Janelle Cohen - The Folding Book: A Complete Guide to Creating Space and Getting Organized

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO CREATING SPACE AND GETTING ORGANIZED

JANELLE COHEN

I have always been a detail-oriented and organized person, so much so that I turned these passions into my own business, Straighten Up by Janelle, which has grown into a personalized organization service, working with clients all over Los Angeles, including numerous celebrities and influencers. I believe that having an organized system in your home creates a more positive environment, and that it is possible to keep it maintained regardless of how busy life gets. Organizing your home doesnt have to be stressful and can even be easy and enjoyable. Yes, you read that correctlyenjoyable!

Though I organize all aspects of my clients homes, in this book, I focus on one of the simplest, quickest, and inexpensive ways to create space, get organized, and save time: folding. Thats right! When your clothes and linens are folded compactly, with everything visible in drawers and baskets or on shelves, you spend less time sorting through piles each day and can continually weed out things that are no longer useful to you and your family.

I also find folding to be therapeutic. We live in a chaotic world filled with a lot of unpredictability, and folding (and organizing in general) allows you to be present and in control, even if just for a few minutes. When I feel anxious or stressed, I fold. If you are thinking to yourself, Whats with this chick? just give folding a chance. I promise, once you hone your folding technique, it will become the easiest and most enjoyable chore you have. I recently found a video of myself at two years old folding to perfection with an iron and everything!

My parents dont remember me loving to fold as a kid, and honestly neither do I. But when I watch that video, I feel like folding has been inside me forever. I would definitely hire two-year-old me as my assistant. Thats how much I nailed it! With that said, if baby Janelle can do it, so can you.

Folding is one of those things that you have probably done forever, or at least since you started doing your own laundry. But... did you ever really learn how to properly do it? Maybe you learned while working retail with a piece of cardboard. Whether you aspire to fold like a pro or you never knew this is what you needed in your life, Im here to show you how to do it. After many years as a professional organizer, I have figured out what really worksnot just what visually looks the prettiest and is Instagram-worthy, but what is realistic. My method is easy to master with a little bit of practice and easy to apply in everyday life.

You can follow my folding technique exactly or use it as a jumping-off point for your own technique, because there is no wrong way to fold. The right way is what works for you, your family, and your lifestyle. Pick and choose what feels like a good fit and set realistic goals that you can surpass (rather than out-of-reach goals that may stress you out). If you are someone who isnt going to fold your underwear, then dont. Live your life! My goal with this book is to help you establish an organization system that you can maintain and even enjoy doing.

Happy folding!

You already have everything you need to start folding. You can start with that basket of clean laundry fresh out of the dryer, you can leisurely organize one drawer at a time, or you can dump out all your drawers and refold everything at once. Its up to you! Again, the purpose of this book isnt to make you feel stressed out or overwhelmed about folding and having everything look perfect. Working at your own pace will make it feel like less of a chore and more of a fun project. You also dont need to invest in more storage. Work with what you already own, whether that be dressers, shelves, or baskets. Once you get further into folding and organizing, you can assess what else may best suit your needs. Heres how to get started.

Folding vs. Hanging

Most articles of clothing can be folded for a drawer, basket, or shelf, but some things should always be hung. Heres what you need to know.

Things you should always hang: blouses, dresses, blazers, dress pants, bulky jackets, coats

Things you should always fold: undergarments, socks, tank tops, sweaters, leggings, sweatpants, pajamas, workout clothes, swimwear, linens

Things that can be folded or hung: T-shirts, button-downs, polo shirts, sweatshirts, casual pants, denim, skirts (depending on the fabric), nightgowns (depending on the fabric)

Organizing Dressers

I like to organize dressers from head to toe and short to long. In the top drawer, I place undergarments, layering tank tops, and socks. I then move down to tops (tanks, short sleeves, and then long sleeves), followed by bottoms (shorts/skirts, capris, long pants, and sweatpants). And at the very bottom, I place pajamas and specialty items (swimwear, shapewear, etc.).

If I am organizing a kids room, I label each drawer/row of clothing so that everyone in the home knows what is where, and the child can have ownership over their space. Adding little graphics can help with kids who cant read yet. It cant hurt to start organization young so that it becomes second nature.

How to Label a Kids Dresser

Folding childrens clothing can be slightly more confusing than adult clothes. This is because adults know their inventory, so they can easily open a drawer and pull out what they need. Many people tend to take care of children, so it needs to be identifiable to everyone without any explanation. Heres an easy way to label a kids drawers to know whats where and evolve with them.