Organized A to Z Blog

Organizing Tips from Heather Lambie

July 27, 2010

Summer is finally here and it’s time to get outside–or at least get the crazy kids outside.  However, before you send out e-vites for that backyard barbeque, you may need to de-clutter the lawn. Due to lack of use during our way-too-long winter, your yard may be a bit neglected. Give it the attention it deserves–the same attention and organization you want for your bedroom closet, for instance. The organizational rules and principles listed below work just as well in your bedroom, playroom and kitchen, as they do in your garden.

Yard toys—like all toys–have an expiration date.
Just as you eradicate board books and onsies when your little ones become bigger ones, so must you get rid of outgrown yard paraphernalia. Is your five-year-old riding a two-wheeler now? Then why do you still have that plastic Playskool tricycle on the back patio?  Did your tweenagers on the school swim team? Then it’s probably safe to roll up the pool fence that has turned into a bustling love bug  community condo, and properly store it in the shed or garage. And what about the shaded sandbox your father gave your now-seven-year-old when he was just two? Is the wood rotten and the sand pit leaf-laden? Is the rusty Tonka truck that sits next to it something that will require a tetanus shot post play date? All those things must go. Consign, give to friends, donate, or trash/recycle.

Abridge the unnecessary.
Editing out the things that you no longer use or love in your home is the indoor equivalent of pruning your yard. So go outside and edit! Cut back your shrubs and frostbitten tropical trees, and sweep away leaves. Get rid of those mismatched and chipped planters. And I give you (and your husband) permission to purge all those piles of half-finished Home Depot projects that neither one of you will ever have time to complete.

Remember the value of storage containers, even outdoors.
When your garage fills up to where you can no longer park your car(s) in it, it’s time for a purge. However, even if your garage is already streamlined (gold stars for you!) you may still need additional outdoor storage. Sheds come in all sizes and are perfect for housing things like paint cans, coolers and gardening supplies. Deck boxes are ideal for the pool area to house goggles, flippers, kickboards and the like. You may even want a second deck box somewhere on the side of the house near the hose to easily access your car cleaning accessories while keeping them out of sight.

Doing away with clutter is cathartic.
De-cluttering the yard is something we recently did at our house, and I can tell you that the process was cathartic. There were more than just the “feel good” endorphins that came with being outside in the sunshine, working with our hands together as a family. As my family collected all the misplaced things from around the yard, we came across several of my dog’s toys hidden behind trees and bushes (my 14-year-old dog passed in February). Remembering her and then letting go of those old, chewed up tennis balls, squeaky toys and Kongs gave me closure.

The final step of our yard de-cluttering was to sweep and then spray down all the pavers on both sides of the house, take the full recycling bins to the center, and lay down a few squares of new sod so that everything was fresh again.

Like all home organizing, the yard cleaning and purging process was energizing and healing, and when we were done I asked myself, “Why did we wait so long to do this?” Now going outside isn’t treacherous or embarrassing.  It’s invigorating! Take a weekend this summer and de-clutter your backyard. Organize your home from the outside in, then send out that e-vite and share your success with friends.

Thanks to Organized A to Z.com partner Heather Lambie, CPO, for contributing these tips. Heather is owner of Your Home Editor. You can visit her Web site at www.YourHomeEditor.com.

Filed under: Organizing Tips