I want everyone to raise your right hand now and repeat after me. I, state your name, solemnly swear to go easy on myself when it comes to organizing my life! I know, I know your desk is a pile of papers or you can't park your car in the garage because of all the stuff in your life. Well great news! You can do it slowly but surely and I'll tell you why. My first job on television where I wasn't killed in a Styrofoam boulder earthquake was as the carpenter on a show called 'Clean Sweep.'
I was the guy who built all of the storage solutions, organizational shelving etc... etc...and here is what I learned. First, practice organization on that drawer we all have in our kitchens that have as follows. Keys from homes or apartments you have not lived in for over a decade. And, Coupons from stores that aren't even in your town. Also, Rubber bands and lots of them. Paper clips. Hair. Pet brushes and buttons. Oh, let's not forget take out menus. Take that drawer and dump them out on the kitchen table and separate it into three categories. Keep, toss, and sell. Pretty self-explanatory right? Keep the stuff you really need. Throw out or toss what you don't. And sell what you can.
On our show, that was usually a garage sale, which is a great way to part with things that you still have attachment to but you know you must get rid of. For some reason attaching a monetary amount to your Grandmothers boots makes them easier to get rid of. Don't ask me why, it just does. Use this technique with your purse, wallet, garage, attic, etc... start small and work your way up. It works, I did it for one hundred and twenty shows and man you should see my garage!
Organize Your Life (But Go Easy On Yourself)
Reader Comments
(Page 2)22. Hi Mr. Stromer!
I just finished watching your AOL video on getting the garage organized. It was very good, if you don't have a basement entirely constructed of cement block.
I'm lucky though, I have a 2-car garage and I fit my car on the one side and my riding lawn mower on the the other and I have a lot of shelving that isn't connected to the ceiling or walls or anything, it sits on the floor.
Yeah, I have some bare studs down there that consist of the stairs that go to the upper level of my home, but none of the walls would easy enough to drill through like on the AOL video. I don't have a drill anyway, but hey, my car and riding lawn mower are in the garage, so I guess I'm doing OK.
I saw one of your shows before on HGTV, the one where you finished the bathroom job for the airline stewardess. You guys are a bunch of corn balls! Some very fine looking corn balls, but corn balls just the same. =)
Good luck in the future.
Rebecca
23. Well, I watched the video on how to install a fireplace mantel. However, my fireplace is not a flat wall. It is a wood burning fireplace surrounded by brick on the wall and floor. I hate the brick and want to cover it with granite or wood or something....but can find no instructions on how to do this. Even just adding a wood mantel to the top of the brick would be nice but how do I adhere it to the brick? At least watching the video is fun since Eric is cute and fun.
Virtuous at 10:45PM on Nov 10th 2007
24. Eric,
Any ideas on 100+ year old Victorian homes that don't have closets? We're restoring ours and despritely need ideas. Your welcome to stop by and check it out - just pardon the dust, tools, pieces and parts! We are trying to restore to original but we need closets! It's crazy with 3 teenagers clothes sitting in piles because there is no place to store them! Help! Please!
25. Eric,
I truly enjoyed watching you on Clean Sweep. That no nonsense way of handling stuff that we hold on to for crazy reasons has enriched my family life. I used to skip vacations, weekends out and lots of fun life stuff because of trying to get organized all in one day!!!! Thank you for making this simple and something we can all do. You have no idea how much better life is!!! Many blessings to you and yours!
Nicole at 2:07PM on Nov 18th 2007
26. Hi, Eric!
THANK YOU for all the great advice! I want to be self-sufficient and depend only on ME (not any male) to repair or do ANYTHING around the house. You explain everything so thoroughly that it's so easy to grasp. But, I'm sure it's easier said than done. (^o^)
I always watch you on HGTV for advice, but mostly because you are soooooo hott!!!!
; >))
lllllllllllllll at 3:54PM on Nov 25th 2007
27. Your idea for hiding the wires are not the best. We did a flat screen on the wall and did the wires inside the wall. It floats the way it should.
Karen at 6:10PM on Nov 25th 2007
28. No offense buddy, but I think the wires look better than that over-mount wire installation you showed for a surround sound system. Looks pretty cheesy....
Pay a real person to install the stuff properly and it will look and perform better!
Leslie at 6:19PM on Nov 25th 2007
29. Karen is right... either bury the wires in the wall, or just forget about it!
Leslie at 6:21PM on Nov 25th 2007
30. P.S.: Also, HOW could I forget? I LOVE your cute personality too. You're so cheerful and funny! I just LOVE your sense of humor. You are sooooo cute, handsome, and good-looking (redundant, but true. lol)
I love you, and your show. I really want to learn to fix things, but to be perfectly honest, I would NEVER watch a show like yours if you weren't so GORGEOUS!
=)
lllllllllllllll at 1:47AM on Nov 26th 2007
31. P.S.: Also, HOW could I forget? I LOVE your cute personality too. You're so cheerful and funny! I just LOVE your sense of humor. You are sooooo cute, handsome, and good-looking (redundant, but true. lol)
I love you, and your show. I really want to learn to fix things, but to be perfectly honest, I would NEVER watch a show like yours if you weren't so GORGEOUS!
=)
lllllllllllllll at 1:48AM on Nov 26th 2007
32. Dear Mr. Stromer,
You look like a person who has unique integrity. It's cool how you used your trade to become famous. I think that make me want to ask for your help. I have had some bad luck and now I have a outside patio attached to my front to back split that has been torn apart. It has a frame and half of it is ready to put up storm door/window with screens to complete an indoor area. I put siding around the bottoms and everything but it is not done yet and I cannot finish it. I am a single mom with a 12 year old boy and my mother lives with me and I have to keep an eye on her like a two year old. I tried to finish it myself with my own knowledge. I need YOURS!
Thanks
Michelle Fortune, RN
(CHARITY FORTUNE)
508 397 3990
charityfortune@aol.com
Charity Fortune at 7:43AM on Nov 26th 2007
33. Dear Mr. Stromer,
You look like a person who has unique integrity. It's cool how you used your trade to become famous. I think that make me want to ask for your help. I have had some bad luck and now I have a outside patio attached to my front to back split that has been torn apart. It has a frame and half of it is ready to put up storm door/window with screens to complete an indoor area. I put siding around the bottoms and everything but it is not done yet and I cannot finish it. I am a single mom with a 12 year old boy and my mother lives with me and I have to keep an eye on her like a two year old. I tried to finish it myself with my own knowledge. I need YOURS!
Thanks
Michelle Fortune, RN
(CHARITY FORTUNE)
508 397 3990
Charity Fortune at 7:44AM on Nov 26th 2007
34. You should look at the Evo System made by Vantage Point. It is a great way to hide the wires and cords of tv's and any other component on a wall. It is like "wall furniture". With it's sleek design and many panel options, it can make a boring room alive.
dede at 4:20PM on Dec 5th 2007
35. Hey Eric, I just love your segments - you are so inspirational. I'll be tuning in regularly . Rock On!
Robin Sykes at 10:31PM on Dec 5th 2007
36. I watched your painting tips page. I'd like to add:
1-When you roll paint onto the wall with a roller, I roll up first so that any extra paint doesn't spatter. Instead it rolls into the wall and helps apply the paint. In the pan, I roll the roller up the ramp, not down the ramp to load the roller and so not to push the paint over the edge.
2-I use a 4 x 4 area for one roller of paint rather than the smaller area you recommended per roller.
3-Of course the finish of the paint requires a specific roller. The shinier the paint, the thinner the roller.
4-A new roller, I wrap with some masking tape to pull off any excess fibre from the roller before I start. so it doesn't go on the surface I'm painting.
5-Priming the wall with a stained primer, a color close to the actual paint color will give you a better job. I do that under wallpaper too.
6-My #1 rule: Read all labels on all your materials before starting any job. Here it's my #6th rule...
i hope you readers will find this helpful.
I have a Masters in Fine Arts degree and experience in the trades for over 30 years.
ImbyArt
Mitchell Imberman at 9:40PM on Dec 9th 2007
37. I need darling Eric to come and help me with my garage~!! I have xmas stuff, my mom and dad's stuff (they are both dead) two bikes, a lawn mower, tools, STUFF~!!! I need someone who has the Vision~! and the tools~!
Diana at 5:37PM on Dec 29th 2007
38. Help,
We changed the tiolets no problem,.... now 2 out of three double flush and we cannot figure out why ,please help.
Rollins Snelling at 10:06AM on Jan 8th 2008
39. organizing sucks, but it's the greatest thing ever. One thing that i tried to organize all the time was my wallet, but i always found myself stuffing more thing into it, then it could handle. one thing i didnt like was keeping all my gift cards and reward cards in my wallet. but this past xmas season, i heard on the news about this company that manages all our gift cards and loyalty points (www.leveragecard.com). it's totally free. the coolest part is they pay you interest on the cards you have registered. another tip i suppose.
charlie at 6:06PM on Jan 24th 2008
40. Thanks for all the great help. I have used the toilet repair instructions! And I did it all by myself, well mostly, husband helped too! Thanks
Love watching you
Suzee at 12:24PM on Feb 7th 2008
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About Me
Eric Stromer, host of HGTV´s ´Over Your Head´ and author of ´Do-It-Yourself FAMILY´ was named one of the "Sexiest Men Alive" by ´People Magazine´ with good reason. Stromer pulls off that perfect combination of construction know-how, comedy, and great looks in a seamless package that appeals to men and women alike. AOL Home is thrilled to feature Stromer's original DIY, home improvement videos.
21. Hi Eric,
I love your work and the shows that you do. i try to catch you whenever i can. my problemm i have those ugly textured walls that are so hard to paint. is there any way to get rid of them besides putting in new walls or a way to paint them easier without going crazy trying to cover all the teeny tiny spots that the roller or brush missed. thanks for your help.
Georgia at 7:23PM on Oct 14th 2007