Tips From Tonia – January 2025

Happy New Year!! It’s 2025 and I have a BIG Project to share with you for Tips from Tonia this month. Like most clients, I didn’t get a chance to embark on this project due to the holidays, etc. So here I am FINALLY doing my understairs closet. I am reorganizing my entertainment supplies and crafts! Here’s a step-by-step breakdown if you want to do your own understairs closet.

1. Empty the Closet

• • Remove everything from the closet to start fresh. This will allow you to see what you’re working with and give you an idea of the space you have to work with.

2. Sort & Categorize

• • Group similar items together, such as:
    • Entertaining supplies (plates, cups, utensils, napkins, etc.)
    • Party decorations
    • Crafting supplies (paints, glues, paper, fabric, etc.)
    • Entertainment Items
    • Other miscellaneous items
  • Purge any items that are broken, expired, or no longer needed. Donate or discard what you no longer use.

3. Assess Available Storage Solutions

• • Measure the space of your closet to understand the available dimensions.
  • Consider adding storage solutions like:
    • Shelves for stacked bins or boxes
    • Clear containers or bins for easy visibility and accessibility
    • Hooks for hanging items.
    • Over-the-door organizers for small items like tape, scissors, or smaller decorations

4. Organize Crafts & Supplies

• • Use clear, labeled bins for small craft items such as markers, glue sticks, and fabric scraps. Label them clearly to make it easy to find what you need.
  • Create a system for tools like scissors, tape, and paintbrushes, keeping them in dedicated containers or on a small shelf for easy access.

5. Organize Entertaining Supplies

• • Use stackable bins for different categories, such as plates, napkins, and serving utensils. You could label each bin by event type or by item.
  • Create a designated space for glassware and consider using dividers or a wire rack to organize glasses and bottles.

Consider using trays or baskets to keep similar items together and make retrieval easy when preparing for a party or event.

6. Maximize Vertical Space

I decided to call in the experts at Closetology to help me maximize my vertical space and really provide a customizable space for my under-stairs closet. What an amazing experience this has been.

I met Sabrina, who is a designer with Closetology.  I immediately felt connected. She listened to my needs and what I wanted in space.  She was very detailed, measured the items I specifically asked her to measure to make sure we had the proper heights, widths and depths.

Once she had all the calculations, she then provided a detailed description of my space via 3D! What a great way to see how my items are going to live in this space! I was instantly impressed.

If you’re interested in learning more about Closetology, I’ll provide a couple of links below so you can check them out!

Online: https://closetologytx.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theclosetology/

7. Label Everything

Label bins and shelves so you know exactly where everything belongs. Use clear, easy-to-read labels to identify each category.

8. Regular Maintenance

As you use items or add new supplies, keep your system organized by returning things to their designated spots.

Consider making a seasonal inventory to ensure your supplies are well-maintained and that nothing is missing or expired.

I will tell you I DID NOT want to do this project over the holiday, but it gets SUPER busy for us in January, and I was tired of putting it off, and I am SO glad that I finally got it done.

I want to thank Closetology for building this space for me and for DFW Pro Painting for painting the space! I could NOT have done this without you. Oh, and last but not least my amazing team for organizing this space!

What spaces are you procrastinating on redoing this year? Call us, we can handle all the overwhelming details! 😊

Tonia