Got an attic abandoned to clutter and chaos? For the next 11 weeks, join Home staffer Liz Seymour and professional organizer Caitlin Shear sort through, toss out, tidy up and reclaim the space -- one step at a time. View the series on The Washington Post.

George is a likeable, sharp-witted sales representative who works from home. His former wife had requested that his home office be in the small finished attic. A year after having the house to himself, he was still working up there! Our first recommendation was to move the office to the first floor of the home. It took a little convincing, but he agreed to try it.

Now he loves being in a room with a large window, high ceiling, and close proximity to his main living space. And he’s quite pleased with his organized files and marketing materials, too. He can find what he needs, when he needs it. What could be better!

Okay we admit it…we “staged” these photos! We were doing a presentation about getting your house ready to sell, and we wanted photos to illustrate a very important staging concept. Though you may live with your sofa planted in front of the TV, the rules are different when your house is on the market.

A room should appear open and uncluttered to a buyer. These pictures show how the sofa blocks entry to the room and obscures the fireplace when it’s in front of the TV. By moving the sofa to the wall, the room opens up, making it seem both larger and more inviting. So Caitlin, keep your sofa on the wall!”

Downsizing often involves creating mult-purpose rooms. Debbie called because she needed to make better use of her craft room. An avid crafter, Debbie works with every imaginable medium: flowers, decoupage, beading, sewing, knitting and more! She completes beautiful projects for friends and family. However, her creativity causes her to see potential in everything, which leads to too many projects.

We helped Debbie decide which crafts deserve her full attention, and which could be eliminated or paired down. Any supplies she chose not to keep went to a retirement community for their craft room, or to a preschool for art projects. (She was delighted to hear that her artificial flowers later came home with our kids!) Now her craft room works for her, and she is able to use the space for guests who come to visit.

Joanne had an interesting challenge. She was moving from a smallish tri-level to a much larger center hall colonial. She had worked with the space in her old home very well, maximizing each closet and corner, and supplementing storage with no less than 8 armoires! She called for help in planning her use of space in her big new home. 

We walked through both homes with Joanne, talking through how she used the old spaces, and how we could maximize her use and enjoyment in the new spaces. She was especially excited about our recommendations for her master closet storage and her craft/art room arrangement. And each armoire found a place of perfect utility!

 

Carrie is a ten year-old who was ready to turn her little-girl room into a big-girl room. We found books and toys in her room that she’d had since preschool! As she’d gotten older, new things were just piled on top of old ones. And things she did enjoy had become hard to find and hard to store.

Carrie wasn’t sure she could get rid of much because Mom is pretty sentimental. But when Mom said keepsakes could go to the attic, Carrie purged like a pro! She filled 11 yard bags with donations, E-bay items, and junk. By moving her dresser into the closet, we opened up more floor space for play and got all of her clothes in one place. Best of all, Mom and Carrie don’t argue about her room anymore. It stays clean, and Carrie is proud of her organized space!

 

"Through the help of A Sorted Affair, I am now able to better use my office space. The clutter is gone and everything has a home. I couldn't have done it without you." 
C. Nesmith, Richmond

“A Sorted Affair turned my master suite in to an organized oasis! They came up with ideas I never would have considered, including a comfy seating area by the window. Now I actually enjoy my bedroom!” 
Annie A., Richmond

“When I downsized from 2400 sf to 1600, I filled a room with boxes floor to ceiling. A Sorted Affair helped me make decisions, took my donations, and arranged my sitting room into a space I love!” 
Suzanne W., Richmond

“Before A Sorted Affair, my house was chaos. Now I can find what I need when I need it, and so can my kids. I feel calm and in control. And I love coming home!” 
Lisa C., Richmond