Published In – Homes and Gardens
‘Organizing items by categories such as dairy, condiments, and produce, as Kim has done, is positive and helps when knowing what you might need more of when replenishing or preparing a meal,’ comments professional organizer Barbara Brock.
Published In – Homes and Gardens
Professional organizer Barbara Brock adds, ‘Celebrities often have custom-designed closets with closet organization systems tailored to their preferences and needs. In looking at Gwyneth’s closets, it seems like she has distinctly divided her closets into zones for getting ready.’
It’s an important reminder that at the end of the day, closets are meant to be functional spaces, and they should be designed to accomplish the tasks we do most often.
How to Prevent Clutter From Piling Up for Good
Published In – nextavenue
“It’s very easy for clutter to accumulate, even for a professional organizer,” says Barbara Brock, founder and CEO of Barbara Brock Inc., a professional organizing and staging company in Brooklyn, New York. She explains that busy lifestyles often lead people to pile things up rather than put them away. As we age and have more disposable income, we tend to acquire more. “The more things that we accumulate, the harder it is to put things away,” she says.
Published In – Homes & Gardens
‘For closet systems, consider adjustable shelves for flexibility,’ says Barbara Brock, professional organizer at Barbara Brock Inc.
‘Use bins or baskets for accessories. For shoe storage, use shelves with clear containers. Group shoes by type to easily locate pairs. When considering shoe storage, traditional thinking is shelves and cubbies. Shelves only need 7″ between shelves for most shoes, whether men’s or women’s. Cubbies are usually 5’W x 5-1/2″H x 12″D. There are also individual shoe box drawers which can be stacked on top of each other.’
This is the most important and impactful thing to quickly declutter from your bathroom this weekend
Published In – Homes & Gardens
If you can’t spot an expiry date, follow the general rule of thumb for each category of product. Barbara Brock, professional organizer and founder and CEO of Barbara Brock Inc., says, ‘For mascaras, it is advised to replace every six months. For skincare products, most have a two to three year shelf life if unopened,’ and so on.
15 Things To Toss From Your Closet Immediately, According To The Pros
Published In – Southern Living
Anything Ripped Or Damaged
No, we aren’t talking about ripped jeans or clothes with intentional holes. According to Brock, you should inspect the items in your closet and toss anything that’s been torn or ripped by accident. Also anything that missing a button or is unwearable due to damage. “Ripped clothing makes a homeowner look like they don’t care about their appearance,” she says.
Pro home organizers say these are the cleverest solutions for your biggest clutter problems
Published In – MIC
34Placing a basket on top of the toilet tank for extra storage
Barbara Brock, a professional organizer at Barbara Brock Inc., wants you to remember that you can use the space on top of the toilet tank for storage. For example, pick up this lightweight basket, which can hold up to 12 rolls of toilet paper. It’s made from fabric with a bamboo lid to keep everything contained.
The 5 things organizers never keep in their homes after summer to avoid clutter building up
Published In – Home & Gardens
Expert home organizer Barbara Brock says, ‘Now is the time to look hard at your closet and prioritize what you like to wear, what you need, and what you haven’t worn in ages. Someone else can use clothing that you don’t need. So weed, weed, weed your closet. I always declutter my clothes. Even if there’s only one or two items that I don’t use or are stained, it’s out.’
If you didn’t wear or use an item from your collection this summer just gone, it’s unlikely you’re going to magically like it next year so save yourself from hanging on to it for the next 12 months and get rid of it now.
Nothing escapes Barbara’s clear out. She adds, ‘I consider shoes, handbags, and scarves in this category too. I want my clothes to always be relevant,’ she adds. ‘When decluttering clothes after summer, remember to also give away any unworn bathing suits.’
5 Steps to Quickly Declutter Your Home Before Fall, According to Cleaning Pros
Published In – Real Simple
Step 1: Set a Time Limit
Start by setting a time period for your decluttering routine, especially if you’re someone who’s frequently overwhelmed by time. “3 hours is usually a good amount of time,” says professional organizer Barbara Brock. “After that, the brain gets tired.” If clutter and mess feel out of your control, having something that’s completely decided by you can help. Set a timer for a designated amount of time to get started.
How to organize a U-shaped kitchen – 6 steps to streamlined perfection
Published In – Homes & Gardens
One of the biggest advantages of a U-shaped kitchen is that you have cabinet and counter space on three of the walls, making arranging your three key appliances (the stove, the fridge, and the sink) in the golden kitchen triangle relatively easy points out Barbara Brock, founder and CEO of Barbara Brock Inc., a professional organizing and staging company. Each appliance should be on one of the three sides.
‘Where possible, use drawers over cabinets in the under-counter spaces around these key appliances. Food items, kitchen tools such as cutlery, utensils, pots, and pans are more accessible in drawers,’ she adds.
Bedroom items you should never throw out – 6 pieces to keep to avoid decluttering regret
Published In – Homes & Gardens
While you might be in the mood to declutter a closet and cut back on clothing now, most of us are likely to go out and fill it back up within a few months. Therefore, when decluttering, Barbara Brock, professional home stager, organizer, and declutterer, founder of Barbara Brock Inc., suggests keeping a hold of your hangers for this eventuality:
‘As far as clothing and accessories, I recommend keeping empty hangers when decluttering. If you don’t have enough hangers, then items will get stuffed in a drawer or end up on the floor. Hangers can be used not only for clothes but for purses, belts, scarves, etc.’
7 things you should never store on your patio – or risk irreparable damage
Published In – Homes & Gardens
There are several reasons why you might want to use candles outside, from using citronella candles to repel mosquitos to creating a cozy ambiance for alfresco dining. Whether you have picked up outdoor candles or not, they should never be left outside, and for several reasons, says Barbara Brock, professional organizer, declutterer, and home stager, owner of Barabara Brock Inc. She explains that, even for candles formulated for outdoor use, rapidly changing weather can lead to your candles cracking, the scent deteriorating, and the wax breaking down prematurely. This not only shortens the lifespan of your candle but makes them less effective.
Instead, store them in your home away from sudden temperature fluctuations.
These 6 items are making your bedroom dirtier – here’s what to do about them
Published In – Homes & Gardens
After a long day, it can be easier to just leave the clothes on the floor where we drop them. However, we have clothes storage for a reason, reminds Barbara Brock, professional home organizer, and stager, founder of Barbara Brock Inc.:
‘Clothes thrown on the bedroom floor immediately make a room look smaller, unkempt, out of control and disorganized. Try using a clothes chair instead of the floor to pile clothes. This is an attempt to control the chaos. Piles of dirty clothes left around the house are not only unpleasant to look at, but they give off odors and give in to an unhealthy lifestyle.’
What’s more, clothes left in piles on the floor can trap dust and dirt while making vacuuming and dusting harder and therefore exacerbating allergies and reducing sleep quality over time.
Home organizing golden rules – the 7 rules experts have written in stone
Published In – Homes & Gardens
Another golden home organizing rule is labeling. It might seem over the top, but it is a lifesaver when it comes to maintaining the space, says Barbara Brock, professional home organizer, and stager, founder of Barbara Brock Inc. – especially when you pair it with the right storage ideas:
‘It’s not important for labels to stay on forever but after organizing an area, labels really help a family to remember where things are supposed to go. Labeling also helps household help and members to know where to put things.
‘It’s important to have a container for every category. You don’t want to throw an item into any old container, you want to fit the container to the item. Avoid putting two or three categories into one container. It’s harder to remember where an item is if they are combined.’
How to make use of the space above kitchen cabinets – 5 storage solutions to fill the ‘dead space’
Published In – Homes & Gardens
Organizing cookbooks in a kitchen can be tricky, especially if you are working with small kitchen ideas. For those books you use less frequently, you can store them up on top of cabinets to keep them on display, suggests Barbara Brock, Founder & CEO of Barbara Brock Inc., a professional organizing and staging company:
‘If placing books, cookbooks, decorative books, etc. – any item that is flat – make sure they are stacked neatly, perpendicularly together,’ she recommends. ‘This suggests order out of chaos. Be sure to also avoid overcrowding the space. A few well-chosen items will look better than a cluttered assortment. Arrange items thoughtfully balancing height, color, and texture. Then, bring the inside in by putting in low-light plants to break up the scheme.’
How to store winter clothes correctly – 5 tricks to save space and protect fabric
Published In – Homes & Gardens
There is arguably no better way to keep clothes in storage than vacuum bags. Not only do they minimize how much space your bulky winter items take up in your storage ideas, but they keep clothes protected from pests and humidity too.
‘Be sure that the seal is tight on the storage bags,’ warns Barbara Brock, founder and CEO of Barbara Brock Inc., a professional organizing and staging company,’ or else the bag might not be as protective as you think it is.
‘I love this option as the storage bags can be stacked on top of each other and be put into an out-of-the-way cabinet, under the bed, or on a shelf.’
10 Kitchen Pot Racks That Blend Form and Function
Published In – Martha Stewart
You love your kitchen, complete with ideal light and gorgeous original finishings. But if the space is a little smaller than you’d like, turn to this elegant and petite pot rack from Pottery Barn. Professional organizer Barbara Brock likes this simple piece, which can handle both pots and pans; it frees up your limited storage cabinets and drawers. It’s available in either matte black or white, so choose the hue that matches your aesthetic.
What is the 5 year decluttering rule?
Published In – Yahoo!Life and Livingetc
Live with what is important to you. Go through every area to remember what you have,’ professional organizer and stager Barbara Brock explains. ‘Where you are today may be different in five years and the same thing happens with our clothing and household goods.
Declutter Your Parent’s Home While They Can Join In
Published In – Next Avenue
Decluttering with a parent is also important because parents usually have more stuff than they actually need. “As a parent ages, there is less energy and motivation to get rid of things,” says Barbara Brock, founder and CEO of Barbara Brock Inc., a professional organizing and staging company in Brooklyn, New York.
5 Steps to Quickly Declutter Your Home Before Fall, According to Cleaning Pros
Published In – Real Simple
Start by setting a time period for your decluttering routine, especially if you’re someone who’s frequently overwhelmed by time. “3 hours is usually a good amount of time,” says professional organizer Barbara Brock. “After that, the brain gets tired.” If clutter and mess feel out of your control, having something that’s completely decided by you can help. Set a timer for a designated amount of time to get started.
I Tried the 1/5th Rule to Stage My Home (My Agent Swears By It!)
Published In – Apartment Therapy
Buyers want to see how deep and wide cupboards and cabinets are, and see how much storage exists, says New York City-based home stager and professional organizer Barbara Brock, founder and CEO of Barbara Brock Inc.
7 Expert Tips That Actually Work to Help You Finally Declutter Your Kitchen
Published In – The Spruce
One of the first things Barbara Brock, professional organizer and owner of Barbara Brock Inc., recommends to clients is to use boxes or bins to sort through the clutter with three goals in mind: keep, donate or sell, and toss.
6 things to declutter in May – for a fresh start in spring
Published In – Homes & Gardens
With spring cleaning complete, you will be well acquainted with your essential cleaning supplies. As such, you will know what works, what does not, what you love and hate, and which products you have run out of – making May the perfect time to declutter cleaning supplies and restock, says Barbara Brock, professional organizer, and home stager, past president of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals.
Never throw these 6 things out when decluttering – learn how to organize them instead
Published In – Homes & Gardens
Professional organizer Barbara Brock, founder and CEO of Barbara Brock Inc. agrees, saying, ‘When looking into one’s ancestral records, keeping photographs (as well as papers) are a big part of tracing one’s roots and preserving your heritage.’
