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What steps should you take to organize your home? There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to how to organize a home because each person and each home is unique.
While it would be nice to have a guide that tells you exactly where to store something, it doesn’t always work. I can’t tell you to store your vacuum in the laundry room if you have zero storage there. And I won’t tell you to hang your keys by the front door if you mainly use a backdoor or garage door to enter.
What I can do is give you a general step-by-step strategy to guide you through the process.
In this organizing 101 guide post, you’ll learn how to organize your home using a step-by-step format.
Step 01: Decluttering versus Organizing
Decluttering and organizing are different, although the terms are used interchangeably.
Decluttering is the process of removing excess clutter while organizing is the process of creating a system.
The two are used interchangeably because there’s a little of both going on at the same time.
In the post, How To Declutter Your Home: A 101 Guide, step 05 includes sorting similar items together and organizing items into homes. This is where decluttering becomes organizing.
To begin organizing, declutter first. Decluttering first ensures that valuable space isn’t wasted on unneeded items.
While decluttering, sort like items together. This will help you evaluate your inventory and remove duplicates. Plus, it will help you decide how much space is needed for storage and storage containers for the space.
Once you’ve decluttered, you’re ready to establish a system.
Step 02: Establish a system
Having a clear organization system is the backbone of a well-organized home. The whole point of organizing is to be able to find what you need when you need it.
Before diving into organizing, think about your daily routines, habits, and the items you use frequently. Instead of trying to train yourself to put those items somewhere else, try to rework the area to better suit your needs. Make homes for items where it makes the most sense to you so that items are returned after use.
One way to make this work is to assign zones to different areas of your home. For example, designate the kitchen as a zone for food preparation and eating, a small bedroom as a study/ library/ school zone, and a storage zone for infrequently used items. Zoning streamlines organization and prevents clutter from spreading.
Once you’ve established a system, you’ll need to be able to find your belongings. This is done by categorizing.
Step 03: Categorize your stuff
Sort your belongings into meaningful categories —in other words, groups that make sense to you. Group like items together, such as clothing by type or kitchen items by function.
In this post on how to organize a kitchen by zone, you’ll find examples of how I categorize items in each zone. For example, in the sink zone, I categorize towels, cleaning supplies, paper towels, the drying rack, colanders, fruit and veggie tools, & salad spinners.
In the post, The Best Way to Organize a Pantry with Categories, you’ll find a breakdown of categories in the pantry.
As previously mentioned, sorting items into categories allows you to see the full extent of what you have and identify any duplicates or items you no longer need. Essentially, categorizing your items saves time and money.
Storage is extremely useful in keeping items categorized together. In the next section, we’ll look at different storage solutions to purchase or DIY.
Step 04: Utilize storage
Effective storage solutions are essential for maintaining an organized home. By strategically utilizing storage, you can maximize your space and keep your belongings neat and accessible. Here are a few ideas for storage:
Wall-mounted shelves are versatile and can be installed in almost any room.
If you prefer minimal visuals, as I do, cabinets offer concealed storage.
Solid bins & baskets also provide concealed storage. If the tops are not open, however, labels are effective in getting items back into place (see the next section).
Clear plastic bins are perfect for seeing what’s inside. This is especially effective for garages, inside closets & closed cabinets, and in playrooms.
Drawer organizers keep items categorized, allowing you to see your inventory.
Over-the-door organizers and hooks maximize unused space on doors and walls.
Multifunctional furniture such as storage ottomans provide extra seating as well as hidden storage.
DIY organizers work well if you’re on a budget: Get creative and repurpose items you have on hand, like shoeboxes or mason jars for organizing drawers and shelves.
Here’s a post to guide you on how to choose storage containers: How To Choose the Right Organizing Containers
Once you’ve chosen storage, labeling ensures that items go back where they belong.
Step 05: How to organize your home with labels
Once you’ve completed the sorting and categorizing process, the next step in achieving a well-organized home is to invest in labels or containers. These simple tools are crucial in keeping your belongings in order
Labels create a visual cue for where each item belongs, making it easier for you and your family members to locate and return things to their designated spots.
When each item has its own designated container or shelf, it’s less likely to end up scattered on surfaces and countertops. By giving each item a home, you naturally prevent clutter from building up, helping you maintain a tidy and organized space effortlessly.
Labeled containers offer excellent accessibility, even for items tucked away in storage spaces. Whether it’s in the back of a closet or a high shelf, knowing exactly what’s inside a container allows you to access your belongings quickly and efficiently.
Labels can be as simple as sticky notes or as decorative as custom-made tags. Use labeling that makes sense to you and your family, especially for frequently used items.
Next, we’ll discuss how to get items back into their homes.
Step 06: Create a habit of organizing your home
Once you’ve decluttered, established systems, categorized, & labeled, the task is to get everything back into its designated spot. This step is the hardest step to implement!
The systems you’ve established should work with your current routines and habits. For example, if you’re in the habit of setting all your stuff down in a specific area when you come home, that area should be set up in a way to support that habit.
For anything new, I recommend using a series of 10-Minute Tidies throughout the day and a Nightly Reset in the evening to ensure items go back where they belong. Taking just a few minutes each day to put items away will save hours of decluttering and organizing all over again.
How to successfully organize your home
Successfully organizing your home means that you’ve created a system where you can find what you need when you need it. In order to accomplish this, follow these 6 steps:
- Declutter first
- Establish a system
- Categorize your stuff
- Utilize storage
- Label everything
- Create a habit of organizing
Sometimes a system doesn’t work the first time around. Don’t be afraid to change things around until it works. The most important thing you can do is make organizing a habit. Aside from decluttering, this is the most important step in how to organize your home.
You can download the 10-Minute Tidy Habit Tracker to help you create your organizing habit. Simply mark off the task each day and watch your habit grow!
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