7 Tips for Organizing Your Home

Start Decluttering Your Closet

The journey to an organized home often begins in the closet, and there's a reason for this. As Laurie B Styles explains, most of us only wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. Start by being honest with yourself: if you haven't worn something in over two years, it's time to let it go. To make this process manageable, I recommend implementing the "One In, One Out" rule – for every new item you bring in, remove one existing item from your closet.

Set aside dedicated decluttering time that works with your schedule. Even 15 minutes in the morning and evening can lead to significant progress. Create three distinct piles: Keep, Donate, and Discard. For items in good condition, consider donating to local charities or thrift stores – your unwanted clothes could become someone else's treasures.

Upgrade Your Custom Closet With Adjustable Features

A basic wire shelf and pole system simply doesn't cut it for most modern wardrobes. Investing in an adjustable closet system can revolutionize your storage capabilities. I've seen countless clients benefit from installing double-hang sections for shirts and pants, longer hanging areas for dresses and coats, and dedicated shoe shelving towers to eliminate floor clutter.

One often-overlooked feature I always recommend is incorporating drawers with dividers for smaller items like accessories, undergarments, and miscellaneous pieces. The beauty of adjustable systems lies in their flexibility – they can be modified as your needs change throughout the seasons or years.

Make Space in Your Garage

When was the last time you could actually park your car in your garage? This space often becomes a catch-all for everything from holiday decorations to sports equipment. I recommend tackling garage organization on a sunny weekend, breaking the project into manageable sections. Start with one corner and work your way around, sorting items into categories: keep, donate, and dispose.

For items you're keeping, invest in proper storage solutions. Overhead racks are perfect for seasonal items and rarely-used equipment. Install slatwall panels for tools and sporting goods, and use clear, labeled storage bins for smaller items. The key is to create designated zones for different categories of items, making everything easily accessible when needed.

Streamline Your Pantry

Wire shelving in pantries often creates more problems than solutions, especially with smaller items like spice containers constantly tipping over. I recommend upgrading to solid wood shelving with specialized organizers. Sliding baskets make it easy to access items at the back of deep shelves, while dedicated pan dividers and soup can racks maximize vertical space.

Group similar items together – baking supplies in one section, breakfast items in another, and so on. Using clear containers not only creates a visually appealing space but also helps you quickly identify when supplies are running low. Add labels to ensure everyone in the household knows where items belong.

Create a Flexible Kids' Closet

Children's storage needs evolve rapidly as they grow. The key to maintaining order in kids' spaces is creating an adaptable organization system. Use adjustable shelving that can be modified as your child's needs change and implement clearly labeled storage solutions that make it easy for children to maintain order themselves.

I recommend using clear plastic containers with photo labels for younger children who can't read yet. This makes cleanup time more manageable and teaches organizational skills early on. Regular decluttering sessions are essential – schedule quarterly reviews to remove outgrown clothes and rotate toys.

Boost Productivity With a Smart Home Office Design

In today's hybrid work environment, an organized home office is more crucial than ever. Cable management solutions, floating shelves, and designated supply zones can transform a chaotic workspace into a productivity hub. I always recommend creating distinct areas for different activities – a clean desk for focused work, a reference area for frequently used materials, and hidden storage for supplies

Implement vertical storage solutions to maximize space, and use labeled bins to keep supplies organized and easily accessible. A clutter-free desk isn't just aesthetically pleasing; it significantly reduces stress and improves focus during work hours.

Maintaining Organization for Reduced Stress

Remember, a cluttered space truly does reflect and affect our mental state. By implementing consistent organizational systems and maintaining them through small daily habits, you can significantly reduce the mental load of managing your home. I recommend establishing a "10-minute tidy-up" routine at the end of each day – this small investment of time prevents clutter from accumulating and maintains the organized systems you've created.

The key to success is creating sustainable habits that work for your lifestyle. Take a few minutes each evening to return items to their designated spots, and schedule weekly quick reviews of your most-used spaces. These small actions compound over time, creating lasting order and peace in your home.

Conclusion

By implementing these seven organizing principles, you'll not only create a more functional living space but also experience the mental clarity and reduced stress that comes with knowing everything has its place. Remember, organization isn't about perfection – it's about creating systems that work for you and your family's unique needs.

Source

• https://www.lauriebstyle.com/wear-20-percent-closet-80-percent-time/