Organizing a small space
 

I recently have been relegated to an 10 x 12 room for sewing due to a move. Some friends helped by moving all my stuff in for me, but with no rhyme or reason. I'm so overwhelmed I don't even know where to start. HELP! :eek:

When I moved into my sewing area I started with furniture placement. Once that is established then open one box at a time. I have had to rearrange from time to time, because I have brought in different furniture or a new machine, but there is no urgency to it. Just try and make it as user friendly as possible with each placement.

Don't make piles of things when emptying boxes - put the items in a permanent place. They won't be glued down, so if you later decide a better location, so be it. But if you start making piles, you will be even more overwhelmed.

But I just assumed you moved items in boxes - if you are currently dealing with stacks or piles, then maybe put them in boxes so you only deal with what you see and can manage smaller issues at a time.

One lady published a book or article about getting organized and to start with 15 minutes at a time. That time frame didn't really work for me - I would go in and work for a while and stopped when I got tired. It wasn't done in a day and that was OKAY. She also said that if you picking up to put items you are undecided about in a box - then later when you have time to put more effort. I do like that too - I put things in the box so they are out of my way and I can work. Most of what I put in the box gets thrown out later - ie: old magazines or cards etc. But I don't have to decide right away and I can work on my immediate project.

I would check out the photos in this section. My room is smaller than 10x12. When I first began to set up my room, I sat in a chair and acted like I was in my kitchen. Cutting table/area, ironing and design wall. Since there were shelves that weren't going to come down and a big work bench that wasn't coming out. No wall for an actual design wall. So I made mine portable with hangers. I also have a small closet that takes up space. I am grateful I have a large window for natural light. So many ideas though for spaces smaller than ours. You can make it work. Before unpacking those boxes and or bags, I would look to see what's in them, then put them in the area of the room you will assign them to work for you. Good Luck and post photos when you've settled.

Whenever I'm feeling overwhelmed, I just commit to doing 15 minutes of work. I have followed the FlyLady for quite some time, and I learned this from her. So I set a timer, and I just know that I can pretty much do anything for 15 minutes. More often than not, this gives me some momentum to keep going for a little while. But sometimes, that 15 minutes is all I can do. If you just take 15 minutes a day, for 5 days, that adds up to over an hour of work! It counts!

When we moved to our current home, I had a HUGE attic full of stuff that had to be moved, donated or otherwise dealt with. I had combined households with my husband and we had a lot of extra stuff from when we maintained separate households. I used the 15 minute approach to cleaning out the attic, and it was done before I really knew it. The first few times I set my timer, I sat up there with a garbage bag with my heart pounding, trying to figure out where to start. I would literally sit there and stare. The timer would go off, and I would make a bee line to get out of there, with an empty garbage bag and nothing done. I had committed to 15 minutes a day, and it took me 3 or 4 days to decide that I was just going to start filling up the garbage bag with things that needed to be donated. That was all the momentum I needed and then I was able to do the whole project over the course of the next few weeks.

I know how you feel. I moved the first of June, and my sewing room is much smaller now also. I had walls of built in shelves from floor to ceiling and lots of closet space in my other sewing room. I just took my time and sorted and organized. I gave a lot of stuff away, but nothing I can't live without. I am very happy with what I have. Sometimes less really is more.

I agree with that 100%. I'm so happy with a decluttered space. It makes a HUGE difference. That's actually a cornerstone for the FlyLady also.

I would say start with storage containers first. After you get them set up, you can remove the contents of your boxes. If your stash is small, bookcases or old entertainment units work great.

Good luck with setting up your new room. Once you decide on furniture placement the rest will fall into place. You will love your new space once you get settled.

One day at a time. Take a deep breath and take it as it comes