Today, June 1st, I turn 40. I am closing out my most challenging, rewarding, and life altering decade. In my 30s there were at least 5 major life changes where organization helped me…and when I say “helped” me at points, being organized actually saved me. Saved me from having to focus on the unnecessary and waste time, saved my sanity so that I could just stick to the routine and saved me money because I knew what I had and didn’t overspend which saved me lots of unnecessary stress. Here is a little insight into my life and how I navigated it all!

When I walk into an awkwardly-shaped room or tiny closet that I know is not functioning best for the client I am forced to get creative with the existing space (especially if it is not an option or within budget to change the layout of the space). So, I maximize the area that is available. Here are some of the tried-and-true tips that I incorporate into my client’s homes and that would work in any tight space from dorm rooms and studio apartments to older homes with teeny storage spaces. Choosing quality over quantity, investing in double-duty pieces, adding color and texture pieces are all key in getting the most out of your small space.

In this time of Thanksgiving, I want to thank you for supporting Rachel and Company.  Whether you are a current client, past client, potential client, newsletter subscriber, have purchased our DIY product, Organized in a Box, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now that we are in November and just weeks away from Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday!!), I’ve started jotting down to-dos in preparation for our out-of-town guests. Doing things like stocking up on the basics, creating a storage plan and making your guest room homey will make your company feel more comfortable during their stay.

I don’t think it’s too early to talk about your plan on how to keep the faux spider webs, plastic pumpkins, and creepy decorations contained until next October. If there is one thing I know from organizing countless basements, garages, and storage closets it’s that a good box and a descriptive label will not only save you money in the long run, but keep you from unnecessarily adding to your collection of holiday-inspired decor. Here are 3 super simple tips that I promise will save you money and make decorating and un-decorating frustration-free.

With both business and personal new beginnings, life has brought such wonderful things that I am beyond grateful for and couldn’t have predicted, like new clients, projects, opportunities, relationships, the feeling of security, routine, and more. I have come to find that making time for both work and play, focusing on not making more clutter and writing EVERYTHING down has helped me get through the rollercoaster of life.

Over the years I have worked with some amazing interior designers on client projects and one of our most recent collaborations was on a family home featured in the cover story of The Washington Post Magazine Fall Home and Design issue. Our focus in this house was to make sure that everything was categorized, organized, and easy to see and access so that no time was wasted spent running around looking for what they needed, wanted, or thought they should have but couldn’t locate.

It was time for a change and something major: a rebranding of Rachel and Company. I had an idea of what I liked and what I wanted, and realized it wasn’t as easy as going blonde! That’s when I met Marcela, a branding expert and designer for one of my favorite brands (Framebridge), and she offered to redesign my logo and create a new look and feel for Rachel and Company. Take a look.

I am a neat freak, but I am not organized.” Since cleaning and organizing often go hand in hand, many people lump them together, when they are truly different.Once you get organized, it is a lot easier to clean and manage your life. Trust me. There’s less to clean, and it’s easier to do because everything has a place. So, now that you’re spring cleaning (and hopefully organizing!), here are 3 quick, easy tips to get started on spring organizing.

You walk into a store for organizing products, or type in “color coded folders,” or “best storage containers” online, and your entire world turns upside down. So many choices. So many customer reviews. It’s madness. Even I can feel overwhelmed and get distracted if I don’t filter through all the gorgeous new containers to get to the ones I know will work well for my clients, their spaces, their aesthetics and their budget. Here is how I navigate purchasing organizational products without getting overwhelmed.