Decor Tackles Clutter

By Celestina Blok

Freelance writer Celestina Blok is constantly trying to reduce clutter, in her home and her mind.

Somewhere around the top of most New Year's resolution lists is a vow to get more organized. But the thought of shopping for unattractive storage trays, plastic bins and, even worse, bulky filing cabinets is not appealing. Plus, aren't we supposed to be eliminating clutter rather than adding to it?

Enter Melinda Massie, former event planner and organizer extraordinaire, who owns Organizing With a Side of Fabulous, a local business that specializes in simplifying spaces, downsizing and systemizing. A firecracker of a redhead with a no-fuss mentality, Massie says when it comes to de-cluttering a home, sometimes folks simply need permission to make a change.

View photos

Melinda Massie

Melinda Massie

Organizing With a Side of Fabulous

682-365-1641

info@melindamassie.com

www.melindamassie.com

"The very first step to creating a beautiful and organized home is to let go of what is no longer serving you," Massie says. "Clutter is anything that is standing in the way between you and the home that you want. If you don't love it, need it or absolutely adore it, get it out of the house.

"Then from what is remaining, create a system and make it work for you. So you can find what you need, when you need it, and then put it away when you're done."

To help get us started, we asked Massie to make recommendations on practical uses for beautiful pieces, some of which we may already have or have been eyeing in local retail windows. From using intricate baskets and boxes as landing stations for keys and remotes to creating a mini office out of a chest, Massie provides pretty finds and tips to make getting organized easier in 2013.

Looking for comments?