Organizing - 101
Everybody wants to be organized. Sometimes the most daunting part of being organized is knowing where to start. This post will help you with the process and make it a little less overwhelming.
Organization Tip 1 - Start small
Start with a small area in your house, something that is not going to take up a large chunk of time. A great spot to start can be that junk drawer or junk shelf. In a lot of houses, this is in the entryway, in their kitchen, or home office. It is where that item goes when you just quite don’t know where to put it or to be in all honesty, when you are lazy. An area like this is easy to tackle as most of these items do in fact have a home they belong to. This should help you to regain some space and have that sense of accomplishment when you are done. Visually it will also be appealing as you should be able to discard some items as well.
Organization Tip 2 - Declutter
Often clients wonder how everything will fit back into the same space. The answer is - it doesn’t. It is important to declutter and remove items from your space so that it becomes more efficient and organized. Whether that is removing expired items from the pantry, clothes that you never wear from your closet, or kids’ toys that they have grown out of, you can declutter any room. If you are not sure if you should keep the item then ask yourself a couple of questions.
When was the last time I used this item?
When will I use it again?
Is it irreplaceable?
This should help you to understand if you should keep it or not.
A lot of times, we purchase items for convenience or because it’s the new ‘it’ item. It can make something we currently do, a bit easier or quicker. This can be especially true in the kitchen with appliances - coffee makers, instapots, crockpots, air fryers, juicers, steamers, etc. If you don’t use it enough, ask yourself if it’s worth keeping and can something else do its job?
Organization Tip 3 - Work with what works for you
Don’t try and change a habit that doesn’t need to be changed. For example if you put your keys and sunglasses down immediately after walking in the front door, then create a drop zone there for those few items. If organizing your junk draw, you notice that it is mainly stationary items, then change it to a stationary draw. If your kids are too young to hang their bathroom towels on the rack, then create some hooks which are easier to use. Sometimes it’s just re-working a current habit so that it is a more efficient system.
Organization Tip 4 - Make a system
Different systems work for different people and no 2 pantries, closets, playrooms, garages, etc are the same. What may work for one room or client may not work for the next, so finding what works for you is important. Creating a system whether it be storage bins in the pantry or a folding process in your closet will help to organize that room and in turn, stay organized. Whilst I love a good hack on the perfect fold for sheets or how to fold your shirts better, in all reality if you aren’t going to keep it up, then it’s not worth starting. The system needs to work for you and be functional as well as easy.
Organizational systems may also change as your life changes. For example, the way kids’ clothes are stored in a closet will change based on the kid’s ages. When they are infants, you may use hangers but as they get older and choose out their own clothes, hangers usually don’t work as well as they aren’t easy for little hands to navigate. Another good example is the way you store food and cutlery will change depending on if there are kids in the family and how accessible you want those items to be.
Organization Tip 5 - Label Label Label
Labels are an extremely important part of the organization process and really the last step once you have everything in its place. By labeling a bin, you are creating an intention for where those particular items go. Two of the most common areas labels are used are in pantries and playrooms. For pantries, labels play a vital role in creating ease for picking up and storing that item. Whether it is a bin labeled with baking supplies or individual herbs and spices labeled, each one is equally important. The kitchen is a fast pace area of the house and so having an easily accessible pantry, creates less stress and also less wastage. Using labels in the playroom is a great way to start your kids on the journey of being organized. If they are young, you can use pictures instead of words to describe what is stored in that particular bin.