The Summer Simplify

Long days lend themselves to projects. And while it’s easy to ignore the housekeeping when Spring weather beckons us outside, Summer’s brutal heat can force us back in and make us take a long hard look at what we’ve been “sweeping” under the rug, so to speak. Simply put, the dead of Summer is a great time to declutter, straighten up, downsize, and simplify. It’s also a nice way to mark the halfway mark of the calendar year. A 6 month deep clean is a healthy way to stay on top of the stuff and make sure the stuff isn’t staying on top of you. 

Plentiful Piles of Paper

One of the trickiest items to organize is paper. We all have it in various forms…playbills, certificates, greeting cards, ticket-stubs and pictures; things you want to hold on to and seemingly won’t take up much space. But dozens of these things heaped up become unsightly piles that are difficult to manage. Not to mention, the mortgage papers need to be distinctly organized from the theater programs. Finding systems of caring for your documents and photos can bump up your organization a notch and provide plenty of space for more incoming things (which you are bound to incur). Try a few creative ways of sorting through your paper and putting it away well.

Frames

Now is a good time to rethink the pictures and framed items that are displayed on your walls. Consider swapping out older family photos with newer ones or simply categorizing how they are displayed. A Legacy Wall of black and white family photos will become an instant focal point in your home. Vintage-looking Frames will help you create a lovely, cohesive design.

If you have a large collection of tabletop frames, take several down to create a cleaner look and only display your dearest photos or perhaps a meaningful handwritten letter. You can keep older photos prints behind the newer ones in the frame and even rotate them throughout the year. Often, we get so used to the pictures in our home that we don’t even notice them any more. Think of your printed photos as a gallery of loved ones that you can keep changing out and appreciating as often as you wish.

Archival Boxes

Some items don’t need to be displayed: programs, letters, and travel paraphernalia to name a few. Archival boxes come in a variety of sizes and colors and offer protection for photos and special documents for years to come. These from the Container Store even have a built in label, so that you can keep track of what’s inside or add a name if the boxes contain documents for a particular child or grandchild. These boxes are attractive enough to be stowed on top of a bookshelf for easy access and are light safe, which will prevent photos and documents from fading and yellowing.

Files

For papers that need keeping and an extra step of organization, a filing system is a must. A simple accordion file doesn’t have to be large to help you keep things in their proper place but for the most important documents, you might consider a Fire Proof Box. Just make sure you store your most valuable papers in an accessible location and share that location with someone you trust. In the case of an emergency, you don’t want your loved ones scouring your home for the information they need. 

Tackling your papers and photos will give your space a sense of calm and organization you’ll value for years to come. Use a few stifling summer days to rethink your systems and reimagine your home.