Organizing a Studio Clean-Out

The second we begin a new year, our urge to organize kicks in. Sometimes it involves large-scale projects—like the time Anastasia cut her entire kitchen storage in half. Other times, it’s a much smaller undertaking, like a simple linen closet refresh. Whatever the end goal, we stick to many of the principles outlined by our dear friend and professional organizer, Shira Gill. She wrote an incredible book on this topic and her simple, no nonsense advice inspired us to tackle a studio clean-out of our workspace here in Austin.

Between the dozens of photo shoots we hold throughout the year, we’ve acquired quite a few odds and ends that need a new home. And if you’re in the design industry, we’d be willing to bet you’ve got some extra bedding, furniture, and housewares to pass on, too. Come along as we share our approach for a quick studio clean-out, plus where to donate your gently used goods.

 

Design and Styling: The Identité Collective | Photography: Madeline Harper

 

Tips for a Studio Clean-Out

 

one

 

No matter what you’re organizing, you first need the right tools for the job. We typically visit The Container Store to grab supplies, and have used their Water Hyacinth Storage Bins collection time and time again. They look great on open shelving and can be easily labeled for a clean look. Make sure you have enough containers to cover each major group of items and prevent random knick knacks from going astray.

 

two

 

While it might feel counterintuitive, the next step is to clear everything out. We like to say that things get worse before they get better with organizational projects, but it’s all part of the process. Starting with a clean slate is key and helps you see the space you’re actually working with. 

 

three

 

Step number three is all about following Shira Gill’s advice of creating general categories for each storage basket or bin. Every design studio is going to be a little different, but some category ideas could be: Fabric Swatches, Tile Samples, Product Catalogs, Office Supplies, and more. The categories should be broad enough to cover all your bases with the guiding philology of “everything has a place.”

 

four

 

Now all that’s left to do is organize and style. As you clean out things you no longer need, have one pile to toss and one pile to recycle or donate—more on that below.

 

 

 

Where to Donate Furniture + Housewares

 

If you’re an interior designer undergoing a studio clean-out, you likely have some pieces that need a new home. Whether you’re donating furniture, bedding, blankets, or kitchenwares, you’ll find so many organizations that can put them to good use. One great example is the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They accept new and gently used furniture, appliances, home goods, and building materials with locations all over the U.S. We also love organizations like The Furniture Bank Network. Their mission is to prevent tens of thousands of pounds of furniture from entering landfills each year, which is just one way to be more sustainable in your interior design business. Here’s a full list of organizations to consider on both a national and local level:

 

Habitat for Humanity ReStore

Furniture Bank Network

Goodwill

The Salvation Army

The Buy Nothing Project

Local Women + Family Shelters

Local Refugee Resettlement Programs

 

 

Happy cleaning, and cheers to a fresh new year!

 

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Read on for more organization inspiration:

• A Linen Closet Makeover
• New Year’s Pantry Storage Refresh
• A Curated Closet Makeover

 

Looking to elevate your brand and social media strategy? Have a look at these posts:

• Branding Your Portfolio
• How to Start Selling Products as an Interior Designer
• How to Get Your Work Published
• Why Instagram is the Best Platform for Interior Designers
• Optimizing your Interior Design Portfolio for Pinterest
• How to Make a Hashtag Happen
• Our No-Fail Instagram Editorial Calendar for Interior Designers

 

IDCO Studio is a full-service creative studio for interior designers and boutique lifestyle brands. Offering bespoke branding, web design and social media content creation, we help brands built around beautiful living elevate their digital presence to represent the physical spaces they design. Our recently launched limited-release website templates are the perfect way for interior designers to get a luxury website on a budget. These templates allow designers to maintain control of their content. Want to work together? Shoot us an inquiry here.