The New Year is a time of new beginnings and growth and home organization is often one of those things we could all stand to grow in a little more. If being a little more organized and decluttering is one of your resolutions, this article is for you! We have a few of our top tips for corralling the clutter and making the most of your space.
● Declutter. If you’re trying to organize your home, one of the first steps you need to take is ridding yourself of any unnecessary items. If it’s not useful and you don’t love it, it’s time to find it a new home. And you don’t want all your hard work reorganizing everything to go to waste, so institute a “one in, one out” rule for the future. If you want a new shirt or kitchen gadget, that means you need to get rid of one you already have.
● Put like items together. It might seem simple, but it’s important to group your items together in a way that makes sense. If you’re organizing your pantry, group baking ingredients or snacks together. If you’re organizing your bathroom, put everything you need to get ready in one spot or all of your extra toiletries in one spot. This makes things easier to find and can help save you time.
● Give everything a place. When you’re taking the time to put things together, it’s crucial to assign everything a home. One of the most effective ways to do this is by using containers and using labels. You can get out your labelmaker if you want, but you can also find lots of pretty labels that fit on lots of different containers. Giving everything a home and using labels is crucial because it helps everyone else in your home know where to put things, and it makes it harder for you to put things back in the wrong spot.
● Repurpose items for storage organization. When you’re trying to organize your home, it can be tempting to go out and buy lots of new organizing containers. While buying some new organizational tools may be necessary, you can also repurpose items you can easily find around your home for organization as well. For example, a metal file holder works great for cutting boards and cookie sheets, and old soda boxes can be an effective way to store canned goods. Old tissue boxes are a great way to store extra grocery bags, and toilet paper rolls can work to corral cords. Take some time to look for other items that can be repurposed before you go out and buy lots of new containers.
● Make the most of your space. So many of us think we don’t have enough storage space when we aren’t making the most of what space we do have. When you’re reorganizing, take a look at your storage areas (pantry, linen closets, garage, etc.) and see if there’s a way you could effectively store more. Could you add risers in your pantry or kitchen cabinets to pack in more or add storage on the backs of your closet doors? Hanging bikes or adding ceiling racks in your garage can be another great way to make the most of your space. You can also extend this to other areas of your home as well. If you need more storage in your living room, try swapping out your ottoman for one that has hidden storage. If you don’t have much room for toy storage in your kid’s room, could you add hanging baskets on the walls? Look at every space with a critical eye and try to see where you can squeeze in storage or make the most of a particular space.