Your home may have the space, but that doesn’t mean you should fill it with stuff. If you’re walking around in clutter, it’s time to give your humble home a deep clean.
It’s time to cut the clutter from your home. Here are the top organizing tips that every homeowner should know:
#1 Make a List of Rooms to Organize
First things first, make a list of the rooms you’re going to organize. This helps you budget your time better, especially if your home has several rooms. For each room, try to recall the exact areas that need to be decluttered. Your list should look something like this:
- Kitchen
- Pantry
- Utensil Drawer
- Refrigerator
- Master Bedroom
- Closet
- Vanity
- Ensuite Bathroom
- Living Room
- Entertainment Console
- Bookshelf
Then, you can decide where you want to start. Remember to declutter one area at a time, as attempting to organize everything at once can cause you to feel overwhelmed. You may want to start with the room that you spend the most time in, such as the bedroom or kitchen.
#2 Declutter Your Closet
When cleaning out your closet, consider following the two-year rule. Toss out clothes that you haven’t worn in over two years. This could include clothes that you’ve been saving for the “perfect occasion”, as well as clothes that you bought simply because they were on sale. Whatever your reasons are for not wearing them, it’s time to bid them farewell.
You could also take this time to color-coordinate your closet to make it look more cohesive. Professional organizers often create a ROYGBIV gradient, which stands for “red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet”. If your clothes aren’t that colorful (e.g. neutrals), you can group your clothes according to their tone.
#3 Divide Your Kitchen Drawers
Do you never know where your forks or knives are? It’s probably because your kitchen utensils don’t have a designated drawer. Make your kitchen more efficient by splitting up your utensils into categories. For instance, your whisks and measuring cups should be in the “Baking Drawer”, while your spoons and forks should be in the “Cutlery Drawer”. You can also have a separate drawer for your most-used cooking tools such as your spatulas.
While you’re at it, you may want to add drawer dividers. These let you maximize the limited space by creating smaller compartments within each drawer.
#4 Create a Catch-All
Need to take off your necklace before going to bed? Find loose change on the couch? A catch-all is a dish where you can put random things that you find around the house.
You can find catch-all dishes or trays from the local thrift store or vintage shop. You should place several catch-alls around the house, as you never know where you’ll find knick-knacks. However, these catch-alls shouldn’t be their permanent place. Remember to find room for these knick-knacks, otherwise, your catch-all will “overflow” and cause clutter.
#5 Set Up a Play Space
If you have children, you should consider setting up a designated “play space” for them. This is an excellent way to contain the inevitable clutter. Creating a play space cuts the amount of time you have to spend cleaning up after your children. Since their playthings are in one place, you no longer need to go from one room to another to collect their toys.
To create a play space, simply place a large rug in one corner of the room. Surround it with a safety gate to ensure that toys (and toddlers) don’t leave the play space. Remember to clean your rug regularly as it’s one of the common causes of mold. You could also hire a property management company to help you stay on top of property maintenance.
#6 Add a “Do-Later” Box
Got packages you need to open or mail you need to sort? A “do-later” box keeps these small items until you have the time to deal with them. Instead of spreading your stuff around the house, contain the clutter in a do-later box. Then, before the week ends, take the time to find a permanent place for these things.
To ensure your do-later box doesn’t clash with your home’s aesthetic, buy one in a solid color. You could also DIY your do-later box using an old shoebox and decorative paper.
#7 Organize Your Documents
Everyone has paper records in their home, whether it’s receipts, tax returns, medical records, and so on. It’s important to keep these documents in order so you can retrieve them easily. If you have a home office, you can designate a space for your documents. Place a filing cabinet in one corner, and use accordion folders to store your documents. By putting your paper records in one place, you’ll know exactly where to look when you need them.
#8 Get a Label Maker
You might think you know where everything is, but eventually, you’ll lose track of the things you have. And, like every homeowner, you’ll end up storing things where they shouldn’t be. Labeling your drawers, containers, etc. forces you to store things where they belong. It also helps you remember what your boxes and bins are for.
Plus, when you have people over, they’ll know where to look in case they need towels, tissues, and other things. It also prevents you from mistaking salt for sugar!
#9 Be Cohesive With Your Containers
Want to be so organized that even Martha Stewart would want to be you? Go the extra mile and get yourself sets (yes, plural) of the same containers. There’s nothing like seeing all of your spices and oats stored neatly in mason jars. To make your pantry look even more perfect, use the same storage container for each shelf. Make sure they’re all the same size, as well!
Conclusion
As you live in your single-family home, you’ll soon develop a decluttering system that works for your household. So, feel free to add your own tips to this list.
And remember, if organizing isn’t your strong suit, you can always count on a property management company like Luxury Property Care. We offer house cleaning and organizing services that’ll leave your South Florida property spotless.
Interested? Call us today at (561) 944 – 2992 or leave us a message.
