Getting organized is a great feeling. I know many of you feel overwhelmed by the prospect so here are some simple ideas to start you on your way to feeling more organized.
Start Simple
Tackle a single drawer or the medicine cabinet. Each small space you organize adds up quickly and helps motivate you to keep going and attack larger spaces…like your closet or the garage.
The Nose to Knee Zone
I call the area between your nose and knees the magic zone. This is the area where you should store the items you use the most because this zone is the easiest to access. You don’t want to have to bend over or get on a ladder every time you want to get something you use every day. Store little used items up high and heavier objects down low.
Store Items Where You Use Them
I know this seems like a simple rule of thumb, but you’d be amazed at some of the storage solutions I’ve seen. I had a client who used to store all of her cleaning supplies in a basement closet. Every time she wanted to clean the bathroom, dust the furniture or clean a mirror, she had to tromp down to the basement to fetch the cleaning supplies. It made cleaning even more of a chore. 😊 If you can, spare a little space under the bathroom counter for toilet bowl cleaner, glass cleaner, etc. If your linen closet is overflowing, store bed and bath linens for guest rooms in those closets.
Choose the Correct Container
Clear containers allow you to see the contents at a glance. They’re great for storing things like sugar and flour, out of season clothes, camping gear, etc. Open baskets are pretty and practical. I store hats, gloves and scarves in baskets – I can easily see inside them, but all those loose items stay together. If you use bins or baskets that aren’t transparent, be sure to label them. One of my favorite things to do is use gift tags to label pretty baskets. I like the re-useable chalk board tags with the erasable ink.
Use Drawer Organizers
Whether it’s a junk drawer, desk drawer or your sock drawer, using dividers or bins helps reduce chaos. You can store like items in their own bins and keep those small items from sliding all over the drawer.
Start a Donation Bin
Keep a box or basket near the garage door. Whether it’s clothing that no longer fits or a book you no longer want, drop it in the box. When it gets full enough, put in your car so you can drop it off at a donation center when you’re out and about.
Eliminate Junk Mail
Wouldn’t it feel great to stop all of those catalogs and credit card offers from ever getting into your home?! I love the PaperKarma app (paperkarma.com). With a few simple steps, you can unsubscribe from all of those mailing lists.
Tame the Paper Monster
Once you eliminate the junk mail, you’ll still have paper coming your home. Instead of letting it pile up, tackle it immediately. Have a recycling bin and shredder handy so you can quickly toss anything you don’t need into the recycling bin and shred anything with sensitive information on it. Create a small bin to hold bills to pay or paperwork to fill out and then file them as you deal with them. I like to pay my bills right away, but setting up a specific day each week to handle bills might be more your speed. Do what works best for you.
Hopefully these simple and easy-to-do tips help you start off the new year feeling more organized!