Now that Fall's Begun. Let's Replace Clutter with Candles!
Updated: Sep 24, 2021
Who Doesn't Love Candles?
Especially during Autumn. The season is a lovely time to unwind, relax in a bath, and smell the roses…the rose scent of your candle, of course!
If you’re anything like me, Autumn marks the time to gear up, go out and buy your favorite scents of the season. Pumpkin Spice Latte, Apple Cinnamon Crisp, Sweet Vanilla Chestnut…mhmm I can smell them now!
Perhaps you already have your candles in your home and all you need to do is go into that seasonal box and bring out those lovely fragranced waxes. It doesn’t matter if your candles are glaring right at you or waiting to be picked up from Target or Bath & Body Works. Seize those favorite smells because I have THREE steps that will help you get organized and get those surfaces candle ready for this season.
Organizing your home during the fall taps into a rejuvenation gold mine. It’s a refresher for your home to regain peace and serenity after such an eventful summer. This season is made for grabbing a glass of wine, a book, and setting a match to that special aroma that calms you for the night. Isn't it so satisfying to relax in a zenful space that is clean, tidied, and organized?
If you have yet to experience this, then welcome candle lover! Don’t worry, trust me when I say, these next 3 steps will give your candles the attention they deserve. Your candles will shine bright on those nice and neat surfaced areas.
3 Steps to Organization
Zen Out -- DeClutter
Take a deep breath. Inhale 1..2..3 Exhale 1..2..3
Think of where you’d like to relax? Do you want to unwind in your Bedroom? Bathroom? Loft, or Living room?
Select your room of choice and then break it into 4 sections.
Tackle one section at a time. Make sure you’re working at a pace that works for you.
If it’s one section a day, That’s okay! Trying to tackle everything at once can be overwhelming. So start small, if needed.
Touch or grasp each item available in the sectioned area and ask yourself;
Do you use it? Do you love it? Does it reserve a specific place in your home?
If the answer ‘No’ serves as the majority to these three questions; discard the item in your trash bag or donate the item in your give-away box. If you have decided to keep the item, place the item back where it was originally located, even if returning it to a "mess". We only want to ‘edit’ in this step. Discarded items should be taken to the nearest trash can and donated items to your local donation center.
When you have completed the edit process for all 4 sections, it is time to move to the next step. Before you do so, however, reward yourself for accomplishing the first step. Whip out that candle and light it!
OMG… smells wonderful! Congrats! The de-cluttering step was the hardest.
Zone In - Organize
Now that you’ve reduced all your stuff and de-cluttered it should be much easier to sort, categorize, and create zones for the remaining items.
Pull EVERYTHING out, all the things that you sorted through in the Zen Out stage
Wipe down any surfaced areas, countertops, drawers and dressers
Group like items with like items
Name your Groups (This can be a mental naming or creating a physical label)
Create Zones in that space for all your newly created groups (For example, if you’re organizing the Bathroom you might have one zoned area in a drawer for oral hygiene. Another zoned area under the sink for facial lotions/creams)
After crafting this layout, you’re ready to organize and put all your grouped items back where you now want them to belong (in their set zones)
If you'd like to add containers and bins or baskets for your set zones, go for it!
There will be some moving and revising in this step. Don’t fret, it is all apart of the process. Since you’re working so hard and doing a phenomenal job, take another candle and light it! Place your candle on your new (what should be) clutter-free counter spaces or drawers and dresser tops. Can you feel the calm seeping in? It’s coming, I promise!
Zen In - Reflect & Maintain
Take a look around. You did it! You’re now all tidied and organized. Grab the rest of your candles and place them on your counters or surface top areas that were once filled with clutter. You can now reflect and bask in all your candle glory. Replacing cluttered countertops with softly lit candles gives that instant gratification and builds your desired zenful environment.
Take notes of your improved space and don’t forget to take pictures of your organization. This can serve as a reference if you ever need to reset and organize that space again.
Remember, organizing is about consistently reducing, creating order, and continuously maintaining the space. So celebrate your wins by grabbing that glass of wine, and that book, and enjoy this moment. Breath it in and wallow in making room for the things you truly love - those candles!
