A home is a sanctuary where we seek mental and physical relaxation, aiming to find peace of mind after an exhausting day. Between managing busy schedules and tending to family responsibilities, our living spaces can become cluttered without us realizing it. Maintaining tidiness and orderliness is crucial for our well-being and family harmony.
Disorganized spaces can trigger negative emotions such as irritation, restlessness, and confusion, leading to reduced productivity. The gratification of seeing an organized and clean home brings unparalleled comfort and ensures efficient access to belongings when needed.
Let us explore some ideas from experts to help you achieve the dream of a well-organized home.
1. Start with a Blueprint in Mind
Jevata Crawford from ProjectMOVE emphasizes the importance of starting with a clear vision of how you want your home to feel and look. Having a vision will define the blueprint in your mind before you start sorting and decluttering items. Visualize how each room should make you feel when you step in and what you want to see.
2. Transform Your Bedroom
The bedroom is the most crucial part of your home, where you come to rest and recharge. An organized bedroom is important to avoid stress and irritation when you step in. Follow the advice of Maia, CEO of maiorganization, by deciding on the things that make you feel at ease and bring peace to your mind.
Paint your bedroom with calming colors, purge unwanted items, rearrange furniture thoughtfully, and avoid visual clutter. Consider drop zones for daily-use items to maintain organization.
3. First, Clear the Clutter: Then, Organize with Purpose
Our closets often become cluttered as we hesitate to let go of items we don’t frequently wear. We get attached to some clothes even if they are not a perfect fit while keeping others for the coming seasons.
Following the advice of professional organizer Robyn Reynolds from Organize2Harmonize, let’s take a step towards organized closets:
i. Start by segregating your clothes into different categories, creating separate piles for each.
ii. Consider important factors like what you need, what fits you, what you actually wear, and what you love while deciding what to keep.
iii. Repeat the process for scarves, shoes, handbags, or any other accessories stored in your closet.
iv. Once you’ve sorted, put everything back in an organized manner.
v. Categorize each item and arrange them systematically by color, style, occasion, sleeve length, dress length, etc.
vi. Practice the same for shoes and folded clothes. If certain clothes have sentimental value, consider storing them in a box on a shelf or taking pictures of them and keeping them as memorabilia.
Lastly, remember the wise words of Janine Sarna-Jones, the founder of Organize Me Inc., who recommends, “Memorabilia should not take prime real estate in your closet!”
4. Clean and Organize Dresser Drawers
Stephanie, on Taylord Space, shares a home organizing mantra: “Keep, Donate, and Trash,” which applies to organizing dresser drawers. Create these three piles and ensure that each item is categorized correctly. Avoid donating items that are too worn out, and keep items that are genuinely needed. Group like items together and use drawer dividers to maximize space in each drawer. Adopt the file folding method to save space wherever possible.
Next, designate each drawer for separate items, following the steps enumerated for easy accessibility by Corliss Wood from Clutter Corrections:
i. Utilize the top drawer for frequently used items like undergarments, socks, and innerwear. Use dividers to keep them tidy and in separate sections.
ii. The second or third row of drawers can be used to store regularly worn items like tops, shorts, workout clothes, and bottoms, as they are likely to be more in number.
iii. Reserve the bottom drawers for items you rarely wear or lightweight seasonal clothing, as they are used occasionally.
People Also Read: How to Organize Dressers Like a Pro
5. Kitchen Area Organization
A well-organized kitchen makes everyday chores easy and promotes a stress-free day. Discover amazing secrets from Cheryl Wright, the owner of Simple Order Professional Organizing, to transform your kitchen into a convenient space. Following are some quick tips:
i. Begin by segregating utensils used daily and store them in the main drawer. For less frequently used utensils, consider storing them inside a cabinet or a tumbler on the counter.
ii. Apply the same principle to appliances and back-stock items. Discard unnecessary plastic cutlery packets or takeout condiments to make space for essential items.
iii. Check the expiry date of every item in your pantry. It is not necessary to decant individual items in your pantry, ingredients like baking products and dry goods that have a longer shelf life can be stored in acrylic canisters.
iv. Purchase clear canisters to monitor item quantities in your pantry effectively.
Apart from this Fatima Ly owner of Neat Organizing shared her expertise with us.
i. Use Vertical Space by installing shelves or hanging racks to store pots, pans, lids, and frequently used items, or to display cookbooks and decorative items, this will free up valuable cabinet and countertop space.
ii. Invest in cabinet organizers like pull-out shelves, lazy susans, and pull-down racks to maximize the use of the cabinet space.
iii. Install adjustable dividers in your drawer to customize the storage for different types of utensils and gadgets
iv. Attach over the door organizer or spice rack to store small items and spices.
Adapt these tips to your specific needs and kitchen, regularly declutter, and maintain to keep your kitchen organized and efficient.
6. Make Your Home Office the Temple of Productivity
Professional organizer Stacey Flood of Stacey’s Organizing Solutions offers organizing suggestions to enhance your home office’s functionality and efficiency.
i. Place a small desk lamp designed for your workspace on your table to ensure ample light while working, reducing eye strain.
ii. Use desk organizers to keep writing supplies, notepads, paper clips, and other items in an orderly manner.
iii. Keep minimal items on your desk so that it doesn’t look overcrowded.
iv. Designate an area for charging your electronics.
v. Consider investing in a small file cabinet or filing system to maintain an organized home office appearance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, transforming your home into a serene, orderly sanctuary is achievable with the right mindset and steps. Remember to start with a clear vision, embracing organization in each room from the bedroom to the kitchen and home office. Leverage expert tips to guide you through decluttering, organizing, and maintaining tidiness.
Remember to approach the process one step at a time, understanding that organization isn’t a one-time task, but rather a lifestyle change. With consistency and dedication, you’ll not only have a well-organized home but also a more peaceful and harmonious life.
Now, start your journey towards an organized home and embrace the tranquility that it brings!