Getting your home organized can feel like an impossible feat, but it doesn’t have to be! With some planning, effort and consistency, you can transform even the messiest home into a beautiful, tidy oasis. This comprehensive created by Homeworkify guide covers essential tips for organizing every room.
Assess and Categorize
Before diving into cleaning any space, take stock of what you already have. Walk around with a pad of paper, jotting down notes, or use your phone to take pictures of the contents of drawers, shelves and closets. Make a list of categories based on what you observe, like kitchen appliances, toys, clothes, books, etc. This inventory will help you grasp the scope of the project.
Start with Visible Areas
Focus first on the most visible areas of each room. For the kitchen, this may be countertops and the sink. For a bedroom, make the bed and clothing piles. Living rooms should focus on surfaces and floors first. Addressing these spaces makes the biggest impact upfront.
Attack Room-by-Room
Attempting to organize your entire home at once will quickly become overwhelming. Break it down by room instead. Start where you spend the most time, like the kitchen or bedroom, before moving onto less crucial spaces like the guest room or basement.
Purge Regularly
An effective organization system requires regular purging of items you don’t use, need or love. Go through your inventory category-by-category and be brutally honest. Does this item bring you joy or serve a purpose? When was the last time I used it? Anything that doesn’t pass the test should be tossed, donated or sold.
Choose Multi-Functional Storage
When evaluating storage options, look for pieces that can serve multiple roles. For example, ottomans with lift-up tops allow you to store items inside. Entryway benches offer seating and shoe storage. Racks can hold towels in the bathroom or pots and pans in the kitchen. Dressers and bookshelves also double as display space on top.
Prioritize Vertical Storage
One of the biggest space savers is storing items vertically rather than stacking them across horizontal surfaces. Install shelving high on walls, floor to ceiling. Use hanging bins, racks, shoe organizers and garment bags inside closets. Hang pots from ceiling mounts. Another vertical storage device is a ladder shelf, leaning against the wall.
Clearly Label Everything
An organizing system is only effective if you use it consistently. Help everyone in your household remember the purpose of each storage device by clearly labeling shelves, bins, baskets and drawers. Masking tape and a marker are inexpensive but get the job done! Or splurge on custom labels.
Maintain as You Go
Getting organized is one thing, but staying that way takes effort, especially in busy households. Make maintenance part of your routine by putting items back immediately after use. Do a weekly walkthrough to address disorder before it builds up again. Re-evaluate every few months and purge anything you forgot about or no longer need. Developing these habits is essential for long-term success!
Follow this comprehensive game plan for organizing your home from start to finish. Remember to break the project down into manageable pieces and involve the whole family. The investment of time and effort is well worth the payoff of a tidy, functional living space you can actually enjoy!
