5 Need-to-Know Home Organization Tricks
If you've been binging Get Organized with The Home Edit on Netflix (obsessed!) you might be looking in your cupboards and at your shelves thinking, "I can do better." That said, those ladies make it look like a breeze, and for the pros it is, but with work, kids, and day-to-day life stuff, it can be quite a daunting task. Nothing beats a 1:1 consult when it comes to home organization, but I want to share some of my high-level tricks and favorite finds to get your home in shape.
Maximize your space, but keep it in sight. This does not necessarily mean using every inch available to you. If you have a hidden corner in the back of a closet you never see, it could very easily turn into a dark hole where things only resurface on moving day. As much as you can, keep all your things visible and accessible. Only tuck away items that you know you'll revisit (hello, holiday decor).
Always consider double-duty furniture. This could mean a TV stand with an open shelf at the bottom to house baskets with toys or a pharmacy mirror that can hold your soap, perfume bottles, jewelry and a hand towel in the bathroom (such as the one I have in my powder room). Even a simple open-shelf bookcase in the kitchen can house less-used items, like serveware at the top and commonly used things like cookbooks and table linens below. You don't need the crazy organizational doo-dads to make a room work; you just need to get creative.
Build in a purging system. Don't wait until you're overwhelmed by things to think about purging items you don't use anymore. Consider keeping only an allotted number of hangers in your closet and, once they're full, donate pieces to make room for your new finds. Give your kids a "donate" basket in their rooms, and once a piece of clothing doesn't fit or they've lost interest in a toy, it can go straight to the basket. Just be sure to set a reminder on your calendar once a month to donate anything that lands in the bin.
Allocate space and then label it. If you buckle down and organize your whole kitchen one Saturday afternoon there is nothing more frustrating than finding the place in shambles again a week later. Be sure to communicate any changes you're making to your housemates and add labels so there will be no questions about where the flour lives.
Make it pretty. Maybe this is just my inner designer speaking, but I truly believe that if an organizational system isn't beautiful, you just won't bother keeping it up. What's "pretty" is going to depend on your preferences, but with all the amazing baskets, bins, labels, and shelving units on the market, there is no reason to live with a system you hate looking at. Be sure to employ this idea in each space with the end user in mind. If you're working on your kids' rooms, be sure you use colors they love. If it's your husband's closet in question, then include him in the conversation.
Here are a few of my favorite pretty organizational picks to get you inspired. If you need a set of eyes on your unique situation, then let me know! I'd be happy to chat!
From the top left: basket with leather pull | stacking canister | pencil cup | wall organizer | stacking jewelry box | clear bins | basket label | chalk label tape | bookcase | wall shelf | round basket
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