Keep It Simple- The Keys to Organizing Your Home
We can all use a little order in our lives. If your home has become overcrowded or you are having trouble finding what you are looking for, it may be time to reassess your organizaional skills. Creating orderly systems, and sticking to them, will produce a more pleasant living environment and even makes housekeeping easier.
Getting Started
It takes plannig to create an environment that is both harmonious and comfortable. Learning to say goodbye to those "treasures" that we rarely use or even look at may cause you some temporary separation anxiety, but the space you create will make up for the loss. It seems like a daunting task, but it can be fun and invigorating once the process begins, and it can do wonders for your spirit! Remember, being committed to getting organized also means being organized.
The Kids Room
Your kids have toys and clothing that they have outgrown. Now is the perfect time to teach them charity by helping them collect items they can donate to others.
Store toys in bins and boxes that are clearly labled so kids can put them away themselves.
Find colorful storage bins that make cleaning up as much fun as playtime.
The Closets
Sort closet items into groups. Clothes that are worn often should be the most accessible in your closet. Seasonal clothing should be packed away in storage containers and placed on top shelves that can be easily accessed as the weather changes.
Always keep your closet floor clear of shoes. Allowing them to pile up on the closet floor can limit your access and can lead to damage if the shoes are stepped on.
Keep like items together such as shirts, sweaters, pants and dresses.
Use several different storage systems including shelves, drawers, shoe cubbies and upper and lower poles to maximize space and keep items separated and organized.
The Kitchen
Group things that pertain to a particular task together. This will minimize your search and make better use of your time.
Determine the general flow of your kitchen. Keep glasses near the sink or the refrigerator.
Maximize your work space by keeping countertops clear of unnecessary items.
Consider creative storage solutions- for example, transfer spices to sleek. labeled glass tubes.
Don't make your kitchen a collection area for everything "waiting" to be put away- mail, tools, books, the kids' homework and everything else that does not belong there.
A little creativity will go a long way when you are re-organizing your space! Think outside of the box and have fun with it!
*This info was taken from a Buffini & Company newsletter from May 2008