Spring is an uplifting time of year, especially in cold winter locations. As trees go from bare to bloomed, the weather from cold to comfortable, and our moods from glum to giddy, many of us feel motivated to start fresh.
“Spring is a great time to let go of things physically, mentally and emotionally,” says Pikesville native Rebecca King. “It’s a great time of transition and to free up clutter. Spring in Chinese medicine is about coming out of the rest and restoration of winter. All the baggage that has been cluttering our physical and mental spaces is ready to be released. Spring is a season of renewal, growth and creativity.”
After spending the past 15 months at home, I felt the need to declutter, so I called King to come into my home and work her magic.
King is the founder of Blueprint Wellness, a Baltimore-based wellness company focused on mind, body and space. A certified acupuncturist by trade, King’s full-service company offers acupuncture, cupping, medical cannabis consultations and education, as well as home or office organization.
“I want to make people feel good on the interior and exterior,” says King. “I’ve offered acupuncture services for more than five years and during the pandemic realized we were all in our home and sick of looking at our spaces. I decided to add a new organizing service because your physical space impacts your mental wellbeing. When things are cluttered and chaotic, that spills over into our mental space. When things are organized it makes us feel better.”
I didn’t know what to expect when I reached out to King to organize my mudroom, also known as our junk room. But King didn’t flinch when she saw the project at hand. We started with an in-depth, free Zoom consultation for a tour of the space. I provided measurements and pictures of the space, and King provided me with a detailed list of storage bins and containers to maximize my space.
“We all have different needs and wants, so no one organizational plan works for everyone,” she says. “I customize everything I do, whether it’s acupuncture or organizing to the needs of the specific client and family. I believe we all have a blueprint we were born with that is our natural way of being. Blueprint Wellness helps us all return to that energy of who we are and who are supposed to be and our purposes. I help people reach their greatest potential.”
On the day of organization, King arrived at my house filled with excitement and pep, ready to rock ‘n’ roll. As she emptied my entire mudroom, she asked me questions about how we utilize the space, what needed to be in the space and what could go elsewhere. She categorized each item, found a place for all our stuff and made our mudroom go from drab to fab.
“It’s a puzzle, and either you have that skill or you don’t,” says King. “Those that don’t have the skill feel overwhelmed by it, and that’s where I come in and help.”
And help is what she gave me because I don’t have the organizing skill. She also gave me five tips on how to give any space a facelift.
1. Everything Needs A Home: “When our kids come home with junk, we usually put it on the counter and it sits there forever. If you have a place for the stuff, whether it’s toy jewelry, candy or figurines, it will no longer clutter up the counter. If you have a bin to put all the junk, you can keep it contained until you go through it.”
2. The Right Containers Make All The Difference: “Everything should be in a container that fits your space. I don’t use large containers unless it’s for bigger items like paper towels or toilet paper, for example.”
3. Everything Needs A Label: “Everything needs to be labeled. Like it or not, if you want to stay organized, you need labels. It’s why I come to every project with my own label maker.”
4. Don’t Take Everything: “I like to remember just because it’s free doesn’t mean it’s for me. Be intentional with what you bring into your home to avoid clutter.”
5. Put Bags In Bags: “Keep reusable bags inside one another to save space. Do the same for plastic and paper bags that you want to keep.”
While these tips are perfect for the individual who wants to do a little spring cleaning, King takes any space to the next level, all that works for you.
“I’ll organize five different mudrooms and each one will have a different organizational solution,” she says. “I love helping people and creating an organized space that works for the unique person or family I’m working with at the moment.”
To book a consultation with Rebecca King, visit Blueprint Wellness.
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