Decluttering Tips and Support

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Dear Reader,

While I'm known for my poetry writing skills, I've NEVER been known for my artistic or crafting abilities. I can draw a stick figure with the best of them, and can maneuver a hot glue gun if required, but that's the extent of my skills.

So when someone in my Facebook community requested an episode about decluttering and organizing crafting and hobby rooms, I felt out of my element...but up to the challenge! 💪🏻

On the Podcast

Whether you have a devoted crafting room or have one corner of the office or basement, follow these 5 steps (that spell CRAFT) to declutter and organize your space.

🧵 Step 1: Craft your vision.​
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Before you begin decluttering the space, ask yourself some questions:

• What specific activities you want to do in the space? Are you doing one main activity or multiple that require different setups/space allotments (sewing, crafting, scrapbooking, etc.)
• Who all will be doing these activities in the space? Just you? Or will your kids and/or spouse be using the space as well?
• What space is for active projects versus unfinished projects, and how many "in progress" projects will you allow in the space at any given time?

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Pay attention to function and accessibility throughout the process.

🧵 Step 2: Reflect on your current season.

If you have young kids or are caring for aging parents, you may not be able to spend as much time crafting as you would like. This causes us to hold onto extra craft supplies as aspirational clutter - what we'd do if only we had the time/energy.

What you own should reflect the activities that support your life right now, not make you feel bad about what you don't have the time or energy to do.

Ask yourself: Could someone else benefit from the things that you won’t be able to use for six months, a year or more?

Recognize your limited capacity in this season and think about the realistic use of your time not the aspirational reality that you would like.

🧵 Step 3: Assign specific boundaries for each category and or sub category of your crafting supplies.

Depending on the space you have available and the importance of those supplies to your goals (see Step 1), you can assign specific boundaries to each category and/or subcategory.

🧵 Step 4: Fill the boundary using the container concept and organize depending on your preferences.

Start with what you use the most and want most accessible, and fill the boundary from there. If you have seasonal crafting supplies, consider keeping them with your holiday decor.

Depending on your organizing style (macro vs. micro), you can organize within the boundary as you see fit.

*Remember that if multiple people are using the space, you may need to consider their organizing style. The goal is to be able to easily locate and use what you need when you need it.*

🧵 Step 5: Take the remainder and decide on where it will go.

Once you've filled the boundaries and organized your supplies how you want them, you can decide what to do with the excess. Some options include:

• Trash for anything unusable
• Recycle fabric scraps (I use trashie.io)
• Give to a crafty friend or a mom in a local group such as Mom.Co​
• ​Creative Reuse Centers​
• ​Buy Nothing group​
• Schools
• Daycare centers

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To learn more, listen to Episode 201 or watch it on YouTube!

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Things I'm Loving Right Now

✨ One of my favorite tools to stay organized and decluttered is Trashie for clothing and fabric recycling using their Take Back Bags. I've also used their Tech Take Back Boxes for e-recycling.

✨ My decluttering/organizing resource of the week is this video about craft room organization ideas! I definitely like the ideas of using an over-the-door organizer to maximize space and nail polish shelves for small bottles of paint!

✨ My favorite recipe of the week is Sweet Italian Sausage with Penne Pasta - simple and a great way for kids to eat their broccoli!

What are some things you're loving right now? Hit reply and let me know.

On the journey with you,

Emily

P.S. Skipped to the end? No problem! This week on the podcast we finished out the Room-by-Room series chatting about decluttering and organizing craft/hobby rooms!
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Missed the Room-by-Room Series? Listen to this playlist to get caught up!

​*Note- affiliate links may be included, which means I get a small commission if you use my link - thanks!​