8 Organization Hacks at Home

Organizing your home can seem daunting if you’re not the decluttering type by nature. However, even the most organized of people don’t possess magic powers—they just stick to proven habits and tricks that soon become second nature. You can, too, beginning with these 8 home organizing rules to live by.

1. Do Not Organize Junk

In other words, do a thorough decluttering and purge before you begin so you don’t waste energy and space organizing items you don’t need, use, or love. When decluttering a space, first take everything out. Then clean the space with a thorough dusting, scrubbing, or polishing. Instead of trying to decide what you should get rid of, frame the question as “What should I keep?” Touch each item, and put back only what you need and love. Have a system in place for getting rid of the rest such as a donation bin or trash bag, and dispose of them as soon as possible.

2. Start with Easier Spaces First to Gain Momentum

Your closet is a great place to start because it’s easy to figure out what doesn’t fit or look good anymore. Tackle the time-consuming or emotional areas like photographs later, after you’ve worked up confidence and experienced how great it feels when you conquer the small “wins”!

3. Keep Flat Surfaces Clear

Keeping flat surfaces clear is visually appealing and will make everything appear neater and more organized. Flat surfaces such as tables, desks, and countertops occupy a large horizontal area so they look (and feel) airy and calm when they are clutter-free. Find ways to stow most of your items out of sight, and keep those flat surfaces as clear as possible to instantly create the appearance of organization.

4. Gather and Sort First, Then Organize

Resist the urge to buy organizing supplies until you know exactly how much of an item you are storing, and where. When possible, use what you have on hand to organize first, and then purchase additional supplies only if needed.

5. Make It Attractive

If you do purchase bins and baskets, keep them neutral and classic so they fit with any decor, are easy to find, and allow you to add more if needed. When you hack something, you should paint, decorate, or arrange it in a way that it makes you happy when you see it. Make storage do double duty; for example, that beautiful basket on the shelf can be decorative, but it also can be used to stash unused remotes.

6. Give Everything a Home

The common phrase “a place for everything, and everything in its place” is a simple yet brilliant mantra for keeping your home organized. One of the biggest reasons for clutter is not knowing where to put something. Once you designate a spot for an item (or category of items), it has a home. This will help you and your family to make a habit of putting it away properly.

7. Group All the Like Items in Your Home Together

As you organize, first consolidate everything in each category so you can see how much you have, and then store those items together. For example, if you’ve stashed batteries all over your home, gather them up and keep them in one accessible spot instead. Now you know exactly what you have and where to find it each time you need it.

8. Finish Each Task

Complete each organizing project or task fully before moving on to the next one. Block enough time for cleanup, as that usually takes quite a bit of effort. Be realistic in your expectations or else you’ll burn out before you really begin.