Most people would LOVE to have an organized home, but we often hear from our clients that one of the biggest barriers for them is not knowing how to get organized. So today, we’re sharing the basic steps for how organize any space in your home!
what are the benefits of organization?
Is organizing just about making your home look pretty?
Well, yes and no.
A pretty space can certainly inspire you to maintain it. But organizing your home is about so much more than aesthetics.
It’s about saving time because you know where to find what you need.
It’s about saving money because you know you have enough.
It’s about feeling in control of your stuff, rather than the other way around.
It’s about stressing less and living more.
the basic steps to organizing your home
Getting organized doesn’t require magic or super special skills that only a select few people are born with. Anyone (yes, anyone!) can get rid of clutter and have an organized home, as long as you follow a few basic steps.
Step 1: Know Your “Why”
Organizing begins with intention. Why do you want to get organized? Do you want to free up time and headspace for more important things than frantically searching for your keys? Do you want to stop feeling embarrassed about your home so you can have guests over? Deciding on your “why” is so important because it’s going to keep you motivated throughout the process.
Step 2: Sort
You can’t organize your stuff until you know what you have. Begin by pulling everything out of a space and sorting it into categories. Keep duplicates and similar items in the same category, and make your categories fairly broad (for example: “office supplies” or “servingware”). If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a large space or whole home project, start small with a drawer, a cabinet, or a hall closet. Decluttering and organizing take practice, so you might need to build up your “muscles” first, and that’s totally okay!
Step 3: Edit
This step is key when you’re decluttering your home. Once your belongings are categorized, it’s time to consider what to keep and what you can let go of. Start with the easy stuff: keep the items you truly love and use, and discard or donate duplicates or items that are damaged. There’s no magic number for how much you should keep or get rid of; this is about what works for you and your home. If you get stuck, ask yourself these five questions as you declutter.
Step 4: Arrange
Have you heard that old saying, “A place for everything and everything in its place”? Well, that concept is one of the foundations of home organizing! Everything you own should have a designated spot that is logical for you. Take some time to think about how, when, and where you use your stuff. Some questions to consider:
- Is this something I use regularly? If so, it should be stored in an easy-to-access location.
- Do I need to keep this item visible (for example, on an open shelf), or do I want it hidden (in a drawer, cabinet, or bin)?
- Who else needs access to this item? Keep items in bottom drawers or on low shelves if younger children use them.
- Are there are other items that I use with this item, or that are similar? If so, consider storing them all in the same place.
Step 5: Contain
A lot of people start with this step and buy a bunch of organizing products before they have a plan. We get excited about organizing products as much as anyone, but containing should be the LAST step when getting organized!
It’s a good idea to think through the best way to store your belongings so that you can access them easily, hide what you don’t want to see, and keep your categories together. You don’t need to spend a lot on products (here are some inexpensive organizing products that we love), and in some cases, you don’t have to buy anything at all! Shop your home first for baskets, bins, or empty containers that can be repurposed. For example, shoe and tech boxes can make great drawer organizers.
BONUS Step: Maintain
Organizing isn’t a one-and-done job. Your systems require maintenance (yes, you still have to clean up, lolsob), but getting organized in the first place makes maintaining your space so much easier! Even when things get a little messy – and they will – you won’t stress because you know where everything actually belongs (pro tip: labeling your bins, baskets, and containers helps). Take a few minutes each day to tidy up and reset your spaces, and you’ll have more time to spend on the things you love!