Seeking de-cluttering motivation? Check out these "after" pics!

By Allison Sousa, Director

I admit it. I usually get my best cleaning and organizing done when I'm mad. With my husband behaving himself lately (thus staying out of the proverbial doghouse) combined with the clutter we've accumulated during our 19 years in the same house, I have a LOT to do! Especially since we are empty-nesters now and we'd like to downsize while we have the energy to move.

So, enjoy these "after" pics. "What about the before pics" you ask? Well, I didn't realize I'd be sharing my at-home adventures with the general public until a couple of nights ago. Also, you probably need to get to know me and my warped sense of humor a little better so I don't frighten you with the state of our closets. Anything to keep our audience entertained!

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We'll start with today's project and work backwards. You know the crazy has started when I've steam-mopped the entire downstairs.

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Affectionately referred to as the "junk desk," we had forgotten the color of the counter-top until it was magically revealed during last weekend's cleaning tirade.

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Across from said junk desk is the "scary closet under the stairs." It got its name because until last week, it was so full we had difficulty closing the door. 

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Following five hours of sorting and matching sheets that had been cruelly and haphazardly shoved into a hutch (some of them from the kids' twin beds from 15+ years ago), this is how our storage cabinet looked when I finished...

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freeing up the linen closet for blankets and pillows. (Yes, those are baby blankets on the bottom shelf, and you de-cluttering Kondo warriors CANNOT make me part with them!)

Leading to the pièce de résistance: The Bonus Room. Hijacked several years ago by two teen-aged boys for use as a man-cave (*gulp*), it's a room I'd previously avoided like...well...you know. 

Meet Dan.

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Stay tuned. Stephanie's hard at work on an online paperwork de-cluttering class (and subsequent inspired projects, I'm sure). She's anxious to share her #eventstatus!