Tips and Tricks for Getting and Staying Organized at Home

The new year is a perfect time for turning over a new leaf by gaining control of your home.  A well-organized home can help you feel calmer, more productive, more focused, and more in control. 

And, while you may not be planning to list and sell your house anytime soon, believe me — you will so glad you have a well-organized, pared down house when the time comes.  (And we’d love to help you elevate your home to sell when you’re ready.)

To get you started, here are a few things you can do:

1. Get Your Ducks in a Row…

Assess your house and take inventory of the areas you want to organize.  Make sure you have large bags on hand as well as crates or boxes for unwanted things.  If you are planning to donate furniture and need it picked up, it’s a good idea to find donation recipients in your area who will come and pick up furniture. 

If you are planning to use a consignment or re-sale shop for clothing or household items, it’s a good idea to scout those out and find out what their policies and procedures are for bringing in items.  Do you need an appointment?  Are they currently taking items? 

2.  Slow and Steady Wins the Race…

 If you wake up one day and declare that you’re going to declutter the entire house that day, chances are you’ll end up feeling overwhelmed and give up by lunchtime.  Purging and organizing takes time, and it is best accomplished little by little.

Tackle your spaces room by room, drawer by drawer, and closet by closet.  Make three piles - Trash, Donate/Sell, and Keep.  Bag up the Trash and Donate/Sell items and put the Keep items back. Everything you keep should have a designated home…a place in a closet, a drawer, a pantry, and so on.  

3.  Say Goodbye to Someday…

We’ve all hung on to something under the misguided assumption that we might need it “someday.”  “Someday” can be the obstacle to getting your house decluttered and organized.  It’s high time to say goodbye to “someday.” 

If that day does finally arrive and you no longer have the item, you can always buy it again, borrow it, or find an alternative.  The general rule of thumb is that if you haven’t used something or worn something in the last year or two (I’ll give you two), chances are you never will.  

Having an organized home is a gift that just keeps on giving.  While it takes work to maintain, you’ll be able to think and focus more clearly, have less stress, and feel less overwhelmed when everything is in its rightful place.  Make 2024 your year to finally get your space in order!

If you’d like to explore the possibilities for transforming your space with a professional, we’d love to help. Reach out to us here and let’s connect.

Until next time,
Barb