If you’ve read the ‘Meet Stacey‘ section on the Organized Artistry website, you know I grew up in a tight space. My bedroom was 5’x12’ and I had to keep most of what I owned in that room. Because of space constraints I could not spread out much. But I quickly learned that horizontal space was not the only space I had in my room–I also had VERTICAL space.

I have worked with clients in spaces as small as a studio apartment and as large as a mini-mansion. Regardless of the size of the home, I have found that people use horizontal space more often than their vertical space. It is at that point that I remind them of a very basic organizing principle:

If You Can’t Go Outward, Go Upward!

Translation: If you’ve run out of room in your room, buy some products to help you utilize the wall space you didn’t know you had.

Here are a few products that will help you to use your vertical space efficiently:

Bookcases
They’re not just for books–bookcases are perfect for anything you want to store or display. Measure your space from floor to ceiling. Then buy the tallest bookcase you can afford. For ideas, Google, “how to use a bookshelf for storage.” You won’t believe what people are getting off the floor and tabletops and putting on to bookcases… Try IKEA for inexpensive options.


Shelves
These shelves are ones you mount to the wall. Great for displaying collections, photos, and knick-knacks.


Freestanding Closets
Need extra closet space? Purchase a freestanding closet. Again, buy the tallest one you can fit in your home and make sure it has at least one shelf at the top for extra storage.


Cabinets
If you have low cabinets or don’t have enough, consider cabinets that go to the ceiling. Take advantage of high-up space for things used only once in a while like holiday dinnerware or guest towels.


File Cabinets
Need lots of paper storage? You can buy a file cabinet that is five drawers high instead of two or more that are two drawers high to save on your horizontal space.


Step stool/Stepladder
Unless you’re 7′ tall, you’re going to need a step stool or stepladder to reach your vertical storage places. I recommend having at least one of each depending upon your needs. To reach my high up storage spots, I use a Rubbermaid step stool and a 3-step ladder I got at The Container Store.

Take a look through the rooms in your home. Could you use a vertical makeover?

Live near Brooklyn, New York? Need some post-summer organizing tips?

If you answered ‘Yes,’ grab a notepad and head on over to the free ‘Get Organized for Fall’ event at IKEA-Brooklyn on Saturday, August 27th. Professional Organizers from NAPO-NY will be available from 1pm-2:30pm to answer your questions on clutter, organizing challenges, and maximizing your space.

Here’s the schedule:

1:00-1:30         Office & Home Office Organizing Tips
1:30-2:00         Back to School Organizing Tips
2:00-2:30         Home Organizing Tips

You can get there by subway, car, water taxi or bus–here are directions. 

On Saturday, January 30th over 25 Professional Organizers (including myself) gathered at the IKEA of Paramus to educate their guests on the benefits of getting organized with IKEA products in honor of ‘Get Organized’ Month.

It was amazing to see so many people coming out to shop and learn about organizing on such a frigid day. We met hundreds of people who wished for better organization in their homes and in their lives. We gave out tip sheets, did presentations and gave advice on helpful IKEA products.

A few pictures from the day:

Our Tips Table in the Cafeteria

Greeting IKEA guests

Organizing a Kitchen presentation

Helping out an IKEA customer

What will NAPO-NNJ do next year for ‘Get Organized Month?’ Who knows–but whatever our event may be, we hope it is a s successful as our day at the IKEA of Paramus in 2010.

If you’re still not sure what to do this Saturday, drive on over to the Paramus, NJ IKEA for the NAPO-NNJ event: ‘Organize to Economize’ in the New Year with IKEA Products.

Make any New Year’s Resolutions for 2010? Great! Did any of those resolutions have to do with getting organized in 2010? Even better!

I know we haven’t gotten through ‘the holidays’ yet but I’d like you to start thinking about an event that occurs in January–‘Get Organized Month.’ It is the professional organizing industy’s national event dedicated to raising awareness of the benefits of getting organized and of hiring a professional organizer. It’s not a coincidence that ‘GO Month’ (as we organizers call it) comes at the start of the new year. It’s a time when many people make resolutions to get their homes and lives more organized and NAPO is here to help.