Have you ever heard yourself say “today’s the day I’ll get organized” only to be overwhelmed by where to start? For many people, the thought of organizing a room in their home, or even just a small space, can be daunting.
Our proven 5-step process uses basic organizing principles to help you take control of chaos and get organized. This process works well for any space you address, whether it’s a junk drawer, master closet, garage or anything in between. Our steps help you create a system that fits your lifestyle and is easy to maintain.
Many people fail in their organizing efforts because they start too big. To make it more manageable, choose one space that causes you the most stress or will have the biggest impact on your life and start there.
Follow these 5 simple steps to organize any space in your house:
STEP 1: Visualize
Visualize a plan for your space as a starting point. Have an idea of how you want the space to look and feel, how you’ll use it and what you’ll need in it. It’s important to understand the big picture before you dig in so you can stay focused on your goals for the space.
STEP 2: Sort
For this step, you’ll need labeled bags or bins for trash, recycling, donate, sell and relocate. A folding table or clear flat surface is also helpful.
Take ALL items out of the space you are organizing and sort into like-groups. For example, if you are organizing a pantry, you might choose categories such as canned goods, pasta and rice, breakfast foods, baking, etc. If you are organizing a larger space, such as a garage, your categories might be broader such as sports equipment, gardening, tools and car care.
STEP 3: Assess
Ask yourself key questions to assess how you use each item and how often you use it. Assess items individually. Do you like it or is it important to you? Is it a duplicate? Is it in good condition? Questions like these help you make decisions about what to keep, what to donate or sell, and what to dispose of or recycle.
Start with easy decisions and save sentimental decisions for last. Items you’ve stored away in your home for years could be useful to someone else. Consider donating those to local charities. Many charities will even pick-up donations from your home.
STEP 4: Assign
Assign a home for each group. You’ll want items you use most often in easy to access locations. Put things in proximity to where you will use them. Don’t forget to use vertical space and free space behind doors or under beds for items you use less frequently.
What kind of containers do you need?
Containers with lids can be used for areas that allow stacking. Select baskets or containers without lids for easy grab-and-go access. Choose containers that maximize space & visibility. Clear containers allow you to see what’s inside and baskets work well for containing odd shaped items.
Before you go shopping, check to see what you already own at home and measure carefully before you buy.
Labels put the finishing touch on your project and make it easy to see where everything belongs. You can hand-write your own labels, create basic labels with your home printer or purchase fancier labels for a pop of style.
STEP 5: Sustain
Sustain order by following the systems you’ve set up. Return items to their designated place after use to reinforce good habits. Sharing your new organizing systems with family members will simplify your life and help you avoid falling back into old habits.
Where do I start?
Now that you understand our 5-step process to organizing anything, it might be good to give it a try yourself. Want an easy win? A junk drawer or medicine cabinet is a quick project you can finish in an hour or less. Have a little more time? Tackle your pantry, garage or master closet. Follow our 5-steps to make it easy to stay organized for life!
Ready to Get Organized? We’d Love to Help!
Interested in help getting started? There’s nothing we love more than sharing our organizing advice with others, but we also like rolling up our sleeves and helping others organize virtually or in person. Contact us today for a free 30-minute consultation.
