Before You Organize

Before you begin, consider this old adage: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It doesn’t apply solely to your fitness goals! All good things take time, and in this case, your good thing is a home where every thing has a home. This is an attainable goal! However, it’s important to remember that organization doesn’t happen overnight. Allow yourself the time to plan and execute large organization projects.

Because organization projects take time, be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. After successfully tackling the junk drawer, you’re going to feel ambitious – maybe you'll find yourself in the middle of a torn-apart kitchen in the wee hours of the morning, wondering how you got there. We’ve been there! That said, it’s best to assume that a project will take much longer than you think it will. In doing so, you’ll be able to accomplish more by tackling work in short, productive sessions.

You’ve picked a room or problem area in your home. Now what? Where should you begin? A great way to kick off the project is to create three spaces (designated, for example, with small blankets on the floor) and label them “Keep,” “Toss” and “Donate.”

When tackling a cluttered space, you'll likely need to get rid of some items. Sort items based on what you really need, what you could do without, and what you might like to gift to someone less fortunate. Once you’ve thrown out or donated items, you’ll be able to see what you’re working with and organize only the items you plan to keep.

How to Keep a Tidy Home

Now that you’ve prepped for the project, the fun can begin! Check out these helpful tips and tricks from a few of our trusted Neighborly-family brands.

• Be Kind to Your Kitchen – Are you greeted by a plastic food storage “avalanche” when you reach up and open your kitchen cabinet? Your kitchen might be a great place to start your organization journey! Have too many grocery bags? Use an old tissue box to keep them contained and easily accessible. Lacking cabinet space? Try hanging your prettiest pots and pans. Check out additional tips from our friends at Mr. Appliance.

• Get Creative – The nooks and crannies in your home are dying to be better utilized. Need more counter space? Hang a desk organizer on a cabinet side close to the sink to get your soap and sponges off the counter. Check out these five shelving ideas from Mr. Handyman.

• Stick to Seasons – Breaking your organization efforts into seasons will allow more space for the items you need now. Dedicate bins to particular seasons to get holiday décor out of the way. If the entirety of your clothing pieces, from Halloween costumes to ugly Christmas sweaters, are proudly displayed in your closet, you’re doing it wrong! Molly Maid has ideas for how to get your seasonal apparel organized and out of the way.

• Forget the Fumes – Completing an organization project is a great excuse to “audit” your spaces for potentially dangerous household items. Items like nail polish remover and cleaning supplies contain harmful fumes that you might consider tossing. Read more from the experts at Aire Serv to determine which household items should be thrown out.

Time to tidy! With these tips and tricks, you’ll be on your way to a more functional, organized home in no time. If you enjoyed these organizational tips, check out our advice on organizing your silverware!

Need some extra help with one of your projects at home? Our family of home service experts are ready to assist! Explore our brands on Neighborly.com.