@@AP12360 sorry, I’m talking about the brand. It’s overpriced, and not very good quality. But linen sheets sound nice. If I should ever have enough $ for them, I would take your advice. Thanks
Nick, my heart, not all of us can pull out an appliance on a moments notice plug it in AND remember it exists. HOW do we put them away in ways that keep those we use 3 times a week accessible? Or those that don’t have easy places to go? How do we make open storage like kitchen carts into functionally closed storage? Functional tips too please!
Maybe he should try remembering that when he changes his hair to that hideous color that makes him look much older than before. This is not the way to get a sugar daddy, sweet cheeks!
Why did interior designers stop using bathroom mirrors with medicine cabinets behind them? It used to be so easy to see everything you had, because it was at eye level. Suddenly they decided we all want to store our stuff in drawers in the vanity instead. Drawers are very awkward to store items in bottles, because you can't see the labels. Bring back medicine cabinets!
Thats an easy answer. Most housing construction is done factory style, with emphasis on speed over quality of craft. Inset medicine cabinets usually require re framing part of a wall and also re-routing vent pipes or electrical infrastructure. Placing a cabinet onto the wall itself is an alternative, however it is clunky, minimizes light from sticking out 4 to 6 inches, and often looks like a half done job. Therefore designers and flippers just opt for the sleeker look of a mirror and utilize alternate storage areas for the contents that would normally be in medicine cabinets. Its also impossible to properly inset a medicine cabinet when it's against an exterior wall.
@@653j521 I have no idea where she found them, but I know someone who uses small tension rods in all her cabinets (bathroom, kitchen, tools, everywhere). She tells me proudly, and often, that nothing's fallen in the toilet in years. 😅
@@653j521mine is a giant one from Ikea and is placed on the wall above my cistern and toilet. It’s a weird shaped bathroom so that’s the only place it can go, but so far nothing has fallen down into the toilet! I’m very careful though, and keep the toilet lid down but it would indeed be good if the shelves had edges on them. I suppose it wouldn’t be too hard to improvise your own, by glueing thin pieces of wood along the front of each shelf.
I'm a hoarder from a long line of hoarders, but always thought, "as long as you have a place for it, you're okay." The day I realized you are forever paying for what you own changed how I thought about stuff. People don't hesitate to call out those who use storage units as wasting money, paying for stuff you already own, but the fact is you buy/rent a living space to fit what you own, continue to pay utilities on it, pay your time and effort to maintain it, pay your peace of mind to deal with the clutter, buy stuff to organize/display it, pay insurance to protect it, and so on.
Love that you came to this realization. So hard for someone who has hoarding tendencies to see past their things as more than that. Yes, yes, yes! Pat yourself on the back!
I think I need to think about this one a little more. What has kind of worked for me is that like... i want space to breathe more than I want stuff. I want to be able to sit on the floor (without moving a box) more than I want to keep that box, or I want to be able to find what I need more than I want to keep all the things getting in my way! But I do think I have less of the keep-stuff impulse than some people, so there's no telling if this line of logic would help someone else.
"Chances are, most of what you have isn’t that attractive. Someone had to tell you" 😂😂😂 Had me laughing out loud! And yes, Nick, I have wondered why your clock is always at the same time. 😂
@Erica-en2qz : YES! lol 😅😂 “Chances are, most of what you have isn’t that attractive. Someone had to tell you.” - Nick Lewis 😄💕 😅😂 Oh me gosh. I love this fellow’s work and daring, ever-so-politely! Thank you, Nick Lewis! 😄✨🌷
We've lived in the same house -- with the same two hooks behind our bedroom door -- for 32 years. A few months ago, I asked my otherwise tidy husband why he didn't hang his worn (but still clean for the next day) clothes on his hook instead of draping them down his side of the dresser. Turns out in 31.5 years, he'd never considered the always-empty hook to be "his." Sometimes, a little, gentle communication is the answer.
@ros8986 I'd hope your hit to miss ratio would be higher than 50:50. Before buying anything my questions are: Do I really need this? Do I have somewhere to put this? Sadly, for beautiful, aesthetic items the answer is usually "no" and for necessities it is a constant headache finding a place for them to live.
For all my fellow ADD and ADHDs, a useful trick I use to keep a clean house is setting a timer every evening and doing just 10min of cleaning. Sometimes I get motivated to do more, on other days I'll do just the 10min.
I have ADHD and can attest I get the most cleaning done when I am waiting for something to heat up in the microwave or waiting for a pot of water to boil. It's almost a competition to see how much I can get done in that amount of time.
Yes!! 3 years ago(ADHDer here) I started doing 10 min a day and now I usually do an hour a day and even enjoy cleaning. I put everything away and never leave a room without taking something back where I'm going.
Yes! I work from home and usually take between 30 minutes and one hour a day to "fix something" home related. It helps a lot to keep everything manageable and avoid clutter emergencies that take a whole weekend or more to be dealt with.
My hubby and school son got ADHD. They loose focus all the time. So hard. Have to constantly push them to get things done, procrastinating lazy and complaining people
I'm almost 40 years old and there's always a pile of clothes next to my bed. My wife hates me for it. But, I'm inspired to get a beautiful rack to hang the things that don't need a wash and a small hamper to hide / store the things that definitely do need a wash. ❤❤
The sarcasm is my fave. And your quirky self depreciation when you're also calling us out on our stuff😂 You're one of my faves. Very real, practical and classy!
"you like to think you're going to be this person that hangs up everything but you're not, you're just not that girl" - thank you, i needed to hear this today, ordering a clothes rack now!
You never know. After watching Marie Kondo, I was like, I'm never going to be the sort that folds his clothes, including the socks and underthings. But, I gave it a go and years later I'm still doing it. It turned out that in this case, there was enough comfort in doing so and convenience afterwards that I kept doing it pretty much every load. But, that being said, realistically, most of the time that I try things like that, it just doesn't work for me and I need to be OK with that. Some things are more likely to work out than others.
Bot my husband and I will tell you - I am absolutely not that girl. My clothes pile up in a bin... That being said similar to what the other person said after kearning Marie Kondo's method it is easier for me to get rid of things and I still fold my shirts the way she does.
I need inspiration to decluttering and donate unused items.I really want ti live in an artist studio but I live in an old farmhouse with small rooms.I'm kind of a hoarder too.Or I was.I'm tired of the excess and now am motivated to ditch all the knickknacks.I do like to look at pretty things and natural artifacts though.I have been working on it and have organized and donated clothes, books, junk.I have to keep going until I only have left what I really love and use.❤
Nick, I am one of those people that forgets I own something when I can't see it. I am building a home with a large pantry/storage/prep room adjacent to the kitchen. My plan is open shelves below the counters in the pantry. That way I can see what I own, still maintain a clear counter space, and it is not visible to guests or even to me most of the time. I am excited to have a kitchen that doesn't look like a resale shop of donated appliances!
Ooh -- good call. And maybe consider getting some clear storage containers with lids for the smaller or more fiddly stuff (lids, attachments, detachable parts, etc.). Being immediately able to identify what is where, and to group items conveniently together, is a game changer.
This is hugely important, and often overlooked by people who crave visual simplicity. But many people struggle with "object permanence" and truly tend to forget stuff they can't see and touch. If you keep saying things like, "Well, I *thought* I had scissors but I can't find any and I have no idea where they'd be, so I'm going out to buy a pair so I can do such-and-such," and then a week later, "Oh, look! Six pairs of scissors! Didn't I buy some last week? Where did they go?" you may have a problem with object permanence (and/or a problem with not establishing fixed "homes" for often-needed items). Keeping things out, using open shelving, or storing items in clear acrylic containers really does help some people, while it would drive others mad! If you know what works for you, go for it!
I just want to say thank you, Nick, for saying those people are too far off the deep end and you wanted to do the video for normal people. Sometimes, these social media and DIYers make me feel like giving up. It’s exhausting trying to keep up!
My husband and I just got real with ourselves. We sold our huge, matching patio set (included an outdoor bar) and got a sturdy Lifetime picnic table and couldn't be happier because we aren't constantly cleaning the patio set.
@@betmo Open concept definitely can have ample storage. However, it takes away from living space unless one specifically allows adequate space for storage and living. I just built an open concept home and I had to be firm with architects and designers about the importance of closed storage. I did opt for all built-in cabinets over closets to keep as much as living space as possible while have a designated closed space for everything
Hooks on the inside of the closet door and the bathroom door have saved me from dropping my clothes on the floor all my adult life. If it's not ready for the laundry, it's a hook when I'm in too much of a hurry for a hanger. Clothes don't wrinkle and they're hidden. Every couple of days I hang things back up.
I use hooks and hangers on the back of my bedroom door, for clothing that I wore for a few hours and is still clean, but I don't want to hang up in the closet, as I don't want to mix actual clean clothes with ones I had worn. And at some point, if I know I probably won't be wearing it again, then it goes into the laundry basket.
The bit about being realistic about your habits hits sooo true though. As someone with ADHD I have to work around the weird ways my brain works. The biggest thing I found for me is that, while I will hang things up, I will not fold them. Things became a moderately less chaotic mess when I embraced hooks and hangers everywhere.
Same for me, hooks took care of the 'worn but not for laundry' clothes, but I realised I need a basket for newly washed clothes, because I procrastinate on folding laundry
I have bins for everything that doesn’t have to be folded. Tank tops, underwear, pajamas. It stopped me from having laundry paralysis. Washed jeans or pants go on hooks too.
I have to hang some stuff but I sort and dump everything else. I don't fold and I hang as little as humanly possible. Laundry is so much easier for me this way
ADHD life is all about working with our magic beautiful chaos. the only, thing that works for me is extreme minimalism. if there isnt space for it behind something, it doesnt come into my tiny house.
The ultimate tip for me was to accept my behaviour and work through it. I kept trying to change myself and failing. The moment I started accepting, after watching the video, solutions stared me in the face. Thanks a ton for such a basic thing which was missing from my life for so long .
I love love love the suggestion of designing solutions that work with what you do! I often ran into the problem of thinking a piece would motivate me to store or organize things “right”… But really it just meant that the things not for that purpose would get overloaded and choke out my tiny space. Designing to my own brain, following my desire paths and identifying my “piles” and organizing to that was a lifesaver!! Another point - Don’t be afraid to organize things that make sense to you because they don’t seem “right” to other people! Store those coats by the dining room if they keep ending up on your table when you walk by! Keep the hand soap at the kitchen sink if you find yourself washing there! Store some hangers in the bathroom if you have items you air dry in there! It’s not “wrong” if it works for you!
I’ve learned the only way my house doesn’t become a chaotic mess from my adhd is absolutely working with my existing habits, and just beautifying them, usually with baskets 😂😂😂
ADHDer here 🙋🏻♀️ I accepted recently that I’m never going to put away clothes that I want to rewear. I just spend 30 minut every week and deal with pile of clothes all at once. I feel it’s about doing big projects, I hate doing small things, step by step, because I don’t see the effect right away
Yesss!!! My household (all w/ ADHD) CANNOT function any other way. If your family's like mine and you really want to torture yourself, try putting everything away and watch the panic when everybody loses their sh*t (pun intended)
7:30 re: drop zones: if you find yourself having to look for the same thing on a regular basis, think about where you most often look for that thing and then keep it there or somewhere close. For example, I used to always forget where I kept my lighter and would have to go looking for it every time my stove wouldn't light, so I just moved it to the drawer I'd usually look first, the cooking utensil drawer, even though it "doesn't fit the category."
That's exactly where I keep my lighter! A couple of candles in there as well, as I found out last time there was a power outage, the utensil drawer was the first place I went to 😁
Beeing in the ADD-spectrum I *really* appreciated this. There was a couple of tips that was new to me, and I thought I had heard everything by now. Love from Sweden 🥰
I’ve set to work on this immediately . I have put everything away, including furniture and have anchored myself on a wooden tray on a rug in the living room. I have won at organising 👏🏼
The biggest game changer for me is being honest with myself. Am I really going to use this? Do I really need it? And then finding it a home. If it has a home 9/10 I'm going to put it away right away. When I get the mail I immediately sort it, junk goes in the trash, mail with personal information gets shredded, and if there's anything important I can deal with it right away. I have really worked hard on routines and putting into the perspective of I'm doing myself a favor by putting things away right away.
As a person with ADHD, I have to be careful what I conceal, because I'll stop using it completely, and painfully often buy a new one. I sometimes think interior design is about "making homes look like nobody lives there." I respect people who can live that way, but that's just not me. I do try to make things non-cluttery, but still visible. The picture you rolled at 2:36 may as well be my own countertop.
I've also got ADHD and feel overwhelmed when all my stuff is visible. I found out that if you stuff too much stuff in your drawer or closet you can't properly access it (hurdle) and thus you don't use it, forget it and maybe buy a new one. Key here is (for me) to have very little things so everything is soooo easy to grab or put away without having to do a tetris game at Olympic level.
Yeah, if things aren't out I won't use them. If i have to pull out the magic bullet every time i want a smoothie you can better believe I'm never making a smoothie. If it's sitting there ready I'm way more likely to use it. I wish I could have less clutter, but hiding things is really not an option if I want to get things done. Executive dysfunction is a bitch. What I really need is tips on how to make things easily accessible without losing your mind.
@@lidewijvosmy whole box of an apartment is exactly like playing Tetris when I put anything away, even groceries! It’s ridiculous really. Especially when you know you need to prep for times of need that are coming. If I find a deal on something, I have to buy it. Whether it’s food, water, hygiene essentials that I know aren’t going to go bad any time soon. I’m now wanting to get into crafting, hopefully to make a little extra cash. I know I have stuff to get rid of and want to have a yard sale. I thought, I could make a few things, maybe from what I do have and throw those items in there as well. Sounds like a plan but I’m starting to get a bit overwhelmed. I’m glad I found this channel, funny and true! Some stuff isn’t very appealing but adding trays will help and I know how to make them!
I also think I don’t put things away because I will forget them so I have started writing down where things are. I know that sounds extreme but I have a composition notebook where all info goes so I just added a page for where I store things. In my craft room I use post it notes on my cabinets. Also, plastic zip bags are great for storing like items and then putting them in a box etc. all my costume jewelry is in clear bags. I dump it out when I am looking for something and then sweep it back into a pretty box
Every time I feel the need to go out and buy an new organiser, I go through my stuff instead and make it fit the storage I already own. I’m not buying and keeping too much crap that way and I learned a long time ago that it’s so much easier to have a nice and tidy home if you don’t own too many things. I’m not a minimalist, I just try to avoid overconsumption and it makes my life easier.
It's so tempting to think that buying more organisers will make you be organised! I mean, you definitely do need to have the places to put the things, but very quickly shopping isn't the answer. But it's so much easier and more rewarding to bring home a clever new thing, than to go through and get rid of the stuff you already have overflowing.
@@BellePullman I agree, you do need to have space to put your things to start with, if you don’t own any storage then you should go out and buy some! But you need to find the right moment to quit. I find it helpful to wait two or three days before making a purchase, giving myself time to think about it. If I still want it after a few days it will probably turn out to be useful in the long run. More often the urge to buy has passed by then.
Had my cupboard doors removed to be refinished. And over the 3 weeks they were off, looking at the storage and stuff in them....i was able to adjust the shelves, have new shelves cut (bought new pins), culled items i truly hadnt touched for years, and found room for toaster (on tray for crumbs), blender and better soace utilization. I was almost sad when i put the doors back on, and realized i could survive with 8 coffee cups instead of 12 double stacked!
omg why has it never occurred to me to put the toaster on a tray? Genius! Especially since I'm literally the only one in my family of five who ever cleans under the toaster...
Dude, I'm moving next week. Startin over. So just wanted to say thanks for your videos. Especially the stuff about landing zones. Ya know what's better than actually finding an answer to something on UA-cam? Finding an answer to a question you never even knew you had. It's the unknown unknowns that'll creep up on ya! Thanks.
I dont have a lot in the sleeping area of my bedroom. 1 bed and 2 nightstands. But my nightstands were always a disaster. It only occured to me recently to put a large enough basket on each nightstand t9 store all the items that regularly got dumped on that surface. Books i am in the process of reading, bedtime supplements, coin box, charging cables, earbuds... its wonderful and it lools so tidy and charming. And when my husbamd asks where such and such thing is that he put down randomly somewhere in the house, I always know that i put it in his bedside basket. I dont know why I never thought of doing this 30 years ago.
Nick, just an FYI: As a Certified Sarcasm Specialist for many decades, your sarcasm comes through very clearly with voice, tone, facial expression, and body language. The organization that I head, consistently rates your videos a solid 9! The deduction of 1 measly point (a.k.a. The Smidge Deduction or SD), is not for the lack of detection of the sarcasm, but rather the overselling. It is a minor point, but, what we call “deadpanning “ needs a dash of work. Kudos on your high marks. I’m happy to announce, you are in the running for the Sarcasm; D’uh-uh ( The Sarcasie” annual award! Congratulations….
@@49lucky That will be up to The Society” to judge. We’ll forward an application. I, personally, can recall being judged by those around me as far back as high school. I think it was all those who were reading “the humanities”. Oscar Wilde’s quote that “Sarcasm is the weakest form of wit”, was quoted to me. What they left out was the “but” in the quote “ the most intelligent”! You and I are both just letting our intellect run Wilde! At The Soceity we often chide one another with “your intelligence is showing”. Our group motto is “Sarcasam; let your intelligence show!”
Yes to everything said. Especially “be the person I am, not the person I want or think I should be”. That was a relief. I love organizing. But I realized I wouldn’t have to organize so much if I would just find a way that makes it so I don’t have to organize all the time. I’m going to get the bins, organizers that I thought I wouldn’t like. Thank you. ❤️
As someone who loves to cook I am here to say I love a kitchen in which spices, oils, and other food items are not hidden, but easily at hand. I love a vibrant, natural kitchen in which everything has its place, and you can feel the life of your home flowing.
I feel the opposite way. I cook everyday, and I love being able to put everything away when I’m done, it may be my OCD. Also, just because stuff is hidden doesn’t mean that’s not easily at hand.
@@LluviadeOrugas also valid! But not the only way to have an organized, clean and aesthetic kitchen. It's not the modernist thing to do, but we can always choose which cultural values we conform to in our home designs.
I have a metal ledge from IKEA above the stove and a little tray on the side of the stove for that kind of stuff (like shaker seasonings, oil, black vinegar). The rest of the similar items that i use less often (like spoonable seasonings, vinegar, oil, baking powder, etc.) go in a nearby cupboard. It's awesome The items are in their homes on the shelf and in the tray, it's very satisfying, and it eliminates barriers/additional steps, which is one of the most effective and commonly needed disability accommodations. By the time i open a cupboard i forget why i opened it, so I need as few barriers as possible
To me spice should never go in a cabinet because of the smell. So they are on a magnetic shelves on the side of the fridge which is just near the gas burner. At some point I wanted magnetic containers for spices but it would means a lot of them and everything was super expensive and also it’s the kind of idea that is may be a bad idea because of labeling and transfer into containers and you may need new containers if you buy a new spice and what about thyme that I buy on big containers because it is used a lot. My mom takes is to have a casserole hanger that hold spices on top. But I don’t have a set of casseroles as she does.
"I'm not particularly organized" is maybe not the declaration I want to hear from the person about to give me organizing tips. 😂 But here I am listening.😂😂😂
Sarcasm is life. I know no other way. Every video you make me laugh. I'm also a parent and whenever you poke fun at kids, I laugh even more. Because it's true.
Making those drop-spots has really improved my home organisation! My best example: no more „the chair“ - instead, I have a basket or wooden box where I put my „not dirty enough for washing, will wear again“-clothes.
Pro tip from an ADHD coach, if you struggle with remembering that your stuff exists or where it is after putting it away (object permanence challenge) then get clear bins or cute labels for your organization baskets. ❤
I have a label on the shelf where I am supposed to hang my coat reminding me to close the garage door. None of family without adhd can understand why I don’t remember to. Thanks for finally explaining it to me. The label doesn’t always work:(
That’s exactly why I have all of the stuff ALWAYS out and seen! I will literally forget that they exist if I put them away and have a nice, clear space. 😢
@@Christina_Hira I am so glad to hear that I am not the only person who likes to see what I have and forget what is put away. It has bothered me for 60 years and I decided--just heck with it at this point in life.. I am going to get rid of stuff and try to do just basic items. Wish me luck because I have way too many things.
I have a floor-to-ceiling, french door appliance garage with multiple outlets in the garage and pull out shelving. BEST DECISION EVER. (I cook A LOT and, yes, I USE those appliances.)
If you want to create subsections/partitions/small storage in your concealed storage, and don't want to buy yet another thing, repurposed shoe boxes or any small and medium boxes that might have been the packaging of something work so well!! I use those to create sections in my clothes drawers, for socks, underwear, short sleeved top and long sleeved tops. Can barely notice them when I look for items but they make my drawers so tidy! Same thing in my arts and crafts cupboard, in my kitchen (for teas and baking stuff), in my bathroom (for accessories or spare products. Costs nothing and works just the same.
For me, a turning point was when I finally stopped nesting my food containers separately from their lids. Those drawers were always a mess, and I had a heck of a time matching them up when needed. A couple years ago I started stacking them with lids on, and getting rid of odds and ends. (It helped that I'd decided to purge the plastic and stayed with a core glass collection.) And I'm *still* shocked on a regular basis to open those drawers and be able to find order instead of chaos.
I don't have a variety - the ones for free when I buy thin sliced meat. They stack well. It's only me, so it works. I also got rid of 'cannisters' years ago and opted for Tupperware in closed storage.
@@amymancini2146 I got rid of anything that wasn't Pyrex and I store the lids vertically in a wooden mail organizer and that has been amazing for me. Glad.you found what works for your space ! 💜
Oh my gosh.....I just randomly came across your videos. I am an almost 61 year old 'closet' interior designer....forget the great advice you give!! I'm totally watching for the humor, can't even count how many times I laugh OUT LOUD watching you!!!!! The best.
Nick I totally get your funny sarcasm and just love it! lol BTW the Clutterbug here on YT does a fabulous job of helping you find your natural organization style and offers special types of storage that suits your style. The benefit of this is that once you know your style, you will be able to stay organized for the long haul! She's worth checking out as she uses 4 bugs (butterfly, cricket, ladybug and bee) to explain the different kind of styles making it so easy to embrace your natural style. I'm a butterfly, and love gathering like items into together and stowing things in baskets (lids are too fussy for me) for easy macro organizing (as opposed to micro organizing, think of those that need to label everything, which drives me insane!). Loved all your tips, they were spot on so keep them coming! Much love!
I'm a 67 yr old retired trained interior decorator (not a designer), so I'm very happy to hear "closed storage" and put it away if you don't use it, among other "old-school" design principles. But I also really enjoyed your tongue-in-cheek humor and sarcasm. Some of those red-X'd picture were atrocious. This is my first time watching a video of yours. Oh my goodness you talk so fast. But, I'm used to my husband being a fast talker, so I was able to follow you without rewinding. The faster one talks, the more you can get into a brief video. You never even once lost my attention. Some UA-camrs put me to sleep, because they talk so much and so slowly that they don't get to the point for ages. Kind of like Jack Benny. I think you'd remember him. Oh well. I'll be back to watch more of your videos. Thank you!
Omg- my husband got a kitchen aid mixer as a gift- we've used it 10xs in 3years & he wont let me put it away! Drives me coo coo- right now i have all our cords & charges in the bowl! 🥳
I got a Kitchen Aid mixer a few years ago. I use it maybe a couple of times a month. I'm moving and would like to put it in the new pantry, but it is so heavy, I don't see myself lugging it out every time I want to use it. Then it will really sit unused. I guess I'll have to disappoint Nick and keep it on my counter. But I promise to get rid of everything else! Except the air fryer. I use that constantly. Okay, two items, not so bad. Could be (and is) a lot worse.😄
@@calendarpage Maybe in your new place you can get one of those shelves that can raise up to counter height when you open the cupboard door. No need to move or lift the mixer.
We had a home with open storage built-in bookcases on each side of the fireplace. When we built a new home, I told my husband I did not want bookcases. I was so tired of "staging" them and the visual clutter. I like it so much better without them. I'm all for closed storage!
My family has hundreds of books, likely more than 1,000. Seeing the title on the spine brings it back, my grandchildren read books I had so we have bookshelves everywhere. No other open storage allowed!
I love books and I love closed storage BUT if you're living in an ADHD household like me (we're two diagnozed, our child is too young to have an diagnosis yet) closed storage is the worst. My husband and my child wouldn't remember whats behind those doors. It really helped us to get rid of unnecessary items and have the things we really need on display. It really depends on how you live If open shelfing is helpful or make it worse.
I started this weekend off planning a full declutter and to paint/ update my whole home, starting Monday (I plan everything for Mondays) so decided to do some homework and get inspiration. I found you, thank you so much instead of depression I have laughed(family think the thought of decluttering has sent me over the edge lol) I’m now binge watching your videos, it’s Monday but I will get started and at least I’ll have a smile on my face!!! ❤️❤️❤️🇬🇧
Drop zones are super important. Also, drop pots/baskets, etc. Keeping a basket at the bottom of the stairs and one at the top, to put everything that "goes up/down there" is super useful. If you run across something that's on the wrong floor, you put it in the basket. Whenever you actually need to go upstairs, you take the basket with you and put away those objects where they belong. Instant declutter. I started doing this back when my toddlers dropped toys all over the place, I'll never go back. And drop pots in strategic places, to put that empty battery you'll take to the recycling bin next time you run errands, the paper clip you found lying on the table, that elastic band and whatnot. Sometimes you take the pot with you and go from room to room to put them away. These will save you a lot of mess without running through the house all day.
I love the sarcasm, and the idea of a sarcasmeter. Put it on the wall, just next to the clock.😊 Open storage in a kitchen is the worst. It will never look good because you're not an Ikea store: you have lots of things that aren't pretty don't match, but that you still need in your kitchen. Plus, open storage means dirty storage. No place collects dirt as fast as a kitchen. Also, eliminate cupboard tops. Make cupboards that go all the way to the ceiling. You get extra storage, a place that looks nicer because you don't have random stuff lying on the top of your cupboards, and no more grimy cupboard tops.
Yes, someone who is honest about all the bins, baskets, and trays we keep buying to organize our stuff, when what we need to do is get rid of stuff so we no longer feel the need to hide it in a bin, basket, or tray! Otherwise, we are simply organizing the clutter rather than dealing with the clutter and editing out items that we don't need/don't use on a regular basis.
Slowly bringing our "new" home to comfortable (there is a LOT to remodel). Before we moved here, I stripped down the appliances. I got rid of the blender and the Instant Pot because I never used them. I got an immersion blender and a Ninja bullet. They live behind closed doors. But I use the KitchenAid frequently. I'm tiny and it's heavy enough that it earn counter space. And it's red. The only other appliance that stays out is the food processor--too heavy for me to take out and put away. I don't miss any of the appliances I got rid of. You won't see me buying a single-purpose appliance. Lol. And your sarcasm is my favorite thing about your advice, beyond it being great advice.
@@irenemorley75 Spell "it" meaning what? If they spell "your" as "your" then that's great. If they spell "you're" as "your" then that's wrong. I seriously doubt that "most" English people don't know the difference between the two words.
This one resonates with me. You're so right! I am 75 and am the same person I was in my 20's! LOL In fact, when the thiught came out that you shouldn't make your bed when you first get up in the am I was thrilled...TMI?
To add to the organizer point, you do not need to go and spend money on a bunch of organization bins. I have a bunch of cut down cardboard boxes in my pantry and my drawers in my bathroom. They work great!
@@redpastawench Came here to say this. Unless the baskets/bins are visible, I much prefer to use shoe boxes and amazon shipping boxes in my pantry and bathroom cabinets. I usually cut off the top flaps and then I have a perfectly usable box to put say my shaving things or cleaning supplies. Like why would I buy a $30 organizer to keep my $30 worth of stuff that's hiding under the sink anyway?!
I use empty Q-tip boxes to organize my drawers. I like that they're clear and stackable. I pull off the cardboard then round out the corners so they're not sharp. :)
Do make sure to paint them well though. I had to discard many such cut out cardboard boxed I used for storage because they got fungus. The package boxes which weren't the brown cardboard boxes, is still doing fine.
I loved all your tips. Recently spring cleaning, I found enough craft, art and vintage supplies to outfit two classrooms and an antique booth. My art teacher friends were thrilled. And books! With book bans going on all around, my grandchildren were happy to have my decades old copies while I put mine on kindle. As you were speaking, I thought of convenient hidden storage areas I can use if I just do a little rearranging. Thank you! I enjoy all your videos.
One of the things I love about Nick is his brutal honesty. Makes me feel right at home (NYC!). Also I always appreciate learning a new design tip too. Thanks for keepin’ it real Nick!! :)
Nick! This is seriously the most helpful video you've ever done. As an ADHD home that deals with visibly on display vs. closed storage, this is pure gold. Thank you so much.
I love your gentle sarcasm - it's perfectly tasteful and amusing! I love the "new got-it-together Nick" stuff. The anchor part was also good, often overlooked. Slightly related: When I get new stuff, I always tell myself - "Do I love it or is it just one more thing to clean or store? This reigns me in a bit. I wish they'd advertise "no-shed" baskets because many of them are so lovely and useful but a pain to clean under.
Extra benefit . Great for your self esteem... Seriously, when your home is comfortable, set up for your lifestyle, and organized, you feel better are more effective and efficient, SELF ESTEEM BOOSTER,🧡
Enjoying your humor sprinkled in between useful decorating ideas. Your honesty is also refreshing because home needs to be functional not only beautiful!
This video was not for me. I AM the crazy person who always puts things away, but because I like watching videos about organizing things, I had to watch this one. Keep up the sarcasm. Very fun. Great tip on the trays and organizer baskets. That junk drawer of life’s flotsam and jetsam (that we all have in the kitchen) thanks you.
I looooooove you, your energy, expertise, vdo editing prowess, articulation, humour, the list is endless. Thank you for being you and putting out these crazy useful vdos helping us all!! ❤️❤️
Thank you sooo much for this video!! I've been trying to organize my house with my husband and four kids and three foster kids for years!! This video gave me the direction I needed and been missing!! Thank you for being so direct and simplistic!! Genius is in the simple things!🥰
I live in a tiny space, ... 1 bedroom apartment 🌳🏡 *"Tetris puzzle" furniture layout * Styled and beautiful * Regular editing of my clothing; fully organized zones. * Regular re-styling of vases/books/averies 🕊 * Only have "one project out" at a time (mess control) e.g. putting away the clothes horses and all clothes, before a big mass cooking session, big sewing project day, gardening marathon... only create "one chaos zone" at a time; finish it, then pack it up. * Bathroom is wiped clean after every use (make up powder wiped clean, scub loo, hang towels up) * Everything is dealt with properly when arriving home from work; lunch boxes cleaned, hang up coat, keys on the key hook, etc. * Grocery shopping bags go straight back into the boot of the car, post unpacking food items. * Everything in my home has a "spot". I know what my stock levels are; food, hardware, wardrobe items, "fix it projects". * Never leave mess out on any surface, ... just put away as I go. So easy. * I live alone (a lot of you folks may want to get rid of some messy people who reside with you. 😆😂🤣😋) Love Princess Holly 🕊🌿🌳🌲🍀🌱🌴🌻🍃🕊🌿🌳
I just sat down with a close friend (who's recently got a fatigue condition) and talked him through my 'storage categories' with him. Thought I'd share as there's a lot of similarities to your advice: Category 0 - Aesthetic purposes - displayed in a place with enough negative space around it to be visually appealing (In his case easy to clean is also a plus) Category 1 - Daily use item - find a place for them in the place of use (mini shelf on a side near the door to dump the contents of man-pockets and walking stick etc) - your drop zones + anchors! Category 2 - '1 motion' closed storage. Items you use at least once a week that you can reach with one motion (i.e. he gets prescription medicine and fills his pill pot weekly - so it's in a box on the kitchen counter) Category 3 - Batch storage/closed storage - items you use at least once a month - accessible behind Category 3 and all stored in the same area (for example he does wargaming) Category 4 - Deep storage - Items you use once a year - Boxed up neatly and put where you might need to dig for it (garage, attic or in his case a deep cupboard) i.e Seasonal decor Category 5 - Sentimental junk - Check if it's Category 0 and if not it's the deepest of deep category 5 (I for example have a tuck box I store 'memory' items which include a large plastic spider I once used in a joke!) The best thing is, the more you reduce category 1, the easier it is to get to 2-5 and the better category 0 looks!
I absolutley love you! Every single time!! Not only did you save me from making a huge mistake - yes, I was contemplating putting a barn door on the bathroom - but I love how you call it out!
💌 Sign up for my newsletter, The Interior Scoop: interiorscoop.nicklewis.ca/subscribe
Brooklinen is awful. Sorry. I used it before. The pillows were painful, the linen wasn't worth the price
@@DJarry394 - Linen is wonderful and I own linen sheets, pillows, and clothing, but you have to wash it several times before it becomes softer.
@@AP12360 sorry, I’m talking about the brand. It’s overpriced, and not very good quality. But linen sheets sound nice. If I should ever have enough $ for them, I would take your advice. Thanks
Nick, my heart, not all of us can pull out an appliance on a moments notice plug it in AND remember it exists. HOW do we put them away in ways that keep those we use 3 times a week accessible? Or those that don’t have easy places to go? How do we make open storage like kitchen carts into functionally closed storage?
Functional tips too please!
Subscribed!
Came for the sarcasm, stayed for the tips.
Me too, exactly!
Came for the tips, stayed for the sarcasm 😂
Lot. Love that. That's me too.
ALWAYS!
lol yes! 😂
“Work with what you got not with what you want to be” the wisest words I’ve heard all year
Maybe he should try remembering that when he changes his hair to that hideous color that makes him look much older than before. This is not the way to get a sugar daddy, sweet cheeks!
Loved that ! ❤️
Works for kids and spouses too.
I made a drop zone by using an old bookcase that fits in the space behind my door. It fits shoes, keys, receipts, loose change, mail, etc.
So True 👍🏽
Why did interior designers stop using bathroom mirrors with medicine cabinets behind them? It used to be so easy to see everything you had, because it was at eye level. Suddenly they decided we all want to store our stuff in drawers in the vanity instead. Drawers are very awkward to store items in bottles, because you can't see the labels. Bring back medicine cabinets!
Thats an easy answer. Most housing construction is done factory style, with emphasis on speed over quality of craft. Inset medicine cabinets usually require re framing part of a wall and also re-routing vent pipes or electrical infrastructure. Placing a cabinet onto the wall itself is an alternative, however it is clunky, minimizes light from sticking out 4 to 6 inches, and often looks like a half done job. Therefore designers and flippers just opt for the sleeker look of a mirror and utilize alternate storage areas for the contents that would normally be in medicine cabinets. Its also impossible to properly inset a medicine cabinet when it's against an exterior wall.
I have one in my own bathroom and I love it!
Is there one with edges that keep things from falling out and into the sink?
@@653j521 I have no idea where she found them, but I know someone who uses small tension rods in all her cabinets (bathroom, kitchen, tools, everywhere). She tells me proudly, and often, that nothing's fallen in the toilet in years. 😅
@@653j521mine is a giant one from Ikea and is placed on the wall above my cistern and toilet. It’s a weird shaped bathroom so that’s the only place it can go, but so far nothing has fallen down into the toilet! I’m very careful though, and keep the toilet lid down but it would indeed be good if the shelves had edges on them. I suppose it wouldn’t be too hard to improvise your own, by glueing thin pieces of wood along the front of each shelf.
I'm a hoarder from a long line of hoarders, but always thought, "as long as you have a place for it, you're okay." The day I realized you are forever paying for what you own changed how I thought about stuff. People don't hesitate to call out those who use storage units as wasting money, paying for stuff you already own, but the fact is you buy/rent a living space to fit what you own, continue to pay utilities on it, pay your time and effort to maintain it, pay your peace of mind to deal with the clutter, buy stuff to organize/display it, pay insurance to protect it, and so on.
Love that you came to this realization. So hard for someone who has hoarding tendencies to see past their things as more than that. Yes, yes, yes! Pat yourself on the back!
Wow! This really reached me. Thank you.
I think I need to think about this one a little more. What has kind of worked for me is that like... i want space to breathe more than I want stuff. I want to be able to sit on the floor (without moving a box) more than I want to keep that box, or I want to be able to find what I need more than I want to keep all the things getting in my way! But I do think I have less of the keep-stuff impulse than some people, so there's no telling if this line of logic would help someone else.
@@sullendragon8900 "wanting something more" helps me achieve most of my goals.
Adding on storage units can really highlight what you don’t need .
"Chances are, most of what you have isn’t that attractive. Someone had to tell you" 😂😂😂 Had me laughing out loud! And yes, Nick, I have wondered why your clock is always at the same time. 😂
It’s correct twice a day 😅
Ive noticed that toooo 😂😂😂😂
@Erica-en2qz :
YES! lol 😅😂
“Chances are, most of what you have isn’t that attractive.
Someone had to tell you.” - Nick Lewis
😄💕
😅😂
Oh me gosh.
I love this fellow’s work and daring, ever-so-politely!
Thank you, Nick Lewis! 😄✨🌷
😂😂😂😂
I thought we all agreed 10:10 was the most aesthetically pleasing. 🤪 I wonder why 12:18?
We've lived in the same house -- with the same two hooks behind our bedroom door -- for 32 years. A few months ago, I asked my otherwise tidy husband why he didn't hang his worn (but still clean for the next day) clothes on his hook instead of draping them down his side of the dresser. Turns out in 31.5 years, he'd never considered the always-empty hook to be "his." Sometimes, a little, gentle communication is the answer.
He sounds like a sweetie to not assume his territory extends all over yours. Did you actually tell him it is his before?
This is so cute!
That is so funny and sweet 😂
Awwwww. That’s so sweet.
😂
"Bonus tip: feel free to get rid of some stuff!" I love how the most important thing is said as a sarcastic aside 😂
Or even better, feel free not to buy more crap you don't need.
@@bluewren65how dare you
@@mynotificationsareoff.400 😂
@ros8986 I'd hope your hit to miss ratio would be higher than 50:50. Before buying anything my questions are: Do I really need this? Do I have somewhere to put this? Sadly, for beautiful, aesthetic items the answer is usually "no" and for necessities it is a constant headache finding a place for them to live.
@@bluewren65 Most of our furniture is antiques. If we buy another, then we ask which one are we giving to a new home?
For all my fellow ADD and ADHDs, a useful trick I use to keep a clean house is setting a timer every evening and doing just 10min of cleaning. Sometimes I get motivated to do more, on other days I'll do just the 10min.
I have ADHD and can attest I get the most cleaning done when I am waiting for something to heat up in the microwave or waiting for a pot of water to boil. It's almost a competition to see how much I can get done in that amount of time.
Yes!! 3 years ago(ADHDer here) I started doing 10 min a day and now I usually do an hour a day and even enjoy cleaning. I put everything away and never leave a room without taking something back where I'm going.
U must have one person in a small house @ 10 min a day. lol
Yes! I work from home and usually take between 30 minutes and one hour a day to "fix something" home related. It helps a lot to keep everything manageable and avoid clutter emergencies that take a whole weekend or more to be dealt with.
My hubby and school son got ADHD. They loose focus all the time. So hard. Have to constantly push them to get things done, procrastinating lazy and complaining people
I'm almost 40 years old and there's always a pile of clothes next to my bed. My wife hates me for it. But, I'm inspired to get a beautiful rack to hang the things that don't need a wash and a small hamper to hide / store the things that definitely do need a wash. ❤❤
Wonderful idea. Its worth it to keep marital peace. Lol
The sarcasm is my fave. And your quirky self depreciation when you're also calling us out on our stuff😂 You're one of my faves. Very real, practical and classy!
"you like to think you're going to be this person that hangs up everything but you're not, you're just not that girl" - thank you, i needed to hear this today, ordering a clothes rack now!
You never know. After watching Marie Kondo, I was like, I'm never going to be the sort that folds his clothes, including the socks and underthings. But, I gave it a go and years later I'm still doing it. It turned out that in this case, there was enough comfort in doing so and convenience afterwards that I kept doing it pretty much every load.
But, that being said, realistically, most of the time that I try things like that, it just doesn't work for me and I need to be OK with that. Some things are more likely to work out than others.
Bot my husband and I will tell you - I am absolutely not that girl. My clothes pile up in a bin...
That being said similar to what the other person said after kearning Marie Kondo's method it is easier for me to get rid of things and I still fold my shirts the way she does.
@@Sdority905same I love to fold! And I love Marie Kondo! Still a mess though:(
Bold of you to assume I have enough cabinet space to put away the things on my counter!
Me with my instant pot in my studio apartment 🥲
Great tips Nick. I hate clutter as well. Happy Saturday!
Have you considered throwing it out a window?
I was thinking the same thing. 😂
Agreed! Aside from in the bedrooms there is ONE closet here .. All in one for brooms, linens, cleaning supplies .. Yikes!
I love the new, sarcastic Nick! It seems like you’re more bold than this time last year and I LOVE your sense of humor!
I did come here to be abused.
I love nick for the sass and roasting and good ideas too. And I'm a designer 😂
Same I love his sarcastic side!
"You don't have to like my clock. I don't really care." He always makes me laugh.
9:58 this is actually the most helpful advice I've ever heard. "Work with what you got, not what you want to be". SO REALISTIC!
Nightstands with generously sized drawers are your friend for those regularly used bedroom items.
That part was funny, wasn't it?
I need inspiration to decluttering and donate unused items.I really want ti live in an artist studio but I live in an old farmhouse with small rooms.I'm kind of a hoarder too.Or I was.I'm tired of the excess and now am motivated to ditch all the knickknacks.I do like to look at pretty things and natural artifacts though.I have been working on it and have organized and donated clothes, books, junk.I have to keep going until I only have left what I really love and use.❤
Nick, I am one of those people that forgets I own something when I can't see it. I am building a home with a large pantry/storage/prep room adjacent to the kitchen. My plan is open shelves below the counters in the pantry. That way I can see what I own, still maintain a clear counter space, and it is not visible to guests or even to me most of the time. I am excited to have a kitchen that doesn't look like a resale shop of donated appliances!
We all forget what we can't see! That's why people have basements, under-stairs storage and storage units.
Ooh -- good call. And maybe consider getting some clear storage containers with lids for the smaller or more fiddly stuff (lids, attachments, detachable parts, etc.). Being immediately able to identify what is where, and to group items conveniently together, is a game changer.
May want to rethink your plan…..it will get dusty, so you will have to dust before you use anything! 😢
This is hugely important, and often overlooked by people who crave visual simplicity. But many people struggle with "object permanence" and truly tend to forget stuff they can't see and touch. If you keep saying things like, "Well, I *thought* I had scissors but I can't find any and I have no idea where they'd be, so I'm going out to buy a pair so I can do such-and-such," and then a week later, "Oh, look! Six pairs of scissors! Didn't I buy some last week? Where did they go?" you may have a problem with object permanence (and/or a problem with not establishing fixed "homes" for often-needed items). Keeping things out, using open shelving, or storing items in clear acrylic containers really does help some people, while it would drive others mad! If you know what works for you, go for it!
@@liisaking1247 excellent advice!
Being organized lowers stress levels.
I just want to say thank you, Nick, for saying those people are too far off the deep end and you wanted to do the video for normal people. Sometimes, these social media and DIYers make me feel like giving up. It’s exhausting trying to keep up!
My husband and I just got real with ourselves. We sold our huge, matching patio set (included an outdoor bar) and got a sturdy Lifetime picnic table and couldn't be happier because we aren't constantly cleaning the patio set.
Craziness is renting storage units to store stuff. People have too much clutter!
my personal thought is open concept doesn't have storage space...so there's that
Yup, serious cra-cra ...
@@betmo Open concept definitely can have ample storage. However, it takes away from living space unless one specifically allows adequate space for storage and living. I just built an open concept home and I had to be firm with architects and designers about the importance of closed storage. I did opt for all built-in cabinets over closets to keep as much as living space as possible while have a designated closed space for everything
@@betmo
My open concept has plenty of storage 👍🏻
Heard a comedian say 'storage units are suburban junk drawers - things go in and never come out...' 😂
Hooks on the inside of the closet door and the bathroom door have saved me from dropping my clothes on the floor all my adult life. If it's not ready for the laundry, it's a hook when I'm in too much of a hurry for a hanger. Clothes don't wrinkle and they're hidden. Every couple of days I hang things back up.
I discovered the joy of this a few years ago! It’s bliss, right? 🤣👍🏻
You paragons of virtue! I just chuck them on the floor 😲😆
Same. In my bathroom right now I have hanging a 70s-style newsboy cap and a pair of swim goggles, but hey, they're not on the floor! 😂
@@cc1k435 🥴👍🏻
I use hooks and hangers on the back of my bedroom door, for clothing that I wore for a few hours and is still clean, but I don't want to hang up in the closet, as I don't want to mix actual clean clothes with ones I had worn. And at some point, if I know I probably won't be wearing it again, then it goes into the laundry basket.
The bit about being realistic about your habits hits sooo true though. As someone with ADHD I have to work around the weird ways my brain works. The biggest thing I found for me is that, while I will hang things up, I will not fold them. Things became a moderately less chaotic mess when I embraced hooks and hangers everywhere.
Same for me, hooks took care of the 'worn but not for laundry' clothes, but I realised I need a basket for newly washed clothes, because I procrastinate on folding laundry
I have bins for everything that doesn’t have to be folded. Tank tops, underwear, pajamas. It stopped me from having laundry paralysis. Washed jeans or pants go on hooks too.
I’m picturing the Seinfeld episode with the organizer lady “hooks!”
I have to hang some stuff but I sort and dump everything else. I don't fold and I hang as little as humanly possible. Laundry is so much easier for me this way
ADHD life is all about working with our magic beautiful chaos. the only, thing that works for me is extreme minimalism. if there isnt space for it behind something, it doesnt come into my tiny house.
The ultimate tip for me was to accept my behaviour and work through it. I kept trying to change myself and failing. The moment I started accepting, after watching the video, solutions stared me in the face. Thanks a ton for such a basic thing which was missing from my life for so long .
I love love love the suggestion of designing solutions that work with what you do! I often ran into the problem of thinking a piece would motivate me to store or organize things “right”… But really it just meant that the things not for that purpose would get overloaded and choke out my tiny space. Designing to my own brain, following my desire paths and identifying my “piles” and organizing to that was a lifesaver!! Another point - Don’t be afraid to organize things that make sense to you because they don’t seem “right” to other people! Store those coats by the dining room if they keep ending up on your table when you walk by! Keep the hand soap at the kitchen sink if you find yourself washing there! Store some hangers in the bathroom if you have items you air dry in there! It’s not “wrong” if it works for you!
I’ve learned the only way my house doesn’t become a chaotic mess from my adhd is absolutely working with my existing habits, and just beautifying them, usually with baskets 😂😂😂
SAME! I've learned to embrace that it might still not be properly categorized, but it is organized _for_ me.
The ADHD mess is real...
ADHDer here 🙋🏻♀️ I accepted recently that I’m never going to put away clothes that I want to rewear. I just spend 30 minut every week and deal with pile of clothes all at once. I feel it’s about doing big projects, I hate doing small things, step by step, because I don’t see the effect right away
Yep! It's, "Where do my messes accumulate? Put an open basket or hook there."😂
Yesss!!! My household (all w/ ADHD) CANNOT function any other way. If your family's like mine and you really want to torture yourself, try putting everything away and watch the panic when everybody loses their sh*t (pun intended)
7:30 re: drop zones: if you find yourself having to look for the same thing on a regular basis, think about where you most often look for that thing and then keep it there or somewhere close. For example, I used to always forget where I kept my lighter and would have to go looking for it every time my stove wouldn't light, so I just moved it to the drawer I'd usually look first, the cooking utensil drawer, even though it "doesn't fit the category."
That's exactly where I keep my lighter! A couple of candles in there as well, as I found out last time there was a power outage, the utensil drawer was the first place I went to 😁
"Dropped like a school bag at 4 o'clock" has stayed with me as a helpful turn of phrase. Find a place for all the things!
4????? It is 12:20 , 😂
Beeing in the ADD-spectrum I *really* appreciated this. There was a couple of tips that was new to me, and I thought I had heard everything by now.
Love from Sweden 🥰
I live for the sarcasm as it is my first language.
The sarcasm is one of the reasons I like your channel so much 🖤
You use the perfect amount of Canadian dry humour and sarcasm!
it must be that as its never belittling nor cruel, just fun
Like a soothing Arctic Breeze😅
I’ve set to work on this immediately . I have put everything away, including furniture and have anchored myself on a wooden tray on a rug in the living room. I have won at organising 👏🏼
Are you Nick’s twin? Love your snark.
@@donnagreen5707I think I might be Nick’s long lost snark twin . 😂
😂
😂
I was soooo far adift i have used an anchor from a container ship... I am now marooned on my kitchen island 🤣🤣🤣🤣 snark is the best 👍🇦🇺🙃
The biggest game changer for me is being honest with myself. Am I really going to use this? Do I really need it? And then finding it a home. If it has a home 9/10 I'm going to put it away right away. When I get the mail I immediately sort it, junk goes in the trash, mail with personal information gets shredded, and if there's anything important I can deal with it right away. I have really worked hard on routines and putting into the perspective of I'm doing myself a favor by putting things away right away.
I love your sarcasm, Nick. Makes me laugh every single time. Please don’t change!
As a person with ADHD, I have to be careful what I conceal, because I'll stop using it completely, and painfully often buy a new one.
I sometimes think interior design is about "making homes look like nobody lives there." I respect people who can live that way, but that's just not me.
I do try to make things non-cluttery, but still visible. The picture you rolled at 2:36 may as well be my own countertop.
I've also got ADHD and feel overwhelmed when all my stuff is visible. I found out that if you stuff too much stuff in your drawer or closet you can't properly access it (hurdle) and thus you don't use it, forget it and maybe buy a new one. Key here is (for me) to have very little things so everything is soooo easy to grab or put away without having to do a tetris game at Olympic level.
@@lidewijvos Yeah, same, less things is always easier, but I still need some things visible, or labeled on the exterior of the cabinet or drawer even.
Yeah, if things aren't out I won't use them. If i have to pull out the magic bullet every time i want a smoothie you can better believe I'm never making a smoothie. If it's sitting there ready I'm way more likely to use it. I wish I could have less clutter, but hiding things is really not an option if I want to get things done. Executive dysfunction is a bitch. What I really need is tips on how to make things easily accessible without losing your mind.
@@lidewijvosmy whole box of an apartment is exactly like playing Tetris when I put anything away, even groceries! It’s ridiculous really. Especially when you know you need to prep for times of need that are coming. If I find a deal on something, I have to buy it. Whether it’s food, water, hygiene essentials that I know aren’t going to go bad any time soon. I’m now wanting to get into crafting, hopefully to make a little extra cash. I know I have stuff to get rid of and want to have a yard sale. I thought, I could make a few things, maybe from what I do have and throw those items in there as well. Sounds like a plan but I’m starting to get a bit overwhelmed. I’m glad I found this channel, funny and true! Some stuff isn’t very appealing but adding trays will help and I know how to make them!
I also think I don’t put things away because I will forget them so I have started writing down where things are. I know that sounds extreme but I have a composition notebook where all info goes so I just added a page for where I store things. In my craft room I use post it notes on my cabinets. Also, plastic zip bags are great for storing like items and then putting them in a box etc. all my costume jewelry is in clear bags. I dump it out when I am looking for something and then sweep it back into a pretty box
Every time I feel the need to go out and buy an new organiser, I go through my stuff instead and make it fit the storage I already own. I’m not buying and keeping too much crap that way and I learned a long time ago that it’s so much easier to have a nice and tidy home if you don’t own too many things. I’m not a minimalist, I just try to avoid overconsumption and it makes my life easier.
Amen.
It's so tempting to think that buying more organisers will make you be organised! I mean, you definitely do need to have the places to put the things, but very quickly shopping isn't the answer. But it's so much easier and more rewarding to bring home a clever new thing, than to go through and get rid of the stuff you already have overflowing.
@@BellePullman I agree, you do need to have space to put your things to start with, if you don’t own any storage then you should go out and buy some! But you need to find the right moment to quit. I find it helpful to wait two or three days before making a purchase, giving myself time to think about it. If I still want it after a few days it will probably turn out to be useful in the long run. More often the urge to buy has passed by then.
Had my cupboard doors removed to be refinished. And over the 3 weeks they were off, looking at the storage and stuff in them....i was able to adjust the shelves, have new shelves cut (bought new pins), culled items i truly hadnt touched for years, and found room for toaster (on tray for crumbs), blender and better soace utilization.
I was almost sad when i put the doors back on, and realized i could survive with 8 coffee cups instead of 12 double stacked!
The toaster crumb tray is very much needed! I love mine! Good work on your cupboards!
Coffee cups are Tribbles.
Yay,great job!😊
omg why has it never occurred to me to put the toaster on a tray? Genius! Especially since I'm literally the only one in my family of five who ever cleans under the toaster...
@@laurabarnes5283 I use the smallest metal ones I find at restaurant supply places, but I think plastic works too :)
Dude, I'm moving next week. Startin over. So just wanted to say thanks for your videos. Especially the stuff about landing zones. Ya know what's better than actually finding an answer to something on UA-cam? Finding an answer to a question you never even knew you had. It's the unknown unknowns that'll creep up on ya! Thanks.
I've never considered how much using the word "consider" can really put someone at ease when giving advice. That's my no. 1 takeaway today 😙
😂 lol “let’s not talk about it”.
“Let’s work with the behavior we already have” Gold!
I dont have a lot in the sleeping area of my bedroom. 1 bed and 2 nightstands. But my nightstands were always a disaster. It only occured to me recently to put a large enough basket on each nightstand t9 store all the items that regularly got dumped on that surface. Books i am in the process of reading, bedtime supplements, coin box, charging cables, earbuds... its wonderful and it lools so tidy and charming. And when my husbamd asks where such and such thing is that he put down randomly somewhere in the house, I always know that i put it in his bedside basket. I dont know why I never thought of doing this 30 years ago.
Nick, just an FYI: As a Certified Sarcasm Specialist for many decades, your sarcasm comes through very clearly with voice, tone, facial expression, and body language. The organization that I head, consistently rates your videos a solid 9! The deduction of 1 measly point (a.k.a. The Smidge Deduction or SD), is not for the lack of detection of the sarcasm, but rather the overselling. It is a minor point, but, what we call “deadpanning “ needs a dash of work. Kudos on your high marks. I’m happy to announce, you are in the running for the Sarcasm; D’uh-uh ( The Sarcasie” annual award! Congratulations….
Right on I'm very sarcastic as the people I work with tell me.😅😅😅😅
@@49lucky That will be up to The Society” to judge. We’ll forward an application. I, personally, can recall being judged by those around me as far back as high school. I think it was all those who were reading “the humanities”. Oscar Wilde’s quote that “Sarcasm is the weakest form of wit”, was quoted to me. What they left out was the “but” in the quote “ the most intelligent”! You and I are both just letting our intellect run Wilde! At The Soceity we often chide one another with “your intelligence is showing”. Our group motto is “Sarcasam; let your intelligence show!”
You are hilarious,
Yes, closed storage is so important, glad to hear somebody say it; plus there's less dusting/cleaning than with all the open shelves, etc.
Yes to everything said. Especially “be the person I am, not the person I want or think I should be”. That was a relief. I love organizing. But I realized I wouldn’t have to organize so much if I would just find a way that makes it so I don’t have to organize all the time. I’m going to get the bins, organizers that I thought I wouldn’t like. Thank you. ❤️
As someone who loves to cook I am here to say I love a kitchen in which spices, oils, and other food items are not hidden, but easily at hand. I love a vibrant, natural kitchen in which everything has its place, and you can feel the life of your home flowing.
I feel the opposite way. I cook everyday, and I love being able to put everything away when I’m done, it may be my OCD. Also, just because stuff is hidden doesn’t mean that’s not easily at hand.
@@LluviadeOrugas also valid! But not the only way to have an organized, clean and aesthetic kitchen. It's not the modernist thing to do, but we can always choose which cultural values we conform to in our home designs.
I have a metal ledge from IKEA above the stove and a little tray on the side of the stove for that kind of stuff (like shaker seasonings, oil, black vinegar). The rest of the similar items that i use less often (like spoonable seasonings, vinegar, oil, baking powder, etc.) go in a nearby cupboard. It's awesome
The items are in their homes on the shelf and in the tray, it's very satisfying, and it eliminates barriers/additional steps, which is one of the most effective and commonly needed disability accommodations. By the time i open a cupboard i forget why i opened it, so I need as few barriers as possible
To me spice should never go in a cabinet because of the smell. So they are on a magnetic shelves on the side of the fridge which is just near the gas burner. At some point I wanted magnetic containers for spices but it would means a lot of them and everything was super expensive and also it’s the kind of idea that is may be a bad idea because of labeling and transfer into containers and you may need new containers if you buy a new spice and what about thyme that I buy on big containers because it is used a lot. My mom takes is to have a casserole hanger that hold spices on top. But I don’t have a set of casseroles as she does.
"I'm not particularly organized" is maybe not the declaration I want to hear from the person about to give me organizing tips. 😂
But here I am listening.😂😂😂
Hilarious!
😏
Or I’m EXACTLY the person to listen to because I’m realistic!
Are you kidding? The best people to learn from did it wrong until they did it right.
How many “cups of coffee” has Nick consumed?
Sarcasm is life. I know no other way. Every video you make me laugh. I'm also a parent and whenever you poke fun at kids, I laugh even more. Because it's true.
Making those drop-spots has really improved my home organisation! My best example: no more „the chair“ - instead, I have a basket or wooden box where I put my „not dirty enough for washing, will wear again“-clothes.
You spoke quickly yet clearly and crammed a ton of info and personality into those 15 mins. Love it! 🎉
You are brutally honest while being cleverly sarcastic , this is why YOU are my FAV on youtube!
Pro tip from an ADHD coach, if you struggle with remembering that your stuff exists or where it is after putting it away (object permanence challenge) then get clear bins or cute labels for your organization baskets. ❤
I have a label on the shelf where I am supposed to hang my coat reminding me to close the garage door. None of family without adhd can understand why I don’t remember to. Thanks for finally explaining it to me. The label doesn’t always work:(
That’s exactly why I have all of the stuff ALWAYS out and seen! I will literally forget that they exist if I put them away and have a nice, clear space. 😢
@@Christina_Hira I am so glad to hear that I am not the only person who likes to see what I have and forget what is put away. It has bothered me for 60 years and I decided--just heck with it at this point in life.. I am going to get rid of stuff and try to do just basic items. Wish me luck because I have way too many things.
@@lynnstlaurent6789 Because You forget to hang Your coat there ;-) ?
I love labels. They are just handy. Need someone to grab something? Easy they cam find it cause it's labeled
I have a floor-to-ceiling, french door appliance garage with multiple outlets in the garage and pull out shelving. BEST DECISION EVER.
(I cook A LOT and, yes, I USE those appliances.)
Honestly, you're house looks awesome!! I love the mix of styles and the open and linear.
If you want to create subsections/partitions/small storage in your concealed storage, and don't want to buy yet another thing, repurposed shoe boxes or any small and medium boxes that might have been the packaging of something work so well!! I use those to create sections in my clothes drawers, for socks, underwear, short sleeved top and long sleeved tops. Can barely notice them when I look for items but they make my drawers so tidy! Same thing in my arts and crafts cupboard, in my kitchen (for teas and baking stuff), in my bathroom (for accessories or spare products. Costs nothing and works just the same.
For me, a turning point was when I finally stopped nesting my food containers separately from their lids. Those drawers were always a mess, and I had a heck of a time matching them up when needed. A couple years ago I started stacking them with lids on, and getting rid of odds and ends. (It helped that I'd decided to purge the plastic and stayed with a core glass collection.) And I'm *still* shocked on a regular basis to open those drawers and be able to find order instead of chaos.
Ok I have to start doing this. I am you a couple of years ago and you are future me.
I don't have a variety - the ones for free when I buy thin sliced meat. They stack well. It's only me, so it works. I also got rid of 'cannisters' years ago and opted for Tupperware in closed storage.
@@amymancini2146 🤣
Edited to say: all joking aside? I hope it is helpful.
@@amymancini2146 I got rid of anything that wasn't Pyrex and I store the lids vertically in a wooden mail organizer and that has been amazing for me. Glad.you found what works for your space ! 💜
Oh my gosh.....I just randomly came across your videos. I am an almost 61 year old 'closet' interior designer....forget the great advice you give!! I'm totally watching for the humor, can't even count how many times I laugh OUT LOUD watching you!!!!! The best.
Nick I totally get your funny sarcasm and just love it! lol BTW the Clutterbug here on YT does a fabulous job of helping you find your natural organization style and offers special types of storage that suits your style. The benefit of this is that once you know your style, you will be able to stay organized for the long haul! She's worth checking out as she uses 4 bugs (butterfly, cricket, ladybug and bee) to explain the different kind of styles making it so easy to embrace your natural style. I'm a butterfly, and love gathering like items into together and stowing things in baskets (lids are too fussy for me) for easy macro organizing (as opposed to micro organizing, think of those that need to label everything, which drives me insane!). Loved all your tips, they were spot on so keep them coming! Much love!
Yes that helped me too! I think I'm a ladybug!
God Bless the man who’s goal in life is to get rid of open-shelving trends! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I'm a 67 yr old retired trained interior decorator (not a designer), so I'm very happy to hear "closed storage" and put it away if you don't use it, among other "old-school" design principles. But I also really enjoyed your tongue-in-cheek humor and sarcasm. Some of those red-X'd picture were atrocious.
This is my first time watching a video of yours. Oh my goodness you talk so fast. But, I'm used to my husband being a fast talker, so I was able to follow you without rewinding. The faster one talks, the more you can get into a brief video. You never even once lost my attention. Some UA-camrs put me to sleep, because they talk so much and so slowly that they don't get to the point for ages. Kind of like Jack Benny. I think you'd remember him. Oh well.
I'll be back to watch more of your videos. Thank you!
Omg- my husband got a kitchen aid mixer as a gift- we've used it 10xs in 3years & he wont let me put it away! Drives me coo coo- right now i have all our cords & charges in the bowl! 🥳
I got a Kitchen Aid mixer a few years ago. I use it maybe a couple of times a month. I'm moving and would like to put it in the new pantry, but it is so heavy, I don't see myself lugging it out every time I want to use it. Then it will really sit unused. I guess I'll have to disappoint Nick and keep it on my counter. But I promise to get rid of everything else! Except the air fryer. I use that constantly. Okay, two items, not so bad. Could be (and is) a lot worse.😄
@@calendarpage it is heavy ! And leaks oil sometimes when you move it or isn't level!
@@calendarpage Maybe in your new place you can get one of those shelves that can raise up to counter height when you open the cupboard door. No need to move or lift the mixer.
@@Elle-kr8od id ❤️that & 8 more kitchen cabinets!!🥳🥳🤣
We had a home with open storage built-in bookcases on each side of the fireplace. When we built a new home, I told my husband I did not want bookcases. I was so tired of "staging" them and the visual clutter. I like it so much better without them. I'm all for closed storage!
My family has hundreds of books, likely more than 1,000. Seeing the title on the spine brings it back, my grandchildren read books I had so we have bookshelves everywhere. No other open storage allowed!
I love books and I love closed storage BUT if you're living in an ADHD household like me (we're two diagnozed, our child is too young to have an diagnosis yet) closed storage is the worst. My husband and my child wouldn't remember whats behind those doors. It really helped us to get rid of unnecessary items and have the things we really need on display. It really depends on how you live If open shelfing is helpful or make it worse.
A place for everything and everything in its place is an absolute.
I started this weekend off planning a full declutter and to paint/ update my whole home, starting Monday (I plan everything for Mondays) so decided to do some homework and get inspiration. I found you, thank you so much instead of depression I have laughed(family think the thought of decluttering has sent me over the edge lol) I’m now binge watching your videos, it’s Monday but I will get started and at least I’ll have a smile on my face!!! ❤️❤️❤️🇬🇧
Thanks! You make my home a better place. Love your talent.
I'm just waiting for Nick to start messing with us by changing his clock time randomly.
❤
I want it to be 10:20, which is the time Timex watches always displayed in ads, to frame the logo.
Lol, let's send him some batteries. 😂😂❤❤❤
“It’s always 12:18 where I live” 😂
I think it should be "after 5:00!" 🤣😂
He already did, you didn't notice when it went from being 12:18pm to 12:18am.
I just have to say, your channel could be about ANYTHING and i would still watch. You crack me up. Your sarcasm is my oxygen.😂😊
"Working with the behavior you already have." I like that! 😆 You're the best💙
Drop zones are super important. Also, drop pots/baskets, etc. Keeping a basket at the bottom of the stairs and one at the top, to put everything that "goes up/down there" is super useful. If you run across something that's on the wrong floor, you put it in the basket. Whenever you actually need to go upstairs, you take the basket with you and put away those objects where they belong. Instant declutter. I started doing this back when my toddlers dropped toys all over the place, I'll never go back.
And drop pots in strategic places, to put that empty battery you'll take to the recycling bin next time you run errands, the paper clip you found lying on the table, that elastic band and whatnot. Sometimes you take the pot with you and go from room to room to put them away.
These will save you a lot of mess without running through the house all day.
I love the sarcasm, and the idea of a sarcasmeter. Put it on the wall, just next to the clock.😊
Open storage in a kitchen is the worst. It will never look good because you're not an Ikea store: you have lots of things that aren't pretty don't match, but that you still need in your kitchen. Plus, open storage means dirty storage. No place collects dirt as fast as a kitchen. Also, eliminate cupboard tops. Make cupboards that go all the way to the ceiling. You get extra storage, a place that looks nicer because you don't have random stuff lying on the top of your cupboards, and no more grimy cupboard tops.
Yes, someone who is honest about all the bins, baskets, and trays we keep buying to organize our stuff, when what we need to do is get rid of stuff so we no longer feel the need to hide it in a bin, basket, or tray! Otherwise, we are simply organizing the clutter rather than dealing with the clutter and editing out items that we don't need/don't use on a regular basis.
Slowly bringing our "new" home to comfortable (there is a LOT to remodel). Before we moved here, I stripped down the appliances. I got rid of the blender and the Instant Pot because I never used them. I got an immersion blender and a Ninja bullet. They live behind closed doors. But I use the KitchenAid frequently. I'm tiny and it's heavy enough that it earn counter space. And it's red. The only other appliance that stays out is the food processor--too heavy for me to take out and put away. I don't miss any of the appliances I got rid of. You won't see me buying a single-purpose appliance. Lol. And your sarcasm is my favorite thing about your advice, beyond it being great advice.
Another reason I love Nick…..CORRECT GRAMMAR….
“YOU’RE organizing YOUR house wrong”.
Siiiggghhhhhhhhh 🥹
Most English people spell it.....your.
Correct grammar is one of the many reasons Nick is SO DREAMY.
@@irenemorley75 Even if true, it's still wrong. Two different words.
@@irenemorley75 Spell "it" meaning what? If they spell "your" as "your" then that's great. If they spell "you're" as "your" then that's wrong. I seriously doubt that "most" English people don't know the difference between the two words.
@@irenemorley75Only illiterate people spell it that way if they’re meaning “you are”.
Watching your shows not only provides great advice for decorating tips but is so entertaining and Nick must have been a comedian in his past life
I like how fast you explain the points, no time waisted. and like the idea of physical boundary for controlling the shopping. Thanks
There isn't a sarcasm meter strong enough for Nick. I can see Nick's fancy espresso machine that he raves about from here.
Used everyday!
@@Nick_Lewis All day long?
This one resonates with me. You're so right! I am 75 and am the same person I was in my 20's! LOL In fact, when the thiught came out that you shouldn't make your bed when you first get up in the am I was thrilled...TMI?
To add to the organizer point, you do not need to go and spend money on a bunch of organization bins. I have a bunch of cut down cardboard boxes in my pantry and my drawers in my bathroom. They work great!
Shoeboxes work really well too! Sturdy, good size for smaller items.
@@redpastawench Came here to say this. Unless the baskets/bins are visible, I much prefer to use shoe boxes and amazon shipping boxes in my pantry and bathroom cabinets. I usually cut off the top flaps and then I have a perfectly usable box to put say my shaving things or cleaning supplies. Like why would I buy a $30 organizer to keep my $30 worth of stuff that's hiding under the sink anyway?!
So do I, I have small cardboard boxes in my nightstand drawer
I use empty Q-tip boxes to organize my drawers. I like that they're clear and stackable. I pull off the cardboard then round out the corners so they're not sharp. :)
Do make sure to paint them well though. I had to discard many such cut out cardboard boxed I used for storage because they got fungus. The package boxes which weren't the brown cardboard boxes, is still doing fine.
"Practical tips for REAL PEOPLE 👏🏽 " deeadddd 😂
I loved all your tips. Recently spring cleaning, I found enough craft, art and vintage supplies to outfit two classrooms and an antique booth. My art teacher friends were thrilled. And books! With book bans going on all around, my grandchildren were happy to have my decades old copies while I put mine on kindle. As you were speaking, I thought of convenient hidden storage areas I can use if I just do a little rearranging. Thank you! I enjoy all your videos.
One of the things I love about Nick is his brutal honesty. Makes me feel right at home (NYC!). Also I always appreciate learning a new design tip too. Thanks for keepin’ it real Nick!! :)
We have a hook system. Clothes that can be worn again go on a hook because they can’t be put with clean clothes.
Exactly.
I can’t even express how much I absolutely adore you! Your personality is AMAZING! Love Love the sarcasm ❤
Your videos are a perfect combination of hands-on information and English listening practice, really enjoyable for me as a non-native English speaker.
Nick! This is seriously the most helpful video you've ever done. As an ADHD home that deals with visibly on display vs. closed storage, this is pure gold. Thank you so much.
I love your gentle sarcasm - it's perfectly tasteful and amusing! I love the "new got-it-together Nick" stuff. The anchor part was also good, often overlooked. Slightly related: When I get new stuff, I always tell myself - "Do I love it or is it just one more thing to clean or store? This reigns me in a bit. I wish they'd advertise "no-shed" baskets because many of them are so lovely and useful but a pain to clean under.
Great tip about carpets anchoring the room. Thanks!
Extra benefit .
Great for your self esteem...
Seriously, when your home is comfortable, set up for your lifestyle, and organized, you feel better are more effective and efficient, SELF ESTEEM BOOSTER,🧡
Also, I love that someone can knock on my door any time and my house is a place I am happy to invite them into.
Enjoying your humor sprinkled in between useful decorating ideas. Your honesty is also refreshing because home needs to be functional not only beautiful!
Love that an ad that just came on here is another Breville appliance that will fizz juice. Insidious.
This video was not for me. I AM the crazy person who always puts things away, but because I like watching videos about organizing things, I had to watch this one. Keep up the sarcasm. Very fun. Great tip on the trays and organizer baskets. That junk drawer of life’s flotsam and jetsam (that we all have in the kitchen) thanks you.
Couldn’t resist this one : “..you know, the rug really tied the room together” The Big Lebowski.
I looooooove you, your energy, expertise, vdo editing prowess, articulation, humour, the list is endless. Thank you for being you and putting out these crazy useful vdos helping us all!! ❤️❤️
Thank you sooo much for this video!! I've been trying to organize my house with my husband and four kids and three foster kids for years!! This video gave me the direction I needed and been missing!! Thank you for being so direct and simplistic!! Genius is in the simple things!🥰
I constantly have to remind myself to "put it away...don't just put it down." Thanks for the tips!
I live in a tiny space, ... 1 bedroom apartment 🌳🏡
*"Tetris puzzle" furniture layout
* Styled and beautiful
* Regular editing of my clothing; fully organized zones.
* Regular re-styling of vases/books/averies 🕊
* Only have "one project out" at a time (mess control) e.g. putting away the clothes horses and all clothes, before a big mass cooking session, big sewing project day, gardening marathon... only create "one chaos zone" at a time; finish it, then pack it up.
* Bathroom is wiped clean after every use (make up powder wiped clean, scub loo, hang towels up)
* Everything is dealt with properly when arriving home from work; lunch boxes cleaned, hang up coat, keys on the key hook, etc.
* Grocery shopping bags go straight back into the boot of the car, post unpacking food items.
* Everything in my home has a "spot". I know what my stock levels are; food, hardware, wardrobe items, "fix it projects".
* Never leave mess out on any surface, ... just put away as I go. So easy.
* I live alone (a lot of you folks may want to get rid of some messy people who reside with you. 😆😂🤣😋)
Love Princess Holly
🕊🌿🌳🌲🍀🌱🌴🌻🍃🕊🌿🌳
People that do these ice cubes have too much time on their hands 😉 ( but they are gorgeous, )
Love the Sarcasm keep it coming 🙏🏻🔥🤛🏻🇬🇧xxx
I just sat down with a close friend (who's recently got a fatigue condition) and talked him through my 'storage categories' with him. Thought I'd share as there's a lot of similarities to your advice:
Category 0 - Aesthetic purposes - displayed in a place with enough negative space around it to be visually appealing (In his case easy to clean is also a plus)
Category 1 - Daily use item - find a place for them in the place of use (mini shelf on a side near the door to dump the contents of man-pockets and walking stick etc) - your drop zones + anchors!
Category 2 - '1 motion' closed storage. Items you use at least once a week that you can reach with one motion (i.e. he gets prescription medicine and fills his pill pot weekly - so it's in a box on the kitchen counter)
Category 3 - Batch storage/closed storage - items you use at least once a month - accessible behind Category 3 and all stored in the same area (for example he does wargaming)
Category 4 - Deep storage - Items you use once a year - Boxed up neatly and put where you might need to dig for it (garage, attic or in his case a deep cupboard) i.e Seasonal decor
Category 5 - Sentimental junk - Check if it's Category 0 and if not it's the deepest of deep category 5 (I for example have a tuck box I store 'memory' items which include a large plastic spider I once used in a joke!)
The best thing is, the more you reduce category 1, the easier it is to get to 2-5 and the better category 0 looks!
I absolutley love you! Every single time!! Not only did you save me from making a huge mistake - yes, I was contemplating putting a barn door on the bathroom - but I love how you call it out!