It\u2019s no secret that the American home has been growing in size, becoming bigger, on average, than the homes of just a generation ago. With more space comes more stuff \u2014 and more time spent taking care of and maintaining that stuff. You could consider upsizing to a bigger home, but that would likely lead to the accumulation of more stuff. It\u2019s no wonder interest in minimalism continues to grow.<\/p>\n
While you may not be ready to embrace minimalism and part with most of your possessions, having a plan that keeps your living areas organized and decluttered not only frees up your physical space, but your mental space as well.<\/p>\n
General Organizing<\/strong><\/p>\n Moving from one home into another is a great opportunity to purge your belongings, so you\u2019re bringing less into your new space. Before you pack those moving boxes, it\u2019s wise to pare down your household goods, keep only what you need or love, and then donate, sell, or say goodbye to the rest.<\/p>\n Before you unpack at your new place, have a plan, and have your organizing and storage supplies nearby. (If you lucked out with a good home-buyer rebate, you can use the money to purchase organizational systems or other tools you\u2019ll need.)<\/p>\n \u2022 Store Like With Like : Whether you\u2019re unpacking dishes, jeans, or garden tools, think about storing like items with other like items. You\u2019ll be able to take a quick visual inventory of your items and determine what stays or goes.<\/p>\n \u2022 Label It : Certainly, you\u2019ve heard the phrase \u201ca place for everything and everything in its place.\u201d Labels are helpful reminders of where things live in your home, especially for kids. Use anything from a label maker, to tags, to color-coded tape with a marker. Remember: Don\u2019t put it down, put it away.<\/p>\n \u2022 Create a Donation Box : Store a box for donations somewhere out of the way, and regularly check spaces in your home for items you no longer need or want. You can set reminders on your phone to survey the kitchen one week, kids\u2019 closets the next, the garage another week. Once the box is filled, drop it off at your local thrift shop, and start a new box so you\u2019re in the habit of decluttering regularly.<\/p>\n \u2022 Tidy a Little Every Day : Sort the mail, unload the dishwasher, fold one load of laundry. Choose a few tasks to do every day that take no more than 10 to 15 minutes \u2014 rather than one marathon cleanup session on the weekend.<\/p>\n Organize the Kitchen<\/strong><\/p>\n Before organizing your kitchen, conduct a thorough inventory and purge. Toss expired food, spices, or supplies. Get rid of broken utensils. Donate items you never use but keep \u201cjust in case.\u201d Consider giving away small appliances that have been used once and now occupy prime real estate in your cupboards.<\/p>\n \u2022 Create Zones : Store baking supplies in one area, and designate another for coffee, tea, and breakfast items, for example. Store canned goods together, and dry goods like pasta, grains, and rice in another. Create a snack drawer that kids can reach themselves. Everyday dishes can be kept in a cabinet close to the dishwasher for quick and easy unloading.<\/p>\n \u2022 Adjust Your Shelves : The shelves in your cabinets are usually adjustable. Customize the shelves to different heights based on your needs, and use tiered shelf organizers to double the storage space in your cabinets.<\/p>\n \u2022 Customize Your Storage : You\u2019re not likely to find the one perfect storage solution that fits all your needs. Experiment with a blend of drawer dividers, baskets, refrigerator storage, and shelf extenders until you find what works for you.<\/p>\n Organize the Living Room<\/strong><\/p>\n The living room is often the focal point of a home. Create an inviting space by :<\/p>\n \u2022 Organize Bookshelves by Color : While not a necessity for organizing, this trick creates a look that\u2019s pleasing to the eye and has a calming effect.<\/p>\n \u2022 Designate a Home for Remotes : Find one place for TV remotes to live and return them to their home every evening.<\/p>\n \u2022 Clear off the Coffee Table : Tidy magazines and books, remove dirty dishes, wine glasses, and mugs. Remove fingerprints regularly.<\/p>\n \u2022 Store Blankets : Neatly fold blankets and drape them over a chair or sofa, or store them in baskets or in other furniture with under-seat storage.<\/p>\n Organize a Closet<\/strong><\/p>\n Does looking at your closet give you anxiety when you see clothes stuffed into drawers, spilling over shelves, and a mountain of shoes on the floor? It\u2019s time to bring some serenity to your wardrobe.<\/p>\n \u2022 Take Inventory : Pull everything out and take inventory. Clothes you haven\u2019t worn in a year or more can go into the donation pile. The 25-year-old concert T-shirt you\u2019re never going to wear for several reasons? Take a picture of it for posterity, and out it goes. Organize everything that\u2019s left into categories: tops, jeans, sweaters, workout gear, etc., and store like with like. You\u2019ll be able to see everything you have at a glance.<\/p>\n \u2022 Maximize Hanging Space : Install a second rod halfway down the closet wall to double the available space. Use baskets to organize top-shelf storage and keep seasonal clothing out of the way. Save a little rod space to hang purses and bags for easy access.<\/p>\n \u2022 File Fold Clothes in Drawers : File folding (storing items like T-shirts, for example, sideways instead of stacked in piles) not only saves space, but lets you view everything when the drawer is pulled out.<\/p>\n \u2022 Shoe Storage : Depending on the type and amount of space you have, shoes can be stored on shelves heel-to-toe to conserve space. Place shoe racks inside closets to keep shoes off the floor and prevent shoe mountains from forming. Additionally, consider extra shoe storage with a hanging shoe bag over a door.<\/p>\n