the most important tasks and prioritise them. Focus on completing high-priority items first to ensure you are addressing the most crucial aspects of your life and work.
Use Technology Wisely: Leverage productivity tools and apps to streamline your tasks. Calendar apps, to-do lists, and project management tools can help you stay organised and on top of your commitments.
Establish a Morning Routine: Create a morning routine that sets a positive tone for your day. This could include activities such as exercise, meditation, or a healthy breakfast. A consistent morning routine can improve your overall organisation and productivity.
Set Up Systems: Develop systems to manage recurring tasks. This could include filing systems, email organisation strategies, or task management systems. Having organised systems in place can save time in the long run.
Batch Similar Tasks: Group similar tasks together and tackle them in batches. This minimises the mental load associated with constantly switching between different types of activities and can improve overall efficiency.
Review Finances: Take stock of your financial situation. Create a budget for the year, review your savings and investments, and make any necessary adjustments to ensure financial stability.
Learn to Say No: Don't overload yourself with commitments. Learn to say no to activities or tasks that don't align with your goals or that may overwhelm you.
Regularly Reflect and Adjust: Schedule regular check-ins to assess your progress. Reflect on what's working and what needs adjustment. Being flexible and adaptable to change is key to staying organised throughout the year.
Pros of Decanting:
Visual Appeal: Clear glass jars or containers can create a visually appealing and uniform look in your pantry. This can make it easier to see what you have and help you keep track of your supplies.
Space Efficiency: Transferring items from their original packaging to uniform containers can help you optimise your pantry's space. Containers can be stacked or arranged neatly, maximizing your storage area.
Freshness and Preservation: Some items, like dry goods and grains, may stay fresher longer in airtight containers that protect them from moisture, air, and pests.
Reduced Clutter: Removing excess packaging can reduce clutter in your pantry, making it easier to find and access items quickly.
Considerations:
Cost: Decanting may involve purchasing glass jars or containers, which can be an added expense.
Time and Effort: Transferring items to containers can take time, especially if you have a lot of pantry items. Consider whether you're willing to invest the effort to make the switch.
Labeling: When you decant items, labeling becomes important to quickly identify what's inside each container. This can require additional time and organisation.
Suitability for All Items: Not all pantry items are suitable for decanting. Some items, like canned goods, may be better off remaining in their original packaging.
Tips for Decanting:
Assess the Need: Consider which pantry items would benefit most from being transferred to containers. Items like rice, pasta, grains, and baking ingredients often work well.
Invest Gradually: You don't need to decant everything at once. Start with a few frequently used items and gradually expand if you find it beneficial.
Label Clearly: Label containers with the contents and expiration date (if applicable) to prevent confusion and waste.
Use Airtight Containers: Choose containers with airtight seals to ensure the freshness and longevity of your pantry items.
Mindful Shopping: If you're planning to decant, be mindful of the quantity you buy so that you don't end up with excess that doesn't fit in your containers.
Ultimately, the decision to decant pantry items comes down to what will work best for your specific situation. Consider the pros and cons, assess your organisation goals, and choose a strategy that aligns with your preferences and needs. If you do decide to go down the decanting route then shop our food storage containers here.
]]>We are all about the wonderful world of home organisation!
Whether you're a minimalist at heart or someone who appreciates a cozy clutter, there's no denying the magic that a well-organised home can bring.
We are sharing tips and tricks to help you create an oasis of order and tranquility within your living spaces.
1. Declutter
The first step to effective home organisation is decluttering. Rid your spaces of items you no longer need or use. Not only will this free up valuable space, but it will also create a calm atmosphere where you can truly relax and rejuvenate.
2. Embrace Functional Furniture Make your furniture work for you! Opt for pieces that offer hidden storage, like ottomans with compartments or beds with built-in drawers. Functional furniture is a stylish way to maximise space while keeping your belongings neatly tucked away.
3. The Power of Labels Labels are your best friends when it comes to staying organised. From kitchen pantry shelves to storage bins in your closet, labelling helps you quickly locate items and maintain order, even during busy times.
4. Create Zones Designate specific zones for different activities or item categories. A reading nook, a workspace, a play area – each with its purpose and organised essentials – can help streamline your daily routines and reduce clutter.
A well-organised home is not only visually pleasing but also contributes to a sense of calm and well-being. We hope these tips inspire you to embark on your organisation journey and create a space that truly reflects your best self.
Stay tuned for more home organisation inspiration.
Lauren, xoxo
]]>A cluttered and disorganised fridge can lead to frustration, wasted food, and bad meal choices. However, with a little planning and organisation, you can transform your fridge into a well-arranged haven of freshness and efficiency.
Benefits of an organised fridge:
Food Safety: Proper organisation helps maintain appropriate temperature zones within the fridge, reducing the risk of bacterial growth and food contamination. It ensures that perishable items, such as meats and dairy products, are stored correctly to prolong their freshness and prevent cross-contamination.
Minimising Food Waste: When your fridge is organised, it's easier to see what you have and what needs to be used before it goes off. By keeping track of expiration dates and placing older items in front, you can makes sure you eat these first and reduce food waste.
Time and Money Savings: A well-organised fridge allows you to quickly locate ingredients and meal prep items. You'll spend less time searching through cluttered shelves and be more efficient in your cooking. Additionally, by reducing food waste, you'll save money on grocery bills.
Extended Shelf Life: Certain fruits, vegetables, and condiments have specific storage requirements. Proper organisation ensures that items are stored in optimal conditions, extending their shelf life and preserving their flavor and quality.
Empty and Clean: Start by removing all items from your fridge and giving it a thorough clean. Discard any expired or out of date food and wipe down shelves, drawers, and surfaces with a mild cleaning solution.
Categorise and Group: Categorise your items into groups such as dairy, meats, fruits, vegetables, condiments, and drinks. Store similar items together to make them easily accessible and to avoid confusion.
Utilise Zones: Assign specific zones within your fridge to different food categories. The lower shelves are typically the coldest, making them ideal for raw meats and dairy products. The upper shelves are slightly warmer, suitable for leftovers and ready-to-eat foods. The door shelves are great for condiments, dressings, and drinks.
Invest in Storage Containers: Use clear, airtight containers to store leftovers and pre-prepared ingredients. These containers not only keep your fridge organized but also help maintain the freshness of the food.
Homefulness was founded by Caroline Caron Dhaouadi in 2019 upon her belief that a better home, organised with style, is a valued component of balance and wellbeing. When a space is sorted, you feel less stressed. When it looks beautiful, you feel proud and relieved.
With clients including busy families, professionals and small businesses in London and further afield, they provide a luxury organising experience from start to finish, priding themselves on their design-centric approach to home organisation.
One of the reason that I love Homefulness is because their goal is never to only organise; they create beautiful (and you know I love functional with a good aesthetic) and long-lasting organisation systems.
I’m always being asked whether a professional organiser would be useful so I thought I would ask Homefulness to give me 5 Reasons to hire a professional organiser. Here is what they said:
1. You need to declutter but don’t know where to start
Clutter in the home can be extremely overwhelming and induce great amounts of stress and anxiety. With the help of a professional organiser you can remove the clutter in your life in just a few days, which can have a transformational effect on both your physical and mental space.
As well as helping you to declutter your possessions, a home organiser will assist you in making the often difficult decisions on what items to keep, discard, donate and sell.
Hiring a professional organiser to tackle the decluttering process with you will help to to achieve the best results personalised to you whilst decluttering your home in a sustainable way.
Relieved of the stress and anxiety that disorganisation can cause, you will find both your physical and mental space dramatically improved.
2. You’re moving home
Whether you’re moving house for the first time or the fifth, it’s a fact that uprooting your home and possessions can be stressful!
From the ups and downs of selling and buying to the logistics of packing and moving day, it’s common to feel overwhelmed. To ease the stress of moving, it might be worth considering hiring a professional organiser to help you through the moving process.
Teaming up with a professional organiser when you move home, offers you an escape from packing and unpacking and a beautifully organised and styled home at the end of it!
A professional organiser can make your life easier before, during and after your move by:
3. Your paperwork is a mess
If you’ve ever sat down at your desk and not known where to start, have lost documents or lost valuable time searching for them, you may benefit from having your workspace and paperwork organised by a professional.
A professional organiser will work alongside you to undertake the task of sifting through, categorising and creating an organised filing system for your paperwork that will work for the long term.
They will also set up a system for incoming paperwork so that you can file from the get go and maintain a clutter free, organised, calm and inspiring workspace.
4. You don’t have the time to implement organisation systems
Time is a precious commodity in our modern world and many of us just don’t have the time necessary to organise our home well.
Time can be our biggest enemy in getting things organised and maintaining the organisation; indeed lack of time is one of the biggest reasons our homes become unorganised in the first place.
One of the greatest benefits of hiring a professional organiser to implement systems of organisation in your home that are easy to maintain is that once these systems are in place, you’ll actually save time in the long run.
Simply put, you’ll spend less time looking for items as well as saving time putting things away.
5. You want more space and functionality
It’s common to think that you need a bigger house or more space to enable organisation when your home is cluttered and messy. However, that’s not always the case!
If you feel like you need more space and functionality in your home, hiring a professional organiser, with a fresh perspective on your home might just be the answer.
Through decluttering, space planning and the use of organising products, a professional organiser will make the best use of your space and help get your home feeling and functioning better without the additional stress of renovations or moving to a bigger home.
If this sounds like something you would be keen to explore check out their website or follow on Instagram
]]>Spring finally feels like it is here, and with the warmer weather comes the desire to organise and sort your home.
Here are our top tips to get started:
1) It's a big task, so don't tackle it all at once. Start small by tackling one drawer or one room of your house at a time. Once you've tackled one space and see the results you will be motivated and ready to start the next space.
2) To make things go faster, listen to a podcast or audiobook while you work. You'll find that time goes by much quicker than you thought it would!
3) Put your phone out of reach so you can't get distracted by social media or other apps while working on these tasks. Don't get tempted!
4) Get help from family or friends if possible—it will make it easier, especially if someone else is willing to tackle another space with you!
5) Set time limits for yourself and set a timer for each task. Set realistic goals for yourself—don't try doing everything in one day!
]]>Whether your wardrobe is small or a massive walk-in, it’s important to make the most out of what you have. Having an organised wardrobe is possible; you don’t need to spend a fortune on custom built wardrobes to get the job done.
We were lucky enough to sit down with Emma from Home Organise by Emma and asked her all the questions you want to know about how best to organise your wardrobe and here is what she said...
Regardless of how much space you have in your laundry room, there are some tips that can help you keep it organised:
Group like items together
It's best to keep all like items together. For example, all of your stain removers can be stored in one area of the room, as well as all of your fabric softeners and detergents.
Organise and keep groups together
This makes it easier for you when it comes time to do laundry because you won't have to look through several different baskets or containers looking for something specific; it will already be in its designated spot.
Label
Finally, once everything is grouped, zoned, and contained.you need to add labels.
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Here are our top storage items that will look good on your kitchen countertop.
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LIFE / EDIT are a team of professional organisers based in Edinburgh. Founded in 2018 and run by Zoë and Victoria, they quickly grew to a team of five to meet the need of people wanting to find harmony in their homes. They offer a personalised, discreet and practical approach to organising your home: put simply they help people fall back in love with their homes.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking to Zoë about how to start organising; how to maintain an organised home and what products help you do so.
Q] What is the best room to declutter and organise first
Great question: I’d say either the room that’s causing you most stress (if you have organisers in who can get to grips with a tricky one) or if you are doing it yourself, start with the one that’s going to give you a quick win. Even tidying and organising your cutlery drawer or underwear drawer can give you a boost and make you feel more able to tackle something larger.
Q] How to maintain areas that you have organised
Little and often works well here. Don’t wait until it’s got out of control again. Take time every day to whizz round and put things back where they belong. Also labelling helps which is why we are big fans of labelling drawers, boxes and jars. It’s so much easier to keep things organised when you have a visual prompt.
Q] Tips when shopping for organisational products
Our first tip is perhaps a surprising one – don’t buy the storage until you have decluttered! Only then will you know what you need. We always say ‘containment is key’ to keeping organised, so using drawer dividers, boxes and lazy susans really helps. If your storage is going to be on show, then make sure it looks good as well as functions
You can follow @lifeedithomeorganisation on Instagram for hints, tips and inspo.
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Messy drawers? The solution - expandable drawer dividers to tidy up any messy drawer. These are perfect for creating customised spaces within your drawers and you can group and contain items within the spaces you have created.
2. Turntable here
Keep kitchen necessities organised and in reach with the turntable. A rotating turntable is designed to ensure items are easy to reach and not lost in the back of cupboards.
3. Clear Storage Bin With Handle here
This is such a versatile product that can be used anywhere in the house. How you use your house changes and if you need to change storage, this product will always come in handy somewhere else - fridge, pantry, kids arts & crafts, skincare, make up - I could go on...
]]>Our founder, Lauren's top tips:
Sudden influx of toys and wondering where on earth you’ll store them all?
First of all, if there are toys that your kids don't use or have grown out of, don't keep them hanging around, there are lots of places to sell or donate pre loved toys.
When it comes to organising, you want to keep it simple and make it easy for your kids to access and put away their own toys. My top tips would be:
1. Sort and separate the toys into categories (trains, lego, puzzles, superheros, dolls etc), your kids will know where to find toys and where to put them back.
Home Edited is a professional decluttering and organisation service based in Tunbridge Wells and offers remote sessions over zoom. You can find out more about Home Edited here but we asked Kate from Home Edited the best way to organise toys.
Top tips:
Shop kids storage
Follow Home Edited on Instagram @home.edited
]]>NEWSFLASH: The criteria for a good organiser isn’t just how good it looks on insta; it’s about how functional and manageable it is for you once they leave.
Of course, finding a professional organiser can be a process, so we rounded up the best of the best to save you and your wallet the trial and error.
Not A Boring Box researched and approved…
The Sister Method - Scotland
Lisa and Katie are based in Glasgow and can cover all areas in Scotland. The sisters, grew up sharing a bedroom and a passion for organising. As well as a home service, they also specialise in office organisation.
https://www.thesistermethod.co.uk/the-sisters/
Dilly Carter - Nationwide
We love Dilly and her straight-talking and practical approach. She is professional organiser who believes that if we all cut the clutter, live better with less and give ourselves more headspace, we will enjoy life more. She is the founder of Declutter Dollies, an organising and home styling service that promises to turn her clients' chaos into calm and help them discover the health benefits of living in an organised home.
Home Edited – TW and the South East
Kate is an organiser based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Kate offers a bespoke service to all her clients. We are big fan's of Kate at Not A Boring Box and she say's her favourite thing about the job is ‘the people I meet along the way, as well as the positive impact I get to make on peoples homes’
They Tidyist - South Coast and West Sussex
Sophie's aim is to make everyone’s living space the best it can be, working harmoniously and efficiently and enabling your life to be lived on your terms.
Organised by Lucy - London, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Essex and Cambridge
Organised by Lucy was born whilst Lucy was working in interiors and design in both London and Sydney.
All her services designed to take the stress out of interior styling and organising, leaving you to focus on the things that matter most to you.
https://www.organisedbylucy.com/
Organise-D – London and the South East
Hayley and Gemma will work with you to detox what is no longer needed, design the space according to how it is used by you and your family, leaving you with a functional and beautiful space that is easy to maintain. From busy professionals to overwhelmed parents, they have a solution for every environment.
Declutter with Emma - Herts & surrounding areas
Emma worked in London as a secretary, organising someone else's time and bow she love’s nothing more than tackling clutter and reorganising. Her passion stems from knowing how this can have such a positive impact, not only visually, but also within your mind.
https://www.declutterwithemma.com/
Carla Webster - London
A service designed to be personal to each client, Carla Webster Styling is a professional, international and independently run business which naturally progressed from a 9-5 job into a full time passion.
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If your kitchen/ pantry is organised – preparing and cooking meals is much easier.
]]>If your kitchen/ pantry is organised – preparing and cooking meals is much easier.
When it comes to organising, it needs to be functional first and foremost, but you will want to make it as visually appealing as possible.
Setting up this space is an overwhelming job but this is how we break it down:
Pantry essentials in airtight jars
Transfer your pantry essentials such as rice, sugar, flour to see through canisters as it will:
(1) Keep them fresh
(2) Look neat and tidy
(3) You will be able to see when you are running low
If you have small kids maybe think about using good quality food safe plastic jars.
You will find that you waste much less because you can see what you have, you don’t forget items down the back of cupboards or end up buying again as you don’t know what I have.
Herbs and spices
1) Switch from mix and match store bought jars to matching jars to create a uniform look
2) Customise jars with labels
3) Line jars alphabetically on 3 step bamboo spice rack
Baskets for loose items
Sort loose items into food groups and store in baskets
Small space tips
Tip 1: It doesn’t have to be a pantry, it can be a larder, or a kitchen cupboard. If you have a small space, make the most of stackable food storage containers.
Tip 2: Why not use a rolling storage cart stocked with oils, spices, or anything you need close by while cooking. The wheels on the base make it easy to pull out for use and stow away again when finished.
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Our amber glass reusable bottle is core to your sustainable switches at home. Our bottles will last as long as you take care of them and will help you to eliminate plastic waste from your home.
A reusable zip lock bags are a total game changer… whether you’re meal prepping and packing your lunch, or just trying to keep your tinted moisturiser from exploding into your gym bag.
Food waste is terrible for the planet. Using clear food storage containers has benefits and help you reduce your food waste at home.
Let’s get practical:
Lauren xoxo
]]>Let’s get practical:
Kids spaces tend to have a lot to organise but there is so much fun to be had in terms of style. Keep kids toys and clothes organised with our storage solutions that even children will love. Here are our top picks to keep everything neat, tidy and organised.
Mess/Stuff Storage Baskets
If you are going to have one thing, then the Mess/Stuff storage baskets are essential. A set of two seagrass baskets with mess/stuff embroidered for a unique design. These are such a great storage solution for kids. Use them for toy storage, or to organise clothes.
https://www.notaboringbox.com/collections/kids-storage/products/messy-stuff-set
Armin Wall Shelf
If your kids have got the smaller room, then why not make use of additional storage and use your wall space. Wall shelves are a great storage solution for smaller rooms.
The Armin Wall Shelf is so stylish and will fit in with any décor. Style and store with books, photoframes, soft toys etc
https://www.notaboringbox.com/collections/kids-storage/products/armin-wallshelf
Aykasa Crates
We can’t get enough of the Aykasa crates in kids rooms. Inspired by function crates - the Aykasa crate is designed for stylish home storage and organisation. The come in beautiful colours to match your kids personality.
Amazing organising clothes in wardrobes or freestanding toy storage.
https://www.notaboringbox.com/search?q=aykasa&options%5Bprefix%5D=last
]]>Step 1: Pantry essentials in airtight jars
Transfer your pantry essentials such as rice, sugar, flour to see through canisters as it will:
(1) Keep them fresh
(2) Look neat and tidy
(3) You will be able to see when you are running low
Step 2: Herbs and spices
1) Switch from mix and match store bought jars to matching jars to create a uniform look
2) Customise jars with labels
3) Line jars alphabetically on 3 step bamboo spice rack
Baskets for loose items
Sort loose items into food groups and store in baskets
]]>Voila, all done. What can we repurpose next?
Not A Boring Box team
xoxo
]]>Sound intimidating? Not at all - it is super easy and we will show you how.
Ta-da, all done. Now go find something to clean.
Not A Boring Box team
xoxo
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