<![CDATA[Kate Bosch Professional Organizing

<![CDATA[Kate Bosch Professional Organizing - Blog]]>Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:21:05 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[SPRING INTO SUMMER READY: YOUR APRIL 2026 ORGANIZING CHALLENGE]]>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.katebosch.org/blog/spring-into-summer-ready-your-april-2026-organizing-challenge

April is a month of preparation, and I don’t just mean taxes! As we leave winter behind (soon, please!), we look forward to that first warm breeze of spring. This is the perfect time to get your home summer-ready so you can say “yes” to spontaneous beach days, backyard BBQs, and weekend adventures without hunting for the picnic blanket or digging through winter coats.

I’ve created a simple but powerful 4-week challenge just for you. Each week starts off with a Mindset Challenge to motivate you and get your brain in the game. Then you’ll tackle two practical organizing or decluttering tasks (nothing overwhelming).

Ready? Let’s make April the month your home feels light, functional, and full of summer possibility!

WEEK 1: SEASONAL CLOTHING & CLOSET REFRESH

Mindset Challenge: Find Your Sticking Points
Getting your mind in the organizing and decluttering game starts here: Download my FREE Questions for Letting Go and determine your biggest obstacle to letting go of clutter. Is your sticking point emotional, practical, or financial? Recognizing what holds you back will help you release the excess with more ease and confidence.

Organizing Challenge 1: Spring-Clean the Coat Closet
Pull everything out: coats, scarves, hats, mittens, gloves, boots. Inspect for stains, damage, or items you haven’t worn in forever. Clean what you’re keeping. Store heavy winter items in a spare closet or in bins on a high shelf or in the basement. Swap in lightweight jackets, windbreakers, raincoats. Add a bottom bin for flip-flops, beach towels, sunblock, goggles—ready when the sun calls. Put donations in your car for your next drop-off.

Organizing Challenge 2: Get Your Clothes Summer-Ready
Sort tanks, shorts, dresses, and lighter pieces. Apply the one-year rule: If you didn’t wear it last year, are you really going to be excited this summer? Let it go! Shift heavy sweaters and pants to higher shelves or sides; bring summer items front and center. Tackle shoes: Pull out sandals, flip-flops, sneakers—try them on, keep only what fits and feels good. Finish with bathing suits and coverups: If it doesn’t make you feel fabulous (or the elastic is shot), release it.

WEEK 2: KITCHEN & PANTRY PREP FOR SUMMER ENTERTAINING

Mindset Challenge: Less Stuff = More Freedom
Organization isn’t perfection, it’s about making things easier for yourself by letting go of excess. When evaluating something, ask, "Does this item serve my summer goals?" Use my FREE Keys to Letting Go to release what you don’t need and gain time, ease, and more joy.

Organizing Challenge 1: Pantry & Fridge Refresh
Toss expired items and old condiments from your fridge and freezer; wipe shelves. Plan to eat through the wintery comfort food you’ve stocked to make room for summer salads, grill items, and frozen treats.

Organizing Challenge 2: Outdoor Dining & Picnic Station
Gather picnic blankets, cooler, grilling tools, trays. Create a “Summer Entertaining Zone” in a cabinet or garage shelf using bins or baskets. Store paper plates/cups in a lidded bin, utensils/napkins in a caddy, grill tools in a portable tray—everything grab-and-go.

WEEK 3: OUTDOOR GEAR RESET

Mindset Challenge: Ask “Why do you have this?”
Before you put anything back, run each item through my favorite filter: WHY (reason for having it), DO (do you actually use it now?), YOU (does it belong in your current life?), HAVE (are you willing to maintain it?), THIS (is it in good shape and serving its purpose?).

Organizing Challenge 1: Weed Out the “Just in Case” Items
Use my CALM method to tackle all that outdoor gear you’ve been saving on the off-chance you might use it. Clear out all your outdoor stuff from wherever it’s hiding. Assess it and toss anything that’s broken or too dirty to clean. Get real about the rest: What will you really use this year and what can you part with? Fill donation bags and put them in your car to drop off next time you’re out.
Note: Most donation centers don't accept helmets. Instead, you can give them to someone you know or see if your local first responders will take them to use for training purposes.

Organizing Challenge 2: Create Summer Gear Zones
Continue CALM: Locate items into zones by sorting into categories: beach/pool, backyard games, sports gear, bikes/helmets. Hang what you can on hooks and stow the rest in clear, latch-top bins to keep it clean. Maintain your space by putting things away after use.

WEEK 4: READY TO HEAD OUT FOR SUMMER ADVENTURES

Mindset Challenge: Organization = Spontaneous Joy
Clutter drains energy. A clean car and packed bags turn “Let’s hit the beach now!” from stressful to simple. This week, remind yourself that you deserve that freedom.

Organizing Challenge 1: CALM Your Car
Have stray things found their way into your car? Clear everything, tossing trash immediately. Assess what stays: sunglasses, charger, emergency kit, grocery bags. Locate items logically, within easy reach or stowed securely. Maintain by adjusting after trips.

Organizing Challenge 2: Stock Summer “Yes Bags”
Prep family beach totes and kits: Each person gets a bag with flip-flops, sunglasses, goggles, towel, games, ziplock for wet suits. Use flip-top bins to create kits of sunblock, bug spray, baby powder (removes sand), ear drops, first aid. Store by the door—ready to say “yes” to summer adventures!

By April’s end, you’ll have lighter spaces and a summer-ready mindset. Share before-and-after photos—I’d love to see them! Email kate@katebosch.org or tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

If any week feels like too much or you want hands-on support, I’m here. Here’s to a beautiful, organized, adventure-filled summer!

]]><![CDATA[VACATION-READY PACKING: SMART TIPS TO SAVE SPACE]]>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.katebosch.org/blog/vacation-ready-packing-smart-tips-to-save-space

Last month, I helped my client Annabel* pack for a month-long trip. I arrived at her house to find her suitcase overflowing with piles of folded shirts, pants, and accessories and multiple bags of toiletries. “I’m going to need at least two suitcases,” said Annabel.

My Tetris-trained mind took note of the empty pockets of space between the piles. “You know,” I said, “if we rolled all the clothes instead of folding, I’m sure we could fit it all in this one suitcase. It’s pretty big.”

Annabel was game to try, so she let me take everything out of the suitcase and re-pack it. Here’s my packing method.

WHY ROLLING BEATS FOLDING
One of the simplest, yet most effective, packing hacks is rolling your clothes instead of folding them. Rolling compresses items like t-shirts, pants, and dresses into tight, space-saving cylinders that fit neatly into your luggage. This method not only saves space but also reduces wrinkles, keeping your outfits looking fresh.

HOW TO ROLL YOUR CLOTHES
Now don’t just grab a t-shirt and start rolling from the collar down. There are some tricks of the trade you need to know first! Each type of clothing gets rolled in a specific way.

Shirts: Lay the shirt flat with the front side up. Fold into thirds (so you don’t get a crease down the middle) and fold the sleeves back along the length of the shirt. Roll tightly from the bottom to the collar.
Sweaters: Lay the sweater flat with the front side up. Fold the sides in toward the middle so they just touch but don’t overlap. This reduces bulk. Fold the sleeves down along the sides. Roll gently from the bottom to the collar.
Pants, Leggings, and Jeans: Lay flat and fold in half with the back facing out. Fold in half lengthwise, bringing the ankles up to just below the waistband. Roll tightly from the fold up to the waistband.
Skirts: Lay the skirt flat with the front side up. Fold narrow skirts in half lengthwise, full skirts into thirds. Roll tightly from the waistband to the bottom.
Dresses: Lay the dress flat with the front side up. Fold into thirds and fold the sleeves down the length of the dress. Fold in half and then roll from the fold line up to the top.
Socks: Lay one sock on top of the other. Roll from the toe to the top. Fold the top of one sock down over the rolled-up sock to create a bundle.
Underwear: Lay underwear flat with back side up. Fold about 1.5”-2” of the top down. Flip the underwear over, keeping the fold, and fold it into thirds. Roll the bottom up to the top, then flip the folded edge down over the roll to secure the bundle.

PACKING THE SUITCASE
Now that you have all your clothes in tight little rolls, arrange them side by side in your suitcase. Stack them like logs for easy access.

Balance the weight in the suitcase by putting the heavier clothes (e.g. jeans) at the bottom and lighter clothes toward the top.

Pro tip: Use packing cubes to group rolled clothes by category (e.g., tops, bottoms, activewear). Cubes keep everything organized and compress items even further.

Stuff shoes with socks. Your shoes take up the most real estate in your luggage so don’t neglect the space inside them. Socks are the perfect shoe stuffers, but accessories also work well. This maximizes space and helps your shoes maintain their shape during travel. Position shoes along the edges of your suitcase.

Fill bras with underwear. To maintain the curve of your bras, nestle rolled underwear into the cups to fill the space.

Bonus tip: Throw a gallon ziplock bag into your suitcase for laundry or in case you have to bring home a wet bathing suit.

USE EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY
Beyond rolling clothes and stuffing small items into larger ones, look for other ways to utilize small spaces in your luggage.

Tuck small items like chargers, earbuds, or jewelry into side pockets or gaps between clothes.

Use a slim pouch for documents (passports, tickets) to keep them flat and accessible.

Compress bulkier items like jackets into their sleeves or hoods to keep them small.

Consider your travel outfit. Wear your chunkiest shoes and bulkiest layers onto the plane so they don’t take up any space in your suitcase.

PACK SMART WITHOUT SACRIFICING STYLE
Packing smart doesn’t mean sacrificing style or comfort—it’s about being intentional with your space. I’m happy to say that I easily got Annabel into one suitcase that she could manage by herself.

By rolling your clothes and making the most of every square inch of your suitcase, you’ll travel lighter and arrive ready for adventure. Try these tips on your next trip, and let me know how they work for you!

Ready to Pack Like a Pro? Download my free Packing Checklist to stay organized and ensure you never forget an essential again. Happy travels!

Have a packing tip that’s worked wonders for you? Share it in the comments below!

*Name changed to protect the disorganized.

]]><![CDATA[WHY DO YOU HAVE THIS?]]>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.katebosch.org/blog/why-do-you-have-this

During our recent visit to Ohio, my mother-in-law surprised me by saying she’d like us to help her with some decluttering. Yay! She’s an inveterate collector of anything antique and/or sentimental, so I was surprised she was ready to pare down.

While I helped Mom in the living room, my husband and his father checked out the basement. In a corner of the storage area, they came across an old-fashioned cardboard clothing box. Inside, Doug discovered an old military hat…but his father had never been in the military. “Dad, what is this?” he asked. “Oh, that’s Jim’s hat from the Air Force.”

Jim? Who’s Jim? He’s Doug’s mother’s mother’s second husband’s brother, of course.

So, Doug asked the logical next question:

“Why do you have this?”

This caused Dad to launch into a long story detailing the avalanche of stuff that so often happens when someone passes away. When Jim died, he had no other relatives, so all his stuff went to his brother. When the brother died, everything remained in his house with his wife, Doug’s grandmother. When she died, all the stuff went to Doug’s parents’ house.

That tale tells us how the stuff came to be in Doug’s parents’ house, but it doesn’t address the core of Doug’s question. When we break down the question word by word, we confront the stories we tell ourselves about why we hold onto things. Your answers will empower you to make the decision you’ve been putting off: keep it or let it go?

WHY DO YOU HAVE THIS?

WHY
For what reason? Do you have it because you love it? Because someone gave it to you? Because someone left it at your house? Because you bought it with some intention of using it that never happened?

DO
The verb “do”is in the present tense. What good is this in your life TODAY? Do you still love it? Do you use it? If not, do you have an actual plan to use it soon? Have you been putting off making a decision about it? If it’s not doing anything for you today, rethink continuing to give it a place in your house.

YOU
Is it yours? How did it come to be in your possession? If it’s not yours, why are you keeping it? If it is yours, do you still need it? Do you still want it? Does it still represent who you are now or is it part of who you used to be? Who else might want or use it? Is it still in good enough condition to be used and enjoyed (Donate or throw it out.)?

HAVE
To have something means you own and possess it. With ownership comes stewardship — you’re responsible for maintaining the item. Do you want this responsibility? Are you still willing to put in the effort of either using this item regularly, displaying it with honor, or storing it properly so it doesn’t become damaged? If you’re no longer interested in putting in work for this item, it’s time for it to move on to a new home.

THIS
Consider the specific item itself. What is it? What’s its inherent purpose? What should it do? Does it serve that purpose for you now? Jim’s old military hat was not being worn, displayed, or even stored very well in my in-laws’ home. (Storing fabric in cardboard in a basement is a recipe for mildew.)

Instead of continuing to squirrel it away, could it be passed along to someone who values military history? Or a theater group who needs it for a costume? Since I taught my father-in-law how to use Facebook Marketplace to sell things, I’ll bet he’ll list it and find someone who wants it!

ASK YOURSELF
When you’re confronted with a sticky item (or several) that found its way into your home and doesn’t want to leave, break down the question,“Why do I have this?” Your answers will reveal which items need to be released and which ones are truly important to you and deserve a place of honor in your home.

]]><![CDATA[PLAN LIKE A PRO FOR AN ORGANIZED YEAR]]>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.katebosch.org/blog/plan-like-a-pro-for-an-organized-year

Welcome to 2026! Have you made your resolutions for a new you this year? Will you be hitting the gym every day? Creating a whole new spending plan? Completely organizing your entire house? You’re totally on top of everything, right?

Maybe not so much.

Honestly, once I clean up from the holidays and start getting back to the reality of a normal schedule, January is nearly half over!

It’s natural to want to set some intentions for improvement when the calendar rolls around to a new year. What’s unrealistic is thinking that you’ll accomplish them in the first month. This year, to take on your organizing projects, make January your month to come up with a plan.

TAKE TIME TO REGROUP
Put away the holiday decorations, giving yourself permission to get rid of any you aren’t crazy about anymore. Put away any new gifts you received and—yes!—return, exchange, or even donate any you don’t like or won’t use.

MAKE A LIST
Now you can start to assess what you have. Walk through your home and make a list of spaces you’d like to organize. Take photos of your space. Photos give you distance so you can see your home with new eyes. You’ll be amazed at what you see in the pictures that your eyes just gloss over in real life!

MAP OUT YOUR PLAN
Once you have a list of spaces you want to organize, map out how you’ll tackle these projects. Some questions I ask my clients when we start a project are:

What is the order of importance for your projects? List the top three.
Are any projects interdependent? For example, do you have to organize the basement shelves before the bedroom closet so you have a place to store off-season clothes?
What resources do I need? This can be a junk hauler or dumpster, special donation or recycling sites, furniture or containers for organizing (NOTE: “Shop” for these in your own home before buying anything new!). Don’t forget people: someone to help move heavy things, a handy-person, a closet installer, or a professional organizer.
Is it time-sensitive (e.g. organizing because you’re moving) and when do I have time to tackle it?

Most organizing projects are not urgent, so make peace with the idea that you don’t have to get organized all in one month. See what your schedule looks like, figure out how to divide the work into little chunks, then make incremental progress over the next few months.

Make your plan concrete by actually scheduling the projects.. Whether you decide to organize one space per week, month, or quarter, put them on your calendar or your digital To Do list. Be sure to schedule reminders to ping you when it’s time to get to work.

At the end of the year, take some “after” photos and compare them to the ones you took at the beginning of the year. Progress, not perfection, is the goal. Share your photos on my social media pages and we’ll celebrate your accomplishments together!

BONUS TIP
There's another question I pose to every new organizing client, and it's a bit of a trick question because I already know the answer. “Does your space have too much stuff or is it just that things are not properly organized?”

99% of the time, the answer is “both.” A big part of being organized is being able to pare down the excess so you have less to manage. Make it fun to let go of things with my FREE printable Pare Down 100 Things page!

]]><![CDATA[The 12 Days of Holiday Organizing]]>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.katebosch.org/blog/the-12-days-of-holiday-organizing

Do you dream of having family and friends gather at your home for the holidays? But maybe looking around your disorganized house makes you think this is an impossible dream.

Join me for 12 Days of Holiday Organizing and make your dream of hosting a reality!

Day 1: Plan Your Approach
As with any organizing project, you need to start with a clear vision and a plan. Make a list of the areas of your home that need attention before the holiday rush. Focus on the public areas: kitchen, living room, dining area, and bathroom. To make sure you follow through, schedule daily time for organizing.

Day 2: Declutter the Entryway
Make a welcoming impression. Exit your house and step up to the door, seeing it with the eyes of a visitor. Clear out shoes, coats, and unnecessary items that clutter your entrance. Use hooks and corral items in baskets or bins to pull together a tidy look.

Day 3: Simplify Kitchen Countertops
Holiday cooking will be so much more manageable once you’ve cleared your countertops. Only keep what you use daily out, and store holiday platters and tins until needed. Find extra storage space in high cupboards, the backs of lower cabinets, or even in a bin in the basement.

Day 4: Meal Prep Organization
Now that you’ve streamlined your kitchen, you can plan meals for the holiday period. Prep ingredients in advance (freezing works well), label containers, and ensure your pantry is stocked with essentials. This way, you won’t be stressed if someone happens to drop by for tea or even dinner.

Day 5: Organize the Living Room
Prepare for guests by creating a cozy space to hang out. Put away non-seasonal décor and consider where holiday decorations will go. Instead of decorating the whole room, choose a focal point (e.g. fireplace, bookcase, or one wall) and concentrate your decor there. This will look festive without turning your whole house into Santa's Village. Unless, of course, that's the look you were going for!

Day 6: Tackle the Bedroom
Even though guests won’t see it, a clear bedroom sets a calm tone for you. Sort through clothes, declutter nightstands, and cut back on stuff that's stored under the bed. Give yourself permission to let go of books you thought you’d read this year but now know you’ll never get to. Put together a couple of holiday outfits so you’ll be ready for a party at a moment’s notice.

Day 7: Manage Gift Wrapping Supplies
Set up a wrapping station with all your supplies in one place. Use the back of a door, a portable caddy, or a designated drawer to keep everything organized. You’ll need paper, tape, scissors, ribbon, gift bags, tissue paper, and gift tags. To save time, wrap gifts as you buy them.

Day 8: Sort Holiday Decorations
Take stock of your holiday decorations. Decide what to keep, repair or discard. Organize by type and/or by room for easier setup next year. Pro tip: Take photos of your displays so you remember how to set it up next year.

Day 9: Dining Room Declutter
Spend time going through your dining area, letting go of chipped dishes, getting out and cleaning holiday-only service pieces, and making sure you have the linens or paper goods you’ll need for holiday entertaining. Adorn your table with some candles and a festive bowl or platter as a centerpiece.

Day 10: Children’s Areas
If you have kids, organize their spaces. Make room for new toys and gifts by sorting through what they have, involving the kids in the process. Help your children get into the spirit of giving by having them come with you to donate the toys. If you don’t have kids, maybe your pets’ toys could use some organization.

Day 11: Guest Accommodations
If you’re like most people, you’re probably using your guest room for some extra storage space. Now’s the time to prepare for actual guests. Fresh linens, clear space, and amenities like soap and lotion make guests feel welcome. If you can’t clear a whole drawer or part of the closet, place some empty fabric or woven baskets in the room for them to use to organize their clothes and toiletries.

Day 12: Reflect and Celebrate
After the organizing spree, reflect on what worked well and what could be improved for next year. Celebrate your hard work by inviting a couple of friends over for a spontaneous gathering over cocktails or tea. Revel in the fact that you are now ready for guests whenever they show up!

Need help customizing this list for your home? Need a partner to coach you through the process? I help clients with this kind of thing all the time. You can schedule a consultation with me or, if you just have a few questions, let’s start a conversation over on my Instagram or Facebook pages. Feel free to ask away!

]]><![CDATA[A Professional Organizer’s Quick Tips for a Tidy Closet]]>Tue, 04 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMThttps://www.katebosch.org/blog/a-professional-organizers-quick-tips-for-a-tidy-closet

Do you dream of a closet transformation, but think it’ll take way too long? I hear you!

If you can’t bear the thought of tearing apart your whole closet, my quick tips will get you closer to your dream closet with a minimum amount of work.

1. Invest in new hangers

Not a frivolous indulgence, all new, matching hangers will make your closet instantly look neater. Read my blog about hangers to find the right ones for you.

2. Create Categories

Arrange your clothes according to use, not color or length. Casual, dressy, summer, workout, lounge, etc. This makes it quick to find what you need.

3. Add hooks

Placing hooks strategically along the sides of your closet makes use of overlooked space. Hang bags, belts, scarves, robes, caps, etc.

4. Don’t forget the doors

The insides of closet doors are neglected spaces that will expand your closet space by much more than you could have imagined. Use a Container Store Elfa door rack or, my favorite, a clear shoe pocket organizer for more than just shoes. If you don’t like seeing the hooks over the top of the door, you can screw the pocket organizer directly to the door.

5. Corral in cube bins

Inexpensive fabric cube bins are hardworking closet savers. Use them at the bottom of the closet to corral shoes. Put them sideways on the top shelf and they become cubbies to contain bulky sweaters and sweatshirts.

7. Heel-to-Toe or Front-to-Back Your Shoes

Whether your shoes are just marching along the closet floor or stacked on shelves, here are my two favorite strategies for lining them up to make the most of your space.

Heel-to-Toe: Place one shoe with the toe facing forward and the other with the heel facing forward. They take up less space and now you can easily recognize the pair from the toe and heel height.
Front-to-Back: If it’s hard to see the back row of shoes (like when they're under hanging clothes), line them up with one shoe in the front row and its mate in the back. Now you can see all your shoes in the front row.

8. Use divider bins

Bins and drawer organizers that come with dividers add instant organization to your shelves and drawers. A honeycomb organizer in the sock or underwear drawer means you can still find each pair even if you don’t fold. Fabric organizer bins with compartments can fit in drawers or on shelves (that’s how I use mine). Instead of having a towering stack of t-shirts or jeans, file them into these compartments. They’re instantly tidy and easy to reach.

9. Turn your hangers around

To help you pare down and get rid of clothes you’re not wearing, turn all of your hangers around so they’re backwards on the rod. For folded items, you can turn them backwards too. When you wear something, put it back in the closet with the hanger the right way around. Set a reminder on your phone to ping you in three months, then take a look and see which clothes are still backwards. Can you donate any?

Chip away at these quick tips and see how much easier your closet is to use. Getting dressed and out the door in the morning will be a breeze!

]]><![CDATA[Conquering the Scary Room: A Professional Organizer's Guide]]>Tue, 07 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.katebosch.org/blog/conquering-the-scary-room-a-professional-organizers-guide

Is there a room in your house that you’re afraid to enter? Do you open the door, look away, and just chuck things into it? Are you scared of what you might find lurking under the piles in there?

Even when it’s not close to Halloween, I get calls to tackle what clients call “The Scary Room.” Do you have one?

Whether it's your basement, garage, attic, or that spare room tucked away from prying eyes, this space has become the go-to spot for all the things you don’t know what to do with. You probably don’t even know what’s in there anymore. Let’s tackle this challenge together!

AM I THE ONLY ONE WITH A SCARY ROOM?
Let me normalize this situation for you. Every home has, if not an entire room, a scary spot — a place where items go to live when they're not immediately needed, liked, or sorted. It's where things end up when someone’s at the door and you’re doing a rush tidy. But don't worry; transforming this space from "scary" to "sanctuary" is truly possible.

HOW DOES A ROOM BECOME SCARY?
Decision Avoidance: We throw things in here because we can't decide what to do with them.

Emotional Attachments: Items that have sentimental value but no current use end up getting stashed here.

Procrastination: Sorting and deciding takes time, so you put things here thinking you can decide about them later. But later becomes farther and farther away.

SCARE YOUR SCARY ROOM
In order to get a handle on this space, you will become your Scary Room’s worst nightmare. You will vanquish it by turning it from the Scary Room into a Room with a Purpose

1. Visualize Your Goal
Before you start, imagine what you want this space to be. Is it going to be a hobby room, storage for seasonal items, or maybe a workout space? Giving the space purpose makes it less likely for the clutter to build up later. Having a vision will motivate you to persevere.

2. Conquer Clutter with CALM
Use my CALM organizing method to cut through the clutter.

Clear: Go through everything in the space, taking it out to another room or even the driveway to sort.
Assess: As you sort through what you have, decide what to keep, donate, or throw away.
Locate: Decide what items fit your new vision and choose where to put them in the reorganized room. Create zones for different types of items and activities. Add shelving and bins to make it easy to store and retrieve what you need.
Maintain & Modify: As you start to use the room, keep up with the new arrangement and make changes as needed to make it more user friendly.

3. Quick Clean-Up Strategy
For those moments when guests are about to arrive, have a designated "last-minute" bin or box. A laundry basket works well. It's okay to temporarily move things there, just as long as you set a reminder on your phone to ping you to deal with the stuff once the guests have left.

Now that you’ve tamed your Scary Room, you’ll want to keep it in check. Dedicate time once a month to give the room a quick scan. If any stray items have found their way in, round them up and put them back where they belong.

Remember, your goal isn’t perfection, it’s just not to have a Scary Room again. Knowing what’s in the space and keeping tabs on it regularly will maintain the new order. Having conquered the Scary Room and turned it into a space you’re proud of will feel immensely satisfying.

If you run into any snags along the way, feel free to reach out for ideas and motivation. Here's to creating spaces that work for you and don’t scare you! Boo!

]]><![CDATA[Are You a Stasher?]]>Tue, 02 Sep 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.katebosch.org/blog/are-you-a-stasher

Kate Bosch Professional Organizer looking at an overstuffed drawer

My client, Jenny* has a pristine, beautiful home. If you walked into her house, you would never think that she'd have any need to work with a professional organizer.

But open a drawer, cupboard, or closet and you will discover Jenny's secret. She is a stasher.

I have a deep understanding and sympathy for stashers because my mom was one too. If she had something she didn't know what to do with, she would stuff it into a cupboard or drawer, thinking she could decide about it later. If it was something she thought could be useful, then she saved it “just in case.”

It was hard for her to let go of things, so it was just easier for her to stash them away and never give them a second thought…until the drawer was so packed that she couldn’t open it or the contents of the closet came spilling out onto the floor.

Use my free downloads about LETTING GO to find your pain points and learn how to take action. Questions for Letting Go Keys to Letting Go

The good news is that if you're a stasher, you’re not tripping over clutter everywhere. Instead, you have isolated pockets to deal with. This means you can get organized one small space at a time.

The best way to tackle these small spaces is to schedule time with yourself — or with yourself and a professional organizer! A typical closet or pantry can be organized in just a few hours.

In the kitchen, tackle one drawer or cabinet at a time and start to enjoy the feeling of lightness when you open that space. You’ll want to keep going and bring that feeling to every space in the kitchen.

For stashers, the hard part about organizing is the mindset and habit changes you’ll need to make in order to keep things organized. Some common habits of stashers are overshopping, oversaving, and underthinking.

OVERSHOPPING
If you’re a stasher who overshops, you probably love browsing in boutiques and treating yourself to something new. There’s no harm in that, unless you’re doing it so much that you’re running out of space in your closets and cupboards. Here’s how to curb it.

Catch yourself when you say, “This is so cute! I don’t know what I’m going to do with it, but I just love it and have to take it home!”

Instead, say, “This is so cute, but unless I can think of a place and a use for it in my home, I’m going to take a picture of it and leave it here in the store.”

Remember, as my fellow Professional Organizer Sandra Polett said, "Every time I buy something, it makes work for me."

Do you really want to bring home more work?

OVERSAVING
Stashers often keep things “just in case.” Just in case what?

Force yourself to go through the scenarios to see if it’s realistically something you’ll use in the next few months to a year. And if it’s something you have multiples of, ask yourself how likely it is that you’ll need that many? For instance, you’ll probably use a nail clipper, but do you need 6 of them?

Just because something is useful, doesn’t mean it’s something you need.

UNDERTHINKING
My mom often ended up stashing things because she just didn’t want to deal with them. She preferred just to put yet another tape measure into the drawer because it was too much bother to look and see how many she already had, make a decision about this tape measure, and then figure out what to do with the extra tape measure.

Jenny stashed things away when she didn’t know what to do with the item, either because she didn’t have a use for it or she didn’t think through where it should logically go.

It takes much less time to make a thoughtful decision about an item than it does to have to tackle a backlog of stashed items.

Stop yourself when you say, “I’ll just put it here for now,” and instead take a moment to think. Ask yourself:

Do I really need this?
Where will I use this?
Where can I put this so I can easily get it when needed?

Once you’ve worked on these mindset challenges and cleared your formerly-stashed spaces, you’ll have the skills to change your stashing ways. It’ll take a bit of time and practice, so just remind yourself how much you love to have tidy spaces filled with just what you need.

*Name changed to protect the disorganized.

]]><![CDATA[Establishing Routines: Transition from Summer Life to Fall]]>Tue, 05 Aug 2025 19:18:51 GMThttps://www.katebosch.org/blog/establishing-routines-transition-from-summer-life-to-fall

There’s something magical about vacation mode—that blissful escape from the usual rush. Whether it’s a sun-soaked summer break or a breezy long-weekend retreat, taking time away lets you hit pause, breathe deeper, and take life at a slower pace than your everyday life allows.

However, when vacation mode ends, we all have a hard time jumping back into the swing of the daily routine.

When the vacation ends, do you have a hard time jumping back into the swing of the daily routine? Is your home still disorganized with stuff you brought home from your trip and haven’t put away? Is the family having trouble getting out the door in time? You’re not alone!

Let’s rebuild the rhythm of your day — one simple habit at a time — to bring calm and simplicity to your everyday life.

1. PRIORITIZE YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULE
During vacation, it’s easy to fall into late nights and lazy mornings. If you’re coming off a longer break, like summer vacation, try easing back into your regular sleep routine about a week before returning home. Going to bed just 15 minutes earlier each night can help your body adjust gradually so waking up at 6am on the first day back at work or school won’t feel like such a shock.

2. UNPACK ASAP
When you arrive home, especially if the travel has been long and tiring, you just want to put the suitcases down and ignore them. Resist this temptation!

You’ll feel so organized and on top of things if you empty the suitcases within a day of getting home. Start by just throwing all the clothes into the washing machine because they’re probably dirty. Then you’re just into the normal routine of doing laundry.

3. NEW STUFF NEEDS NEW HOMES
Did you bring anything home from vacation? Did your kids make a bunch of crafts at summer camp? Don’t let it pile up on random tables and countertops.

Make decisions about what things you’re really going to keep (Maybe that souvenir doesn’t look as great at home as it did in the resort shop.) and then go around your house finding homes for them.

4. GET YOUR CHORES BACK IN CHECK
If you’re like me, vacation mode means getting lax about chores like grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning.

Kick-start your weekly habits by looking up two new recipes, placing a grocery pick-up order, and wiping down your kitchen counters.

5. PRACTICE AM/PM ROUTINES
No matter what you do with the middle of the day, returning to your morning and evening routines will help you feel like everything is running smoothly. In the evenings, have your family clean up after dinner, do a quick tidy of anything left out on tables or floors (toys, crafts, papers, work), and run the dishwasher before you go to bed.

Get up in the morning and get ready for the day. Instead of lounging around like you did on vacation, get fully dressed. Empty the dishwasher and tidy the kitchen. Set out things that you’ll need for the day and maybe even make lunch and stick it in the fridge for later. Accomplishing these tasks in the morning will make you feel productive all day.

6. ENJOY THE EVERYDAY LIFE
Fabulous vacations sure are fun, but remember that the comfortable rhythms of everyday life provide the structure to propel us forward in life. As you ease back into chores and routines, remember that every small step brings a little more order and calm into your life, helping you create a space that truly reflects who you are.

]]><![CDATA[3 Steps to Get Your Family to Declutter]]>Tue, 01 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMThttps://www.katebosch.org/blog/3-steps-to-get-your-family-to-declutter

Have you caught the decluttering bug, but your family is still clinging tightly to their excess stuff? Let me show you how to lead your family, understand their mindset, and make it easy for them to join you in streamlining the house.

1. SHOW THE WAY
If you’re frustrated by clutter in your home — stuff on the counters, clothes on the floor, cosmetics all over the bathroom — the first thing to do is tackle your OWN clutter.

Don’t point the finger at your family members because nagging never got anyone to make lasting changes. Stop playing the clutter blame game and focus on your own stuff. Once they see how decluttering is making your life easier, they’ll start to follow your lead. They might even ask you for help!

2. GET INTO THEIR HEADS
To help people release clutter, you need to know why they’re holding onto the excess. Do they not know where things go? Are the systems difficult so it’s hard to put stuff away? Do they have more stuff than they can manage? Do they fear they might need the thing later? Are they overly sentimental?

Read my companion blogs, Why It’s Hard to Let Go of Stuff: The 3 Sticking Points and The Keys to Unlock Your Clutter: Actions You Can Take, to unpack the minds of your clutterbugs. Figure out what’s making them hold onto the stuff, then brainstorm solutions that will work for them.

My youngest daughter just needed a place for the stuff to go, so I started a hand-me-down chain with another family whose daughter Luisa was a couple of years younger. My daughter got into the habit of bringing me things, saying, “I’m done with this now so it’s time for Luisa to have it.”

3. MAKE IT EASY
If you make it challenging to put things away, they’ll probably be left out. If your family doesn’t know how to get rid of things, they’ll keep them.

Create simple organizing systems.

When possible, store things in un-lidded bins because lids add a layer of complexity that makes it more difficult to put things away.
Use clear bins, bins with windows, and labels so everyone knows at a glance where things go.
For papers, use files with broad categories (e.g. Cars, Medical, Utilities), so there’s no hunting for an overly-specific file folder.
Store clothes in the simplest way possible for each person. Some might prefer folding, others prefer hanging. Do what works best for each family member.

Devise a plan for getting things out of the house.

Put a tote bag near the door and let everyone know it's the DONATION BAG. When it’s full, put it in your car and take it to the nearest donation center.
Start your own hand-me-down chain and/or join your local Buy Nothing group.
Use the Donate & Recycle list on my Resources page to figure out what to do with unusual items.
Let the family know that it’s OK to throw out things that are used up, worn out, broken, or irreparably dirty.

Now that you know how, just take these three steps in order, and watch your family catch the decluttering bug. How much can your family let go of this year?

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