## The Importance of Decluttering and Organizing Your Home
When you open your closet, what do you see? Is it a jumble of stuff with no rhyme or reason for each item’s location? If so, you’re not alone. Many of us struggle with clutter and disorganization in our homes. But the good news is that it’s never too late to transform your space and make it a haven of peace and tranquility. In this article, we’ll explore 25 easy strategies for decluttering and organizing your home’s problem areas. From measuring before you buy to setting up a command center, we’ll cover it all.
## Getting Started with Decluttering and Organizing
The first step in decluttering and organizing your home is to take stock of what you have. This means going through each room and getting rid of anything that’s no longer needed or useful. It’s a good idea to start with one area at a time, such as your closet or kitchen, and work your way through it methodically. Don’t be surprised if some of your mental tension evaporates as the clutter clears. A clutter-free home can have a significant impact on your mental health and well-being.
## The Benefits of Measuring Before You Buy
When it comes to buying storage containers, it’s essential to measure before you buy. This will ensure that you get the right size and type of container for your needs. “Too many people shop for containers first, figuring that will make it easy for them to get organized,” says Sharon Lowenheim, a New York City organizer. “But it’s rarely true. All they end up with is more clutter because their empty containers are taking up space.” By determining what items you need to store, measuring how much space they’ll take up, and the size of the space where they’ll be stored, you can buy storage containers that will truly help you get organized.
## Shopping for Storage Ideas on a Budget
You don’t have to break the bank to get organized. Head to dollar stores for inexpensive storage bins and baskets, and buy a bunch in the same color. Monochromatic plastic or cloth bins look restful and organized when displayed in multiples. Plus, they offer tons of storage for a range of hard-to-organize items, including toiletries, accessories, toys, and sports equipment. This is a great way to get started with decluttering and organizing without spending a lot of money.
## Asking the Honest Closet Questions
When it comes to your closet, it’s essential to be honest with yourself about what you really need and use. “Fluctuating waistlines, happy memories, and sentimentality keep us holding on to items longer than we should,” say Sarah Welch and Alicia Rockmore, authors of Pretty Neat. Their simple solution is to place a large cloth bag on the floor of your closet and ask yourself three questions about each piece of clothing: (1) Is it flattering? (2) Do I love it? (3) Does it represent who I am today? If the answer to any of these questions is “no,” toss the item into the donate bag.
## Making Storage Accessible for Kids
Kids can be a significant source of clutter, but there are ways to make storage accessible and easy for them. Having several smaller bins designated for specific types of toys makes it easy for kids to find what they need quickly. This can also help prevent them from dumping a large container of miscellaneous toys when they’re on the hunt. By making storage accessible and easy to use, you can encourage your kids to take care of their belongings and help keep the house organized.
## The Importance of a Junk Drawer
Having a junk drawer can be a great way to keep clutter at bay. It serves as a catchall for those little odds and ends that you know you’ll need at some point. But junk doesn’t have to mean chaos. Watch and learn storage ideas to keep your junk drawer organized. This can include using dividers or small containers to separate items and keep them tidy.
## Creating a Clutter-Free Nightstand
Your nightstand can be a clutter magnet, but it doesn’t have to be. Make your nightstand a clutter-free zone by limiting yourself to a reasonable number of books and adding a tray to hold change and jewelry. If you have open space below, slide in a basket for blankets or magazines. Not only will your bedroom look more beautiful, but you won’t wake up to a mood-wrecking mess.
## Organizing Your Linen Closet
Is your linen closet overflowing? Pare down your stockpile to three towels and washcloths per person, two sets of sheets per bed, plus a set of each for guests. Baskets and bins are good storage ideas for smaller items, like sewing and laundry supplies, to prevent clutter from piling up in your linen closet. By keeping your linen closet organized, you can make it easier to find what you need when you need it.
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## Scheduling a Seasonal Closet Cleanout
Do CPR on your closet each spring and fall: Categorize, Purge, and Rearrange. Carefully consider each item in your closet and ask yourself if it makes you feel wonderful or look fabulous. If not, it’s time to pass it on. Put it in your donation box and put that box in your car ASAP. This is a great way to keep your closet organized and clutter-free throughout the year.
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## Corralling Instruction Manuals
What do baby swings and blenders have in common? Thick owner’s manuals. File away these instruction books and warranty information in the same room as the item. If you have many to organize, use a magazine holder for a clever storage idea. Staple the receipt and warranty to the cover of the manual, or go paperless by visiting the manufacturer’s website for a product to view or download the instruction manual.
## Designating Kitchen Zones
Create a list of all the tasks you regularly do in your kitchen, whether baking or making lunches. Then create a zone for each, says Kathi Burns, author of How to Master Your Muck. Designate a shelf for all essential supplies, including nonperishable foods and special tools or utensils, so you can quickly grab what you need for the job.
## Digitizing Favorite Recipes
Are your cookbooks gathering dust? Scan and print the one or two recipes you use the most often, then donate the book. The same goes for recipes in magazines. Tear out the relevant pages, then recycle the rest. Slide the recipes into clear plastic pockets in a three-ring binder for a customized recipe storage idea with plenty of room to grow.
## Trimming Down Paper Piles
Papers do multiply, but you can limit their tendency to take over. Designate a place where papers will go—on a tray, in a magazine rack, or in a basket—and when they no longer fit, it’s time to move them to the recycling bin. Remember to shred any mail with personal information before discarding it.
## Improving Cleaning-Day Efficiency
Think like a housecleaning professional. Cull your cleaning-product collection to five basics: all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, wood polish, abrasive cleaner for bathroom and kitchen, and floor cleaner. Then, place one of each type into a caddy that you can carry around the house on cleaning day.
## Targeting Problem Areas
Storage ideas that are a natural extension of your habits are easier to adapt to than those that force dramatic change. So, set up solutions right where clutter collects, such as a labeled rack for each family member’s shoes or a bookshelf by the door with trays for each person’s sunglasses, keys, and other small items.
## Making Organizing a Family Affair
Reserve one Saturday morning for a family cleanout every three months or so. Set a timer for 30 minutes, and task everyone with bringing things from their own spaces to donate or throw away. Box up donations and drop them off that day, then reward yourselves with lunch at a favorite restaurant.
## Setting Storage Criteria
Designate the dividing line between “keep” and “toss” before sorting. For example, if you’re weeding through a lipstick collection, make this rule: You’ll keep the ones you wear most often, or that are less than two years old, then toss the rest. That way, there’s no “analysis paralysis” to slow your decluttering.
## Utilizing the Area Behind Doors
Look to the backs of doors and cupboards for bonus storage ideas. Shallow shelves, hooks, and over-the-door organizers make convenient spots for items without an obvious home. Lids for pots and pans, gift-wrapping materials, and shoes are all prime candidates for behind-the-door storage.
## Regularly Donating Unwanted Clothing
Keep a donation hamper in your closet and select an item of clothing you haven’t worn in the past six months to throw in every two weeks. When the hamper is full, take it to a local charitable organization.
## Creating a Sheets Storage Idea
Organize sheets for each bedroom into designated bins. That way, finding the right linens for a specific room is a snap. Place a coated metal pan rack inside the bin to separate sets so you can easily grab one when it’s time to refresh the beds.
## Setting Up a Command Center
Hang an indoor mailbox in a central location—and commit to sorting through it regularly. That means opening everything, paying bills, filing important correspondence, and recycling junk mail. Create a dedicated spot for frequently accessed papers, such as takeout menus, sports schedules, and phone directories.
## Remembering Reusable Bags
Never forget your reusable grocery bags again. As soon as you unload your latest haul, put the bags back in your car or hang them on a designated hook by the door. This storage idea reduces clutter and saves you time when hurrying out the door.
## Playing a Decluttering Game
Make clutter-busting a family game. Write tasks on slips of paper and put them in a hat or basket. Each person chooses one, completes the task, and then returns for another. After 30 minutes, whoever has the most slips of paper earns a prize, like a no-chores day or control of the TV remote.
## Designating a Donation Box
Practice organizational layaway. Set aside a box for things you’re considering donating but aren’t sure you’re ready to give up. When the box is full, write the date on it and stow it in a closet or the garage. After one year, if you haven’t needed or missed anything in the box, toss or donate its contents.
## Being Honest About Usefulness
Appeal to your practical side when considering organization and storage ideas. Ask yourself three questions when deciding whether to keep something: “Do I love it?” “Do I use it?” “Could someone else use it?” If you no longer use or love an item, determine whether the item should be recycled, donated, or discarded.
## Sorting Coupons with a Storage Idea
Invest in a tabbed expanding file folder to contain receipts and coupons. This puts everything you need for shopping at your fingertips. Label the tabs how you like—by store, date, or category—and regularly clean out expired coupons or receipts you no longer need.
## Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about decluttering and organizing:
– Q: Where do I start when decluttering my home?
A: Start by going through one area at a time, such as your closet or kitchen, and work your way through it methodically.
– Q: How do I know what to keep and what to throw away?
A: Ask yourself three questions when deciding whether to keep something: “Do I love it?” “Do I use it?” “Could someone else use it?” If you no longer use or love an item, determine whether the item should be recycled, donated, or discarded.
– Q: How can I keep my home organized and clutter-free?
A: Make organizing a habit by setting aside time each week to maintain your space. Go through each room and get rid of anything that’s no longer needed or useful. Use storage ideas and containers to keep items tidy and organized.
– Q: What are some good storage ideas for small spaces?
A: Use shelves, hooks, and over-the-door organizers to make the most of small spaces. Consider using baskets and bins to store items like toiletries, accessories, and toys.
– Q: How can I get my kids involved in decluttering and organizing?
A: Make it a game by writing tasks on slips of paper and putting them in a hat or basket. Each person chooses one, completes the task, and then returns for another. After 30 minutes, whoever has the most slips of paper earns a prize.
