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How to Organize
Clutter! Clutter! What a mess! Where do I start? Clutter can be overwhelming and also the cause of much chaos in your home. Here are some simple tips to get you started.
Steps
First and foremost --WRITE A TO-DO LIST -- this will be your salvation. On that list write down all the things you need to do and also the things you want to do, like exercise, get your nails/hair done, spend time over lunch/coffee with a friend, etc.
Prioritize your list in order of importance - you did not become disorganized in one short afternoon, therefore, it will take more than a day to get organize.
Assign different days to different parts of the house or decide where you want to work and when. For example - go outside, stand by your mailbox or just outside your door and open it - what is the first thing you see as you walk in - is it a pile of coats, snow boots, book bags - there, that's where you should start. Work on your entryway so that each time you walk in your house you feel a sense of comfort, not chaos.
Get pegs or hooks for your walls to hang those coats; use baskets on the floor for the scarves, hats and gloves or misc. items. Have book bags move to a location where homework will be done lined up neatly near the door so they are ready to go. Set up a place for keys, wallets, IDs, etc - maybe a bowl or a basket near the door.
Next, move on the the next thing you or your guests will see as they walk in your house - is it your family room, the play room, the home office. You can organize almost anything with little costs...ideas:
Use baskets in varying sizes to store magazines under the coffee table, stack books you've read or kids books near the couch; store small toys or collectibles in a bowl and make it your center piece; use a medium size trash can to store up to a year of magazines you like to keep, cover with a round piece of plywood, cover with coordinating or seasonal table cloth and top with a round glass... this is now a side table or a display table for a plant or pictures.
The idea is to use things which might seem out of place, be creative and come up with new ways them. Shoe boxes: great project for kids - make travel boxes to keep in the car. Have kids decorate the boxes and put in them things they'd like to do in the car, i.e. book, colors, coloring pages, a toy, maybe even a juice box and snack box for those long rides. Photo boxes- great for photos but also to organize your bills on your desk, CDs and other desk accessories, muffin pan to organize your junk drawer, the top drawer in your desk or paint it in a coordinating color and use it as an organizer on top of your desk; your old suitcases and hat boxes can be used in the bedroom to store extra blankets and out of season clothes etc.
Every time you begin working in a room come prepared with three boxes or paper bags (depending on the size of the room) - label each one to keep/file; one to give to charity; one to destroy. Don't let that keep/file bag become another clutter bag - tackle it as soon as possible. Put the Charity bag by the front or back door and take it with you when you leave - put it in the car at least. The destroy bag... really, put it in the trash.
Tips
Be prepared to throw away things you think you need but really you haven't seen in years.
Don't expect to get organized overnight.
Work in sections- pick one or two drawers or cabinets at a time, etc.
Have two stories or more? Keep a basket at the bottom and top of the stairs.
Use them to tote things up or down as you find them around the house.
Keep cleaning solution and paper towels in each bathroom - cuts down on time when cleaning after organizing.
Visit your local thrift store not only when you make donations, but also to find inexpensive articles that can help you become more organized.
Warnings
Try to use environment friendly cleaning solutions.
If you don't live alone be prepared for some griping from those who helped cause the clutter to begin with...ha ha!
Stick to that list, take breaks, spend time with friends and chat on the phone a while, the clutter wont go away...promise!
Steps
First and foremost --WRITE A TO-DO LIST -- this will be your salvation. On that list write down all the things you need to do and also the things you want to do, like exercise, get your nails/hair done, spend time over lunch/coffee with a friend, etc.
Prioritize your list in order of importance - you did not become disorganized in one short afternoon, therefore, it will take more than a day to get organize.
Assign different days to different parts of the house or decide where you want to work and when. For example - go outside, stand by your mailbox or just outside your door and open it - what is the first thing you see as you walk in - is it a pile of coats, snow boots, book bags - there, that's where you should start. Work on your entryway so that each time you walk in your house you feel a sense of comfort, not chaos.
Get pegs or hooks for your walls to hang those coats; use baskets on the floor for the scarves, hats and gloves or misc. items. Have book bags move to a location where homework will be done lined up neatly near the door so they are ready to go. Set up a place for keys, wallets, IDs, etc - maybe a bowl or a basket near the door.
Next, move on the the next thing you or your guests will see as they walk in your house - is it your family room, the play room, the home office. You can organize almost anything with little costs...ideas:
Use baskets in varying sizes to store magazines under the coffee table, stack books you've read or kids books near the couch; store small toys or collectibles in a bowl and make it your center piece; use a medium size trash can to store up to a year of magazines you like to keep, cover with a round piece of plywood, cover with coordinating or seasonal table cloth and top with a round glass... this is now a side table or a display table for a plant or pictures.
The idea is to use things which might seem out of place, be creative and come up with new ways them. Shoe boxes: great project for kids - make travel boxes to keep in the car. Have kids decorate the boxes and put in them things they'd like to do in the car, i.e. book, colors, coloring pages, a toy, maybe even a juice box and snack box for those long rides. Photo boxes- great for photos but also to organize your bills on your desk, CDs and other desk accessories, muffin pan to organize your junk drawer, the top drawer in your desk or paint it in a coordinating color and use it as an organizer on top of your desk; your old suitcases and hat boxes can be used in the bedroom to store extra blankets and out of season clothes etc.
Every time you begin working in a room come prepared with three boxes or paper bags (depending on the size of the room) - label each one to keep/file; one to give to charity; one to destroy. Don't let that keep/file bag become another clutter bag - tackle it as soon as possible. Put the Charity bag by the front or back door and take it with you when you leave - put it in the car at least. The destroy bag... really, put it in the trash.
Tips
Be prepared to throw away things you think you need but really you haven't seen in years.
Don't expect to get organized overnight.
Work in sections- pick one or two drawers or cabinets at a time, etc.
Have two stories or more? Keep a basket at the bottom and top of the stairs.
Use them to tote things up or down as you find them around the house.
Keep cleaning solution and paper towels in each bathroom - cuts down on time when cleaning after organizing.
Visit your local thrift store not only when you make donations, but also to find inexpensive articles that can help you become more organized.
Warnings
Try to use environment friendly cleaning solutions.
If you don't live alone be prepared for some griping from those who helped cause the clutter to begin with...ha ha!
Stick to that list, take breaks, spend time with friends and chat on the phone a while, the clutter wont go away...promise!
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