Is it time to get organized once and for all? Here are the organization tips you need to know—straight from the pros!
When you keep a fast pace in life, it’s easy to let organization in your home slide, but with the right organization tips, you can create a more comfortable space. From not being able to find what you need to having the piles grow around you, disorganization can lead to frustration and anxiety. Not exactly the kind of vibes you want for your home.
Here are three pro organization tips to help you whip your home into shape in less time than you may expect:
Tip #1: Make It Easier on Yourself to Put Things Away
Do you ever feel like you could spend half the day just putting things in their place around the house? This may be especially true if you have a large family. It’s possible you may be making it too hard on yourself by not having easy-to-reach locations for quick put-away.
If you have to run to the basement, or to an upstairs closet, or even reach to bins that are difficult to access, you will be less likely to put things away.
Consider these Dos and Don’ts for simplified organization for all the spaces in your home:
- Avoid hiding the laundry basket in the back of a closet.
- Avoid lids—using open containers will allow you to put away with one-hand.
- For garbage and recycling containers, if you feel you must have a lid, get bins with foot levers so you can step on them to pop open lids with ease.
- Place laundry baskets and other storage containers in high traffic zones. Not having to go out of your way to pick up and put away will encourage you and others in the home to do it regularly. There are many different styles and colors of bins that can enable you to have them out in the open without detracting from the ambiance of your rooms.
Tip #2: Purge Before You Purchase
Following up on Tip #1, before you run out to purchase those new bins and storage containers, you need to go through the purging process first. A top rule for organizing is not to keep items you haven’t used in over a year. However, an even more effective rule for cluttering is to get rid of anything that doesn’t bring you joy or add value to your life.
Going through your piles, item by item, and removing them from your home may be difficult at first, but you will be amazed by how much easier it is to keep your home organized and clutter-free if you don’t have as much stuff.
As you purge, create a sorting system that includes three different piles:
- Trash/Recycle
- Donations
- Items to Keep
Once you’ve sorted through your items, taken them to donate or otherwise disposed of them, then it’s time to go shopping for storage containers. That is, if you still even need the new containers. Many people discover once they purge, they have plenty of empty containers available to organize the remaining items.
Tip #3: Just Say No to Clutter—Forever!
Do you find that any flat surface in your home tends to become a catch-all for mail, school papers, newspapers, books, etc.? It’s time to stop that habit for good. Whether it’s the dining room table, kitchen counter, end tables, or a desk, these surfaces tend to accumulate piles faster than any other area of the home. And neatly the stacking the piles doesn’t count as organization!
It may be time to have a chat with the family about how these surfaces are not for stashing various items. If that doesn’t work, block them! You can place a flower arrangement, or placemats, or other décor to discourage the stacks.
Also, it’s a great idea to get into the habit of scanning these common areas for clutter each night before bed, and putting any piles that are forming in place. It can become routine—just like washing your face and brushing your teeth. Then, you wake up each morning to a clutter-free living space!
Hire the Pros to Handle Your Home Organization
Still feeling overwhelmed? It may be time to get in touch with our organization experts at Maids of Honor. We can get your home into tip-top shape in no time and show you how to create a system that works for you and your family. Connect with us online now to schedule service.