Does it feel like your home is in a little bit of disarray? If so, you’re far from the only one. Whether it’s your home office, basement, bedroom or garage, many homeowners feel like their homes could use a little bit of organization from time to time. To help you get your home back in order, below are a few tips you can use to get your home organized and keep it that way for a long time to come.
Make a Plan
A good place to start is by writing down a plan. Rather than just diving into your home organization project, it can help to take some time to think about what it is you want to do. For example, you may want to write down which rooms you need to organize, the supplies that you want to pick up, and what you want to do with certain spaces. When you’re facing an organization project that spans your entire home, it can all seem a little overwhelming. By writing everything down, you add some structure to the chaos and make it a little easier to manage.
Go Through One Room at a Time
When it comes to knowing how to start, according to Jeanie Engelbach it’s recommended that you should begin organizing one room at a time. Many people, when going through a home organization project, find themselves starting with one room, and then moving onto another before finishing that room. Before they know it, they’re jumping from one room to the next without actually accomplishing much in any room.
To avoid this, pick one room to start with. This could be the room that needs the most organizing or the room that you spend the most time in. Don’t allow yourself to move to another room until you finish with that first room. This way, if you run out of time for your home organization project, you don’t leave your entire home in a state of flux. You’ll instead at least have an entire room done and can move on to another room when you have more time.
Get Rid of What You Don’t Need
One of the best things you can do when organizing your home is to get rid of the clutter. Most of us are guilty of saving things long past the point where we need them. If you go around your home, you’ll find all sorts of things you’ve been hanging onto that you don’t need anymore. Maybe you have some old clothes that are out of style or boxes of children’s toys that haven’t been played with in years.
As you’re going from room to room, make a pile of all the things you can get rid of. Then decide how you want to get rid of them. You could simply throw them away or you might find better uses for them. For example, many places will take donations of old clothing, while you may even be able to sell some things that you have lying around your home. Just don’t let your clutter sit around for too long as you try to decide what to do with it. Make a decision, then get it out of your home as soon as possible.
Grab Some Organization Supplies
A common reason that people have unorganized spaces is that they don’t have the space properly set up. It’s hard to organize a room when it feels like you don’t have a place to put everything. So, as you’re organizing a room, think about the supplies that may help you keep the space a little tidier.
For example, you might install some shelves in your bedroom, allowing you to display some photos you have rather than keeping them in boxes. Or you might look for some affordable ceiling storage racks for your garage, which would give you more space and allow you to get some things off the floor. Storage tubs, boxes, shelves, chests, and drawers are all great options to explore when you’re looking to organize a space. Think about what you need, then do a little shopping before you tackle that next room.
Maintain Throughout the Year
Finally, the best way to avoid these large organization projects is by not needing them in the first place. To do this, you’ll want to maintain your home’s new organization level throughout the year. Start by getting rid of things a little sooner, rather than hanging onto them. It also helps to set aside some time once a month or so to reestablish order in your home, rather than waiting for it to all pile up. Spending an hour or two every month is likely a better use of your time compared to dedicating a few days each year.
To help with this maintenance, it’s a good idea to label everything as you’re organizing. This will not only help you locate things more quickly when you need them, but you’ll also have a specific place to put new things when you get them. Taking an extra few seconds to write down the contents of a cardboard box as you’re organizing can save you a lot of time in the future.
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