Over the past ten years, I have edited and organized hundreds of homes, and I have formulated quite a few theories about hand-me-downs and how to handle them. Here are my thoughts in no particular order: It’s Ok to Say No Remember, you are the gatekeeper of your home which means it is your responsibility…
Posts Categorized: Home Organization
A Pre-Holiday Edit: Kids’ Edition
Every year, before the winter holidays, our family does a major clean out to make room for the inevitable gift haul that will be entering our home. This is the perfect time for an edit, because the kids are incentivized to let go of some of their old stuff to clear space for the new…
You Don’t Actually Need to Own These 5 Things
In my work, over the past nine years, I’ve learned that most people own things just because they were told somewhere along the way that they should own them. Today is the day I break the news: you don’t have to own anything you don’t want or need! Here are the top 5 things that…
The Rule of One
I had three pairs of sunglasses… and none of them were great. All of them had been purchased spontaneously or had come to me by chance. I had the pair I bought in Tokyo for twenty dollars because I forgot to pack sunglasses, then there was the pair I bought at a gas station on…
Kid Closet Makeover with The Laundress
The Laundress is one of my favorite companies for clean, non-toxic laundry and cleaning products. When they asked me to partner with them to spread the word about their new closet accessories line, I didn’t hesitate! Since we have only two closets in our entire home, our girls’ closet does double duty as a storage…
Virtual Workshop w/ New Minimalism
Back by popular demand! I’m so excited to partner again with my friends, New Minimalism, to host a live virtual workshop for entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs. The Details: The workshop will be live on Tuesday, October 23rd @7pm PST and a replay will be instantly available for those who can’t make it live. The content…
Kitchen Reno Reveal with Real Simple Magazine
It’s been so hard to keep this a secret, but the big day is finally here: Our kitchen reno is complete, and I’m sharing my top, budget-friendly kitchen makeover tips with Real Simple Magazine! You can read the story with all of my tips right here, but I also wanted to share some extra images…
Ask Shira: Should I Sell or Donate?
A question that’s been coming up a lot – both in the virtual program and in my in-person work with clients – is how to handle the items you want to let go of. Should you sell or donate the items you no longer want? I’ve given this topic a lot of thought, and I…
The Two Reasons You’re Not Organized
When I meet new clients for the first time I always start with a tour of their home. I’m looking for two things: volume of clutter and presence or lack of systems. These are the only two reasons that people struggle to stay organized and the good news is that they are both simple to…
5 Simple Ways to Declutter Your Digital Life
Do you feel overwhelmed by the constant buzzing of computer alerts and mobile phone apps calling for your attention? Digital clutter can take a toll just as much as physical clutter. Here are a few simple ways I’m trying to quiet the noise and declutter my digital life: Clear Your Desktop When I open up…