Home Front: Getting organized in the new year

Every week, Washington Post Home Section writers Jura Koncius and Terri Sapienza help you in your quest to achieve domestic bliss. They were online Thursday, Jan. 7, at 11:00 a.m. ET to take your questions and suggestions. Joining them was Nicole Anzia, a professional organizer who will take questions about getting organized in the new year.

Anzia is a member of NAPO, the National Association of Professional Organizers. Her goal is to bring "harmony and calm" to clients' lives.

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Terri Sapienza: Good morning everyone, and thanks for joining us on our first chat of the new year. To get things rolling, we have invited local professional organizer, Nicole Anzia of Neatik (www.neatnik.org) to be our guest today and answer all of our questions about getting organized in the new year, a popular resolution. In addition, we'd love to hear how you plan to get organized this year. The person who sends in the best tip this morning will receive a copy of Jonathan Adler's fun and colorful design book, "My Perscription For Ant-Depressive Living."

We've got lots on the agenda today, so let's get going...

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Washington, DC: Good morning! You two are my paint color gurus. What color BMoore yellow would you suggest for a loft area with tall ceilings that gets very little natural light? We're looking for something that doesn't make a huge color statement (it's a lot of wall space). Many thanks!

Jura Koncius: I like Morning Sunshine by Benjamin Moore - its sort of stucco yellow, not too bright. Showtime is also nice. Lighthouse is a little paler.

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Leesburg, Va.: Love this live chat!! Live in a home which was built in 1962. We have a basement bathroom which has a shower stall which we recently had retiled -- walls installed vertically 8" X 12" glossy white ceramic tile with subtle gray marbling streaks and the floor tile is 2" X 2" light gray and dark gray tiles. The toilet and vanity are white. The bathroom only gets a small amount of daylight through a basement window and there is one light fixture over the medicine cabinet. I want to paint the walls a light color. I have considered all white walls with a white waffle shower curtain and white walls & gray towels. Have also thought about painting the walls with a pale yellow to add a contrasting color. Do you have any suggestions? I use Benjamin Moore paint.

Terri Sapienza: I really like white, but you have an awful lot of it in there already. I think I would definitely paint the walls in a nice, contrasting color. Have you considered a pale blue, which would go well with the white and the grays? C2's Oxygen is really nice. If you prefer Benjamin Moore paints, you could have the C2 color matched at a BM store. And if you go that route, also consider BM's Aura Spa & Bath paint, which is specially formulated to lock out moisture.

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Chickens!: Hi Ladies, happy 2010. I had to chuckle at what seems to be your chicken issue today. Adrian's column about the Capitol hill hens and then the Cook's Garden column also has chickens. I am guessing this was not intentional. Too bad someone didn't notice and 'package' the two stories together to complement each other.

washingtonpost.com: D.C. residents fight to raise poultry in the city

The benefits of raising chickens at home, even in the city

Jura Koncius: Chickens seemed to be in the mind of both Adrian and Barbara this week! I just checked with one of our editors, and because of space limitations we weren't able to put them on one spread. But Adrian did refer to Barbara's piece a few pages ahead, in his column.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: When I see articles about storage for toys, they usually recommend baskets, bins, etc. This is fine for matchbox cars and Legos. What are storage solutions for big wheels and Barbie McMansions that will keep these large plastic toys in garish colours out of sight when you want a more adult vibe for the family room, but still keep them accessible for daytime play? What if you don't have a large closet handy?

Nicole Anzia: As the mother of two toddlers, I feel your pain! Unfortunately, I have yet to find the perfect solution to this problem, but here are a couple suggestions: If you have a long side table along one wall, you may be able to drape a table cloth or some other type of decorative fabric over one side and hide the barbie mansion, sit and spin, big wheels, etc underneath. Another option -- and this one depends on the size of the toy, would be to get a large storage ottoman. Again, this may not fit everything you need to hide, but it can accommodate some larger pieces that just need to be hidden away in a pinch. The top can be open during the day and replaced at night or when you are entertaining. And lastly, you could try large covered Rubbermaid storage bins that will fit almost all oversized toys. Granted, these are not the most attractive storage items, but they do come in muted colors, beige or gray, and can be stored neatly behind a couch or in the corner. Again, not perfect, but it's easy and inexpensive. Another plus, when you're done using those bins for toy storage they can be re-purposed for other uses.

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Fort Washington, Md.: Hello Ladies, in your columns, you often cover office-in-the-home space, but my set-aside 187-sq ft space is my office plus art studio (the larger of my 2-bedroom apartment). My difficulty is that all the sprawling papers associated with the computer -- such as reams of unused stock, printouts, templates, transparency film, cardstock, which I use for writing and art projects overtake my computer work station and filter into desk, tables and storage I have for hard core art projects, mostly that are easel size works, many sorts of craft materials -- beads, tubes of paint, painting paper stock, notebooks, and my art library. It quickly becomes difficult to move around in the studio.

Nicole Anzia: Hello! It does sound like you're trying to do a lot in a relatively small space, but rest assured, you can make it work! It sounds like you need additional surface space and easy to access storage. Some quick ideas: 1) Store all of the office supplies and smaller art supplies on shelves or labeled drawers underneath a work table that could span the length of one wall. This will give you additional surface space for the things you need regular access to and keep all of your other supplies organized and close at hand. I'm envisioning something like this, http://www.containerstore.com/shop/elfa/bestSellingSolutions/officeSpaces?productId=10021257

except the top would be solid and you may use different containers below 2) Try to utilize the vertical space in the room. Could you hang large art projects with clips on a wire along one wall. 3) Set aside time twice a month to do a quick clean-up and organize the room -- dispose of papers you no longer need, store finished art projects, put away all supplies, etc.

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Shepherd Park, D.C.: Our most disorganized space is our "office" - which is really just a storage room for paper we can't seem to throw away. Apart from keeping tax records for at least seven years, are there any rules of thumb about how long to hang on to paperwork like bills and bank statements?

Nicole Anzia: The Container Store actually has a great page on their website that provides a guide for what to keep and not to keep:

http://www.containerstore.com/experthelp/tips/toKeepOrNotToKeep.html

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Yet another paint question...: Submitting early as duty calls at work...In our family room, we recently installed white built in cabinets & bookcases on either side of the fireplace, and I'd love to find a warm color that is fairly neutral (new furniture coming for the room later this year). You get to the family room via the dining room (separated by a pocket door)...dining room is SW Kilim Beige. THANKS!

Terri Sapienza: You're in search of a paint color for the walls or for the new shelves?

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Rockville, Md.: I have been procrastinating doing something with my kitchen cabinets. They are 60's era original. In good shape but worn and boring looking. The counters have been replaced with blue pearl granite (black with blue and silver in it). I really don't want to paint them white. I keep wanting to paint them black, but have never seen this done but I think in sounds cool. What do you think?

Jura Koncius: Yes. I do think it sounds cool. They would look very sleek with new nickel hardware.

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Jura Koncius: I know we have a contest today for the best organizing tip. (We plan to do a book give-away on a regular basis this year, so stay tuned...) The Jonathan Adler book is fun. I want to share one of my best organizing tips that originally I got from an article I wrote about Heloise for a new year's resolution/clean it up article. Every January 1, I start a new routine each morning, spending about five to ten minutes cleaning out and organizing just one drawer, one shelf, one closet floor. It is amazing how much you can get done, and slowly you will be on your way to a beautifully organized home. Toss as much as you can! It's sort of like starting a new fitness routine - you just promise yourself you won't leave the house until you do one little area.

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Rockville, Md.: Love your chats. I hope you can help me with some color scheme ideas. All of my living room furniture was recently moved to the newly finished basement, except a brown baby grand piano. I just ordered a couch that is a very light gray. I have two questions: 1) is gray as neutral as I think or have I limited my options and if so, how, and 2) I would lean toward black tables, etc., can I do that with a brown piano, i.e, can I ignore the brown of the piano? Thank you very much for your help!

Terri Sapienza: Gray is a neutral, so you have not limited your options for the rest of the room. If you prefer black furniture, you should feel free to use it, even with the piano. In fact, to make a room interesting, furniture finishes should NOT all match.

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Getting organized in Silver Spring: I just spent several days weeding out a large lateral filing cabinet, which I intend to put on Freecycle very soon. One pile of papers is "keep," one is "shred" (waiting for the next community shred-a-thon), one is "scrapbooks", and one is "scan". I am hoping to save a lot of space by scanning magazine clippings,., etc where I don't need to save the actual paper version. If anyone can recommend a good document scanning service, I'm all ears.

Nicole Anzia: Depending on how much you have to scan, you may want to consider purchasing a scanner for your home that you can use on an ongoing basis -- that way you can dispose of incoming papers as they arrive and save money in the long term. I just bought a four-in-one printer, scanner, fax and copier for less than $200. The scanner works very well and is very easy to use.

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White or stainless??: We're remodeling our kitchen, which is in our basement. We are keeping our white fridge,and putting in white cabinets. My gut feeling is to go with a white stove and dishwasher, a stainless sink and fixtures. Our countertop will be recycled glass -- color to be determined. A wall in Valspar's raspberry wine, will provide the accent.

I know that stainless is the "in" thing but is there really a good reason to go w/stainless? And. . how do we pick the white for the trim?

Jura Koncius: I don't think you will ever make a wrong decision using white appliances in the kitchen. They are always correct, no matter what trends come and go. Stainless seems to also be something that is now a standard along with white. I think mixing in a stainless sink is totally fine. Nice accent wall color choice. For the trim if you are doing white cabinets, I might go with Benjamin Moore's Super White.

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Newton, Mass.: Last week you spoke about buying from auctions. I have been to and bought from local auctions companies that deal with a lot of estate sales and have bought some very well-made furniture and other unique items. But I have found that the auction companies have their own people bidding to drive the price up. Are you familiar with this practice and are local auction companies pretty much similar in this practice. If not, how can I detect right off IF they use these tactics.

Jura Koncius: Hopefully reputable auction houses would never do something like this. I suppose it is a hazard at some smaller auction houses, but those that have been around a long time certainly have their reputations to uphold.

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Washington, D.C.: Hi! First, I love your chats! Just bought my first condo, and you are so helpful.

I am looking for quality furniture, but I can't afford the pieces I love. I heard that there are some great deals to be had at outlets/stores in North Carolina. Do you have any suggestions for where to go? Thanks in advance!

Terri Sapienza: Hi, Washington. Congrats on the new condo!

Can anyone offer this new homeowner some advice on where best to shop in North Carolina?

In the meantime, I suggest you check out Craigslist (www.craigslist.com), where there are lots of great deals on quality furniture to be had.

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Charlottesville, Va.: I am starting to do my tax info for 2009. But I started to clean out a file and I have been spending hours just getting rid of stuff from the 90's! What's a thumbnail idea of what in the world we need to keep paperwise?

Nicole Anzia: Congratulations on getting an early start on your taxes AND for getting rid of all those old papers! The Container Store has a great guide on their website for what to keep and what to toss:

http://www.containerstore.com/experthelp/tips/toKeepOrNotToKeep.html

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Just your average doormat: What is considered a doormat, and where should it be placed? To get inside my house, first you encounter a paved driveway, then approx. 50 feet of 4-ft-wide masonry sidewalk, then an 8x12 brick patio. There is an outdoor doormat on the patio, at the foot of the steps to the porch. The porch is roofed, and approx. 10 ft deep. When you reach the front door, after crossing the porch, there is another heavy duty outdoor doormat, totally protected from wind/rain/slush/snow. Inside the front door, there is a foyer, approx. 10 ft deep, with a clearly decorative RUG in the center. To get to this rug, you must take at least two steps on the hardwood floors. So why is it, at a recent party, I watched 4 different people cross all this expanse of hard surfaces and clearly utilitarian doormats and carefully wipe their shoes on the RUG? My husband says I'm the one who's nuts, and anything near an outside doorway is a doormat. I say you're expected to clean your shoes before you come in the house. Should I make a sign? Or make people take their shoes off?

Jura Koncius: Wow. So much to think about here! First of all, DO NOT MAKE A SIGN. Signs in your home are not welcoming! It's not your job to instruct people how to behave, they should feel welcomed in your home. It sounds like outside, you have giving your guests lots of opportunities to wipe off their shoes. Meanwhile, sometimes people don't focus on how dirty their shoes might be until they reach the warmth inside your front foyer. It might be a good idea for you to rethink the rug inside the foyer, if you really have a thing about dirt getting inside your place. Perhaps keeping a sisal rig just inside the door would be a good choice. I am not a fan of asking people to take their shoes off, but there is certainly an army of people who keep baskets by the door and insist on stocking feet inside their homes. How do you guys all feel about this?

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Tip: My kids invariably leave stuff (toys, books, socks) in the "wrong" place. Like the living room floor or the family room sofa. At the end of the night as I sit down to relax I'll spy the items and they'll just poke at me, slowly driving me nuts until I've done something with them. I've tucked a fairly large wicker laundry basket in a corner of both rooms. When these items start to poke they go into the basket. On Saturdays the baskets get emptied out by the kids. If they know they left something in one of these rooms, they know to look there before asking me if I've seen it.

Nicole Anzia: I love this tip!

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Today's House Calls: I just wanted to say that I really liked today's House Calls. I think the designer did a great job selecting and arranging furniture and I think it will be a great room.

Terri Sapienza: It was good, wasn't it? Thanks for the nice comments.

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Washington, D.C.: Thanks for doing these chats! Do you have places that you recommend for buying fabric? Someplace that isn't too expensive but still has a reasonable selection.

Jura Koncius: Yes. In town, try Calico Cornere and G Street Fabrics. Two out-of-townplaces that people have found very useful and well priced are Discount Fabrics USA in Thurmont (www.dikscountfabricsusa.com) and Haute of Middleburg in Marshall, Va. www.hauteonline.com. Also the Second Yard in Fairfax City. What other fabric places do all of you like? Send em in.

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Ttip for getting organized: Move! --

I just moved and man, did I get rid of a lot of stuff!

-This tip may have limited applicability. :)

Jura Koncius: Ha! That is an expensive way to get organized. But it certainly works.

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Herndon, Va.: Here's my current organization project -- the mud room. I saw this on the container store site that you can stack your front load washer and dryer to free up floor space. The bracket from Sears is in the mail, only $24! Then I'm going to use Elfa to store all the laundry and cleaning supplies, have a bar to hang dry clothes, and give the kids a space for wet boots and mittens. Can't wait!

Container Store

Terri Sapienza: Sounds like a great plan. Be sure to take before and after pictures and let us know how it turns out.

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Kensington, Md.: No question just another suggestion for the previous question. Some great Benjamin Moore colors. Ylang Ylang, Subtle, Flawless, Handmade, Jicama and Soleil

Jura Koncius: Okay thanks.

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Charlottesville, Va.: My tip -- think of the clutter around you as a cluttered mind. It really DOES feel better to have an uncluttered space. Start by moving the things on your kitchen counters that really belong in other rooms (i.e., shampoo, the dog's brush, broken things you "plan" to repair, etc.).

Jura Koncius: This is so totally true. I love having really bare kitchen counters. Of course, because I have a small kitchen, I can't avoid having my toaster, coffee maker, small TV, Canister of wooden spoons and spatulas and a brown transferware footed bowl full of fresh fruit. This is kind of interesting. What do YOU allow on your counter?

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Mt. Pleasant, D.C.: I want to get a large area rug cleaned, but I'm not sure how to start. Will they come to my home or do I need to take the rug to them? If I'm supposed to take it to them, I'd like to find something in Northwest. Do you have recommendations for specific companies?

Thanks.

Jura Koncius: Your rug can be cleaned either way. Companies such as Servicemaster www.servicemaster.com will come to your house and clean rugs, draperies and upholstery in situ. If you want to roll your rug up , places like Bergmann's www.bergmanns.com or Hanna Ayoub in Silver spring 301-562-4088 can help you.

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Arlington, Va.: For the chatter asking about North Caroline furniture, High Point, N.C., is ground zero for furniture. And let me tell you it's ridiculously overwhelming. I would start with the High Point visitors center which can give you a map of the area with the main furniture centers.

The largest, and most overwhelming in my mind is FurnitureLand South. It has two main showrooms connected by a sky bridge. However, one of the buildings behind the main showroom is their factory outlet store which in my mind is one of the best places to find bargain furniture in High Point.

Good luck and pack your patience.

Jura Koncius: So true. And another place that is terrific for designer furniture bargains is Hickory, N.C. where a lot of the major upscale furniture manufacturing facilities are located. Things like Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams and Century. Go to www.hickoryfurniture.com - the Hickory Furniture Mart is a good place to start.

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On the kitchen counter...: Toaster, coffee maker (and sugar bowl next to it), paper towel holder, salt and pepper shakers -- that's it. And I have a TON of counter space and a nine foot island. When the counters are clear it feels good to walk into and be in the kitchen.

Jura Koncius: Oh I forgot to admit I had a paper towel holder too - I keep my salt and pepper shakers inside a cabinet. We should declare a Clean off your Kitchen Counters Day!!!

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Washington, D.C.: Just about a year ago a long term relationship I was in ended and I now have found myself back in small (900 sq. ft.) condo I owned after living in a 3-story rather spacious townhouse here in D.C. Throughout the years, my partner and I were together, I acquired many items; antiques and pieces of art that I do enjoy, but now have found it rather impossible to make it all fit! To be honest, I feel as if I am living in a warehouse instead of a home. Please advise how I should proceed and not become so overwhelmed by this project? Thank you and Happy New Year!

Nicole Anzia: Getting started is often the biggest obstacle to a situation like yours, but the New Year has given you the perfect opportunity! Don't feel pressured to do it all at once, but do give yourself a deadline (maybe three months) to get your condo in order. First, get rid of anything you don't absolutely love, then find additional storage for things you do want to keep, but don't currently have room for (could you post something on your condo's message board asking if anyone has an unused storage locker in your building?). Think of all the fun things you'll be able to do with your new-found space!

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Washington, DC: Hi! I'm remaking my childhood bedroom in my parents' house so it can be a real guest room. I spent all of Christmas week organizing and clearing things out, and now I'm at the fun part: paint color! What would you suggest for a room that has fairly light, unfinished wood floors, light-honey wood bureaus, and a rather dominating white bookshelf? The room is not all that big and has western exposure. Thanks for your input... I can't wait to cover up the garish colors I chose when I was 13!

Terri Sapienza: What colors do you (and your parents)like? That's the first place to start.

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Charlottesville, Va.: Fabrics: Take a jaunt towards Charlottesville and go to:

Fabrics Unlimited (also in Fredericksburg).

It's before you get to the turn at Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport.

Fabrics Unlimited

Jura Koncius: Terrific tip. Thanks.

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The Doormat: Actually, I don't mind the dirt coming in my house (I had four kids, and currently have a dog), I just mind people scraping their shoes on my rug! And the sign thing was a joke, I hate signs in the house (unless it's a vacation rental). I figured after we installed all this hardscaping (and multiple doormats) I could get rid of the ugly doormat inside the door and just have a pretty rug. Guess I was wrong?

Jura Koncius: I'm afraid so.

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New Kitchen Color: I am looking for a mango/orange/peach color to paint my kitchen. The cabinets and countertops, and appliances are all white. I plan on keeping the ceiling and the trim white. I want a bright color but not too bright of a color? I like Valspar's Apricot Jam. Thank you!

Jura Koncius: Orangery is a very beautiful color by Farrow & Ball. I also love Peach Marmalade by Martha Stewart for Valspar.

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Organizing Tip: After years of wrestling with overflowing closets, cabinets and drawers, I realized I didn't need more space...I needed less stuff. Two rules have made a big impact:

1)"One in, One out" If I feel compelled to buy new shoes, towels, sheets, clothes, whatever -- I must give one equal item to the Salvation Army. My sister has the same rule, but when she buys herself a pair of shoes, she donates one of her husband's pairs. :)

2) "The two-year sticker" For multiplying kitchen gadgets and the like, I place a sticky note with the date of last use. Every January, I go through the gadgets and box up and donate anything that hasn't been used in two years.

Terri Sapienza: These are both great tips on keeping clutter at a minimum. I especially like your sister's habit of donating her husband's shoes when she buys a pair for herself. I may have to adopt this rule myself.

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Ellicott City, Md.: Happy New Year Ladies! Great timing for this subject. I need some suggestions on how to gain some control over my husband's baseball cap collection. He has, in my opinion, an innumerable amount the continues to grow. I'd like for them to be covered and out of sight. In what and where? Help!

Nicole Anzia: Tell him he has to pick 10 hats to keep in a hall closet or mudroom and the others have to be stored in the attic or basement. Baseball hats are the equivalent of stuffed animals for toddlers: as long as you don't threaten to throw them away, he probably won't put up too much of a fight.

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Bare Walls Old Town: We have been in a quaint row house in Alexandria for 2 yrs and have almost ZERO anything on our walls. We have the Rest Hardware Silver Sage and Sea Grean on our walls but would like to add some pop to our artwork and colors to reflect our cultural background and personality. We have simple mahoghany wood furnishing and nice warm wood floors. Color help for to organize our walls and rooms please!

Jura Koncius: Sounds like you have a great backdrop to start with. You should always reflect your personality and background in your decor, just as you do in your clothing choices. You might want to introduce another accent color with those cool blues and greens. Or you could go for brighter shades of blues and greens to contrast. Oversized framed things make a big impact - travel posters from countries you have been to - especially vintage ones - are nice. Original art reflecting your interests is terrific. I am writing now about a designer in Clarendon who loves overblown botanicals in simple frames as statements around her house. (See next week's Local Living section for more on this.)

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Organizational Tip: I let my day planner double over as my "House Bible." I put my "change HVAC filter" notes in there right alongside my dentist appointments and other such things. I stick better to appointments that to-do lists anyway.

Terri Sapienza: That's a really good idea.

Do you have a particular day planner that you use? I've been on the hunt for a new one but just can't seem to find one that I like. Any suggestions would be great.

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Frederick, Md.: We have an WAY to many stuffed animals for our 5-year-old. Her grandmother brings way top many. Her toy room is our 4th bedroom and i bought the canvas "shelvs" that you hang in the closets for sweaters and shirts. They work great. Then we got a hanging shoe caddie for the back of the closet and we put her barbies and smaller dolls in. Works great. In the family room we have leather storage cubes. Extra seats and toy boxes.

Jura Koncius: You know, there are no rules that you MUST display all the animals. You might do a quick run through of the ones your child has had from his babyhood - and keep a box of things that you might want to save for her. Extras can be donated to charity. Only display the newest ones your child receives, as well as his or her favorites. I must confess - my son is 19 and I still have a trash bag full of stuffed animals in my attic. Must tend to that but HOW can I throw out the giraffe, dinosaur and hedgehog..

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Washington, D.C.: Just make sure when you are heading to N.C. outlets you do not go on a buying frenzy and end up with a lot of items, either too large or was not really what you had gone there to purchase, but because it was a good "deal" you come home with it and then find ..... uh oh, it doesn't fit or you end up asking yourself, what in the world was I thinking? It can be like buying that wonderful outfit while vacationing in a tropical climate and now it is hanging in the back of your closet because you haven't worn it again, unless of course, someone had a Halloween party and you went as "Jimmy Buffett"!

Jura Koncius: VERY good advice here. I've been guilty of things like that, in home decor and in fashion.

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Rockville, Md.: In the future, our 2-bedroom condo in Rehoboth may become our primary residence. Right now we store our bikes in the 2nd bedroom closet, but we would need that space for clothing if we spent more time there. Do you have any ideas for (relatively) attractive bicycle storage?

Terri Sapienza: Don't know if this is your style or not, but I've seen people hang their bikes directly on the walls in their living spaces, which is not only convenient, but also could take the place of wall art.

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Tip for better organization: Pick a mate who's organized! I just don't see clutter, but my husband does, and knowing that he cares about having everything in its place gets me to make an effort to be better about just leaving everything all over the place....

Jura Koncius: Usually there is one of each type of person in every relationship!! Two neatniks can be too much!

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Rug Cleaning: If you have an Oriental rug, please note that dry and steam cleaning are too harsh for it. Take it to a place that actually washes the rugs. Rotate the rug and vacuum the rug front AND BACK between cleanings, and you probably won't need to get a professional cleaning any more often than once every five years. I have a Persian rug shop, so I know a little something. :)

Jura Koncius: Thank YOU!!!

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Boston, Mass.: My organization project for the week -- selling all our DVDs and using the money to rebuy just the ones we love in Blu-ray (checking first to make sure a Blu-Ray version has been released!). I'm sick of dusting them.

Jura Koncius: Very techy.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Hi ladies, I recall that Barbara Barry was part of one of your chats a few months back, would you mind posting that link? There was a pale green paint color I recall her mentioning. Thanks and Happy New Year!

Jura Koncius: Yes. That was a fun chat. (Remember Barbara Barry's tips for organizing your refrigerator drawers with linen towels...) Anyway, Rocci our producer is going to post the transcript of this chat from last fall. Thanks.

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washingtonpost.com: Home Front Chat (Sept. 24)

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi Jura and Terri, We are renovating a small master bathroom in our new house. We are putting in a pedestal sink and the toilet is right next to the sink. I would like to have an extra-large medicine cabinet since there's no storage with a pedestal sink. But, I'm worried that the scale of a large cabinet in a small bathroom over a small sink will not look good. Another thought is to put to regular size medicine cabinets -- one over the sink and one over the toilet. Any thoughts?? I'm looking at medicine cabinet that is all glass, with no wood framing. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: I would definitely not put in two medicine cabinets - that is just too much hanging on the wall in in a small space. Perhaps you can keep some of your toiletries and medicines in a drawer in your bedroom or in your bedroom closet. I don't think it is a problem that your medicine cabinet will dwarf your sink at all.

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Chevy Chase: I just moved to a new apartment. The old one had enough light fixtures in the kitchen/living room area provided by the landlord. This one has a fixture in the separate kitchen and the dining room, but not enough of this light bleeds into the living room. I have a task lamp on my desk and near one end of the sofa and get morning light (south east), but that leaves me largely in the dark in the evenings.

What do I need? I was thinking about a plain old halogen torchiere, but would something else work better?

Terri Sapienza: Oh, I think anything would be better than a halogen torchiere. Not only are they very dated and reminiscent of college, but they can be dangerous, too.

Do you have end tables on either side of the sofa you could place table lamps on? A floor lamp is also a nice idea, just not a halogen. You can do much better than those.

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Silver Spring, Md.: In an effort to get organized, I've been looking for a clothes rack. On Container Store's Web site, there's one for $34.99 (I'm sure it's not all that sturdy) and then two more for $160-$200+. Do you know of any retailer that sells one for $50-$100 that won't fall over either in the basement or the yard sale? Thanks.

Jura Koncius: This is a great question. My suggestion would be to find an old oak clothing rack from the mid 20th century once used in an office!! Also check out www.missionfurnishings.com - there is a great mirror and coat rack to put the wall. Also check www.wilmerkramer.com

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What to put on top of an Armoire?: I'm getting a new one for my living room and I'm not sure what to put on top of it for decorating, if anything. I have a basic beige living room, with dark furniture, kilim pillow accents, and red and black framed prints. One ficus tree. I feel like the top of the armoire will be screaming for something, but not sure what. Suggestions?

Terri Sapienza: A big basket would be nice and add more height to the room. You could use it as extra storage, too.

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Arlington, Va.: My tip: This month at Staples, I found a pack of four corkboard tiles for $10. They come with little self-stick pads to hang them up with. I hung them individually on the wall beside the basement stairs, in the stairwell where company doesn't see them, but they're easily accessible to us. Each person in our family tacks up their to-do lists and a monthly calendar (I have a notepad of blank calendar templates that we use). We also tack up any important mail or forms or coupons or small papers that get lost easily. This way each person has their own go-to spot for the kind of clutter that used to drive us crazy. Hope this helps you!

Jura Koncius: Very nice idea! Thanks. It is so good to be able to check on everyone's dates in one place.

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Columbia, Md.: For the reader wanting to hide away kids' toys -- our solution was to get a large armoire (we got one of the modular type from Ikea) with a huge deep drawer at the bottom and adjustable shelves. The larger toys (Fisher Price playsets and the like) fit in the drawer and on the lower shelves. Bins with tiny toys on the middle shelves, stackable games and puzzles on the top shelves. Really large toys (i.e. dollhouses) go in bedrooms (or don't go in the house at all -- when we realized the space problems we had with no dedicated playroom, we made sure to keep our toy choices small!) and active toys like the sit and spin go in a large outdoor bin (designed to hold pool toys) on our porch.

The large armoire in our family room means that every toy we own can be put away and hidden with closed doors that match our decor. When we really clean that room, you wouldn't know that there are kids in the house at all (aside from the scratched up coffee table, fingerprints on the TV., etc.).

Jura Koncius: Kids always do leave their mark somewhere! Like that loose Lego that you step on in the middle of the night. OUCH! Thanks for your idea.

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Rockville, Md.: How does one go about organizing clothes? I have clothes in closets in different rooms in our house, as well as various dressers. I am pregnant with twins (and have a toddler) but the fantasy of fitting into my pre-children clothes is still very much alive. Help!

Nicole Anzia: The basic rule of thumb is that if you haven't worn it in the past year, you need to get rid of it. In your case though, this rule doesn't completely apply (congratulations on your pregnancy!). If you haven't gone through everything in a while, the first step would be to go through all the drawers and closets and take out anything you definitely don't like, haven't worn and don't need. Best way to do this is to take EVERYTHING out of the closet and only put back the things you want to keep. Then, I would organize everything that's left according to what you will need to access until 6 months after your the birth of your babies. You can keep all of those pre-pregnancy clothes, but don't keep them in the closet you use daily -- it will drive you nuts to see them and not be able to wear them right now!

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Organizing idea: Hi Ladies, I started my new year organizing by corralling all my CDs and DVDs, putting them into plastic pages in binders, indexed inside the front cover. I had shelves full of these and now have three binders, one half full. I know a lot of people keep the original casings for these but to me, shelf space trumps the cast listing/disk extras, etc.!

Jura Koncius: Bravo.

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Washington, D.C.: Thanks, Nicole, Setting a deadline is a good suggestion ... maybe I will even plan to have a party in the Spring and really give myself a deadline! The idea to ask other owners about their storage units is also a very good suggestion, thanks!

Jura Koncius: Thanks Nicole.

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Baseball Hat Collection: I feel your pain. I finally bought an over-the-door hanger (Container Store, I believe) with a series of clips down the length of the door. It sits behind the closet door in the guest room. My husband can only keep as many hats as will fit on the clips.

Terri Sapienza: Good idea (especially the imposed limit of hats). Thanks.

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Kids, toys, and cleanup: When my kids were little, and the toy thing got out of hand, and they couldn't figure out how to put things away, we used to be visited by the Clean-up Fairy. Everything left on the floor at the end of the day disappeared into large garbage bags. I(I forget where she hid them - probably same place Santa hid his stuff). A period of good behavior (clean up) would "earn" back a toy or two ... until the next time she felt compelled to pay us a visit.

Jura Koncius: Fairies are wonderful.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: Re: Toys in the "wrong" place. I did the toys, etc., in a basket with my boys as they were growing up also. I would store the basket in an out of the way place and wait until they missed an item and asked about it. Anything that wasn't "claimed" in a few days/weeks (depending on how much time I had) was packed away to be brought out on a rainy/cold weekend when a lot of children complain of being bored. It was like the toy was "new" again (well, almost). They are now 30 and 33 and both fairly tidy for guys. I like to think this had something to do with it!

Jura Koncius: Good for you!

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Central Mass: Love all the organizing tips! My husband and I are both hoarders. What we have found helps is to have him sort through my stuff (papers, etc) with me and vice versa. It forces you to articulate why you're saving things and see how ridiculous it is. Also, FlyLady.net can be helpful -- the emphasis is on "progress not perfection," presented in a kind and loving manner for the clutter-challenged.

Jura Koncius: You seem to have gotten a great grip on your problem with loving acceptance and help. Hurray for hoarder rehab. And yes, flylady.net has worked for so many people.

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Ellicott City, Md.: Instead of shopping for furniture in N.C., by all means check out craigslist, and even thrift stores. There are some great items out there, at good prices.

Jura Koncius: Yes. Yes.

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Frederick, Md.: Ikea is good for less pricey organizing.

Jura Koncius: True.

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Washington, D.C.: Actually, I just purchased the one from the Container Store for $34.99 and have to say I am more than pleased after being skeptical about the quality!

Jura Koncius: Thanks.

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Re: Childhood bedroom makeover: The other colors in the house include subdued yellow, rich deep red, royal blue (for the small entryway), and sage... so we are not shy about mixing things up! My parents love mission-style furniture and oriental rugs, and they're located out in the New England country. (My style is fresher and younger -- my apt has accent walls of deep golden yellow and spring green.)

Terri Sapienza: Based on this, I would suggest you take a color from the area rug they are planning to use in the room and start your search there. It's a difficult design rule to follow, but paint should be one of the last things chosen for a room.

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Pedestal Sink!: Don't do it in the master! Mine looks pretty, but not enough for me to not miss the storage from a regular vanity. Don't forget that there are things that are too big to fit in a medicine cabinet, but not pretty enough to display like toilet paper and feminine products. My sister did a similar redo, but opted for one of those Euro-style vanities that has the sink stick out. That baby bit of storage keeps her sane.

Jura Koncius: Another opinion on bathroom remodeling.

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Re: organizing tip: Hi there. For me, the nightly routine of deciding what is for dinner is a nightmare. What I've decided is to create a monthly meals calendar with a few rotating options. I keep it in Excel and can easily make changes and then will print it out each month. It sits on the fridge so I can better plan my shopping. We've found that having our favorite foods once a month isn't too much and it keeps me from being overwhelmed at 4:30. Thanks!

Jura Koncius: Sounds like a great idea.

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Clutterers Anonymous: I joined the Clutters Anonymous support group in Falls Church, Va., and I am getting a lot better at reducing clutter. The Web site is Clutterers Anonymous

Jura Koncius: Bless you.

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Charlottesville, Va.: You answered mine, with the link you gave to Shepards Park. Thanks.

Jura Koncius: okay

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Need professional help!: Hi -- I'd love to take on a massive reorganization/redecorating project for my 600 sq foot condo. I've been there for 3.5 years and really need to whip things into shape. I live by myself though and think I should get a professional to help. Any ideas of where to start and how much it costs?

Nicole Anzia: Getting professional help will definitely help you whip things into shape quickly. Go to the National Association of Professional Organizers' website (www.napo.net) and look for help in your area by searching with your zip code.

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Kitchen Counters, Md.: I love a nice bare kitchen counter too. I keep all appliances (food processors, wand blender, even the toaster which I don't use everyday) on a shelving unit -- it's still visible, but it feels tidier than when it's on the counter.

The one thing that's really important for me to keep out is spices. If I can't see them I don't use them, and I tend to buy more of what I already have. So I keep them on a lazy Susan in one corner.

Other than that all I have on the counters is a paper towel holder and a tall jug of cooking utensils (spatulas, wooden spoons, ladles etc). Cutting boards and cookie sheets are up against the wall, vertically, simply because they're too big to keep conveniently inside the cupboards. It's much easier to come in and cook something when you have a nice empty counter as a blank slate.

Jura Koncius: I have a spice drawer.

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Barbie House: Ditch the garish Barbie house and make/buy a wooden one that you can decorate in colors that better match your decor. Start your little girl decorating early!

Jura Koncius: !!

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Washington, D.C.: Good Morning Ladies! Thought I'd share a few ideas on organization... Two years ago we moved into the city. Our new home was built in 1935 (few closets, little storage), and about half the size of our old home. Hubby devised the Three G system. Garbage, Goodwill and Gotta have it! For the Gotta have-its, the Container Store is the way to go. They have many vertical storage ideas (much more space efficient.) We've installed Elfa shelving in our closets, including the interior of the doors. They have a column shoe storage rack that hold 16 - 20 pairs in about a foot of floor space. Under bed storage is another good idea. Amazon has several options. But no matter how creative your storage options are -- you've got to be ruthless in donating/disposing of unused items. Bonus -- think the container store has Elfa on sale in January!

Jura Koncius: one last tip

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Washington, D.C.: Actually my condo had the same problem with such a small bathroom and the way I ended up with more medicine cabinet storage was purchasing two corner kitchen wall cabinets and then mirroring the entire space between them. It left the sense of space above my toilet and pedestal sink and gave me a lot of storage.... go with the tallest kitchen cabinet you can possibly use height wise and you should get lots of storage.

Jura Koncius: and another last one.. great tips today

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Terri Sapienza: Looks like we've run out of time, folks. Thanks to Nicole for joining us and for offering her great organizing advice. And thanks to all you chatters for the lively discussion and the great tips. Our favorite was from the person who told us about her "One in, One Out" and "Two-year sticker" rules. If that chatter would email their info to us at localliving@washpost.com, we'll send out the Jonathan Adler book.

Thanks, again, to everyone for joining us today. Have a great end of the week and we'll chat with you next Thursday.

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You may also browse an archive of previous Home Front discussions.

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