Best Viewed Using Internet Explorer

In today’s fast-paced society, our homes should be a peaceful haven from the hectic world outside. For many of us, however, our homes are filled with clutter that only adds to our distress.

 

It starts out innocently enough, with just a few small piles here and there, but before we realize it, the small piles have turned into a mountain, and we’re overwhelmed by the thought of dealing with it.

 

But clearing out the clutter in your home and getting organized not only saves you time and money, it can help relieve some of the stress in your daily life and provide a more comfortable, relaxing environment for you and your family.

 

The first step in de-cluttering your home is to get rid of everything you don’t need, use or absolutely love. Tackle only one room at a time. Group the items that you want to keep into categories that can be stored together, such as office supplies, tax files, jewelry, purses, shoes, board games, CD’s, etc. You will need to find an appropriate home for storing each of them.

 

Place the items you decide to get rid of in boxes with the following labels: “toss”, “give away”, “sell”, or “move to another room”. Then quickly dispose of each box accordingly.

 

The second step is to find a home (a container, a cabinet, a drawer, a shelf or other appropriate storage) for each of the items you have decided to keep. The key for maintaining a clutter-free space is returning each item to its home after using it. Try to place the supply storage as close as possible to the area where the supplies will be used. Whether you’re moving the chest of drawers closer to your clothes closet or your books closer to your reading chair, having the supplies for any activity close to where you use them will save you time and energy. 

 

Maximize your storage units by making the most efficient use of the space. Don’t put a layer of small items in the bottom of a deep drawer; use a shallow drawer instead. Make sure the items you are storing fit the size and shape of the unit.

 

By the same token, don’t sabotage your organizing attempts by packing too many items in one drawer or cabinet so that it is difficult to remove something without having everything tumble out onto the floor. An important part of your plan to stay organized is the ability to retrieve and return items more easily.

 

Whenever possible, try not to store different types of items in the same space. In the kitchen, for example, keep baking pans in one cabinet and plastic containers in another. For even more efficiency, store the items close to where they will be used—pans next to the stove and drinking glasses next to the refrigerator. Keep this in mind when storing items in other rooms, as well.

 

When purchasing storage containers for your space, choose ones that are attractive and fit the style of décor for your room, such as baskets or fabric-covered boxes. Not only will they function as storage, they will decorate your room as well.

 

Measure the items that you will need to store, so you can purchase the correct size container for them. Also, be sure that the container you buy will fit into the space where it will be kept (bookcase, cabinet, shelf, etc.).

 

After you have cleared out the clutter, and stored all your belongings according to a logical and efficient organizing system, maintaining your clutter-free environment should be easy.  

 

Retrieving and returning your items to their designated space takes only minutes, but it is vital that you not fall back into the old habits of neglecting to put everything back in its place. It takes a lot less time to clean up each day than it does to start the organizing process all over if you allow the clutter to creep back into your space.  

 

Occasionally you will need to make a few adjustments to your organization system in order to keep up with any changes that occur. As you add new items to your living spaces, you will need to get rid of other items or create more storage space for them.

 

If your work habits or hobbies change, you might need to rearrange your activity areas and storage units to accommodate your new possessions.

 

By following these simple organizing steps, you will be able to banish the clutter from your space. You can apply them to any organizing and de-cluttering project ranging from the refrigerator to your office at work.

 

With a minimal amount of maintenance, you shouldn’t ever have to worry about clutter creeping into your life again. An organized, clutter-free space promotes a sense of order and peace—a valuable commodity in our modern chaotic world.

 

 Creative Ideas For Living Room Storage

 

• Baskets are inexpensive but effective storage containers that can also add to your décor. They can hold magazines beside your favorite reading chair or a pile of logs on the fireplace hearth. Hang them on the wall to hold magazines, mail or keys.

 

• If you’re planning to buy an ottoman, get a storage ottoman that can double as a coffee table and extra seating, as well.

 

• Skirted tables (rectangular, square or round with a floor-length table cloth) can hide a multitude of storage containers underneath.

 

• Bookcases can hold decorative boxes for storing small items in addition to books.

 

• If you need to buy bookcases, get the tallest ones your ceiling height will accommodate to get the maximum amount of storage for the least amount of floor space.

 

• Consider adding a narrow shelf around the entire perimeter of the room at door height to store books, decorative items and attractive storage containers.

 

Get more de-cluttering and organizing tips, plus creative storage ideas from Conquer the Clutter and Decorating Basics For Men Only! (both sold at left)

Visit the Blue Sage Press website for more fun how-to books and e-books about decorating, cooking, planning weddings and parties, and crafting

Click on the book covers above to order or read more about each one