Basic Home Organization Tips

While many people have home organization on the top of their to-do list, they often fail to follow through with it. Many people feel smothered by the amount of time it takes to get organized. But, de-cluttering doesn't have to happen overnight. By following some basic home organization tips, the job can be broken down and tackled over a period of time.

Begin by Collecting

To get started, it is best to choose a room and collect the clutter. Two baskets or bags are all you need. One basket can be used to collect items that belong in that room, while the other basket should contain the items that belong in other rooms. Once everything has been collected, take the other items to their appropriate rooms.
A Place for Everything

Once you have collected all the clutter in a room, you must find a place for every item. Home organization solutions are about being able to find the items you need when you need them. If you take time to create a place for every item, the room will not only look fantastic, but you'll know exactly where everything is. In the early stages of organizing a home, it is important to remember to keep like items together. For example, place all your cookbooks in one area and all your bills in another.

Purchasing Storage Products
For home organization to work properly, you may find yourself needing to buy storage containers and shelving. Storage containers hide items you aren't currently using. For example, sweaters can be stored under the bed until the winter. For that reason, you will need to find the right shape for your storage container. A shallow, wide container is perfect for sliding under the bed, whereas a stackable set of containers works well for keeping items off the floor.

Also consider how often you will need items. A door that pulls out on a stackable container or a drawer-based container system can give you quick access to the items you need, and you won't get frustrated trying to dig out items from a big box and then putting everything else back.

Shelving and small implements, such as hooks, also help with organization because they create more places to put everyday items. For example, having convenient shelves near your DVD player encourages you to put the DVDs away when the movie is over. Having a place to hang coats near your front door will keep you from slinging your coats over chairs. Extra hangers mean that fewer clothes will wind up on the floor.

Once you have put everything in the right spot, you must face the real challenge. Home organization doesn't last unless you put in the effort to tidy up. An important rule of thumb for staying organized is something you know from childhood: Simply put things back where they belong. When you finish watching a movie or reading a book, take the item and place it back on the shelf.

Organized Schedules

You don't always have time to tidy up, but a home organization schedule will keep most people on top of things. For example, each evening you could set aside time to clear off your living room table and return everything on it to its rightful place. While a nightly cleanup may be necessary for some rooms, you can schedule other tasks, such as filing bills or other paperwork, on a weekly basis.

To stay organized, you must go through your stored belongings at least twice a year. If you find items that you haven't used in over a year, it's time to donate them. Chances are you'll have a lot of items to donate if you take the time to look through everything. The more free space you have, the easier home organization will be.

Teamwork
Remember that home organization doesn't have to be a one-person job. Get the whole family involved. Have everyone put their dirty clothes in hampers at the end of the evening. Have everyone put away the items they use. Encourage children to keep their schoolwork and books organized and ready to go. Generally encourage the entire family to get involved with some aspect of home organization so that all of you have a house you can be proud of.

Home organization is an ongoing process. It is not something you start and finish in one day. You obviously want to live in your home comfortably. For this reason, home organization never ends, which is why many people just give up.

You will always have clutter to collect, things to put away and more storage to buy. However, if you start small, home organization won't seem like an impossible project. In other words, don't try to tackle it all in one day. Instead, schedule time each day to work on it. Spending as little as a half hour each day can conquer the clutter in your home.