Calm from Chaos: Tips to Declutter your Home

Pro Organizer Kim Salisbury gives tips to declutter your home

Pro Organizer Kim Salisbury in Photograph by Ashley Maxwell Photography

One of the realities of midcentury homes is that they are often more than 60 years old which means they can lack the built-in cabinets and large closets of newer homes. Families of that era also simply had less stuff. Amazon was not making multiple deliveries to their home each day. And if you have one of the mcm homes with a carport and not a garage, you are really lacking in storage space.

Hiring a professional organizer is money well spent whether you are preparing your home to sell or need assistance in organizing your home.

Kim Salisbury, owner of Home Method Co — a professional organizing and concierge moving company — has been making calm out of chaos for her clients for more than 15 years. Her company was founded in Sacramento and has expanded to keep clients organized throughout the SF Bay Area although she often gets SOS calls for organizational help outside of California as well.

Her company works with owners of all types of homes but we asked her for her thoughts on how to specifically organize mcm homes.

Salisbury gives a reality check and a reminder of why we fell in love with our mcm homes in the first place. Here are some of her points of emphasis on how to declutter and explanation of each.

Fewer items in this walk in closet give it an organized and calm feel.

Less Stuff Equals Less Clutter

You bought this home for its simple, clean lines. You chose the modern furniture for the same reason. That desk with the swag legs? Well, it is beautiful and elegant but where do all of your desk items go? The vintage glassware or other items you collect — how can you display them without taking away from the clean lines of your home? These are all good questions to ask yourself.

This sounds simplistic but just have less stuff. Often clients think they need a bigger house or built-in cabinets but really they just need less stuff. The job of my team is to help them be realistic with what they have and it is often a matter of tough love.  Instead of using the term declutter I like to say edit. The edit of your possessions is so important.

Think Outside the Storage Box but also use the Storage Box

If you want to display your collectibles instead of packing them all on one shelf of a bookcase or if you are scattering them around the home, consider displaying them on one spot of a display cabinet where you can see through both sides so you don’t lose the flow of your home. The same idea applies for where you store items. You don’t have to store linens in a linen closet or your shoes in a closet. Is there another spot in your home where these can be stored more easily?

And remember not everything you collect needs to be displayed.

Cabinets add to the appeal of this mid century home that had limited closet space.

Start Small and Be Mindful when Organizing

Don’t try to organize your home all in one day. Pick one drawer. I love organizing junk drawers! Look at each item. Sort it. Edit it. Let it go. Put back the items you need. And do this mindfully. The next day do one cabinet. You will feel great satisfaction just doing one small area per day.

Use the Right Container for Storage

We will use baskets if they are the best choice but we prefer clear acrylic bins because you can see what is inside the bin. You can find this type of item almost anywhere and they are durable and easy to clean.

Consider your Motivation when Decluttering

Visual clutter also clutters your mind. Seeing piles of possessions raises your stress level and your blood pressure. Seeing a clear kitchen counter or dining table gives your eyes a place to rest and calms you down. This also has the effect of letting the items you keep really pop. Like that one great piece of art. It won’t get lost in the clutter.

Are you downsizing or moving? What a gift it would be for your children to know what you want them to keep. Do you have stories to tell about your favorite pieces of art? Tell them now. Let them know what they can get rid of without feeling guilty later.

We also do a lot of occupied staging work. We can work with your real estate agent to help you edit your possessions and use what you have to show your home at its best.

Finally, remember that your home should be your sanctuary. It is hard to relax when all you see are projects.

Inset cabinets give this room a clean look.