7 Tips for Organizing Your Home This New Year

The holidays have ended, leaving behind presents and plenty of items that you need to find a place for at home. Thus, the new year is the perfect time for organizing your home. 

While decluttering your home seems like a daunting task, it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. This article will walk you through seven tips to declutter your home. 

1. Make a List

Before you start pulling things out of closets and cabinets, sit down and make a plan. You should think about how to organize your home methodologically. 

Consider each area that you would like to clean and declutter. Then, jot it down on paper. 

If tackling an entire room is overwhelming, break it into smaller sections. You can organize your closet, dresser, and nightstand on separate days. Doing so will help you make a more specific plan and feel ready to conquer the smaller tasks. 

2. Set Reasonable Deadlines

After you make a list of all the areas you need to declutter, set a deadline for each. Remember to provide yourself with sufficient time to finish. Doing so will make it more likely that you follow through and stick to your plan.

3. Spend Aside Some Time Each Day

After you have set your deadlines, get to work! Try working a little bit each day rather than a lot once a week. For example, 30 minutes a day adds up to 3.5 hours per week! 

As you finish areas on your list, cross them off! You will indeed feel accomplished and proud as you complete the items on your list. 

4. Separate Your Items into Boxes

As you organize, you will likely come across items that you no longer use. Instead of just throwing everything away, separate things into boxes. You may wish to designate one bin for each of the following purposes. 

Sell

If your garage is full of perfectly good items that you no longer use, try selling them. You may find that you can get a pretty penny for that new bike or set of golf clubs that you never found time to use. 

These days, there are plenty of websites that you can use to sell your unwanted items. Find a reputable one and start listing. 

Donation

Do you have clothes that you no longer use or fit? Instead of letting them go to waste in your closet, donate them to someone in need. You can do the same with toys, games, books, or anything else that you no longer find a use for at home. 

If you have trouble deciding what to keep and what to get rid of, think about how you feel when you use it. If it doesn’t make you happy, donate it. Hopefully, it will bring someone else joy. 

Recycle 

At times, we can neither sell nor donate items because of their condition. You can recycle books that are torn and tattered, electronic devices that are so old that they no longer function, and many other items. Recycling is a responsible alternative to throwing things away. 

Trash

Your trash box or pile should contain only items you cannot recycle, donate, or sell. These may be expired and used objects such as medicine, food, or cosmetics. 

5. Find a Place for Everything

Once you have fewer things taking up precious space, you can find a place for each item you have. Doing this may take some thinking and creativity. However, it is possible with the help of the following tips. 

Use Vertical Space

If your home is small, you can take advantage of wall space by adding shelves. Vertical space prevents you from piling items on counters or inside your pantry. For those who live in tiny or mobile homes, these RV storage ideas offer some great ideas as well. 

Get Drawer Dividers

For a few weeks, you can probably keep a drawer with miscellaneous items organized. However, after a while, those items start to get mixed up and jumbled around into a messy pile. 

Drawer organizers can keep all your items separated according to their kind. They are perfect for kitchen utensils and office supplies. 

Take Advantage of Your Space

Instead of using your closet floor to store your shoes, hang them on the back of the door. During the winter, you can keep your summer clothes in airtight, vacuum-sealed bags. Then, slide them under the bed or inside your large suitcases. 

6. Be Consistent with Organizing Your Home

Clutter can creep up on you quickly. It is vital to make a conscious effort to stay organized. Set aside regular time in your weekly schedule to put away items and reorganize areas starting to get messy. 

Each month, try to deep clean your home and toss the items that are expired or unused. Doing so will eliminate the need to reorganize the entire house in the future. 

7. Less is More

From time to time, you will indeed purchase new items. Be sure to find a place for these items too. If you don’t have room, it is time to get rid of some of the things you no longer want or need. 

You may wish to get rid of an item every time you buy something new. For example, if you want to purchase a new pair of pants, you should donate one pair you often don’t use. Gradually getting rid of older items will prevent your home from spilling over with clutter. 

Enjoy the Benefits of Home Organization

With the tips provided in this article, organizing your home is easy! So why not get started today?

As a result of your new organization system, your stress levels will likely decrease. You won’t lose your keys or wallet since they have their very own place at home. Plus, spending less time looking for objects will give you more time to pursue hobbies or play with your kids. 

If you want to find more tips and tricks that can benefit your lifestyle, look at our other articles!