Clean T.O: Preparing Your Condo for Fall!

Preparing your condo for Fall involves strategic cleaning and preparation- and that’s never going to change. Condo living is great for lots of reasons, but there’s one that many people underestimate. Living in a small space forces you to think about what you bring into your home.

Condo owners don’t have the luxury to let clutter pile up, and that’s a good thing! It means you have to be strategic with everything you own. However, this can become even more of a challenge when you live in a place like T.O that experiences all four seasons. Living minimally is great, but where do you store all of your seasonal gear? And more pressingly, how do you make the transition to fall? Learn about the fall transitions and preparations you should be making in your condo, from balcony and storage cleaning to aesthetics!

Fall Transition

Closet Cleaning 4 Fall

Different season, different wardrobe! Why hold onto things that you’ll only need again in a year? It’s time to pack away all your shorts, pool-wear, and strictly-summer pieces. Don’t be a Closet-Stuffer. It can get physically frustrating and psychologically exhausting. Instead, make room in your closet for items that you will actually use and keep your condo feeling light, clean and uncluttered this fall season!

Seasonal Storage

When it comes to storage, you have a few options. Storage lockers are great, but if you don’t have one try packing your things neatly away in a labeled bag or box. The trick is finding a space in your condo to store it. Examine your room, perhaps there’s a spot under the bed or on a shelf. However, don’t forget about the rest of your condo! If your cohabiters don’t mind you storing a bag or a box or two in the linen cupboard, laundry closet, or anywhere else that might have space- go for it! Hint: before you pack it all up for fall, make sure there’s no wet clothes so you don’t have any moldy surprises waiting for you in June.

Balcony

If your condo has a balcony, we hope it’s served you well this summer! But now it’s time to say goodbye. Well, that’s not true. Barbecuing tastes good all year round, and maybe you enjoy a brisk hang outside during the cooler months. However, some of these tips should be followed even if you plan to enjoy T.O from your condo’s balcony in the fall and coming seasons!

Patio Furniture

The fall is known for it’s blustery winds and rain. So if you plan on keeping your patio urniture out, make sure it’s tied down. You don’t want furniture blowing off your balcony, or worse- hitting a pedestrian! (Hint: stretchy bike-ties are a great, cost-efficient solution). Alternatively, it might be time to open up the storage locker. If you are still desperate for some space, ask a kind relative or friend if you can store a few things until next summer.

BBQ

As the fall approaches and you opt to use your stove, make sure the gas line is off to your barbecue- you don’t want to have a gas leak. Before tucking it in for the fall or winter, make sure that it has been cleaned and covered. That way it will be in great shape the next time you decide to use it. However, no one is stopping you from firing up that BBQ in September!

Plants

Got plants? If their size permits, you can try moving your plants inside. This will only work if you can find a spot in your condo gets enough sunlight. If there is no way to save them from seasonal change, you should compost them. However, whatever you do- bring all pots inside. The freezing fall temperatures and rain could shatter them, leaving you with a mess you won’t want to clean.

Fall Preparation

Baskets and Hooks

Start making room for Fall accessories! ‘Tis the season of hats, scarves, coats and bags. Make use of space that already exists in your condo with strategic placement of baskets and hooks.

Baskets are also a super convenient way to store things. Place them in empty spaces on a shelf or under a table. Placement and aesthetic is everything in a condo. Hide your items in plain sight with these trendy baskets from IKEA! Hooks are also a great way to store all those things that keep you cozy. For extra hanging storage for hats, scarves and bags, try inserting a double ceiling hook underneath a shelf for instant convenience.

Doormats and Shoe Racks

Fall is a blustery, rainy, slushy month- that sounds a lot of cleaning. Having doormats in any home during the fall is a good idea, but this is especially true in a condo. When you’re living in a small space, a little slush on the floor is much more inconvenient! Doormats are great ways to encourage people to take off their shoes, and leave them in a spot that will absorb the moisture.

If you have space for a shoe rack or mat in your condo, do it! Shoes can be left on a doormat, but that doesn’t always help with excessive moisture. To encourage people to take off their shoes in the cleanest way possible- go for a doormat and shoe rack or mat. Giving special attention to shoes will keep your front entrance organized and uncluttered. Check out these trays and mats for some ideas!

Coziness

If you’re living in a condo, you’re probably not all that worried about electricity bills. However, those prone to dry skin, chapped lips and stuffy noses will agree that artificial air has its downfalls. Wouldn’t it be nice to harness natural solar energy and make your condo cozy naturally instead of pumping it with processed air?

Because most heat in condos bleed out through the windows, insulating curtains are the way to go. Curtains with white backings are fine in the summer, because they reflect the sun away, keeping your condo cool. However, in the fall and winter, you want to get thermal insulating curtains. The curtains are made with an extra layer of foam lining, vapour barrier and heat reflective coating to harness heat and keep your condo cozy. They can be found at hardware stores, home retailers, or here on Amazon.

Aesthetic

Save the best for last! If you’re looking for ways to keep your home light and cheery this Fall, consider mirrors and candles and brighten up your condo this the fall and winter!

Mirrors

Mirrors are great because they trick the room into being brighter. Strategically placing a larger mirror- or a cluster or mirrors- will definitely brighten up your space and make it feel larger! Hint: in terms of wall placement, mirrors for this purpose go well behind furniture, as it will look decorative and redirect the light. Check out this article for more tips about mirrors in small spaces!

Candles

Once you’ve done all the nitty-gritty fall preparations, it’s time to relax and enjoy your home. Create a fall ambience in your condo by lighting candles that will make you think of crunching leaves and pumpkin seeds. Bath & Body works has done it again this fall! Giving us candles like ‘Leaves’, ‘Pumpkin Pecan Waffle’, ‘Marshmallow Fireside’, ‘Sweater Weather’ and ‘Autumn’. It’s starting to feel like fall already! Find out more here!