HOME ORGANIZATION IDEAS
THE “WHY” OF AT HOME ORGANIZATION
Have you ever asked yourself “what is the purpose of at home organization”? It is definitely a question worth asking since home organization takes time and effort.
Four years ago I lived in a 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom house that I had raised my kids in and spent many happy years occupying. When things pared down to just my daughter and myself, we made a move…to a house 1/4 the size. Since my kids had left a ton of stuff behind when they moved out I had to get rid of things.
I held two garage sales, gave a ton of stuff to the thrift store, and filled two large garbage containers with stuff we no longer needed.
It was a ton of work, but when we moved into our new house, I had gotten rid of enough stuff to still have room on my shelves.
And that felt GREAT!
My shelves have gotten a little fuller (not sure how that happened!) and I am ready to do it again. The feeling of living in a home that is not stuffed with “stuff” feels too good to not change things.
Hopefully, my experience and input will help you get your home in order as well. I have included a free ORGANIZED HOME CHECKLIST. Scroll down to get yours!
So, let’s talk about the “why” of at home organization!
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- The house looks nice: When your home is organized it simply looks good! It looks clean (even if you are a little late getting to cleaning) and nicely decorated. Even the nicest houses look cluttered and unkept when paper piles and scattered things dominate.
- An organized space is a peaceful space: An organized home brings a feeling of calm. Clutter has been linked to depression as it is hard to do things when you are feeling down. It is a downward spiral since the clutter just makes you feel worse, right? This alone is a great reason to organize and declutter your house a little at a time. Not only will it look better, but you will feel better!
- Things have a place/home: Don’t you hate not being able to find things? Items that are not in their “home” take time and energy to locate. Once your home is organized the baking pans, the shampoo, and the fresh towels are all in their place. And that makes them easy to find which makes your life easier and your chores faster. Be sure to add pretty baskets and containers to your organizing plan since it adds to your home decor!
- You make space for nothing or something new: Getting rid of the old allows you to either have shelves with lots of space on them or shelves with room for new things. For me, one of the best spaces to clean was my craft room. It was so nice to get rid of outdated craft supplies and fabric and make space for new things. Honestly, it is been quite fun to restock my shelves with goodies!
IDEAS FOR HOME ORGANIZATION
Let’s talk about home organization tips for each area inside your home:
- Living areas: These areas are usually simple and quick! You will need to focus on keeping flat surfaces (like coffee tables) clear of junk but keep the pretty stuff. Get rid of papers and all extra items that need to find a “home”. Set up zones such as a toy zone, a craft zone, or a reading zone. Having items in their zones helps to keep the look uncluttered and organized.
- Kitchen/Dining space: The kitchen will probably be the most “work heavy” space in your home since we all tend to have excess items we never use. Most likely, you don’t need two or three spatulas or numerous baking dishes. Empty all of the cupboards and drawers out on a table or island and sort through the goods. Keep as much as you need and get rid of the rest!
- Bathrooms: Clutter likes to live in the bathrooms! This is another space where taking it all out of the cupboards and drawers is necessary. Sort through it all and put back only what you need. Organize items according to their use such as hair products, manicure goods, and medicines.
- Bedrooms: Honestly, my bedroom is almost always organized and tidy. I like to have one room in my house that is a sanctuary and that looks beautiful. Make your bedroom a place to find rest and relaxation. When you walk into it at night I want you to feel peaceful.
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TIPS ON HOME ORGANIZATION
- Make a list: This step is SO CRUCIAL!!! Get all of the areas and things you want to organize on paper. Yes, it is going to be long! But as you start working you will check things off and have a visual reminder of your progress. You will also know “what’s next”. I find that lists help me get it all out of my head (where it seems very overwhelming) and onto paper where things are attainable and actionable. Download the Organized Home Checklist from my Resource Library.
- Divide the list: If you have other people living in your house (husband, kids, roommate), divide the list among them. Getting organized does not have to be a one-person job. And, yes, the kids and the hubby can help. They just need direction.
- Set a timer: Pick some time each day to FOCUS on your home organization ideas. You pick how much time is needed each day, each, week, each month. Some of us like to get it all done in one shoot. Not me, I like to divide big jobs into little pieces.
- 15 minutes per day: This is my timer limit when it comes to big jobs that entail things I don’t necessarily like to do. Fifteen minutes is SO DOABLE and it adds up to 1-3/4 hours per week. You can get a ton done in that amount of time.
- Keep it/Give it away/Throw it away: Make three piles. One pile is stuff to keep. You will need to figure out where these items go and where they will stay. In other words, give them a home. The “give it away pile can go to friends or a thrift store. These are useful items you don’t want anymore. And the throw-away pile can go in the trash. Those three piles deal with every item in your home.
- Put away what you get out: This is the new rule going forward. When you take an item out to use, put it away when you are done with it. Don’t leave it out to put away later, as this will creates new piles of junk.
I hope that my ideas for home organization are helpful to you! Downloading the Organized Home Checklist will get you started on your own at home organization.
Remember that the hardest part of a job is starting. It gets easier as you go along and you will be quite pleased once your home is organized!
Looking for more home organization ideas? Try these:
Weekly Meal Planning
How To Be Productive At Home
How To Master Your Cleaning Schedule
Be sure to email me with any questions or leave me a comment on this post.
Happy organizing!
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