Tips/Ideas for home organization?

I want a clean and oraganized home but it never seems to be that way. Any tips?

Re: Tips/Ideas for home organization?

Do you have a particular room or place that gets messy? is it paper, toys, clothing? What area do you need help with?

Re: Tips/Ideas for home organization?

I am an organizing maniac, I cannot stand chaos. I have file folders in my file cabinet for all paperwork, labeled bins for toys, shelves in my linen closet and pantry are designated for certain things so they are always easy to find, etc. The biggest thing to being organized it to make sure everything has a home, a place where it is ALWAYS stored. Whether it's a toy, a piece of paper, food, etc........if something has a designated spot there is always a place to put it away and it's always easy to find when you need it. I try not to shove anything in just any spot otherwise things get lost and become a mess. I would start by finding a home for things and then choose your means of organizing that space...............labeled bins, see through totes, draw organizers, folders, extra shelving, etc.

Re: Tips/Ideas for home organization?

I think you need to assess whether you have too much stuff or no place to put your stuff, or both!

If it's the former, I think first you need to pare down/de-clutter. I like the keep/donate/throw out system. Go through a closet, a drawer, a kitchen cabinet, a toy room, etc., and make 3 piles or bags of stuff -- one to keep, one to donate, and one to throw out. Once you have the pared down keep pile, you need to decide where to keep it (based on how often you use it -- should it go in the attic or garage, or someplace more accessible).

If you have a smaller home or lack storage, I think it helps to get creative with storage solutions... can you use storage benches or ottomans as seating, and store things in there? Can you use under the bed storage?

Just try to tackle one room, or even one drawer or cabinet, at a time, so it's not a huge overwhelming project.

But I think the key is really to develop systems for how you will keep things organized moving forward, so the clutter doesn't creep back in and destroy your efforts. Whatever the system is, it has to be do-able, so you will actually use the system! Some ideas I read about in magazines and stuff seem incredibly complicated. But i think it could be as simple as taking 10 minutes each night to put away kids' toys. Or putting newspapers in the recycling bin every Sunday night. I think these simple things can become habit quite easily and prevent the chaos from creeping back in.

Re: Tips/Ideas for home organization?

also check out Fly Lady:

www.flylady.net

She has a lot of helpful stuff on there!