There isn’t just one tried and true way of organizing your home. Any approach you take has to work with your lifestyle and habits. There are a few strategies, however, that can enhance the effectiveness of any approach. From taking inventory of your belongings to organizing in zones, there are many ways to tweak the way you tidy up.
We’ve asked professional organizers, from New York, NY to Sacramento, CA, to spill their best-kept secrets so you can put an end to a messy life once and for all – and save time, money, and stress while doing so.
Be realistic about your availability
When you’re about to start any organizing project in your house, think about the time you have to devote to it and don’t forget that there are only 24 hours in a day. If you know your attention span is short, don’t pick a project that will take hours. Simple tasks that don’t require a lot of thought, like organizing a desk drawer will be quick. Tasks that are personalized to you, like organizing your closet, will take longer. – The Organized Flamingo
Assess your wardrobe
Is your closet a museum or a place to store and easily access your clothes? If your closet resembles a museum, here’s what you can do to help yourself. Arrange your clothes by categories and garments, and seasonally if desired. Try on your clothes, asking yourself “Is the style timely or timeless? Is the shape of the garment flattering? Is it comfortable and easy care?” Decide to keep, toss, donate or sell if valuable enough. Decide how much time you have for this project. It’s helpful to take this project in steps, working in sections. Start with one side, working from top-down. – A Helping Hand
Use chalkboard labels in your pantry
Labels are a must for every room in the house, but I’m particularly obsessed with using chalkboard labels in the pantry. The pantry is a space where inventory is constantly being switched out, like how I optimistically bought a 50 pack of kale chips that will probably be replaced by an industrial-sized tub of cookie butter in a week. Chalkboard labels allow for this experimentation with your food since you can just erase and re-label whenever you need to. There are about a million kinds on Amazon for cheap, so I highly suggest giving em a whirl. – The Organizer Bunny
Keep track of the food in your pantry to avoid waste
Avoid food waste by using a small blackboard to keep a note of what needs eating first in your fridge or pantry. Place it somewhere where everyone can see it, and help them to grab snacks and lunch accordingly! – More Organised
Get your kids involved
Sometimes it is a challenge to get and keep your kids organized. When organizing your children’s rooms get them involved and make a game of it. Make it a race to see if you or your child can pick up and put away their toys faster than you. This also works with clothes going in the hamper, drawers and closet. Include a prize at the end if they are the fastest. (It helps to let them win.) The more fun it is, the more they will want to get involved. – Office Furniture Warehouse
Always declutter and organize before selling your home
If your kitchen cabinets are full it tells the buyers that you don’t have enough storage. Keep everything light and when possible leave a shelf empty. You want to sell them on the fact that you have “too much” storage. Visual clutter can be the pile of laundry and excess of artwork on the walls. Find ways to simplify the visual clutter throughout your home. Edit out artwork, tchotchkes from your travels, and anything that’s collected dust over the year. The less stuff you have out the larger your home will look to buyers. – The Clutter Curator
Create a checklist for your tasks
Grab a pen and paper, then do an inventory of the room you want organized. Write down all the things you need to clean, fix, and ideas for what you think will make the room perfect for you. This can serve as a checklist to help you get started, mark off items as you go, and plan for any improvements. – Tidy by Habit
Use a door shoe organizer for a variety of belongings
You can use an over the door shoe organizer for apparel. For example, roll leggings of both dark and light colors. Place one or two pairs of like in each see-through pouch so that you can find them easily without having to dig through clothing clutter in your drawer. – Wow Organizing
Less is more in your child’s room
Looking for simple ways to keep your child’s room organized, let’s start with the less is more. Fill your child’s room with toys that are interactive so they don’t need more useless items that just take up space. Organizers are your best friend, stackable cubes or bookcases. Fill their closets with shelving, this helps keep your baby’s clothes visible, neat, and easily accessible. – CEO Ariselis Siciliano, Better Baby Boutique
Break your kitchen up into zones
One of my favorite ways to organize a kitchen is by zones. Divide your kitchen into zones such as cooking, food storage, food prep, dishware, and serveware. Keep only the number of items you need in each zone. Breaking it up in this way helps define your space and leads to a more functional kitchen. – Amber Bloomberg
Take care of yourself while getting organized
Organization is a form of self-care. Self-care is no longer considered selfish, in fact, it’s productive. While you’re getting organized don’t forget to make it personal. – Organize Chicago
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