WEEK 5 Living Room

This week we are cleaning and organizing the living room. The living room is probably the most used room in the house so it can get cluttered fast!  One of the way’s I’ve been able to keep our living room clean and organized is by purging as much as possible and only keeping the necessities in there.  That has helped keep clutter away.  I understand that some of you don’t have the space to put toys in other areas of the house. If that’s the case, use foot stools, baskets, large bins, etc. to keep them picked up & hidden when not in use.  Once you purge everything down to a manageable amount, the clutter won’t seem so bad.

THE ORGANIZING PROCESS

PREPARE:  Gather 4 bins or boxes, one for each of the following.Keep Donate Trash/Recycle Other Room SORT:Sort through everything on all shelves, the floor, drawers, tables, etc.  Divide it all into the 4 baskets listed above (or more if needed).  If you are able to, place the 4 boxes in another room (close to the living room), so you have an empty space to clean and organize.  Get rid of as much clutter as you can.CLEAN:Clean the windows, blinds, frames & mirrors Wipe down doors, baseboards, doorknobs and switch plates Wipe down furniture (dust)Remove couch cushions and vacuum Pull the couch away from the wall and vacuum under/behind.Vacuum/mop floors Clean ceiling fan & lighting Fluff throw pillows & wash if needed

ORGANIZE:  It’s time to go through everything in the “keep” box. Put the other boxes where they belong. When organizing things in the keep box, remove one item at a time, categorizing it.  Below are some examples of what to organize together in the living room.  You can use a different shelf, basket, or drawer for each category.  Keep similar items together.

DVD’s & CD’s Aromatherapy: Candles, wax melts, essential oils, etc.Throw Blankets Remote controls Magazines (Only keep what you are currently reading)Toys (Try not to keep toys in the living room)Books (Consider going digital)