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It’s springtime, which means it’s officially time for spring cleaning. Before you run screaming for the hills (We’re at 7,000 feet, guys, is running uphill really a better plan than cleaning?), we invite you to consider a new way of cleaning and decluttering your home: The KonMari Method. The KonMari Method is focused on helping you get rid of clutter forever. Here are five tips to help you tidy up your apartment and keep it that way!
Find What “Sparks Joy”
The idea of throwing things away is probably one of the most miserable thoughts we deal with when cleaning. Instead of thinking about what you’re losing, focus on cherishing items you love. As you declutter, hold each item and ask yourself, “Does this spark joy?” If the answer is no, it’s time to go. Part of this process is physically touching every. single. thing. in your home and asking this question. It’s about getting more emotionally in tune with what compels you to keep things, and more realistic about what actually brings joy to your home.
Clean By Category
The key to effective tidying, according to the KonMari Method, is tidying the right categories in the right order. Use this order to start tidying your home: clothes, books, papers, and miscellaneous. You can break down each category into subcategories, but the key is keeping them in this order. Did you notice how the order works from least emotional attachment to greatest emotional attachment? Consider, for instance, which is harder: tossing a sweater you never wear and don’t love, versus throwing away a letter from a friend. We love this method because it gives you time to build up to the hard stuff.
Tidy All At Once
This method takes some time, and depending on how much stuff you have can take anywhere from a few days to a few months. Don’t rush the process, but also don’t let it get too drawn out. Resist the urge to read every piece of paper you come across. Resist taking extended breaks. Resist bulk tossing.
Stop Decluttering By Room
Many of us grew up using the “clean each room” method of decluttering and tidying. But think about what you risk when you clean this way. Think of how many times you might move an item from one room to another to avoid dealing with it. Instead, use the categories above, and gather all items from that category in one place at one time to declutter. That means when you start with clothing, open every drawer, and pull every item of clothing from socks to scarves to Halloween wigs, and have at it all at once.
Picture Where You Want to Be
This might be one of the most important steps of the KonMari Method. The method asks you to clearly define where you want to be and how you want to live after you’ve finished decluttering. It’s not as simple as saying, “I want to live clutter free.” It needs to be more specific than that. Think about how you envision living, and ask yourself why you want to live that way. This helps you really take hold of the decluttering mission you’re about to undertake, and creates a stronger commitment to the task at hand! Why do you want to be tidy? What difference will it make in your life? Consider this long and hard, and then get started.
Part of what the KonMari Method teaches is to have a place for everything, and keep everything in its place. The first part of discovering this place is to get rid of everything that doesn’t belong. It may be hard, but during this spring cleaning season we invite you to give it a try and see what a difference the KonMari Method can make in your home! Want to learn more about the method? Check out “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo, the founder of the KonMari Method!
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This April our focus is RYAS: Rocking Your Apartment’s Socks! We’ll take you from recipes to try in the kitchen to thrifty apartment décor and much more!When we think of the big city, one of the first things that comes to mind is always “style”! Whether it’s the hottest fashions or the latest trends, you can always count on cities like New York, LA, Philly, and Phoenix to give big ideas of what will be “the next big thing” across the country. This week, let’s borrow some ideas from big city style that you can easily bring to your home right here in Flagstaff!
Make It New
We’re all about reinventing and repurposing old stuff. Take something vintage and make it your own with a fresh coat of paint, a new pillow on an old chair, etc. The vintage look is super chic right now, so don’t be afraid to make an antique piece your living room’s statement piece.
Layers Are In
Play with texture, and don’t be afraid to drape and define your floors and furniture with layers. Layer your carpet with accent rugs. Drape two or three throw blankets on your couch.
Mix, Don’t Match
Forget about matching end tables, pillows, and décor. Don’t be afraid to mix things up with some mismatch work. Use at least two unique color patterns. Pair black and white with pops of vibrant colors: red, yellow, green, blue. Polka dots and stripes can totally rock it out together.
Bling Your Bookshelf
You can also throw out the idea that shelves are just for books or vases. Fill your shelves with a hodgepodge of accessories to show off your personal flare. Wine bottles, picture frames and photos, and other fun mementos add spice to your space … and variety is always the spice of life, so mix it up!
Texturize
Urban chic is all about playing with textures. Smooth edge and armless seating are in, as are the blended textures that remind you of all things urban: bare brick, smooth metals, and reclaimed wood. Mix and match textured pieces—a wood bowl, stainless steel art piece, a unique stone as a paperweight … just play with the textures your world has to offer.
Taste the Rainbow
Pick a simple color pallet—black and white is always in style, but brown is becoming a favorite foundation hue, too—and make it pop with a rainbow of color. We already talked mismatching, but bringing a plain color base to life with those pops of color is another fun and easy way to recreate big city flair in your apartment home.
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This April our focus is RYAS: Rocking Your Apartment’s Socks! We’ll take you from recipes to try in the kitchen to thrifty apartment décor and much more!
This week we’re bringing you five easy apartment DIY projects that you can knock out over the weekend! Not only are they all super easy, but they’re great and inexpensive ways to upgrade your home without breaking the bank or losing your security deposit! Since spring is the perfect time for cleaning and reorganizing your apartment, we’re sure you’ll love using these projects as incentives for getting your home fresh for the season!
DIY Pillows
Nothing will jazz up secondhand furniture (thanks, mom) like a new piece of décor … even something as simple as a few new homemade pillows! All you need is some canvas fabric, fabric paint, and foam stamps or other pattern makers to craft some beautiful homemade pillows to decorate your favorite seats! Check out a simple guide to some fun designs using nothing but foam stamps and masking tape here: Hand Printed Pillows
DIY Chalkboard Containers
Want to add some green to your home? You’ll love these easy chalkboard pots for your new plants! Pick up a few cheap, plain plant pots, painter’s tape, chalkboard paint, and a sponge brush to paint your own perfect planters. Our favorite upgrade on this project is to paint some old mason jars and use them for small item storage; using chalkboard paint lets you easily label and relabel your jars as you repurpose them over and over! Here’s a basic guide to painting with chalkboard paint: Chalkboard Paint Jars
DIY Art
If you’re struggling to find the perfect art for your walls, look no further than your local fabric store. Head to the sale aisle to find fabric squares, scraps, and other lengths you can easily frame to make colorful art for every room. You can jazz things up with fabric stretched over a canvas frame; pin it to the back or use spray craft glue to easily smooth it over the canvas and tuck into corners on the back! Brit + Co provides an easy tutorial for creating your own canvas art here: Fabric Canvas Art
DIY Rope Rug
Add instant style to your apartment with a hand crafted area rug! We love the look of circular rope rugs (and all you have to do is wrap the rope in a circle to make it!), and they’re perfect floor pieces for any home no matter what your decorating style. Check out an easy guide to making your own from Completely Coastal: DIY Round Rope Mat or Rug
DIY Wall Mount Side Table
This is one of our favorites, and adds instant eye-appeal to your living space! It’s a project that takes more effort than the other projects we’ve given you to try (you’ll need a saw and hand drill) but it’s well worth it! Learn how to make your own wall mounted side tables here: Wall Mount Side Table
Happy Crafting!
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This April our focus is RYAS: Rocking Your Apartment’s Socks! We’ll take you from recipes to try in the kitchen to thrifty apartment décor and much more!
One way to rock your apartment’s socks is to keep it organized! As much as we might hate cleaning, you can always make organization and tidiness a little more fun by finding unique and eye-catching ways to do it! Check out these ten life hacks that will keep your apartment organized and looking f-i-n-e!
1. Use soda can tabs to create closet space
Just slip the soda can tab over the hook of your hanger, and hang a second hanger on the open tab hole! You’ll fit twice the number of hangers in your closet without wasting money on pricey space-saving hangers.
2. Create magnetic spice jars
Instead of filling your precious cabinet space with all your spices, check out this guide to making magnetic spice jars! You can then stick them to the fridge for a unique look and a cute space saver!
3. Save dresser space with a new shirt fold
Fold and organize your shirts in rows rather than laying them flat! Not only will you create more space, but you’ll also be able to easily find your favorite shirts more easily! Learn how here.
4. Create a magnetic bathroom storage strip
Use a magnetic strip roll to create three storage strips in your bathroom medicine cabinet: one at the top, one toward the bottom, and one in the middle (make sure you avoid placing the strips at the same level as the shelf, as this might keep the cabinet from closing). You can use these to store tweezers, small clippers, and other metallic bathroom accessories … especially the ones you’re more likely to lose! We’re looking at you, bobby pins!
5. Use spice racks to organize your bedroom and bathroom
Need a low cost alternative to shelving for over bed storage? Or maybe you just need to organize your hair products, lotions, nail polishes, etc. Look no further than spice racks! They are small enough to not take up much room, but big enough to hold all your everyday items. And they’re super easy to install! Use them to create bathroom organization, or create an over-the-bed bookshelf or place to stick your glasses for the night!
6. Create unique storage with baskets
You can find beautiful wicker or faux-wicker baskets at a local craft store. Use them to create a unique storage option. You can easily hang them from the wall either facing up (for hats, scarves, etc.) or facing out (for books, vases, and other small items).
7. Use Dollar Store buckets for desk organization
The Dollar Store always has nifty knick-knacks … one of our favorites is their cute multicolored buckets and pails! They are not only adorable décor, but they also present fun desktop organization. Use them to store pens, markers, scissors, and other items. Stick one in the living room or kitchen to store your small hand tools, too!
8. Cereal containers double as trash cans
Another awesome Dollar Store find? Cereal containers. These not only give you a great way to keep your cereal fresh … they also provide the perfectly sized small trash bins you may need for each room. Tuck one down beneath your desk, beside the bed, or just inside the front door; it’s easily hidden, but big enough for small trash you don’t want to take a trip to your main trashcan for. (Bonus: Grab one for your car, too! No more loose straw rappers and unwanted receipts!)
9. Save closet storage space with baskets
Invest in some cloth collapsible baskets for your closet. Instead of stacking extra clothes or sheets on the top shelf, use these to create a more colorful and space saving organization system! One benefit to these is that you can stack them up or on their sides; lay a basket on its side for sheets, and stack baskets with extra shirts, socks, and other clothes on top of each other.
10. Use shower curtain rings to hang belts and scarves
Secure a rod (try an expandable curtain rod) inside your closet and hang as many shower curtain rings as you need. Use them to keep your belts and scarves organized! Learn how to make your own here!
Happy Organizing! And don’t forget to share your favorite organizational tips with us!
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