5 Areas to Prioritize When Organizing
In our last blog we talked about whole-house organizing and what a huge challenge it can be. We identified five areas to prioritize when organizing your whole house. This week, we’ll dig into more detail about how to approach the organizing process.
First Steps When Organizing
No matter what room or space you decide to organize, there are some simple tips to help keep you on the right track:
Only tackle as much space as you can complete in the time you have available. If you try to take on more and have to leave the project incomplete, it will only make it more stressful.
Whatever space you organize, buying storage containers should be the last thing you do, when you know what’s left to organize.
The first step in any project is to remove everything that you know doesn’t belong in the space. For example, if you have a box of Christmas ornaments in your bedroom closet, but those ornaments really belong in your attic or garage, you need to get them rehoused to their proper space.
Start by Decluttering
Even after you’ve removed items that don’t belong in the space you’re organizing, you still may have some decluttering to do before you can really get started. How you approach it depends on the project. You may have a pile of laundry in the recliner in your bedroom that is technically part of your closet organizing project. You could hang everything up, or, even better, throw that pile of clothes on the bed and add everything else from the closet so that you can start sorting between what you want to keep and what you know you want to get rid of.
Tips for Organizing a Mudroom or Coat Closet
Organizing your mudroom or coat closet can decrease stress in the most stressful parts of the day – getting out the door on time and getting home and being ready to relax in a hurry. To organize the mud room, take these steps:
Group like items together, such as shoes, coats, hats, and umbrellas. This will make it easier to create designated storage areas.
Create storage solutions: Install hooks, cubbies, or a coat rack for outerwear.
Use a mud tray for holding muddy boots and shoes.
Bins and baskets are perfect for holding smaller items like hats and gloves. '
Consider using labels or color-coding to keep everything organized.
Don’t forget to take advantage of your vertical space: If you have limited floor space, use the walls for storage. Install shelves or hang baskets to store items like sports equipment or backpacks.
Bonus idea: If space allows, consider adding a bench or chairs for putting on shoes or putting down bags.
Kitchen Organizing Tips
As you choose areas to prioritize when organizing, you will most certainly include your kitchen. Organizing a kitchen can make it more functional and efficient for cooking and meal preparation. Organizing your kitchen may end up being more than one project. If you need to break your kitchen organizing project into chunks, consider making the pantry, the fridge, the spice cabinet, and the junk drawer all separate projects. Some basic tips to help you get started:
Organize your kitchen so that the things you use the most are the most accessible. Baking and holiday dishes you only use once a year should be put aside.
Do a quick run-through of your spices and food and throw away anything that is expired.
As you start to sort items, set aside duplicate items to donate to a local shelter or thrift shop.
When you’re organizing your kitchen, it’s ok to customize it to suit you. Some people want the counters to be as free of clutter as possible; others want all of the appliances lined up, plugged in, and ready to use. There’s no wrong or right – just make it work for you.
Organizing a Closet
Whether you’re organizing a clothing closet or a linen closet, the best place to start is by removing everything from the closet. Mop or vacuum the closet floor and wipe down the walls. Sort through the items you’ve removed into keep and donate piles (you may also end up with a toss it out pile). Take advantage of storage solutions like baskets and clear bins to store belts, shoes, spare wash cloths, and more.
How to Organize Your Living Room
Living rooms are often a catch-all space. Dishes get left behind from long forgotten snacks; strange items appear on tables and fireplace mantles that have just been sat down until “later.” And you may not even want to look behind your sofa or under it. (Do it anyway). If this is a room where your family spends a lot of time, your goal may simply be to maintain the room in some semblance of organized chaos where you can still live and enjoy the space and keep your favorite paperback next to your recliner. Remove the items that don’t belong, find a place for the things that do, and consider minimizing the amount of décor you keep in the room if it makes it feel cluttered or all you’re doing is dusting.
Organizing the Bathroom
No matter how big or how small it is, the bathroom is one of the areas to prioritize when organizing, The goal is often to simply make it more functional so that you can be more efficient when you’re getting ready in the morning. Depending on the number of people using the bathroom, this is an area that may require regular touchups to stay as organized as you’d like it to. Here are some tips:
Start by removing any items that are expired, unused, or no longer needed. This will make it easier to organize the items you need and use regularly.
Group like items together, such as skincare, haircare, makeup, and towels. This will make it easier to create designated storage areas.
Use drawer dividers and organizers to keep small items like makeup and toiletries organized.
Use shelves and baskets to maximize vertical space.
Consider using a shower caddy or hanging organizer to keep shower items organized.
Remember, organization is about creating systems that work for you and your household. Prioritize the areas of your home that cause the most stress and develop a plan to keep them organized over time.
Happy organizing!