Better Homes and Gardens BH&G Secrets of Getting Organized - Early Spring 2022

FRESH START TURN THE PAGE. CLEAR THE DECKS. REBOOT THE SYSTEM. Whatever phrase you use, you know the fantastic feeling that can accompany letting go of the old and bringing on the new. From our latest Clutter Cleanse challenge, page 4, to a weekend bath vanity makeover, page 96, we’ve packed these pages with room-rejuvenating projects and streamlining strategies. And the best part? You don’t need to spend a fortune to completely transform a forgettable foyer (“Make an Entrance,” page 36), a chaotic pantry (“Pantry Power,” page 50) or a blah bedroom closet (“Small Wonder,” page 66). All it takes is a little time, some elbow grease, and the insights from professional organizers and savvy homeowners found here. On your mark… get set… GO! —BRIAN KRAMER EDITOR, SECRETS OF GETTING ORGANIZED™ PS: If your…

KITCHENS COUNTERTOPS • CABINETS • PANTRY Your kitchen is a hub for cooking, eating, and a host of other activities. Tame the resulting clutter in a weekend with our three-step plan. PRACTICAL TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL CLEANSE It’s time to tackle one of your home’s biggest clutter catchers: your kitchen. You place daily demands on this hardworking space and probably clean it rigorously, but when did you last pay attention to how it’s organized? Keep the following strategies in mind as you bring order to three clutter hot spots in most cook spaces. LEAD THE CHARGE If you’re reading this and wanting to declutter your kitchen, you’re probably the best person to initiate a cleanse. Recruit help from your partner and children, but realize that successful decluttering requires an adult to lead—and establish systems to keep…

WRITER ASHLEY ABRAMSON AN UNUSED ART STUDIO behind Kim Cornelison and Alfie Ferreyra’s Minneapolis home offered plenty of potential. The couple (never afraid to take on a new project) set about transforming it into a multipurpose guest suite and entertainment zone. At the heart of the 350-square-foot spaceis a wall of cabinets that hides a fully-stocked kitchenette, closet, and queen-size pull-down bed. Space-saving organizational strategies throughout the guesthouse make the most of each room, resulting in a stylish-but-functional space that seamlessly transitions from party mode to bedtime. RESOURCES BEGIN ON PAGE 93. ANOTHER GREAT IDEA Add versatility to a living space or home office by customizing your own hideaway bed. Just pick a size, frame, orientation, finish, and side cabinets, then add a mattress. The Vertical Office Bed, Queen Size ($4,417) in the Angkor…

MASTER CHECKLIST Create a packing list for every family member on your smartphone so you can easily add or subtract based on variables like trip length and climate. Start with musts, such as medications, extra eyeglasses or contacts, and chargers/cords. Then list toiletries, basic clothing, underwear, and something to sleep in. Also include a first-aid kit (ibuprofen, antacid, antihistamine, bandages) and a charged external battery in case your phone is about to die and there’s no outlet (gasp!) nearby. GET DOWN TO IT! On your bed, lay out the clothes you’re considering bringing. Editing is much easier with clothes in front of you, says frequent traveler Erin Phraner, a senior video producer at BuzzFeed Nifty. Weed out whites (except for T-shirts), stain-prone fabrics, and any pieces that wrinkle. For adults and older kids,…

HOW DO I DECIDE IF I SHOULD SELL OR DONATE THE ITEMS I WANT TO GET OUT OF MY HOUSE? JAMIE NOVAK This is one of the questions that trips people up. You know you don’t want to keep an item, but what are your options? When you are unsure, you tend not to do anything. Look at the potential profit versus your time spent organizing a sale or posting an item online. LAURA SOUDERS If you just want to be done with it all, then your decision is really easy: Donate it. SHERRI CURLEY Selling is more time consuming than dropping off a donation or arranging a donation pickup. Do you have the time? Patience? Motivation? KATHY VINES If you have access to the market where someone would buy it, try to sell…

GARAGE TRANSFORMATIONS Garages are for more than just parking cars. They can double as offices, entryways, and gyms. As these makeovers show, taming this multipurpose storage space offers a bounty of benefits. PROBLEM: SUPPLIES FOR A HOME-BASED BUSINESS WERE SCATTERED THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. Professional organizer Samantha Pregenzer rounded up the vases, pots, and tubs of a flower-arranging business so it’s all in the garage. Shelves extend from floor to ceiling to give everything its own spot. PROBLEM: THE GARAGE WAS SHORT ON WORK SPACE. Two stretches of durable laminate were mounted to the wall to create an almost-instant counter surface. As added inspiration, this “desktop” looks out on pretty plantings through the window. PROBLEM: FLOWER ARRANGING CAN CREATE CLUTTER. Slide-out drawers underneath the desktop keep florists tape, scissors, and other tools close at hand…