Organizing your household can seem daunting, but with the right items, it's much easier than you would think. Once you know how to divide up your storage and organization projects into manageable tasks, you may even have some fun doing it.
Start small. Start placing smaller items, such as your keys, cell phone, and MP3 player, in one designated place when you get home. Somewhere like a side table or a key rack is a perfect place. Once it's a habit, you won't have to think about it: You'll always place your items there, reducing your chance of losing them.
Get your kids in on the action. Speaking of habits, making organization a priority early in your child's life will lead to fewer messes both now and later on. Start by keeping a kid's storage system with small cubes or shelves in the play room. If you store everything in one large toy chest, your child will have to pull everything out to find the one thing he is looking for. Use smaller individual spaces to store toys and other items to help your child find what he is looking for and to keep everything else clean and tidy. Make a game of tidying up after playtime; it's never too early to help your kids create good organizational habits.
Tidy up your workspace. Having a cluttered workspace isn't just stressful to look at; it can end up costing you money. If you can't find a bill, you can't pay it, and that can end in late fees. Keep on top of your to-do list by organizing your papers with a desk organizer. Designate an area or folder for things that need to be done, like projects you need to finish or bills that need to be paid, and organize them by due date. When the items have been completed, either put them in a "completed" folder or get rid of the items entirely so they don't accumulate on your desk.
Prep your kitchen. First, if you don't already own one, try a pot rack. Pots and pans can take up quite a bit of cupboard space, and getting them out in the open will free up a lot of room. Pot racks are one of the quickest and most stylish storage solutions for kitchens. Next, focus on making the most out of the storage space you already have. Use the space on the back of doors for storage. Add smaller shelves to the bigger ones you already have to hold your spices or smaller canned goods.
Tame your closets. The trick here is to get rid of the things in your closet that you don't use anymore, so they don't continue to accumulate. When you start to clean out your closet, use three boxes: one for things to donate, one for the things you want to throw away, and one for the things to keep. Be honest with yourself as you go through your clothing and other objects. If you haven't used it or worn it in over three months and you didn't miss it, it's probably time to say goodbye. After you have your belongings pared down to the things you use, try a closet system or another type of closet storage to keep things tidy.
