The Essential Benefits of Spring Cleaning

benefits of spring cleaning hero

Why is spring cleaning something that the majority of Canadians do every year, despite having a love-hate relationship with the age-old tradition?

The reason is simple: there are many undeniable benefits of spring cleaning.

As the two calendar markers that symbolize a time for renewal and a reset, it makes perfect sense that the new year and spring are when we put the most effort into cleaning and tidying our homes.

On the surface, spring cleaning may seem to be worthwhile solely for the improvements it brings to our living environment by freeing up space, helping us find things easier, and generally improving a home’s functionality.

To fully appreciate why this annual ritual is so essential, however, we’ll explain its deeper importance and why spring cleaning is so beneficial for our mental well-being.

9 interesting spring cleaning statistics

Recent surveys from Ipsos and Bona/Harris about the spring cleaning habits of Canadians reveal some interesting statistics. Here are some of their findings:

  • 59% of Canadians do spring cleaning every year
  • 89% of those surveyed think spring cleaning is important
  • only one in five (21%) people who spring clean are enthusiastic about doing it
  • 94% of Canadians who spring clean feel a strong sense of accomplishment when they’re done
  • 39% of homeowners worry they won’t find the time to properly spring clean
  • the highest-priority spring cleaning jobs are kitchen cleaning (57%), decluttering and organizing (55%), and bathroom cleaning (55%)
  • 92% of those surveyed feel more relaxed living in a clean home
  • two thirds (67%) of people who spring clean feel like their home is healthier
  • the least desirable cleaning tasks are window washing (27%), bathroom cleaning (15%), and cleaning large kitchen appliances (13%)

6 benefits of spring cleaning

Most of us reluctantly approach spring cleaning and view it as a time to give our homes their obligatory once-a-year deep cleaning. Doing all of that dusting, scrubbing, vacuuming, organizing, and other overdue home chores will have a bigger impact than most people realize, however.

Are you struggling to get or stay motivated enough to reach your goals for getting your home in order this spring? Perhaps finding out more about some benefits of spring cleaning you may not have considered will fuel your motivation and lead to greater success.

1. Spring cleaning improves your physical health

woman sneezing

We’ve previously written about how to improve the air quality in your home. Most people don’t realize that air pollution levels indoors are typically two to five times higher than they are outdoors.

For that reason alone, it’s worth taking the time in the spring to “detox your home” by eliminating the dust, allergens, and pollutants that have accumulated indoors over the winter months.

Getting rid of the main contributors to poor indoor air quality by cleaning, scrubbing, and ventilating our homes refreshes our living space and promotes better physical health. It reduces the likelihood of experiencing asthma and allergy-related issues.

89% of the respondents in that Ipsos survey believe that it’s important for their physical health to have a clean home. Simply eliminating some clutter like storage boxes and bins is a good step towards improving a home’s air quality. Items like this give dust more surface areas to collect on and dust only attracts more dust.

Another spring cleaning benefit is that a thorough cleaning effort gives you the chance to get some light exercise, which is never a bad thing. Physical activity can be a powerful source of motivation and inspiration and helps boost our energy levels and improve our mood.

2. It enhances your mental well-being

Our surroundings have a major impact on our mental health. Clutter and disorganization can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety because it causes us to feel overwhelmed and not in control of our environment.

Spring cleaning provides an opportunity to declutter our surroundings and create a sense of order and calmness that positively impacts our mental health. Here are a few examples of some spring cleaning benefits that affect us on a psychological level:

  • being able to find things easier helps us feel like we’re more in control of our living space
  • eliminating clutter removes distractions and creates more space to notice and appreciate the things that bring us comfort and joy
  • completing spring cleaning work and seeing a tangible result makes our brain release dopamine, which generates feelings of happiness and pleasure
  • making our homes look more presentable and aesthetically pleasing instills feelings of pride, confidence, and contentment

There are so many things that can cause stress in our lives like worrying about politics, finances, the economy, relationships, and how our careers are going. Many of these stressors are things that are beyond our control.

One thing we can control is the organization and cleanliness of our homes. By making this a priority, we can minimize or eliminate a major source of stress by creating a living environment that’s better for our mental well-being.

3. Spring cleaning prevents mould and mildew

One of your goals while spring training shouldn’t just be to improve your living space’s appearance, it should be to eliminate germs, mould, and mildew.

Dampness and moisture tend to linger in the winter. This creates ideal conditions for mould and mildew growth in the spring, especially in areas with poor ventilation. Inspect home areas that are more prone to moisture buildup, such as bathrooms, garages, laundry rooms, basements, closets, and attics. Excess mould in a home can:

  • pose a health risk
  • impact the structural integrity of a house
  • lead to costly repairs
  • damage your belongings

You can usually remove small amounts of mould yourself using a mould removal product or household items like detergent, distilled white vinegar, and bleach.

Wear gloves, goggles, and a respirator or good face mask during the cleanup process to avoid exposure to mould spores. Experts recommend hiring a professional if the area affected by mould is more than 10 square feet.

4. It renews your energy and boosts productivity

man working in office

Clutter creates visual and mental distractions that reduces our ability to focus. That makes virtually any task more challenging to complete, whether it’s something as mundane as vacuuming a room or a chore that requires a little more focus and attention, such as cooking a meal.

A clean and organized home fosters better productivity and efficiency. Imagine walking into a clutter-free space where everything has its place and finding what you need becomes effortless. You waste much less time searching for misplaced items or rummaging through piles of clutter.

Instantly, your mind feels clearer and more focused, which should boost your productivity and leave you with more time for more important activities. Purging clutter and consistently keeping your home in a generally good place organizationally also makes cleaning and organizing in the future a more efficient process.

The positive effects of refreshing our living space and maintaining an orderly home feed off of each other. It elevates our mood, boosts our energy level, and gives us more motivation to tackle tasks with enthusiasm. A new OnePoll survey for The Container Store found that 80% of homeowners feel more motivated when their living space isn’t cluttered.

A healthier living environment that allows for better home functionality helps us sleep better as well, which also gives us more energy.

5. It fosters gratitude and self-reflection

One of the less obvious benefits of spring cleaning is that it gives our mindset the occasional refresh it needs.

As we explore the nooks and crannies of our homes, we’re confronted with all of our possessions and are reminded to be grateful for the abundance we enjoy. Forgotten treasures and sentimental keepsakes are rediscovered, allowing us to appreciate the memories they hold.

Simultaneously, spring cleaning gives us the chance to do some self-reflection while taking stock of our possessions. This can shift our perspective and make us more mindful of our consumption habits.

By cultivating gratitude through spring cleaning, we develop a deeper connection to our belongings and surroundings and have a greater appreciation for the comfort and security of our homes. Ultimately, this can lead to a more fulfilling lifestyle.

6. Spring cleaning prepares you for new beginnings

craft room

Spring is a time of transition and possibilities. By completing our spring cleaning work, we prepare ourselves mentally and emotionally for the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, clearing the path for new beginnings.

This can happen in a variety of ways. Maybe purging a bunch of clutter opens up enough space in a room so that you can transform how it’s used, such as creating a new:

Perhaps the main things holding you back from rediscovering an old hobby or starting a new one is the lack of a dedicated home space for it or a shortage of free time. After a thorough spring cleaning that leaves you with more space and time because your home runs more efficiently, maybe you can finally pursue some new interests and activities.

Another positive by-product of spring cleaning is more social opportunities can open up because you’ll be more willing to have visitors over. Many homeowners avoid having company over because their house or condo isn’t up to the presentation standards they’d like. That OnePoll/Container Store survey found that 46% of homeowners would be embarrassed having guests see the messiest areas of their homes.

5 spring cleaning tips

With a better understanding of these spring cleaning benefits and the importance of giving your home some TLC, let’s explore some practical tips to make the process more efficient and enjoyable.

wood floor being mopped while spring cleaning

  1. Create a plan: Have a clear vision for what you want to accomplish and prioritize your home’s more problematic areas. Set ambitious goals that are broken down into smaller, achievable tasks to prevent burnout and ensure thoroughness. Make spring cleaning a team effort and get other family members on-board to help so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
  2. Declutter first: Don’t underestimate “the power of purging”. Deep-cleaning will be easier if you declutter by removing items that are no longer needed or used. Sort belongings into categories for what you want to keep, recycle, donate, sell, and discard. Pay special attention to common clutter hotspots like the garage and junk drawers.
  3. Tackle one room at a time: Focus on cleaning one room or area at a time to maintain momentum and prevent distractions. By seeing a tangible result when one area is fully decluttered, cleaned, and reorganized, you’ll stay motivated and energized. Allow yourself to rest if necessary. Sometimes, stepping away from any type of work for a little while helps you recharge and gives you a fresh perspective when you return to a task. Don’t overlook neglected areas such as baseboards, ceiling fans, and behind appliances.
  4. Use the right tools and supplies: Most cleaning products contain hazardous chemicals that can offset some of the health benefits of cleaning, so don’t overuse them. Soap, water, and a sponge or washable mop pad should work for most scrubbing jobs. Reusable microfibre cloths or dusters will trap dust particles more effectively and are more environmentally-friendly than single-use rags and cloths.
  5. Celebrate your progress and completion of projects: As you work through your spring cleaning checklist, take breaks to acknowledge and celebrate some of your accomplishments, even the small ones. Reward yourself with small treats or leisure activities to maintain motivation. If your kids are working with you, this strategy can help keep them motivated and on-task.

Enjoy the benefits of spring cleaning

Yes, it can be difficult to muster up enough motivation to get your spring cleaning projects started and to find the time to follow them through to completion properly.

Despite this common struggle, it emphasizes the importance of this timeless practice that few other home cleaning and organization tasks we do throughout the year feel as rewarding as spring cleaning.

Keeping a home tidier does become easier if you get some professional help, especially if your career and lifestyle take up most of your time and energy.

Whether you’re hiring a home cleaning service, a professional home organizer, or a home organization design and manufacturing company like Organized Interiors, an expert’s help can create a more harmonious living space.

Our custom storage solutions can improve your closets, bedrooms, laundry room, and home office, to name just a few of the home spaces we specialize in upgrading.

Schedule a free design consultation with us to start planning your home improvement project.

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9 Home Organization Mistakes and Their Easy Fixes

walk-in closet with cabinetry and mirror

It’s easy to make home organization mistakes that hinder our efforts to keep our living spaces tidy.

Using inferior storage systems and poor decluttering methods are two examples of common home organization mistakes.

Many of us struggle to find enough time to organize and clean. That can lead to corner-cutting just to feel like we’re doing the bare minimum to keep our homes livable and functional.

Unfortunately, not keeping up with the amount of work it takes to maintain a tidy house or condo only makes home organization problems get progressively worse. That makes the thought of dealing with a major decluttering and organizing project feel daunting and overwhelming.

Another reason some of us are organizationally challenged is that we simply aren’t aware of the best home organization tips and methods to use.

If maintaining an orderly home feels like a constant battle for you, find out how making some practical changes to the way you organize can be a big difference-maker.

4 benefits of better home organization

It can be difficult to get motivated to start any household chores and stay motivated enough to complete them. An occasional reminder about the great benefits of having a more organized home might help to inspire you.

bedroom with plenty of storage space

Here are some of the biggest benefits of better home organization:

  1. It’s better for our mental health: many studies have found that a disorganized home contributes to higher stress and anxiety levels. Too much clutter overtaxes our brains, which drains our energy and can impact our sleep quality. Relationships between family members may become more strained as well.
  2. Taking more pride in our homes: a tidy living space is more aesthetically pleasing and makes us feel proud about the home we’ve created. Our homes are one of the greatest reflections of who we are. A well-organized home allows guests to stop by at any time without worrying that our living space isn’t presentable.
  3. We’re more productive: it’s easier to be more productive in an organized space with optimal functionality. Focussing on tasks becomes easier and we feel more relaxed and comfortable. That’s extra important nowadays with so many of us working from home.
  4. Less time gets wasted: better home organization reduces the amount of time we waste looking for lost or misplaced items. It also saves us from wasting money on replacement purchases. One survey found that the average search time for a misplaced item in the home is five minutes and twenty seconds.

Avoid making these home organization mistakes

By eliminating the following common home organization mistakes, you’ll find it much easier to establish and maintain order in your home.

1. Not having a practical home organization plan

One of the biggest home organization mistakes is starting a clean-up project without clear goals and a solid plan. This often leads to:

  • inefficient work progress
  • unsatisfying results
  • frustration
  • burnout

Before getting started, take some time to define your decluttering and organizing goals and prioritize the areas of the home that need the most attention. Create a realistic timeline and break tasks into smaller, more manageable steps if necessary.

The smartest approach is to focus on completing one area or room at a time. Also, consider taking care of some smaller decluttering and organizing tasks before you dive into the bigger ones. That can include everything from clearing out a junk drawer to tidying up a home office desktop to making the bed.

A satisfying sense of accomplishment is an amazing motivator. Seeing a closet, countertop, or other area of your home that has just been tidied up can help fuel you to move on to the next part of your living space that needs attention.

2. Organizing before decluttering

Many people jump straight into organizing without taking the time to declutter first, which is counter-productive.

It’s a common misconception that decluttering and organizing are the same thing. They’re actually different processes that complement each other. Here are the differences between decluttering and organizing:

  • decluttering removes unnecessary items from a space
  • organizing is the process of putting items where they’re supposed to be and establishing systems to keep spaces tidy

It doesn’t make sense to organize and store things that we never use. That only makes it harder to keep a space organized. Decluttering weekly, monthly, or even a couple of times per year frees up valuable storage space for the things we use regularly.

3. Failing to use effective home organization systems

A surprisingly common home organization mistake is to rearrange where your belongings are stored instead of properly reorganizing them. This is one area where effective decluttering takes on greater importance. You can reorganize clutter all you want, but organized clutter is still just clutter.

It’s essential to have effective organization methods or systems in place to keep things tidy with less effort. Without good organization systems, home spaces are guaranteed to become cluttered and disorganized faster.

One fundamental that works for any organizing purpose is to create designated homes for everything you own. This takes the guesswork out of deciding where items should be stored and encourages more consistent organizing habits. Some people find it useful to label a lot of their home storage spaces.

open laundry hamper white cabinetry

Another easy way to keep a home tidier is to set up simple organization systems that accommodate your daily routines and lifestyle. Here are a few examples:

  • keep your house and car keys in a designated spot like a wall key hook
  • use dividers to keep drawers tidier and eliminate those dreaded junk drawers
  • create an incoming mail drop zone near the front door along with a recycling bin
  • use laundry hampers to corral dirty clothes

4. Not investing in better storage and organization solutions

Using effective organizing systems like the examples above helps significantly. However, there’s more anyone in pursuit of a tidy home can do to make it even easier to maintain order: invest in better storage and organization solutions.

That doesn’t include buying a bunch of storage bins and containers. Many people make the mistake of storing too many of their belongings in storage bins. Although they are practical for some storage needs, bins tend to get used more to keep clutter out of sight and out of mind.

It’s wiser to consider your specific storage needs and choose storage solutions that make better use of your space, while keeping items visible and accessible. Well-designed storage products work hand-in-hand with your organizing systems for better organizing efficiency.

Higher-quality storage and organization products also last longer, function more reliably, and look nicer than low-cost storage and organization products.

Home organization solution ideas

Custom closet systems are one home organization solution that are well worth the investment. Professionally-designed closet organizers maximize your wardrobe storage space. Convenient accessories like pullout racks and extra hanging rods can be incorporated into the design, too.

Here are some additional home organization solutions worth considering:

  • adding a mudroom to keep your front entryway tidier
  • adding a walk-in kitchen pantry
  • remodeling or adding a home office
  • update your bathroom’s storage areas
  • give your laundry room a makeover

mudroom storage

Make sure you declutter and reorganize before buying any new storage products. It’s much harder to properly assess what your storage needs are until you’ve cleared out all of that space-hogging clutter!

5. Trying to do too much by ourselves

Home organization is a time-consuming, always-ongoing process. Trying to handle too much of the work alone simply isn’t practical.

This only causes us to feel more stressed, fatigued, and perhaps even resentful of other family members who aren’t pulling their weight to keep the home tidy and functional. It’s a tricky thing to navigate, too, because everyone has different organizational standards.

The best strategy is to delegate decluttering and organizing tasks among family members. Try to maintain a regular home organizing and cleaning schedule.

Good communication is a key part of the organizing process in any home with more than one dweller.

A family member may have a different attachment to a belonging than you’re aware of. That can cause issues when you clean up after them and their belongings get stashed away or thrown out, so keep the lines of communication open to maintain peace in the home.

6. Being handcuffed by obligation and sentimentality

Homes tend to have more clutter than they should because we sometimes let feelings of obligation and sentimentality cloud our judgement when it’s time to declutter.

How many times have you been reluctant to get rid of something that was given to you as a gift? We also feel obligated to keep more expensive things, even if we rarely or never use them.

Guilt is another negative feeling that holds us back from clearing out some of the clutter from our lives (like holding onto clothes we bought and never wore).

Sentimentality is another major reason we don’t have more free space in our homes. Things we rarely, if ever, use or take the time to appreciate often hold too much emotional power over us and end up collecting dust.

man selecting shirt from closet

Also, try not to get caught up in too much of the “I might use it one day” mindset for things you never use. In some cases, such forward-thinking might pay off, but this is usually the exception, not the norm.

Home organizing guru Marie Kondo’s “does it spark joy?” philosophy works for some people when they’re decluttering and reorganizing. Whichever criteria you use, just try to be selective and practical about the items you choose to share space with in your home.

7. Paying to store stuff we never use

Another home organization mistake a surprising number of people make is to deal with their clutter problem by simply moving most of it to a self-storage unit. A Self-Storage Association survey found that 9% of American homeowners rent storage space, even though 65% of them have a garage.

A newer variation of the remote storage concept is on-demand/pick-up storage services. They’ll pick up your extra belongings, store them at their warehouse, and bring specific items back to you (for a fee, of course) when they’re eventually needed.

Using self-storage companies never turns out to be a practical long-term home organization solution. They should only be used if you’re dealing with a major life event like a divorce, a death in the family, or a move and need to store some things on a short-term basis.

All of that stuff is never really “out of sight, out of mind”, either. The monthly or yearly storage bills you’ll be paying will make sure you’re regularly reminded that those remotely stored belongings will eventually need to be dealt with.

On a related note, another misplaced use of home storage is sacrificing your garage to store junk instead of the things it was invented to store – your vehicles. A remodeled garage can create a lot more room for home storage and leave you with valuable indoor parking space. Contact Garage Living to learn more about how they can transform your garage.

8. Not getting rid of things after decluttering

Decluttering and organizing are cathartic processes that are good for our mental health because they help us regain control of our living spaces.

However, you won’t experience the full reward for the hard work you’ve put in until all of those boxes and bins of items that are being donated, given away, thrown out, or sold are finally removed from your home.

Allowing these things to continue occupying space in the home negates the positive impact of decluttering. Once they are finally gone, it opens up space (literally) for new possibilities in your home. You can upgrade some areas to create more space for:

• entertaining
• hobbies
• enjoying entertainment
• lounging
• remote working

If you don’t have much free time to drop off items you want to donate, call the charity or thrift store you have in mind. They may be able to save you a car trip by picking your things up.

9. Not decluttering and organizing regularly

Decluttering and organizing are not one-time events you can take care of when a new year begins or in the spring. They’re always-ongoing processes that prevent clutter from accumulating.

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s all-too-easy to neglect the regular maintenance that is required to keep our homes organized and functioning smoothly.

According to HuffPost.com, studies have found that “people are significantly more likely to litter in already-messy environments than they are in clean environments. The same theory applies to the home as well – when you have a clean, relaxing space, you’ll want to keep it that way.”

white built-ins organized den

Make it a habit to devote a few minutes each day for quick organization touch-ups and maintenance. Try to dedicate a specific day once a week for some more thorough organizing and cleaning. And follow these three organizing best practices:

  • return items to their proper places
  • occasionally assess how efficiently your storage systems are working
  • declutter periodically to prevent the buildup of unnecessary items

One more overlooked benefit of having an organized, clutter-free home is that it makes it easier to clean and you can be more thorough while cleaning. You won’t need to spend as much time moving things to vacuum and dust around and underneath them.

Invest in reliable home organization solutions

By recognizing and sidestepping these common home organization mistakes, you should be well on your way to creating a more orderly living space.

Organized Interiors has home organization solutions that can transform your living space into a clutter-free, more functional environment that improves your quality of life.

Our custom cabinetry offers hundreds of attractive finishes to choose from. Wood texture, high gloss, and matte styles are available so you can personalize and stylize the look of your storage and organization systems.

Schedule a free design consultation with us today.

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Walk-in Closet Investment: 7 Must-Know Benefits

woman in walk-in closet

The best home improvement projects improve your quality of living and have a good return on investment. A walk-in closet investment provides both of these benefits.

More homeowners are learning that walk-in closets can significantly enhance our living spaces.

Storing clothes and accessories isn’t the only thing walk-in closets are being primarily used for, either. Walk-ins also serve as luxurious, personal home sanctuary spaces that can fundamentally change your daily dressing routine, too.

Walk-in closets have also become an in-demand feature for homebuyers who want more storage room and functionality from their prime bedroom’s closets. 

The ideal home for 59% of Canadian homebuyers includes a walk-in closet, according to a recent survey by real estate marketplace Zolo.

7 walk-in closet investment benefits

A survey by House Digest found that the most preferred type of closet for 79% of homeowners is a walk-in closet.

Whereas walk-in closets were once viewed as a niche amenity found almost exclusively in mansions, they’re more commonplace nowadays. Homes of all sizes and property values now include walk-ins.

Walk-in closets also have much more mainstream appeal nowadays because we see them so often on TV and streaming makeover shows, social media, and interior design websites.

Let’s find out why this home design trend is so popular and what benefits a walk-in closet investment provides.

1. Walk-in closets solve storage issues

We own so many things that it’s harder than ever to stay organized. Recent data from Statista shows that the closets of consumers worldwide had an average of 136 apparel items in them.

Untidy closets tend to spill over into the main bedroom area. They’re also more frustrating and time-consuming to use because it’s harder to locate specific items in the closet. One reason clutter and disorganization cause so much stress is that it makes us feel like we’re not in control of our environment.

Has it been years since you last saw the back wall of your master bedroom’s overstuffed reach-in closet? If so, here’s how a walk-in closet can be a wardrobe organization game-changer:

  • the ample space comfortably fits your entire wardrobe
  • walk-ins can be optimized for maximum storage efficiency
  • custom closet systems allow for superior organization
  • you can give each clothing item a proper home
  • everything you own is viewable at a glance
  • establish organization systems that work best for you and are easy to maintain
  • sharing a closet with a partner becomes easier
walk-in closet with green walls

A walk-in closet provides enough space to give everything you wear a proper home and better visibility.

2. A walk-in closet investment boosts your home value

Smart homeowners considering a renovation project cast an eye toward the future and how their investment can pay dividends later on.

Architectural Digest recently analyzed the National Association of Realtors’ annual Remodeling Impact Report. Their article lists the best interior remodeling projects for return on investment percentage. Here are the top five results:

  1. Hardwood flooring refinish (147%)
  2. New wood flooring (118%)
  3. Insulation upgrade (100%)
  4. Basement conversion to living area (86%)
  5. Closet renovation (83%)

Remodelled closets have such an impressive return on investment and stand out to homebuyers for a few reasons.

For starters, most homes have fairly basic closets. In a lot of cases, not much has been done to update a master bedroom’s builder closet. Some may contain little more than a single rod and shelf. Naturally, a spacious, stylish walk-in closet with premium functionality will look positively heavenly in comparison! 

A homebuyer who sees a tidy closet with plenty of storage capacity and practical functionality will envision how nice the space would be to use for themselves.

And the more luxurious a walk-in closet is, the more its “wow factor” goes up. A well-appointed walk-in tells potential buyers that you have high standards for your living space, which leaves a positive impression.

Walk-in closets with the right upgrades and high-quality materials don’t just give your home a competitive edge to help it sell faster, it can boost your selling price, too.

walk-in closet infographic

Walk-in closets are one of the most desirable home features for Canadian homebuyers. (infographic from Zolo.ca)

3. Customize your walk-in closet design

The ample space available in a walk-in closet allows you to design to your heart’s content. It can be as simple or elaborate as required. 

Here are some popular walk-in closet ideas worth considering for your custom design:

  • enclosed cabinetry
  • dresser-style drawer towers
  • open shelves with dividers
  • extra hanging rods
  • a tiered or pullout shoe rack
  • pullout laundry hampers
  • closet accessories like valet rods, pullout pant racks, and jewellery drawer inserts

Why custom closets are worth it

The beauty of custom closets is that you have a lot more design options compared to off-the-shelf closet organizing systems. You’re not limited by the “one size fits all” philosophy that comes with buying mass-produced closet organizer products.

Organized Interiors’ Classic and Monogram closet systems are ideal for walk-in closets. Choose from hundreds of options for cabinetry finishes and decorative hardware. The widths, depths, and heights of everything in your walk-in closet can be tailored to your specifications by our designers.

Yes, custom closets do cost more than DIY closet organizers, but for a good reason. As you can imagine, custom-designing, manufacturing, and installing a walk-in closet takes time.

The higher-quality materials that are used also increase the cost, but the result is a far superior product compared to budget-friendly walk-in closet systems. All of these details factor into how much you’ll recoup from a walk-in closet investment.

4. Create a luxurious home space

Walk-in closets are often designed with luxurious aesthetics in mind to produce stylish and upscale spaces to showcase your wardrobe and accessories. 

Professional closet design companies like Organized Interiors can create bespoke walk-in closets with as many luxury features as you need.

Depending on your budget and requirements, it’s possible to create a home showpiece that inspires closet envy. If this is your goal, our fully customizable Monogram closet system is exactly what you’re looking for.

Lighting upgrades will improve the space’s functionality and can significantly impact the luxurious look and feel of a walk-in closet. Touches like adding an elegant chandelier and dynamic accent and ambient lighting features create a chic, boutique-style aesthetic.

Consider some of these other additions to help you style up a luxury walk-in closet:

  • a centre island
  • luxurious countertops
  • a makeup vanity
  • a comfy chair or bench
  • décor features such as crown and base moulding
  • cabinets with glass doors
  • full-length mirrors
white walk-in closet storage

The right luxury touches can make a walk-in closet look like a high-end clothing boutique.

5. Enjoy the comfort of a dressing room

Let’s expand on one of the walk-in closet investment benefits we’ve briefly touched upon: using it as a dressing space.

Having an all-in-one home area where you can store your wardrobe, get dressed and undressed, and do your makeup, hair, and grooming is invaluable.

A dedicated home dressing room becomes a personal sanctuary that provides privacy, comfort, and convenience.

The efficiency of your morning routine will improve and you’ll waste less time getting ready for work. This fosters a positive mindset and sets a better tone for the rest of your day.

At the day’s end, you’ll appreciate having a personalized, cozy, and tranquil space where you can unwind and reflect on your day.

6. Closet renovations “spark joy”

Another reason a walk-in closet investment is worth it is because closet renovations are one of the most satisfying types of remodeling projects homeowners can do.

The Remodeling Impact Report’s “Joy Score” measures the enjoyment homeowners get from their remodels on a scale of 1 to 10. Closet renovations, along with a few other types of projects, scored a perfect 10 out of 10 for interior renovations. That’s higher than popular home improvement projects like bathroom and kitchen remodels.

Closet renovations are one of the remodeling projects that give homeowners the most enjoyment. (infographic from the National Association of Realtors)

A recent Today’s Homeowner study found that 39% of people who renovate do it to increase their enjoyment of their home. And 93% of homeowners who did a renovation felt their quality of life was better afterwards.

There are so many benefits of having an orderly walk-in closet with easy grab-and-go functionality, so it’s no wonder that homeowners love what a revamped closet space offers.

7. Make better use of a spare room

One more practical benefit of adding a walk-in closet is that it gives a spare room more functionality. Having an empty room in a home is nothing more than wasted space. An underused room doesn’t make the most of your home’s square footage, either.

The best location for a walk-in closet is in a spare room adjoining the master bedroom (or across the hall from it). Another benefit of using a spare room is that it allows you to take advantage of its natural light.

The room doesn’t have to be huge because you can do a lot with a walk-in closet design in a smaller room.

For some people, converting an entire room into a closet may seem extravagant and impractical. Keep in mind, however, that a walk-in closet with built-in storage allows you to get rid of bedroom furniture like a dresser and wardrobe.

A walk-in closet can even be designed to incorporate a home office space. As more people find themselves working from home, the cloffice has become a practical way to get more functionality from our living spaces. Learn more about a cloffice and whether it’s right for your home.

Bring your walk-in closet ideas to life!

A walk-in closet investment transforms your master bedroom closet from ordinary to extraordinary.

Organized Interiors has walk-in and reach-in closet solutions to fit your style and meet your organizing needs.

Schedule a free design consultation with one of our design professionals to experience for yourself the enjoyment of owning a beautiful walk-in closet.

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Spring Closet Cleaning: 5 Essential Tips for a Refreshed Wardrobe

woman doing spring closet cleaning

Spring is well underway, so there’s a good chance you’ve been working away on your home spring cleaning projects.

As time-consuming as it can be to give your home some extra cleaning and organizing attention, it always feels rewarding to refresh and renew your living space.

Obvious tasks like dusting blinds, washing windows, vacuuming baseboards, and cleaning out the pantry are likely on your spring cleaning checklist.

One project you might be overlooking, however, is a spring closet cleaning.

Don’t overlook your closets while spring cleaning

Although most of the closets in our homes get used every day, they often get overlooked come spring cleaning time. We tend to focus our work efforts on the more visible home areas. It’s all too easy to hide messy closets by just keeping their doors closed as much as possible.

The “out of sight, out of mind” philosophy simply doesn’t work very long with an untidy closet…as we’re always reminded the next time we use it.

A change of season presents the perfect opportunity to declutter and organize your closets. They’re one of the home’s major clutter hotspots and there are lots of benefits of having tidier closets.

Here are some spring closet cleaning tips to help you create more functional and efficient closet spaces.

Benefits of spring closet cleaning

Let’s start with the benefits of doing a spring closet cleaning. Here’s why it’s worth the time and effort to do a spring closet refresh:

  1. Organized closets are a time-saver: overstuffed closets make it harder to find things to wear every day. Curating your wardrobe to accommodate the current season and making better use of your storage space eliminates hours of wasted time every year.
  2. Using tidy closets reduces stress: an easy-to-manage closet space makes it less stressful to get dressed. With all of your clothes and accessories visible at a glance, you’ll experience less “mess stress” and decision fatigue and enjoy a smoother morning routine.
  3. Maximize your wardrobe usage: A National Association of Professional Organizers study found that 80% of our clothes are only worn 20% of the time. Organized closets reduce the likelihood of losing and misplacing clothes and allow you to get the most use from what you own.
  4. Get a better idea of what clothing you need to buy: an occasional wardrobe curation and closet reorganization helps you make smarter clothing purchases. You’ll be more informed about the gaps and surplusses in your clothing collection.
  5. Extend the life of your clothing: messy, overstuffed closets lead to poor storage habits. That usually leaves clothes looking a little worse for wear, which can damage them and shorten their lives.

5 essential spring closet cleaning tips

In addition to these specific closet-cleaning benefits, spring cleaning is an age-old ritual because it helps lighten our mood, increase our productivity, and improve the air quality in our homes.

Every part of a home needs an occasional refresh. Even the most beautiful room will lose its visual appeal after years of seeing it day after day. All areas of a living space (including the closets) can benefit from a refresh and revamp every once in a while.

If all of these benefits sound like worthwhile reasons to get your closets in order, here are some tips to make your spring closet cleaning project a little easier.

1. Curate your wardrobe

Recent data from Statistics Canada shows that the average Canadian household spends $3,344 on clothing and accessories annually.

Whether it’s the garage, kitchen pantry, or your closets, any space is naturally easier to keep tidy if it contains fewer things to store. Our bedroom closets work the hardest and are most in need of a spring closet clean-out and some wardrobe curation.

The curation process will typically take up the most amount of time while spring closet cleaning, especially if it’s something you don’t do at least once a year. Try on anything you haven’t worn in ages to see what fits and which items still align with your style. Set up “keep”, “donate”, “sell”, and “throw-away” sections.

An effective closet purge requires making some difficult choices about what to keep and what to let go of. Be mindful of finding a sensible balance between practicality and sentimentality during the process.

Once you’ve eliminated the unnecessary items from your wardrobe, now you’re more able to “shop your closet”. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, it means to create new outfits using the lesser-worn and overlooked items in your existing wardrobe. And if you do need to fill in a few wardrobe gaps, now you have more closet space for any new additions.

woman sorting clothes

Try to curate your wardrobe at least once a year to prevent your closets from getting overstuffed and unmanageable.

2. Refresh your closet interiors

We’ve detailed one type of closet cleaning that involves decluttering and curating. It’s impossible to give a full closet a proper cleaning in the traditional sense, however. Since your closets will be mostly emptied during this process, take advantage of this opportunity to give them a deep cleaning.

Even in a home that is regularly vacuumed, a surprising amount of dust can get into enclosed spaces like closets. Give the ceilings, walls, and shelves in your closets a thorough dusting and remove any cobwebs. Don’t forget to wipe down any baseboards, light fixtures, and small personal items that have accumulated dust, too.

Vacuum the closet floors and consider refreshing any carpets or rugs with a steam cleaning or shampoo if it’s been a while since they’ve last had one.

Look for signs of mould and mildew, which can occur in dark closets with high humidity levels and overly restricted airflow. Avoid storing wet shoes and sweaty clothes in closets to keep out the moisture that mould and mildew thrive on.

Keep an eye out for signs of clothing moths as well. They’re attracted to natural fibres and also enjoy warm and dark spaces. To make your closets less hospitable for moths, mothballs aren’t your only option (in fact, they’re quite toxic). Here are some alternative ways to avoid any moth issues in your closets:

  • don’t put dirty clothes in closets
  • use pheromone strips
  • keep cedar blocks or hangers in your closets
  • use sachets containing spices like lavender, cinnamon, mint, and cloves

3. Use good closet organizing systems

After carefully considering which of your belongings deserve space in your closets, now it’s time to put everything back. But before doing so, ask yourself one question: could my closets be improved with better storage and organization systems?

A high-quality custom closet system maximizes your closet storage space, reduces clutter, and makes it much easier to stay organized. Professionally-designed custom closet systems are superior to store-bought closet organizers for a few reasons:

  • they’re tailored specifically for the dimensions of your home’s closets, resulting in maximum functionality
  • there’s more flexibility to accommodate your storage and organization habits
  • they look nicer and complement your existing décor better
  • higher-quality materials provide greater durability and a better user experience

Organized Interiors offers storage solutions for reach-in and walk-in closets that can be a game-changer if you’re dealing with closet organization issues. Another option is to add a built-in or standalone custom wardrobe closet if you need a little more clothes storage space.

men's walk-in closet

4. Prioritize your storage needs

Once you’ve decided on how your closets will be set up and what’s going back in them, establish how you want to organize them.

Out-of-season clothes that won’t be touched for a few months ideally shouldn’t be taking up any space in your bedroom closets. An exception would be if you have a walk-in or extra-large reach-in closet.

Since this is a spring closet cleaning project, give your spring wardrobe basics the prime closet real estate. It’s a good idea to leave one or two warmer clothing items available for those cooler spring and early summer days.

There are many different methods to organize your closets in a way that works the easiest and best for you. Some people like to group items by colour or fabric type. Others prefer to group things according to clothing type or length.

5. Donate, recycle, and repurpose your old clothing

A 2022 report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology found that only about 15% of used clothes and other textiles get reused or recycled in the U.S.

There are a few eco-friendly options available to get rid of your old clothing. Donating anything that is still in good condition is the best solution. As with any type of donation, you should always check the reputation of any local organization you choose to support. Here are a few suggestions:

  • clothing banks
  • women’s shelters
  • refugee centres
  • homeless shelters
  • thrift stores
  • churches
  • organizations that provide employment assistance via business attire donations

Selling your old clothes online isn’t for everybody, but it is another option. Local animal shelters may be able to use some of your old clothing as bedding. Some types of worn-out clothes that aren’t suitable for donating can be repurposed as cleaning rags.

Virtually all types of clothing and textiles are recyclable. Reputable charities like Goodwill and The Salvation Army recycle any donated clothing that can’t be used. Textile recycling companies and most municipalities can also accept your old clothing for recycling.

donated clothes in clear container

An excess of old clothing ends up in landfills instead of being donated, recycled, resold, or repurposed.

Reset your closets with a spring closet cleaning

Don’t let untidy closets waste your valuable time every day because they’re too unmanageable. Take the time to give them a spring closet cleaning and you’ll appreciate having tidy and refreshed spaces to store your clothing.

Organized Interiors can upgrade any closet in your home with our stylish closet systems. Get started on your custom closet remodel project by scheduling a free design consultation with us.

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The Best Home Organization Shows to Watch Right Now

Photo by Vecislavas Popa from Pexels

When the calendar turns to January, many of us get the urge to tidy up after a busy holiday season to get our homes in order.

Having the idea to get some January home cleaning done and actually being motivated enough to follow through on those good intentions doesn’t always happen, however.

A little extra inspiration can always help. Why not watch some of the best home organization shows for some ideas and inspiration to get your new year home organization project started?

Get inspired by these home organization shows

Home organization shows have had a major impact on pop culture in recent years. Thanks to everyone from Marie Kondo to The Minimalists to the Get Organized with The Home Edit ladies, decluttering and home organizing have become their own subgenre of TV entertainment.

Who would have thought?

Homeowners have no shortage of choices on their TV screens and devices to educate, entertain, and inspire them to declutter and refresh their living spaces.

Luckily, these shows cater to a variety of organizing styles, so at least one of them should align with your personality and lifestyle.

Don’t wait until the spring to get your home in tip-top shape. Start the year off on a positive note by checking out these binge-worthy home organization shows to spark some inspiration to restore order to your home.

1. Get Organized with The Home Edit

home organization shows

Photo: Netflix Canada

Home organizing experts Joanna Teplin and Clea Shearer founded their Home Edit company in 2015. Their goal was to “reinvent traditional organizing and merge it with design and interior styling for a specific and signature look”.

The Nashville-based duo have rapidly grown The Home Edit into a major lifestyle brand that includes the following:

  • a podcast
  • two bestselling books
  • a product line that is sold in over two dozen countries
  • a huge social media following

Teplin and Shearer also executive produce and star in Get Organized with The Home Edit on Netflix. That show is also executive produced by actress Reese Witherspoon, whose Hello Sunshine media company bought The Home Edit company in 2022.  

The show features the pair’s signature organizing style that relies on using colour-coordinated storage and clear acrylic containers to make spaces more aesthetically pleasing. Using lots of labels is another strategy they recommend to make it easier to keep things tidy.

They help celebrities (including Witherspoon, Neil Patrick Harris, and Eva Longoria) and average families organize everything from their pantries to playrooms to home offices to bedroom closets. Joanna and Clea’s own homes and personal lives get some attention, too.

Season one premiered in 2020 and includes eight episodes ranging from 40 to 45 minutes each. 2022’s season two includes eight more episodes.

Where you can watch it: Netflix

2. Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

A list of the best home organization shows wouldn’t be complete without including Marie Kondo. In the last several years, the Japanese minimalist and organizing guru have become a household name in North America.

Kondo has authored several bestselling books (including 2014’s breakout hit The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up), makes public speaking appearances, appears regularly on TV, is a major social media influencer, and is also an in-demand organizing consultant.

Her “KonMari” organization philosophies are showcased in Netflix’s Tidying Up with Marie Kondo series. Kondo helps her clients declutter their homes by sharing her wisdom about the benefits of living with fewer things. She also shows them how to deal with the emotional connection we form with some of our belongings, which makes it harder to detach from them. 

Kondo’s decluttering methods of asking whether or not your belongings “spark joy” for you and literally expressing gratitude towards items you part with aren’t for everyone, admittedly. But we think anyone whose name has become a verb for decluttering (as in “I Marie Kondo-ed my messy closet”) is worth paying to.

The 2019 show includes one season of eight episodes ranging from 35 to 50 minutes each.

Where you can watch it: Netflix

3. Hot Mess House

Photo: HGTV Canada

Chatham-born Cassandra Aarssen’s ClutterBug home organizing business has helped millions of people live with less clutter. Aarssen’s home organizing tips and hacks are also available through her YouTube channel, podcast, blog, books, and on her Hot Mess House HGTV show.

Hot Mess House’s first season was filmed in the early days of the pandemic, so the organizing expert works with her clients virtually. After getting a video tour of the clients’ homes and hearing about their issues, she recommends home organizing solutions that will help them and organizationally-challenged viewers. 

In season two, Aarssen gets to work with her clients in-person at their homes on organization projects that transform their messy spaces into tidy living areas. Builder Wendell Holland works with Aarssen to create the custom organization systems the homeowners need.

Season one of the series includes four 22-minute episodes. Season two features a lot more content with six episodes that are 43 minutes each.

Where you can watch it: HGTV Canada, Discovery+, Amazon Prime Video

4. The Minimalists: Less Is Now

Kondo may have raised the profile of the minimalist lifestyle over the last decade, but The Minimalists (Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus) preceded her arrival by a few years.

The pair, who have been close friends since childhood, began evangelizing about the benefits of minimalism in 2011. Like the other home organization show hosts, they’ve published books, host a podcast, make public speaking appearances, and brought their message to the online streaming world.

The Minimalists: Less Is Now is the follow-up to Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things, their popular 2015 Netflix documentary. It further examines the pitfalls of consumer culture and challenges viewers to reevaluate their consumer habits.

Unlike the other home organization shows listed here, this one is a single documentary that packs a lot of food for thought into its shorter 53-minute running time.

Where you can watch it: Netflix

5. Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo

Photo: Netflix Canada

Sparking Joy, Kondo’s follow-up series to Tidying Up takes a different approach to organizing her clients’ lives. The show focuses on helping some small business owners and a church worker achieve a better work-life balance.

In one episode, Kondo helps the father and son owners of an organic garden centre organize their workspace to help relieve some of the strain in their relationship. Another episode finds Kondo helping a coffee shop owner bring more order to her cafe and home office space. A mother who has recently dealt with a lot of upheaval in her life turns to Kondo for her expertise as she attempts to tidy up her church and home in another episode.

The series updates the progress of Kondo’s clients by checking in with them a little while after consulting with the organizing expert. The series also provides a glimpse into Kondo’s family and home life.

Sparking Joy consists of three episodes that are 40 minutes each, so you can easily watch the entire series in one sitting.

Where you can watch it: Netflix

Get the best home organization solutions

Getting ideas, tips, and inspiration from these home organization shows will help restore order in your house or condo.

There’s no substitute for using well-made, highly efficient organization systems to maximize your home storage space, however.

It helps if the organization systems you rely on look nice, too. In recent years, home organization shows like the ones we’ve covered have spotlighted how the storage we use in our homes can also be more aesthetically pleasing.

“Storage isn’t just part of the home’s form or function anymore. It’s also a major contributor to its style,” writes Builderonline.

Organized Interiors has the expertise and stylish, user-friendly products to make your home tidier and more comfortable.

To organize and upgrade your closets, home office, bedrooms, laundry room, and other areas of your home, all it takes to get started is to schedule a free design consultation with us.

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