 Published on January 10, 2023 by Jamie Forbes It’s easy for homes to become disorganized and full of clutter. Whether you have numerous belongings or always seem to accumulate more, it’s easy for it to become unmanageable. If so, consider incorporating structure into your cleaning routine. Creating simple habits will help you avoid the clutter and mess that always seems to accumulate at home. Once you begin practicing these new habits, you’ll notice how much easier it is to create a clean and organized home. If you’re unsure where to start, don’t worry; we tapped the top cleaning and organizing experts to help you turn your home into a peaceful haven. Whether you live in an apartment in Boston, MA, or a house in Round Rock, TX, use these 22 tips to help keep your home in tip-top shape. 1. Explore your attachment to your belongingsThe first steps of most decluttering projects don’t usually involve decluttering. An essential first step of any project is redefining the space in your mind and resolving attachment to your items. “It’s impossible to organize needless clutter and attachments,” says Maristella Bertram, MBA, Certified Professional Organizer, and owner of My Space Reclaimed. “Take the time to work through your items individually and consider whether you actually need them.” This method helps you finish the hardest work first, making the rest of the project more manageable. 2. Reframe the decluttering process Decluttering can be daunting, especially if you have a large or crowded home. If decluttering sounds difficult, “try reframing the focus of the project to reorganizing and cleaning,” advises Heidi Roed, owner of Life Easier. “Simply interacting with belongings you walk by every day and evaluating them can ignite the decluttering process. Decluttering often happens naturally when people begin looking through their belongings. Now, you can dig into the project. 3. Start small and take the project slowMany decluttering projects can feel overwhelming, even after you reframe them. Lisa Haubenstock, owner of Lisa The Organizer, suggests starting small to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the project. “For example, start with one drawer or one shelf in a space before moving on to the entire room,” she says. “This way, you can get over your initial fears and start organizing confidently.” 4. Minimize to make the project easierAs you start working through your belongings, you may be spending more time mulling them over than you are decluttering. Julie Whiting, Professional Organizer with The Decluttering Co., notes that the best way to organize is to minimize first. “When you have a lot of stuff, it’s easy to spend countless hours moving it around, managing it, and contemplating it,” she says. “To help, get rid of as much as possible before organizing what you own into logical categories.” 5. Organize one item at a timeWorking consistently and methodically is often the best way to get your home from cluttered to comfortable. “You’ll be amazed at how easy this is,” says Lani Boggs, Founder of Declutter by Lani. “The easiest way to start is by picking a room you feel is your biggest concern and removing anything unnecessary, setting up bags for garbage and donations. Work through one item at a time – before you realize it, you’ll have organized an entire room.” When you run out of items in one room, take a break before moving on to the next. Avoiding burnout is essential to maintaining a clean and organized home. 6. Organize as you move through your homeCreating a clean and organized home doesn’t have to be secluded to one or two days every week; it can be something you consistently do every day. “For example, if you walk through a room and see something out of place, pick it up and carry it with you,” notes Diane Quintana and Jonda Beattie from Release Repurpose Reorganize, LLC. “Put it away if you can, or at least take it near where it belongs,” they say. “When you pay attention and act when you see clutter, it’s harder for it to accumulate.” If you work better with routine, the team at Mulberrys Garment Care suggests creating a short, manageable organizing routine. “Create small and routine tasks that help you keep your space clean,” they say. “Once you’re done with a task, clean up after yourself instead of leaving things to pile up.” 7. Organize for a short amount of time every dayAn organizational key is to do one or two small things every day to make your life easier tomorrow. “Wash a load of laundry before you go to work each day and fold it before you go to bed,” recommends Shae Alexander, owner of Home Harmony Organizing. “Consider doing dishes throughout the day as well,” she says. “If you do routine tasks every day, you only help yourself in the long run.” Another option is to take ten minutes every evening to walk through your home and pick everything up that doesn’t belong. “Keep an empty basket under a console or tucked into a closet or corner,” advises Heather Davies, a professional organizer with BirchTree Organizing. “Pull it out at the end of the day and take ten minutes to gather items and return them to their homes.” 8. Keep everything in its placeAs you move through your home, be mindful of what you’re picking up and where you’re putting it. “When you pick something up, always take the time to put it back,” says Logan Gerard, CEO of Keyroo. “The more items you leave out, the bigger and more daunting the mess becomes,” he says. “When you take something out of a drawer, closet, or shelf, take the extra moment to put it back when you’re done.” 9. Create a thorough decluttering routine and scheduleMany of the first organizing steps apply to people with all sizes of homes. However, it can be challenging to maintain an organized home if you have a large family or a big house. To help, “try setting aside 15-minute time chunks to accomplish simple organizing tasks,” suggests Collette Oswald, owner of Organizing by Oz. “Also, be sure to establish a reward system that works best for everyone,” she says. Another option is to create a schedule for the family. “An organizing schedule can be a great tool for large families,” notes Lia Brady, owner of Organize With Lia. “Include tasks for every day of the week and every household member. These can involve cleaning, decluttering, organizing, donating, and more. Additionally, keep the schedule simple and manageable, so everyone can feel accomplished. 10. Create simple processes to make organizing easy for kidsKids regularly make messes without cleaning them up, leading to more work for you. To avoid frequent messes and a cluttered home, consider teaching your kids the importance of organization. “Encourage your kids to maintain their belongings by teaching them proper maintenance,” suggests Stacy Thomes, owner of Stacy Thomes Organizing. “If you create organized systems with your children’s clothes, toys, school supplies, and accessories, it’s easier for them to put them away when it’s time to clean.” Make sure to add a reward to sweeten the deal. Rewards can motivate children to continue cleaning up after themselves. 11. Try an organizer system tailored for childrenIf your child struggles to maintain their belongings, investing in a system tailored to their needs, such as Micuna’s Little Things Organizer, can make a huge difference. “There are many options that offer a place for their clothes, shoes, boots, accessories, and even toys and books,” notes Hilary Abbott from Micuna USA. “With these systems, children can learn about organizing, experience autonomy, and practice finding everything they need.” If your children aren’t motivated or are still struggling, minimize their responsibility to just once per week or even one set of items. Work on their timeline and gently encourage them along. 12. Turn organizing into a game for the whole familyAnother option for parents is to turn organizing into a game. “Each night, about an hour before bedtime, have everyone in the family race around the home putting everything where it belongs,” suggests Jill Fleming, owner of Smart Organizing Solutions. “The person who finishes first wins. At the end of each week, the person with the most ‘wins’ gets to pick a fun activity for everyone.” You can also play music to lighten the mood or motivate any tired members of your household. “Listen to music that your family loves to keep their brains focused and clear any mental clutter,” proposes Shannon Tamme, Certified Professional Organizer with Life Synchronized. “Working with music is therapeutic and can help everyone dance the clutter away.” 13. Take control of children’s artworkChildren often create a lot of artwork, especially at school. Even with strict organizing schedules, it’s easy for their art to get out of control, especially if you want to keep all of it. To help, “consider spending a minute or two with your children to talk about their artwork,” notes Gari Julius Weilbacher, decluttering coach and owner of Wild Brook Coaching. “Then, place it in a designated area that you consistently rotate throughout the year, only keeping both of your favorite pieces.” Use this method if you or another household member also likes to create art. Be reasonable and stay aware of your attachment to individual pieces of art. 14. Designate baskets for communal clutterA great organizing solution for larger families is to incorporate beautifully decorated baskets into the main living areas of your home. “Use these baskets for items that don’t belong or that people no longer play with or read,” says Courtney Inabinet, owner of Calm The Chaos With Courtney LLC. “This allows for quick resets without losing any items.” Another option is to put additional baskets outside of everyone’s room. “Create a bin for each person that they can take to their rooms at the end of each day,” says Collin Wheeler, founder of 123JUNK, a sustainable waste management company that prioritizes donating and recycling unwanted items. “This can help prevent clutter from building up and allows people to have agency over their belongings.” For bonus points, incorporate baskets that fit your room’s style and aesthetic. 15. Manage your paper productsThe daily influx of paper from mail, school, and work can be overwhelming. “Commit to taking just five minutes every time you walk through the front door to sort through your paper quickly,” suggests Lisa S. Griffith, Certified Professional Organizer with Griffith Productivity Solutions. “For bonus points, set up a ‘mail processing center’ with a trash can, recycling bin, small shredder, and two baskets or paper trays.” Additionally, when sorting, “assign a dedicated spot for mail, like a paper sorter, basket, or a hanging wall container,” notes Kathe Roberts, Certified Professional Organizer and owner of Top to Bottom Organization. “Be sure to recycle junk mail as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary clutter.” 16. Be mindful of your organizational purchasesBins, baskets, and containers are great, especially for paper products. However, don’t get ahead of yourself and buy them before you declutter. “Wait and see which items are leftover before measuring your space and making your purchase,” says Joanne Duchrow, Certified Expert Organizer with Me In Order. Organizational items are perfect in moderation, but can quickly become clutter if you buy too many. 17. Organize your photosPhotos are a common clutter culprit in most people’s homes. Many people store them in boxes they never open or hang every one they take, leading to a cluttered aesthetic. Ideally, you only keep photos that mean the most to you, and purposefully store the rest in labeled, organized boxes. If you’re having trouble, “a great way to get help is by accessing beginner photo-sorting courses online,” advises Michelle Jensen, owner of Michelle Marie Solutions. “These courses are aimed at beginners and may not suit your needs,” she says. “For additional help, you can always reach out to an authorized photo organizer.” 18. Stay on top of your digital memoriesAnother option for photo storage is to invest in digital solutions. Digitizing can free up valuable space throughout your home and allow you to spend time organizing elsewhere. If you decide to digitize, “make sure to work through your backlog every month and choose only your favorites,” advises Nichole Healy from Memory My Way. “This will help decrease the digital clutter and help you keep what matters.” Consider investing in a personal hard drive to secure your most important memories. This way, you’re always in control of your most valuable memories. 19. Keep your sheets organizedWhile they may not seem like something that often piles up, sheets can quickly get out of hand, especially if you frequently host guests. Alleviate the problem by creating an organizational system. “Group sheets by size and color, and store them closest to where they belong,” suggests Tracy Di Lorenzo, owner of House of Glow. “This way, a random spill or a large family holiday won’t lead to chaos.” 20. Don’t forget about your garageAfter working through your entire home, the last place left to organize is likely your garage, and for a good reason. “Garages often need the most organization help,” admits Linda Deppa, owner of Uncluttered. “When you’re tackling the garage, be sure to think vertically. Use storage solutions that you can push against the wall and are sturdy enough for heavy items.” This project may take many days and require multiple people. Take your time and apply the knowledge you’ve already learned along the way. 21. Take photos to document your decluttering processAfter organizing your home, maintaining it may seem like a breeze. However, many people require help maintaining their organizational systems. If you’re finding yourself moving clutter around without putting it away, “consider taking photos of it for a week,” suggests Jeni Brown, owner of Savvy Spaces Organizing. “These photos will give you insight into what items need a more convenient home and which organizing systems you need to tweak.” 22. Planning a big move? Consider an estate saleEstate sales can be a good option for some homeowners. “Many estate sale companies offer a clean-out service for an added fee of anywhere from $1,000 to several thousand depending on the amount of items,” says Bryan McDaniel, owner of EZDownsizing, an online auction and estate sale solutions company. “Make sure to donate or store anything you want to keep, as clean-outs are thorough and usually leave the residence spotless,” he says. “Be wary of estate sale companies offering clean-out services and ‘donating’ or disposing of everything that is unsold at the conclusion of an estate sale.” 23. Consider virtual organizers for flexible, efficient helpSometimes, you just need help getting your home organized. If this is the case for you, try calling a Certified Virtual Organizer. “Virtual organizers create step-by-step, customized, guided organization systems to help homeowners and small businesses declutter their spaces,” says Sheila Delson, Certified Virtual Professional Organizer with The Virtual Professional Organizer. “These services are usually in real time via live video conferencing,” she says. “It can be a highly flexible, efficient, and cost-effective organizing service for any home.” Final thoughts on a clean and organized homeCreating a clean and organized home helps you live a clutter-free life, allowing you to focus on what matters most. It can also save you time by making belongings easier to find. Remember, start by resolving attachment to your items before decluttering. Like with any organization project, take time every day to maintain your clean and organized home, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
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Redfin's New Year’s Resolutions 2022: Expert Tips to Get Organized In the New Year ft. H.H.O.1/4/2022  Read the full Redfin article here. Published on January 4, 2022 by Ryan Castillo
Adjust your mindset For every space in your home, the first thing to ask yourself is, “How do I want to feel when I walk into this space?” This question can instantly help give you clarity on items that are maybe not working to help you create the vibe you want in your home. – The Fun Sized Life Be intentional with every item you have in your home My number one tip for new year organization is to create intention with every item you choose to keep and with every space you reset. Do the items you are organizing in a particular space fit? Do they physically fit in the space? Do they fit the intention of the space? Do they bring you joy? Are they contained in a way that is consistent with the overall intention and aesthetic of your home? When you are intentional with each item and intentional with each space,everything has a purpose. Take it step by step, and pretty soon junk drawers, landing zones, clutter piles, and the stress that come with them will be a thing of the past. – Reset Your Nest Let go of things you don’t use The best advice one can give regarding new year organization is if you have not touched, used, or thought about it, it’s time to let it go. Before you start a project, plan your attack. Always take a before and after picture. In the future, it will provide you with the motivation you need to keep your home/office tidy. Lastly, sort and edit – find a permanent, out-of-sight home for things. – girlFriday Create a home inventory In the event of a disaster, a home inventory records what you own. Whatever technique you use to create your home inventory, remember to be thorough and store a copy elsewhere. For example, keep an electronic copy in the cloud or leave a hard copy with a friend or relative. Also, keep an eye on your home inventory and update it annually. Using this method, you can add or remove things from your collection. – True Assisting Use the “Visibility, Accessibility & Flexibility” standards Choose containers that are either clear or that can be easily labeled. Make sure that items you use most frequently are the easiest to access and the products you use less are higher up or in a space you don’t need to access often. Select storage systems/organizing systems that are adaptable to your changing needs so that you are more likely to keep the systems up and organized should changes happen. – Shae Alexander, Home Harmony Organizing Use the OHIO principle when it comes to your possessions While the OHIO principle (Only Handle It Once) isn’t really realistic when it comes to paper, it does work when it comes to your possessions. When you come through the door at the end of the day, where do the mail, coat, hat, keys, and other items from the store that you’ve picked up on the way home go? Rather than dumping them on a chair or the kitchen counter, if you take just a few extra moments to put things away in their designated homes when you walk in the door, your spaces will remain organized and clutter-free. – Lisa S. Griffith, CPO®, Griffith Productivity Solutions Preserve print photos and albums in cool places Basements and attics are popular places to store items not used every day. However, basements and attics are far from ideal places to store photos, thanks to the fluctuations in temperature in attics and dampness in basements. Print photos and albums are best preserved in cool, dry places, so moving them to a closet, for example, will help prolong their life and save them for future generations. – Past Present Pix Organize media by type and theme When organizing pictures, group similar types together like prints, digital sources, albums, home movies, or slides so that you can see what you have. Organize them by theme (vacations, people, locations) or by date taken. Then purge. Get rid of duplicates, blurry shots, or ones you can’t identify. – Picture This Organized Don’t forget your legal documents Legal Documents are most important. Assign beneficiaries, label photos & keys, note passwords. Ask yourself, “do my possessions excite me, serve a purpose, and do I still love them?” Inspire a new look using items you own in your home and always organize & downsize when possible. – Stuff the Clutter Improve the productivity of your home office If you work from home, invest the time it takes to ensure your home office fully supports your workflow, mood, and energy levels. First, choose the right place. You may have a room that seems perfect for a home office, but if you find you’re naturally drawn to another area, then follow your instinct and make that other space work for you. Then, streamline your space for easier workflow. Be ruthless about what you really need to perform your work, and perform a thorough cull of old files and anything else before investing in unnecessary storage. Improve your productivity, and your circulation, by investing in a standing desk, and alternate sitting and standing to perform your work. – Cory Cook Stop buying portable hanging closet organizers They take up too much space and provide cubbies in which items must be folded neatly to look organized. Instead, invest in new, velvet, no-shoulder bumps, space-saving hangers. – Welcome Home Organizing, Staging, & Feng Shui Use door organizers to take advantage of space behind closet doors There are a lot of products available on the market designed for that purpose. Hats, shoes, purses, jewelry, or gift wrap are just a few examples of items that can be stored in that underutilized vertical space. – Cincinnati Organized Use square or rectangular products over round product To maximize storage space, choose square or rectangular organizing products instead of round ones. When you place round organizers next to each other, you lose the space where the organizers curve. This really adds up, so get the most out of your space by sticking with square or rectangular bins, baskets, and containers. – Annmarie Brogan and Marie Limpert, co-owners of Organize Me! of NY, LLC, and co-authors of the book, Beyond Tidy: Declutter Your Mind and Discover the Magic of Organized Living If you don’t love it or use it, be ok with letting it go Donate useable items to live their next life at someone else’s place or sell it if it’s something that holds monetary value to you. Take it one drawer or closet at a time to get a feel for purging; when things are pulled out everywhere it can get overwhelming. Give yourself time to take the time to get it out, sort through it, and make good decisions. When putting it back together, keep like items together to make them easier to find. – Such a Neat Freak Have a donation bag ready Keep a ready-to-fill donation box or bag handy in a closet or garage. When you try on clothes that no longer fit or flatter or items begin to fill up your cabinets, drop them in the donation bag. Don’t put them back in the closet or cabinet to sit there longer. Do a little purging as you come across things, have a designated place to put the unwanted items, take the bag or box to donation when it is full, and repeat all year long. – Organizing Wonders Create a system that works for you The universal steps to organizing any room in your home are getting rid of all trash, taking everything out of the space that doesn’t belong, and finding a home for everything that’s left. Creating a magazine-ready room isn’t practical in every situation. As long as you have a system that works for you and your family, it’s a success. – Lia Brady, Organize With Lia Be creative with storage In the city, we are always short on space. Consider vertical storage as a solution. Get creative using the height of your walls as a way to add more storage space. – Sort it Out Philly Pack ahead of time when moving If you’re planning to move and feel you have too much stuff, then you can start sorting your belongings now to save time and money. Although you’ll spend some time upfront sorting out the excess (tools, clothing, kitchenware, linens, knick-knacks), you’ll not only save money on moving supplies and relocation costs, but you’ll save even more time with less packing and unpacking. Start with the kitchen and open cabinets and drawers to pull out utensils, pots, pans, mixing bowls, and small appliances that haven’t been used, and set the items aside for a donation. Continue working throughout the house – CDs, DVDs – anything not used for years – especially large or heavy items. – Michelle Marie  Hi loves -
Today on the blog, I wanted to talk all about the BEST Amazon organizing gifts to give this Christmas! I’ll be the first to admit that organizational products aren’t the most exciting things to talk about, but they ARE the most practical! Hopefully this article helps you guys get some more order in your lives or help out a loved one! Speaking of order, I am making one of my big goals for 2020 to get on a posting schedule, and to stay on top of posting blogs regularly for you all! It is my wish and want to share all of my favorite organizing products, my Instagram featured products, along with organizing tips for all the spaces in your home! It takes a ton of commitment and perseverance to get in a routine of planning great content and posting, but I cannot tell you how much I've wanted to do this for awhile! I am always saying the first step to getting organized is by just starting, so I am taking my own advice by posting this holiday gift guide for you all! Products: 1) Scarf & Belt Organizer 2) Jewelry Organizer 3) Makeup Organizer 4) Velvet Hangers 5) Necklace & Bracelet Organizer 6) Shoe Organizer Rack 7) Hair Styling Organizer That’s everything! I hope you all enjoyed my Best Amazon Organizational Gifts Guide for 2019. I will be be sharing more Amazon finds along with organizing products from some of my other favorite stores over the next couple of weeks! I truly love Amazon because they have so many items that are super affordable and they have an amazing return policy as well! Xoxo, Shaelyn |