Skip the Renovation & try These Hacks Instead

Feel like you need a new space? You may not need to move or renovate, but instead a refresh! We have gathered the following hacks to help you create a strategic process for falling in love with your space again.

Declutter

Before diving into a renovation, try decluttering your space! Nothing gives a space a bigger refresh than clearing out the things you are no longer using to leave space to see, use, and love the things you are. Start by pulling everything out- yes we mean everything. Sort your items into categories as you go making sure to keep “likes with likes”. Know that the “pull out” step is the most overwhelming- just trust the process and know you get the worst over with quickly! You’ve got this. 

After you have created your piles and everything is pulled out of the space, go through each pile and item within one by one to decide whether to keep, toss, or donate. Make sure to touch on all visual clutter including decor and furniture. Keep going item by item until you have finished walking through the piles. Take donations out of the space & throw out the trash bags ASAP before organizing your categories back into the space.

TIP: Keep this process organized by having trash bags at your disposal for donations and trash. Designate separate areas of the room for full trash bags and full donation bags so they don’t get mixed up! 

Clear Your Counters

Clear counters equal a clearer mind! After decluttering, create a “home” for each of your categories/items. If everything has a home, nothing needs to land out of place on the counter! If you find you have mail piling up on your counter, try adding stackable paper trays or drawers for “incoming mail” and “to file”. Once everything has a home, it just becomes a matter of maintaining the system. Get in the habit of putting things away rather than creating the extra step of putting them on the counter just to later put them away. Consider “closing out” your home each night by spending ten minutes tidying up your space and returning any loose items back to their homes. This will save you time in the long run and keep your space feeling fresh!

TIP: When organizing items back into your space, make sure to keep “likes with likes” and consider “prime real estate” (keeping your most accessed items in the easy-to-grab zones)!

Add the Right Products

Products can make all the difference for making your current space the organizing haven of your dreams! But products can do more harm than good if they do not fit your space, category, or are not the correct functional addition to the space. For example, stacking lidded bins to organize your daily bathroom items leads to products covering your sink because you are adding an extra step to put them away. Consider stackable drawers instead to provide easy access to the items you use the most! Instead of a shoe shelf that only fits a fraction of your shoe collection, opt for a stackable shoe shelf that can grow with you! Expandable drawer dividers that match your drawers depth, height, and color are the perfect way to maximize the functionality of your drawers. Forget the renovation and find products that make it as easy as possible for yourself to maintain systems!

Adjust the Adjustable

Many people do not realize just how adjustable many spaces are as is! After you declutter you can adjust your space for your categories and product heights to fit your needs. Never underestimate the power of adjusting your shelves! This is an easy hack that can create a customized feel as you build out your space specifically to fit your needs. You can order shelf pegs to streamline this process! Many spaces are adjustable- closet shelves, cabinet shelves, fridge/freezer shelves & drawers, and even hanging rods can often adjust to better fit your needs!

Upgrade Your Knobs & Light Fixtures

Sometimes the smallest things can make the biggest difference! Consider changing out your kitchen cabinet knobs for a more customized look that gives your space a refreshing feel! This hack also applies to refreshing your dresser drawers. Etsy has a wide variety of choices for you to customize your space to better fit your style.

The same process goes for your lights- try switching out the basic flush-mount dome light for something that matches your aesthetic! *Make sure to consult an electrician for any electrical work.*

Build Out instead of Break Down

Build out your space with Elfa custom solutions instead of completely redoing your space! Elfa can elevate almost any space including closets, garages, kitchens, storage units and more! If you are stuck on how to design an Elfa system to optimize your organizational needs, reach out to us! Horderly Interiors was created to help marry organization with design to customize any space to fit your needs.

To really take your space to the next level reach out to us! We are here to help with all of your organizing, design, and product needs!

For more information on all things Horderly- including lots of great tips, tricks, and other #HorderlyHabits- check out our blog or reach out for more information!

This content is independently curated by Horderly and may earn us a commission.