I had the chance to present to a group of architects, builders and designers this past week as weDesign kicked off their year. As I scoured my brain for topics that would be engaging, I thought of something I run into all. the. time. A gorgeous new build or remodel is complete, is absolutely drool-worthy, deserving of being pinned all across Pinterest…with a smidge of a storage issue when it comes time to get all the stuff put away.

If you’ve moved in the last year, you can probably relate. You start unpacking and think, where is all of my stuff going to go. Sometimes we forget to let our design be influenced by our things…which can lead to quite a bit of frustration afterward. Of course, there are tricks for maximizing space, but you never want to be left with piles of things that just don’t fit in your newly remodeled space.

So the perfect topic popped into my head…If A Residential Organizer Built a House. I joked that I might be their best client (because the level of detail would be so intense) or their worst client (because the level of detail would be so intense), but we would, no doubt, end up with a finished space that makes sense for the items calling this new space home.

Here are 5 considerations so that you, too, can end up with a finished space that is EVEN better than your initial vision:

1) Create a Home Inventory - There is a huge different between storing 10 pairs of shoes and 150 pairs of shoes. This is where a detailed home inventory comes into play. So when you come to your initial planning meeting with your design team, it is best to have a list of the items that you want to store (including quantities). Because everyone’s storage needs differ.

Once you’ve detailed out the quantity of items that you have in the major categories, think deeper about nuances of how you like to store things. Shoes being the example, some clients store all of their shoes in plastic totes with photos of the contents labeled on the front, others keep shoes in original shoe boxes, and others want their space to function like a boutique (my personal fav). And each of these preferences is going to take up different amounts of storage.

2) Share Photos of Your Existing Space - I always ask clients to send over photos prior to our sessions, with the caveat, “Don’t clean for the cleaning lady.” It is so important for me to see how clients live on a day to day basis, even if their goals are focused on changing their daily habits.

The same can be said for being real with your builder or design team, otherwise you might end up with open cubbies in your mudroom, when what you really need are closed cabinets. ;) Who can relate?

If you like to have a living, breathing CVS in your bathroom, make room for that. Need a full-on Costco living in your basement, extra storage is essential. With that being said, never forget that most items can be delivered in a day…i.e. you may not need as much overflow or backstock as you once thought.

3) Create a Pinterest Board of Inspiration - Once you’ve shared your home inventory and photos of your existing space, get into your vision and inspiration. I find that keeping a Pinterest Board with sections for each space is incredibly helpful. Not only does it allow you to see how your space will flow (if you are a highly visual person), it allows you to keep links handy to items you’ve purchased or plan to purchase.

Have a discussion with your design team about what draws you to certain images. Ask them for their experience and advice. Think through what it will take to maintain the space.

Here is an example of something I run into often. Clients will share a picture-perfect pantry from Pinterest where every item has been decanted into a jar or canister. Sure, this looks amazing. I mean, who wouldn’t want their pantry to look like a luxury, high-end grocery store. But most of my clients are also craving TIME. So we have a conversation about the TIME it takes to come home from the grocery store, shift all of your food into jars, change out expiration dates and on top of that, where you will store back stock?

Do some clients forge ahead - of course. But in other cases, we dodge the bullet of a bunch of empty jars AND random ingredients shoved in every corner of your pantry.

4) Be Honest About Issues with Your Current Space - I hear it all the time, “I wish I would have thought about xxx during my build or renovation.” While it is impossible to think about every single thing when you are building or renovating a space, there are some key areas that are essential to discuss.

I crowdsourced answers to the question, "What would you change about your home," on Instagram and have never had so much feedback to anything I've put out there.

The major theme was feeling like there was a lack of storage in their home (surprise, surprise):

No Drop Zone/Space for Shoes at the Front Door
Need for Deeper Cabinets (or issues with cabinets that are too deep)
Lack of Kitchen Appliance Storage
Lack of Storage in Laundry Room
Too Many Glass Doors/Too much Open Shelving
Too many built-ins

No one said they had an issue with too much storage, but I do find that people feel uncomfortable if they have an empty cabinet or two. My advice, be PROUD of those empty cabinets.

5) Think About Your Long-Term Vision - While we can’t predict the future (hello, 2020), we should think about how we want our home to serve us now and down the road.

Is this a forever home?
Do you intend to age in place? Or do you plan to have your parents age in place with you?
Do you have/intend to have kids? Grandkids?
Do you love to entertain?
Do you both work from home? Run a side hustle?

When it comes to customizations, think about what will serve you long-term. There is a huge array of product that can help you in the short-term, so if you want to invest in customized drawer inserts, think about something that will serve multiple purposes for years to come.

We moved into our forever home in August 2020 - it fits our family perfectly now and our long-term vision!

Building or renovating a home is a HUGE undertaking, and everyone working with you wants your space to be better than your initial vision when it is complete. The more detail you can provide in the initial stages, the more customized your space can be to fit your unique needs!

The Baer Minimalist helps busy families create ORGANIZED + STYLIZED spaces throughout Indianapolis. She took on a 2020 pandemic-induced move to a SMALLER house and has never looked back.

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If a Residential Organizer Built a House...