Choosing to live on the Hill often means choosing to get rid of some of our most beloved treasures. When one makes the move to the Hill we are often forced to cast aside our over-sized chairs, treasured tchochkes and clothes not worn since college for minimalist furnishings and fashion that fits.
If you are like me, and you dread the clutter that the holidays bring—from added ornaments to new scarves and sweaters—but the one-in, one-out rule of home organization just won’t do, there are ways to keep your clutter in check now and in the new year.
1. Tis the season for trees and ornaments and lights and wreathes and stockings…. Each holiday brings new things to decorate our home for the holidays, but it can be hard to find room for holiday decorations in our small Hill homes when it tis no longer the season. In the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens, Meryl Starr, author of The Home Organizing Workbook, recommends that holiday revelers keep only those decorations that they truly adore. “Keep only the items that are an absolute joy to uncover,” says Starr, “and donate the rest for someone else to appreciate.”
2. Designate a space. The best tip for organization is–drum roll, please–have a place for everything and keep everything in its place. When an object has a home, it rarely clutters up the valuable space in a home, so designate a spot for shoes, mail, keys, clothes, even off-season holiday items, and keep them in their place by using decorative storage bins, plastic storage containers and labels. Once you’ve designated a space for your items big and small, set a side 15 minutes a night to return everything out of place to its rightful place. And if an object doesn’t have a home, consider selling it on Craigslist, donating it to a local charity or offering it to others on Freecycle.
3. Find hidden storage in your own home. If you live in a multi-story home there is a good chance you have hidden storage underneath your stairs. Hill resident Brian Gebhard discovered that he could increase storage in a once cluttered and unorganized closet under the stairs by installing an Elfa closet system, which now holds everything from cold-weather gear to baseball caps, shoes, purses (mine, not his) and shopping bags. Elfa systems go on sale Christmas Eve, and the sale lasts through the first weekend in February. And if you aren’t sure how to make the space a storage place, consult with a contractor who will be able to guide you in the right direction and then schedule an appointment with one of the Container Store’s design consultants.
4. There’s room to store. Are you unwilling to part with some of your most treasured possessions? Rent a storage unit! There are a few storage options on the Hill, such as H Street Self Storage, Public Storage and U-Haul. H Street Storage offers a wide range of storage units, with 5 feet by 5 feet units renting for approximately $72 a month. If you’d like a view of Nationals Park from your storage facility, spaces are available at the U-Haul facility on South Capitol Street. You can rent a 5 feet by 7 feet size for $45 a month. (Check with storage facilities for the most current pricing and special offers.) Just be sure to pay your monthly rental fees, lest you want to see your items sold at auction.