Spring organizing

In preparation for my in-laws' spring visit, I did a fair bit of spring cleaning and some organizing, too, of course. I decluttered a bunch and also took the opportunity to spruce up my hall closet. Here are the before and after pictures. As you can see, I love labels and Really Useful Boxes. Not necessarily in that order.

Lelah Baker-Rabe is a Los Angeles-based professional organizer. To discuss your organizing needs, call her at 818.269.6671 or email lelah@lelahwithanh.com. Sign up for Lelah's News, a once-monthly newsletter.

Video: Really Useful Boxes

I'm not devoted to very many organizing products. In general, I think organizing products are overrated and overpriced. But I do love Really Useful Boxes. Watch the video to find out why!



P.S. I've never been paid or asked to do a review of Really Useful Boxes by anyone!

Lelah Baker-Rabe is a Los Angeles-based professional organizer. To discuss your organizing needs, call her at 818.269.6671 or email lelah@lelahwithanh.com

Favorite organizing tools

I'm a big believer that you don't need anything more than time and a little inspiration to get organized, but there are a few items that can really help you get and stay organized. Here are some of my favorites:

• Sharpies: It only takes seconds to make a label with a Sharpie and a piece of painter's tape. I prefer black Sharpies and white removable labels.
• Binder clips: Better than paper clips, and the various sizes hold papers and more together with ease.
• Apron: Stick your Sharpies, labels, tape and a pair of scissors in the pocket and you are ready for any organizing job.
• Ziploc bags: Cheap and effective way of corralling everything from crayons to tea bags. Easily labeled with your trusty Sharpie!
• Clear plastic boxes with snapping lids, preferably from Really Useful Boxes, in a variety of sizes. Get more than once of each size so you can stack them in places like closets and garages.
• Libraries, or anywhere you can rent or borrow something you only need temporarily.

Creative Commons photo posted to Flickr by MinivanNinja

Lelah Baker-Rabe is a Los Angeles-based professional organizer. To discuss your organizing needs, call her at 818.269.6671 or email lelah@lelahwithanh.com