Category: Uncategorized

By Martha Tobin

Many people have under-used space in their basements that could be transformed into living areas. Unfortunately basements are usually where the ‘junk’ is stored and until that’s decluttered, it’s difficult to see the possibilities of what a basement room could be.

Here are 5 suggestions to get started on decluttering that space:

1. Start with the obvious items to declutter (i.e. unused sports equipment, e waste, old construction materials, etc)
2. Look at the large items and determine if you still want to keep them (i.e. old sofabed, bookcase, filing cabinet etc)
3. Review contents of boxes and bags (i.e. unpacked items that moved with you, memorabilia, old craft supplies etc)
4. For any items you want to continue to keep, consider repackaging them in labelled clear plastic bins so they are easily identifiable
5. For ‘inherited’ items you will never use, take a photo of the items to keep the memory and reclaim the space they take up

It’s never too late to fall in love with your home again and tailoring the rooms in it to your personal taste and current interests is a great place to start. Give yourself the gift of now and truly enjoy your home again.

“The ache for home lives in all of us. The safe place where we can go as we are.” (Maya Angelou)

by Martha Tobin

With this being the season of ‘back to work’ and ‘back to school’, front entrances can get a work out.

This area of your home is the last place you see as you head out the door and the first place you see upon your return, so it can truly set the mood for your day and your evening.

When front entrances are cluttered and disorganized they can quickly become a bottleneck and create daily frustration.

Here are 5 organizing solutions to help you organize your front entrance:

1. Tiered shoe rack
2. Baskets
3. Canvas bins
4. Cube storage organizer
5. Canvas storage baskets with handles

Front entrances can set a calm tone and remind you that you can leave your hectic days outside as you cross the threshold into your home.

“When I was at home,I was in a better place.” (William Shakespeare)

by Martha Tobin

Now that the weather is turning and we are heading into ‘back to work’ and ‘back to school’ mode, it’s a good time to get desk and workspaces in order.

There’s a lot of be said about working smarter versus working harder and good organization systems that support that allow you to keep your supplies close but your surfaces clear.

Here are 4 organizing tools to inspire you:

• Adding a monitor stand with a drawer allows you to get your monitor to the right height relieving body strain and makes the most of the usused space under your monitor
• Baskets are a great place to store often-needed items altogether but contained and close at hand
• For extra storage add a utility cart or a 3 tiered organizer beside the desk
• Make the most of your vertical space with a pegboard or floating shelves

By reducing visual distractions and cognitive overload you optimize productivity, focus and calm ensuring you are truly setting yourself up for success.

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe .”(Abraham Lincoln)

by Martha Tobin

It’s never too late to build the life you want.  Perhaps that’s creating a home that doesn’t overwhelm you as you walk in the door.  Maybe it’s a home office that you’d like to recreate into a reading area.  Perhaps it’s a kitchen that inspires you to entertain again.  Or it’s simply making space to do a new hobby.

Time and time again at Declutter4Good we’ve seen how decluttering and organizing allows clients to envision a home or a room’s potential.  We’ve also seen the process help clients reset and live the life they imagined for themselves.

In this fast-paced, noisy, challenging world it’s hard to carve out the life you imagined but we can help you create a home that is calm instead of chaotic so that you can focus again on what matters  most to you.

“How does one become a butterfly? You have to want to learn to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.”(Trina Paulus)

by Martha Tobin

Declutter4Good’s mission is to help others through organizing and decluttering – our clients, those in need in our community and the planet.

Check out my videoi for the 5 ways that we show up for our clients

At Declutter4Good we love that we are part of something larger than ourselves and passionate about helping our clients reset and feel more grounded so they can realize their dreams.

It’s never too late to build the life you want and we’ll help you get there.

Reach out to us so we can set up a free consultation.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” (Benjamin Franklin)

by Martha Tobin

Summer is a great time to declutter and organize your garage or shed due to the longer days, warmer weather and the ability to pull everything out to see what you have and determine if you want to keep it or not.

Here are 5 steps for organizing and decluttering your garage or shed:

1. Start with items on the floor and sort them into 3 categories:—items to keep—items to donate—items to trash, recycle, hazardous waste, ewaste
2. Continue this process with any hanging or rafter items as well as items on shelves
3. With the items you are keeping, set up zones (i.e. gardening, auto, tools, sports etc).
4. Add sturdy plastic bins in a variety of sizes to contain ‘like with like’ items
5. Label these bins so that you easily know where to find and return items.

Here are a few upcoming dates for Hazardous Waste events in Ottawa:

August 30, 2026: Tunney’s Pasture

September 26, 2026: Conroy Road

October 17, 2026: Philsar Street

November 7, 2026: Westbrook Road

“Clutter is not just the stuff on the floor. It’s anything that stands between you and the life you want to be living.”

(Peter Walsh)

by Martha Tobin

When you are decluttering how do you determine what items to keep and what to let go of?

Here are 6 questions to ask yourself about your ‘stuff’:

1. Have I used it in the past year?
2. Would I buy it again now?
3. Where will it ‘live’ in my home?
4. Is this item worth repairing?
5. Is it worth the space it takes up?
6. Would a photo of this item be enough?

Every home only has a finite amount of space in it and when those spaces are maxed out, it’s a good time to do some decluttering.  

Decluttering and organizing your spaces so they’re used efficiently is always going to make you feel lighter and more in control.  So take a look at your old sports equipment, your extra linens, your unworn clothing, your rarely used utensils, etc and ask yourself those 6 questions.

Studies show that decluttering positively impacts our mental and emotional health as well as increasing our productivity and focus.  In short, decluttering is where you gain not lose.  

Keep your treasures and enjoy them but let go of those items that have been weighing you down and fencing you in.

“Be a curator of your life. Slowly cut things out until you’re left with what you love, with what’s necessary and with what makes you happy.” (Leo Babauta)

by Martha Tobin

At Declutter4Good we are always looking for ways to increase the organizing and decluttering services we give to our clients.  

With that in mind we want you to know that when we are on any job we will fill up our vehicles to take away your donations,  And on any job if you have any furniture donations and/or junk removal we can coordinate the pick up of these items too.

Services we offer:

-decluttering

-organizing

-donating of ‘stuff’

-storage solution recommendations and shopping for these items

-downsizing

-packing, unpacking and setting up

-coordination of furniture donations and junk removal

-resources for hoarding help

-virtual and live speaking presentations/workshops

We are committed to helping you become the best version of yourself and to helping you create a calm and organized environment in your home or office space to achieve this goal.  

“It always seems impossible until it’s done. ” (Nelson Mandela)

By Martha Tobin

Regardless of our age, many of us remember kindergarten.  In that first year of schooling we learned many of life’s essential rules like sharing, fair play, treating others with respect, putting things back where we found them, and the importance of cleaning up after ourselves.   

Kindergarten classrooms are designed for action and independence with organizational systems set up to provide a calming environment where children can thrive.   As adults many of the same principles apply to any space you are organizing.

Check out my video for 5 Reasons kindergarten classrooms are the perfect organizing model.

Living a balanced life of work, play and learning happens in a calming environment with spaces set up that encourage us to thrive. 

“Walk into any kindergarten classroom in the world and you will behold the perfect model of organization.” (Julia Morgenstern, professional organizer)

By Martha Tobin

Kitchens have long been considered the hub and heart of a home.  These multifunctional spaces go beyond meal prep by doubling as makeshift home offices, homework and hobby stations, command centres and gathering areas when entertaining.  

And now with many home layouts integrating kitchens directly into the living and dining spaces, it is more important than ever to have a kitchen that works for you instead of against you.  

Here are 8 organizing items to help get your kitchen under control:

1. 3 tiered expandable shelf -great for pantries
2. Expandable shelf riser – great to make better use of vertical areas
3. Utensils drawer organizer -great for grouping like items together
4. Tea or package shelf organizer -great for tea/coffee cabinet
5. Drawer spice organizer -great for storing spices in drawers
6. Lazy Susan – great for easy accessibility of items
7. Junk Drawer organizer – great for calming the chaos of little items
8. Mop and broom organizer – great for freeing up floor space

With most days beginning and ending in your kitchen, getting this space organized and decluttered will make you feel tidier, less stressed and more grounded in your home.

“The kitchen really is the castle itself. This is where we find the joy of being a family.”(Mario Batali)