Spring Cleaning With Style in Splash Magazine Chicago

We were thrilled to be featured in Splash Home Magazine this past Sunday. Here is a link to the story by Ashlely Devick:As the weather warms, it's time to clean up the mess winter left behind. With the spring sun giving us renewed energy, we're motivated to purge, says home organization expert Monica Friel, whose Chicago-based company Chaos to Order (847-825-8400; chaostoorder.com), has been lauded by Oprah and HGTV.Every room in the house could use a little reorganization, especially mud rooms and hall or entryway closets. "the first step is going through your stuff, " says Friel. "Think about what you're still using and what you can eliminate" When editing your belongings, consider when you last used each item, and whether or not you could live without it. Then, start sorting.Donating or giving items away can make the process a little easier. "If you have a friend who could really use something, you're more likely to part with it," says Friel. Label durable garbage bags with masking or blue tape to denote what's going where, or use black bags for trash and withe for donations.Much more time-consuming, however, is your main closet. Friel maintains that the most efficient time to navigate this is at the end of each season–for spring, that means looking through the stacks of sweaters and winter clothes and downsizing. "If there's a sweater you didn't wear this winter, the chances of wearing it next winter are even [smaller]," says Friel. "Don't save anything that doesn't make you feel good." (Remember: Taking a seasonal inventory will make spring shopping that much more fun.)To stay organized day-to-day, find a system that works for you and stick to it. "If you're one to plop things on the floor, invest in hooks so if you have to re-wear something, it isn't crumpled in a ball," says Friel. "Having a place for every little thing to belong will make it easy for you to come and go." Use containers to house everything from jewelry, belts and purses to car keys and kids' artwork."Go step by step, piece by piece, inch by inch," says Friel. She recommends setting a timer and designating a certain amount of time for each task, so you won't look at the whole room and think it's impossible to tackle.Source: http://splash.suntimes.com/2015/04/23/spring-cleaning-with-style