For next-level home organization, learn tried and true tips from the pros:
The principle: 80% of the clutter comes from 20% of your stuff. Identify and tackle problem categories first.
In action: If most clutter comes from paper piles, start your organizing project by sorting and filing paper stacks.
The principle: Contained storage limits mess. Bins corral items out of sight.
In action: Use rattan bins to store arts supplies in a cabinet. Toss pillows in a lidded basket in the closet.
The principle: Items should have designated storage spots.
In action: Coats always go in the front hall closet. Keys live in a dish by the door.
The principle: Remove unused stuff before reorganizing the rest.
In action: Sort books before shelving – donate unread titles. Purge your wardrobe of ill-fitting clothes before arranging your closet.
The principle: Optimize vertical real estate with shelves, racks, and hanging storage.
In action: Install a spice rack. Hang tools on a garage wall using pegboard.
The principle: Labels help identify grouped items.
In action: Label bins: “Art Supplies,” “Winter Gear,” “Sports Equipment.”
The principle: Frequently used items should be most accessible.
In action: Daily kitchen tools on the counters, weekly meal prep tools in lower cabinets, seasonal appliances like food processors in high cabinets.
The principle: Remove unused items before fitting storage to what remains.
In action: Donate extra blankets before purchasing cubbies to store linens.
The principle: Define activity-based areas in a space.
In action: Set up crafting, reading, and TV watching zones in a family room.
The principle: Put belongings back in assigned spots after using.
In action: Immediately return the hammer to the tool drawer after hanging photos.
Take inspiration from the pros to get organized like an expert. Now let’s look at popular organizing systems to try:
Organizing systems provide frameworks to structure your home. Consider these top five approaches:
Created by Marie Kondo, this system focuses on only keeping belongings that “spark joy.” Key steps include:
KonMari emphasizes emotional connection over utility. Decluttering and organization promote greater positivity and purpose.
This clothing organization method involves paring down your closet to core essentials. Followers endorse:
The capsule wardrobe minimizes clutter and decision fatigue when getting dressed.
Tiny house living requires ruthless decluttering and space efficiency. Strategies include:
Adopt tiny house principles even in bigger abodes to cut clutter.
Smart home devices can assist with organization. Useful tools include:
Tech helps eliminate excuses for disorganization!
Preset schedules encourage regular tidying and cleaning. Examples:
Planning systems promote organization by designating regular upkeep. Establish routines that suit your lifestyle.
An organizing system provides a construct to tidy within. Pick structures aligning with your priorities and personality.
Sometimes your clutter needs a seasoned pro. Consider hiring help if:
You feel overwhelmed. The sheer volume of clutter paralyzes you. A consultant provides an objective overview, plan of attack, and accountability.
You’re undergoing a major life transition. Decluttering can help mentally prepare for big changes like marriage, divorce, new babies, downsizing, or moving. Consultants efficiently sort and pack belongings.
Chronic disorganization affects your functionality. Patterns of extreme clutter, tardiness, and distraction disrupt daily life. A professional assesses underlying issues and helps establish systems.
Health problems make it difficult. Physical limitations like chronic pain, injuries, or reduced mobility may hamper organizing efforts. Consultants can do hands-on sorting, lifting, and arranging.
Sentimental items are roadblocks. Emotional attachments make it hard to declutter memorabilia and inherited possessions yourself. A compassionate outside perspective helps decide what stays and goes.
You want to curb rebound clutter. Even after an initial tidy, clutter creeps back in. Professional organizers teach lifelong habits to maintain order.
You need help merging households. Blending your organizing systems after moving in together or marriage is tricky. A consultant streamlines the process.
Your work environment needs restructuring. An unorganized office or workspace drags down performance. Organizers optimize efficiency.
Know your limits. When clutter consistently gets out of control, professional help can provide the boost you need to achieve organization zen.
Sustaining an organized home requires developing lasting habits. Here are five decluttering routines that keep chaos at bay:
Commit to deep clean decluttering session as each season changes. Box up out-of-season clothes, holiday decorations, sports equipment. Donate unused seasonal items that are past their prime.
Set aside 30 minutes per week for a quick declutter. Speed through “hot spots” like entryways, kitchen counters, and laundry rooms that attract clutter. Even small weekly declutters make a difference long-term.
Create designated “purgatory” spaces for items you’re uncertain about. For example, place questionable books in a box. Revisit it after a month. Keep only what you used.
Before bringing a new item home, pick something to donate or toss. This counters clutter creep from accumulated possessions.
Back up computer files to declutter your devices monthly. Unsubscribe from newsletters. Delete unused apps and social accounts. Organize photos into cloud albums. A tidy digital life supports physical organization.
Daily tidying plus structured maintenance prevents backsliding into cluttered chaos. Stick with a routine that fits your lifestyle.
Clutter clutter everywhere – with real psychological implications. Mess manifests stress in sneaky ways:
Visually busy spaces overstimulate. Environments crammed with stuff drain mental energy. Visual noise makes it hard to rest and recharge.
Clutter competes for our attention. Disorganized surroundings distract us from tasks requiring concentration. Messy homes correlate with procrastination and lack of motivation.
Clutter overwhelms. Too much visual stimuli triggers the release of cortisol, the primary stress hormone. High cortisol causes anxiety.
Disorder elicits feelings of frustration, embarrassment, shame and guilt. Surrounded by chaos at home breeds aggravation and low self-esteem.
Messy homes take more physical and mental effort to navigate. Energy spent compensating for clutter makes it harder to tackle goals and projects. Exhaustion sets in.
Disorganization can worsen depression symptoms. Individuals with depression often struggle to maintain tidy surroundings, then feel demoralized living in disorder. It’s a vicious cycle.
The mental strain of chronic clutter can become a self-perpetuating loop. Take back control through steady, manageable organizing habits. Your mind will thank you.
If chaos reigns, two popular decluttering approaches beckon: Marie Kondo’s KonMari method and minimalism. But which philosophy suits your home and personality?
KonMari and minimalism share common ground but take different routes to organization zen. Consider their key contrasts:
| KonMari | Minimalism |
|---|---|
| Declutters by category | Declutters by location |
| Emphasizes sparking joy | Emphasizes functional utility |
| Keeps beloved items | Strictly pares down possessions |
| Folding clothes is key | Storing simply is key |
| Perfection not required | Perfection not required |
| Magic tidying ritual | Pragmatic, iterative approach |
KonMari pros: provides sense of joy and magic to organizing; good for sentimental types
Minimalism pros: practical system; creates highly functional, uncluttered spaces
KonMari cons: time intensive to sort entirely by category; less focus on multi-purpose items
Minimalism cons: can initially be too extreme for some personalities; joy factor not central
Consider your decluttering style – methodical, pragmatic, sentimental, extreme – and choose the approach aligning best. An open-minded hybrid works too! Clutter reduction freedom comes in many forms.
Tiny apartments and cottages require strict decluttering to maximize every inch. Use these space-saving tips:
Only keep items for the current season accessible. Box up off-season clothes, gear, and decor.
Install shelves, racks, hanging rods, and bins to utilize vertical wall space.
Choose furniture that precisely fits the room – no bulky oversized pieces.
Opt for furniture like storage ottomans and folding tables that serve multiple functions.
Be ultra selective about possessions. Only keep absolute necessities that are used frequently.
Curate collections by selectively displaying a few favorites rather than an entire series.
Limit dishware and textiles to daily essentials. No need for extensive variety when space is tight.
Living small means living intentionally. Embrace minimalism and savoring multifunctional belongings. Select possessions mindfully and precisely. Small spaces still feel expansive when clutter is eliminated.
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