Spring Colors – What Suits You Now?

While tulip colors always look good and never go out of style, clothes can. But there is a solution for us, and in the spirit of new beginnings, I challenge you to rethink your wardrobe and make-up colors.

Winter-Wear: Inventory Before Storing

Winter is almost over! The end of winter coats, scarves & gloves, and boots is around the corner. While you may be ready to banish your winter-wear to the basement ASAP…wait a minute and take stock.

How Being Organized Maximizes My Writing Efficiency

As a visual and deadline-driven person, I typically start projects once I have the delivery date and the image of the finished project.

Create a Picture Wall

Do you have a stack of photos, or a collection of children’s drawings, and/or assorted framed pieces you’ve been meaning to organize? Create a picture wall with a collection, and voila, art on display!

Christmas Came Early in 2015

Tags : Christmas 2015

Christmas Came Early in 2015 to my home. I did it. It was not in being super organized that I decorated before Halloween was even over…it was because I discovered a store that had a treasure chest of mini Santa suits, and felt mice, just the right size to fit into a tree…and I wanted to

Sea and Sun, Rest and Energy

Sea and sun, rest and energy. A prefect combination for an artist to get restored. “Cirque du Soleil means Circus of the Sun. When I need to take time to reenergize, I go somewhere by the ocean to sit back and watch the sunsets. That is where the idea of ‘Soleil’ came from, on a

Getting Ready for Trick or Treat Night

The major event that so many children look forward to….the trick or treat for all that candy, all in one night! I used to love Halloween as a young girl, then with my own child, I sewed costumes for her most every year….that was great fun. This year I helped my mom getting ready for trick or

Tips to Prevent Losing your Stuff

When we are dashing from one place to another, one house, one car…we are apt to misplace stuff. So I am reposting these tips to help prevent losing your stuff. Hope this helps you, your friends, and family to “keep their stuff together” always. I wrote it with people I know in mind!

Take the Time to See the Flowers

Take the Time to See the Flowers. Flowers flourish in the Eastern Townships where hedges, bushes, trees, and single stems grow in abundance in gardens and parks.

Gone fishin’ – Summer Vacation

Gone Fishin’ – Summer Vacation, back in August

Unpack in the Right Room

Upon arrival each box should be delivered to the appropriate room, with boxes marked Immediate for easy access. Place your possessions within the appropriate areas, keeping in mind how you use and will access each item.

Stuffed with Stuffies

Downsizing for my move. I’ve saved the best for second-to-last….personal and childhood memorabilia. Yikes!

Kathleen Murphy, Montreal Professional Organizer is downsizing!

Yes, my dream come true…Kathleen Murphy Montreal Professional Organizer is downsizing for an upcoming move! I’m moving from a 5 1/2  to a large 3 1/2. All the practical lessons I share and apply with clients, I’m adopting for myself….and it’s fun…

Kitchen Space and Organization

Armoires and breakfronts can serve as a storage centre and/or a display case. A great option for kitchen space and organization. They are an ideal solution for folks with limited kitchen cupboard space, and floor space. Why not go vertical? I’ll explain. 

Bowl of Notes: Task-Cards & Fun-Cards

If you are like me, you may hang onto old birthday cards, Christmas cards, and notecards, then wonder what to do with them. I used to use the covers of the prettiest cards for bookmarks. Yet just yesterday I was looking at my recent bunch of Christmas cards, and wondered what creative and practical purpose

2015 – My Resolution to Organize for Results

I look forward to each New Year as much as I do my birthday. In 2015 – My Resolution to Organize for Results included buying my Quo Vadis agenda in December 2014, getting a new wall calendar before it went on sale, and planning the steps to achieve results. We can all agree that there

Vintage Art – Organizing Intentions for 2015

Well Christmas 2014 is still in the air, as are good organizing intentions for 2015. Too early to make the resolutions, but good timing to start thinking about them? Last year I had two main project-goals.

Planning and Gift Shopping

The holidays are around the corner and in my home, that means presents! If you plan and shop in advance, you can avoid line ups in the stores, last minute impulse purchases, and stress.

Shelf Life of a Purse?

Some people are passionate about purses and shoes. They can be pricey which explains why we often keep them past their expiry date.

What’s for Lunch?

What’s for lunch?…good question… When I cook in advance, I’ll always have an answer, could be a chicken salad or egg salad sandwich…or something to heat up in the microwave….like chili, or chicken cacciatore.

Creating a Memory Wall

Do you have a stack photos, or a collection of children’s drawings, and/or assorted framed pieces you’ve been meaning to organize?

Tips for Organizing your Bathroom Cabinet

Organizing your bathroom cabinet. Do you toss or throw your stuff in the cabinet under the bathroom sink? Hoping to find it later, with no spills?

Take Time to Relax this Summer

It is summer in beautiful Montreal…warmth, soft breezes, and time can actually slow us down, or so it seems. And that’s a good thing as Martha Stewart would say.

May Showers, Spring Flowers

Spring is my favorite season…it is full of promise of things to come. This Spring was the first time that I planned a flower garden. Surprisingly, I found the work process similar to decluttering and organizing.

Getting Organized for Spring

Tags : Getting Organized for Spring; Montreal Organizing; Montreal Spring Cleaning

Getting organized for Spring…yahoo…Spring is here! Let’s move from drab grey to color! And we can press the refresh button towards better finances, a cleaner home, and flowers….with Spring comes hope…and getting organized for Spring

Digital Photos

Memorabilia…collections of stuff that we want to keep, yet rarely display… Often our little treasures are kept in shoe boxes, plastic bins, and in drawers – often packed full!

Customize Your Montreal Storage Unit

Tags : montreal hoarding montreal storage solution Montreal Storage Unit Organizing Options with Kathleen Murphy

At Organizing Options with Kathleen Murphy…we are continuing work on the final stages of a project with a person-who-hoards….and we are developing an “effective storage system” for easy retrieval….of the items are stored off site in a storage unit.

Hoarding Video: Personal Story

Tags : hoarding Montreal Hoarding Video: Personal Story Montreal Organizing Services Organizing Options with Kathleen Murphy

Thank you for watching Hoarding Video: Personal Story. People often ask why I work in organizing..and how I can work in Montreal hoarding households. In a word, “satisfying”. Not only do I enjoy seeing someone realize an important success…to achieve a personal milestone..such as getting better organizing….I also like helping people return a home to

Avoiding Eviction from Hoarding

Ask anyone who has boxes in their basement or rents a storage unit about their “stuff” and chances are…you’ll get lots of stories. And a few use them as part of a strategy in avoiding eviction from a house full, a hoarding household.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas

It’s that wonderful time of year again…I love Christmas, when time for me literally slows down. I don’t look at a clock, instead the pace of December 25th is marked by the chatter and laughter of friends and family, and that wonderful smell of turkey cooking away….

Our Montreal Christmas Past

Our Montreal Christmas is a very special time in our family for many reasons. One being the memories of our grandmother and family get-togethers from way back when…our grandmother was from Edinburgh, Scotland

Getting Ready for Trick or Treat Night

The major event that so many children look forward to….the trick or treat for all that candy, all in one night! I used to love Halloween as a young girl, then with my own child, I sewed costumes for her most every year….that was great fun. This year I helped my mom getting ready for trick or

Downsizing and Moving for Seniors….a Daunting Prospect?

Are you a senior? Is the prospect of downsizing and moving from a home you’ve lived in for 30 plus years a daunting prospect that’s holding you back from your next transition? It doesn’t have to, trust me…. I know what a comfort it can be to be live with your well-loved possessions that surround

Hoarding Issues – Who is a Hoarder, Are You?

Tags : Hoarding Solutions Montreal Organizing Options with Kathleen Murphy

A member of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, I have a Level II Certificate as a Chronic Disorganization Specialist. I’ve taken numerous courses in the area of chronic disorganization and hoarding, and have worked with a fair number of people suffering with hoarding issues. Whether working with a team, or one-on-one with the client, hoarding

My Parent’s Basement

Many adults still have their stuff stored in their parent’s basement for convenience…ours. Typically, this will only get sorted once the parent decides to move, or renovate…as was the case for me. Yes this crap, I mean… old treasured items from long ago….once belonged to me and I had to empty my stuff out of

Old Suitcases…

All those suitcases, then more suitcases! How many does one family need? In most homes I’ve worked in to help clients downsize, I’ve faced mountains of suitcases, duffle bags, sports bags, jewelry cases, and then more suitcases. Did I say suitcases? Many were stained, musty, rusted at the hinge and lock, and looked very dated…

Combo-Packing: Moving and Staging

Combo-Packing is a process to use to pack-to-prepare for a move while you are getting your home ready or “staged” in the moving and staging phase. They packing tips will help you before you list your house. Following the recommendations of top Montreal Real Estate Agents, Home Stagers, and Move Coordinators….consider packing your personal items

Easy Decluttering – Recycling!

One of the fastest ways to feel in control of ” your clutter” is to get the recycling out of the home! How many plastic lids, cans or unwashed bottles do you have ready to go into the recycle bin….but only once they’re rinsed?

Cooking for Today and the Freezer

“What’s for dinner? “ Not a fun question when there is no fast answer and it is about 5:30 PM-ish or later. While a grilled cheese sandwich and bowl of soup can work in a pinch, it isn’t the most satisfying option on a dinner menu.

First Apartment, Decorating on a Dime

Small Budget Decorating If you want to decorate on a tight budget or just want to be super frugal….then I have some suggestions for you. Focus on a uniform color theme, second hand furniture, and keeping your place neat & clean & tidy.

Tips to Prevent Losing your Stuff

Tags : avoid loss better organization methods Loss prevention

Where to Put my Stuff? Regarding tips to prevent losing your stuff, ideally you’d have a place for everything in your home….try to keep things in the same place….room by room….surface by surface Check your purse or bag and pack it in advance of going out (not last minute)….be sure to have everything you need….and

Desk Area Organization

This is my home office workspace. It’s been through a few transformations, different furniture, other wall colors …but by far this is my best work environment yet. With nothing on the work surface, I automatically have a sense of calm when I walk into the office. I’m not caused to panic… there is no, “OMG

Storing Heirloom Clothing

In storing heirloom clothing properly, your keepsake-items can last through generations. These items were made by myself and my mom for my daughter. My mom did the knitted outfit, and I did the design and sewing of the other pieces. With the exception of the “My 1st Christmas” piece which is a treasure that she received

Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing Day (the fourth Friday in November) is an international day of protest against consumerism celebrated annually just after American Thanksgiving. In 2012, November 23rd is dedicated worldwide to buying nothing. If we want to participate, how about we take some time, in the spirit of Buy Nothing Day to reflect, evaluate, and plan our

Hoarding Issue – Resolved for Client

A gentleman, we’ll call him Frank (not his real name), generously allowed me to share this before and after photo of his living room on my blog. His desire was that others who hoard, as he did, and professionals working in the field, would see that there can be success and organization in the home

Got Junk?

Tags : 1-800-GOT-JUNK demenagement montreal hoarding Montreal Montreal Organizing Services Moving Seniors Montreal Seniors Hoarding

Kudos to 1-800-GOT-JUNK? We regularly bring them in with our crews on some of our Hoarding Resolution projects. While Organizing Options handles the tagging and separation of keepers and non-keepers, and boxing and bagging, plus,plus, plus.. their crews provide the labour and removal service of the unwanted items.

Free Summer Events in our Communities

Tags : Mont-Royal Montreal organizing Town of Mount Royal

Montreal is amazing as we who live here and visit know. So many festivals and free events going on! And summer is the perfect time to enjoy these local events. The municipalities in and around Montreal have host such activities as Concerts in the Park in the Town of Mount Royal, and plays produced by Shakespeare

Christmas in July or Summer Sorting

Tags : Christmas Bazaars donated items organized home sorting Sorting your Stuff in the Summer summer

Hope you’re enjoying these summer days, when life moves along at a slower pace around offices, neighborhoods and households. Folks and children are taking vacations, out of school, and the nose-to-the-grindstone expectations are lifted. I like this quote, “You can never appreciate the shade of a tree unless you sweat in the sun”, author unknown.

Downsizing for Elementary School Teacher

I had the great pleasure of working with a dedicated school teacher to help her downsize her school materials. I’m happy to share this step-by-step process with you. This is the process we followed. I. Do a room-by-room walk through: Using a note pad, list the categories and items needing to be sorted. Here are

Caring for your Silver

I really like the look of silver dinnerware pieces and silver flatware.  And in order to enjoy the beauty of silver, we need to take care of it. But how… and when? That was my question as I searched the Internet on what are the best practices for silver care. Such as how to polish,

Vintage Photographs

A picture is worth a thousand words. This maxim sure applies to family photographs. Just to see the background in the photo, the season, the clothing, and the people can evoke a strong memory to bring you back to the very day it was taken. And prompt a story about that day or event.

Streamlining your Clothes Closet

Streamlining your Clothes Closet This photo is a “Before Photo” of a clothes closet, maybe it looks a bit like yours. Are you ready to open your clothes closet and make some decisions? Scared to create a bunch of clothing piles and not complete the process? Then maybe you want to consider these organizing tips to

Buy New Furniture or Bring the Old Stuff?

Tags : Montreal Place Kensington senior downsizing Westmount

When a senior downsizes from a house to a senior residence, a much smaller living space, there are positive opportunities for change. For a downsizing contract, one of the first steps I take is to measure each room at the new location and then return to the home to identify what furniture the client wants

Food Storage Containers

Tags : food safety food storage organizing kitchen pantry

Part of why I like working in my kitchen is because my kitchen pantry is well organized. At a glance I can see what food items I have  through the clear plastic and glass containers. I also use labels to identify the items, such as flour, sugar, dry beans and such. For efficiency, smaller food items

Table Settings with Crystal Glassware

Tags : Montreal downsizing Montreal organiznig Professional Organizer Montreal

Crystal glassware and china are two categories of stuff that I see a lot in the homes I’m called to help declutter and organize. Most times, the crystal is either on display in cabinets, housed in a cupboard that is rarely opened, or in boxes inherited from a family member or left unopened after a

Organized Shopping

What is the state of your closet? For some of us, we have enough clothes to open our own stores. Yet according to the Pareto Principle, we typically use only 20% of what we own. This being said, 80% of our stuff is basically available for viewing only. Or is it? Let’s talk. A debt-free shopping spree? Possible?

Organized Travel Packing

Vacation planning? Whether you’ll be shopping, sight seeing, dining out or visiting family and friends, you’ll be bringing back a ton of good memories. Be sure to leave enough room in your luggage for your purchases! Here are some packing tips:

Home Staging – What’s the Cost?

By Lori Matzke ~ Used with special permission When you contact a home stager, ask for an estimate. Most home staging businesses will be happy to give you a free estimate and it is usually a quick process. Keep in mind that this is only an estimate and estimates can be a bit off. However, unless something unforeseen takes place between

Organizing Ideas to Simplify Your Move

Organize at both ends of the move Think about where in your new home your possessions will go before you even begin packing. Take stock of the existing storage spaces in the new home you have chosen. If you can’t easily see your possessions fitting into the space, speak with your professional organizer to help

Hoarders

Need help? Manage clutter and hoarding with personalized individual coaching from Kathleen!

Training & Workshops

Organizing Options Seminars® help you increase your productivity, and can be customized just for you.

Home Staging

Selling your home? Buyers typically decide on a purchase within 15 seconds; first impressions count.

Residential Organizing

Kathleen helps you maximize space and organize your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, closets, and garage.