91PORNY

Decluttering is a process rather than a destination. It's always ongoing, because life is messy. But you can set yourself up for success by making it easier to keep your home organized and clutter-free. Our room-by-room organization hacks can help you find a place for everything so that when clutter inevitably finds its way back into your life, you have places to put everything. 

Declutter Drawers

Ever searched through multiple messy drawers to find what you need? Same! Drawers are so easy to clutter up because out of sight, out of mind. We have a catch-all drawer where we toss everything that's sitting on the counter that shouldn't be, and within a few days, it's a big mess. If this sounds familiar, then your drawers might need a little decluttering help, too.  

• Make quick decluttering of drawers a monthly task.
• When you notice something is out of place or in the wrong drawer, move it right away to the proper spot.
• Love a label maker? (Who doesn't?) Great news! Now is the time to bust it out. Designate a spot for everything and label it so everybody knows where things are supposed to go. Now, nobody has any excuses for putting stuff back in the wrong spots. 
• Store silverware at an angle to get more into less space.
• Drawer dividers are an organizer's dream. It keeps everything neat and tidy.
• Stack similar items together in large drawers. For example, stack Tupperware with lids.
• Put things you use often in the front of the drawer.
• Use wooden pegs or small bins to keep things organized in deep drawers.

Related:

Clean Up Cabinets

Like drawers, cabinets can be real clutter collectors. It's easy to close away stuff in a cupboard where nobody can see it, but you'll always know the clutter is there. It gets progressively more difficult to find what you're looking for without a good organization scheme. So, when you're ready to tackle your cabinets, these organization tips can help. 

• Hang spray bottles in cabinets with a small rod. Then, they don't take up your floor/shelf space.
• Use the back of cabinet doors to your advantage. Add organizers and holders to store measuring cups or trash bags.
• Try color coordinating your linens or utensils to create a more organized cabinet look.
• Use vertical shelves in cabinets for long items like cookie sheets and technology.
• Add drawers or pull-out shelving to deep-set cabinets to keep everything within arm's reach.
• Store bulky items above your cabinets or on shelves to free up cabinet space.
• Turn your cutting boards and cutlery into wall art.
• Utilize the space on the sides of cabinets for storage by adding wall hooks.
• Place the tallest items first so they are easier to see.

Organize Bedroom & Linen Closets

If you struggle to fold a fitted sheet (guilty!), you're probably already aware of the challenges presented by closet clutter. And I don't know about you, but I've definitely been surprised to find some clothing item I completely forgot about at the back of a closet somewhere. On one hand, surprise! You have something cute that feels new to wear. On the other hand, I'd rather be able to see my clothes at a glance, so my entire wardrobe is always available to me! These decluttering tips can help you organize your closets.

• Use tiered hangers to create more room in your closet.
• Store seasonal stuff on a high shelf to keep it out of the way.
• Make all items visible and accessible with clear containers and bags.
• Consider vacuum sealing to create more space.
• Hang jeans by the belt loop.
• Group bulky items like purses and bags on shelves.
• Organize shoes by style.
• Put a dresser below hanging items in a closet to open space and be more organized.
• Divide areas to create sections for each specific item in your closet, like shoes, coats, dresses, etc.
• Make use of wall space to hang belts, hats, scarves, etc.
• Store bedding sets together by folding and placing everything in a pillowcase.
• Use baskets with labels to separate loose items like toiletries.
• Organize everything in your linen closet from top to bottom. Make items you need often, like sheets and towels, easy to access.
• Fold everything neatly in your closet to save space.
• Check towels and linens often and replace them as needed.
• Try organizing your linen space by person. Storing each person's items in a basket makes finding them easy.

Related: I Created the Ultimate Linen Closet on a Budget. Thanks, Amazon!

Bust Bedroom Clutter

Sleeping in a cluttered bedroom can feel stressful, and if you follow feng shui, then you know it may even disrupt sleep. These decluttering tips can help you turn every bedroom into the restful sanctuary it's meant to be. 

• Store large or bulky items under a bed or consider adding under-bed drawers to make use of the space.
• Use file folding for shirts and pants to make them easy to access in a drawer.

• Put pillows and other large loose items in baskets.
• Get a nightstand that can double as storage for small items.
• Use a fold-down desk to create more space.
• Have a place for dirty clothes and trash.
• Utilize a jewelry organizer.
• Use wall hooks to hang everyday items like bathrobes in easy-to-access areas.
• Try floating shelves and corner shelves to get more out of your wall space.
• Evaluate stuff and maximize your space frequently.

Organize Your Office

Office spaces can become a clutter catch-all, but having organized workspaces makes every task more pleasant and manageable. Our office clutter-buster tips can help. 

• Go digital with your financials.
• Keep hard copies in files in a lockbox.
• Use an inbox in your office for any mail or other important papers to file them later.
• Keep your desk clean.
• Build a pegboard wall to organize stuff in baskets and floating shelves.
• Shred old or unimportant papers.
• Use stackable trays to keep your desk clear of clutter.
• Have a dry-erase board on your desk for important notes to eliminate sticky notes.
• Invest in a tote organizer to take everything with you when needed.
• Turn a wall into a chalkboard calendar to keep everything straight and leave notes.

Kick Car Clutter to the Curb

If you spend a lot of time in your car, then you know how quickly it can become cluttered. These car organizing hacks can help you keep your car clean, even on road trips. 

• Put cupcake liners in cup holders to keep them clean and pull everything out easily.
• Try a remote holder on the sides of the seats to hold kids' stuff.
• Put a clear organizer on the back of the seats to hold tablets and phones.
• Keep loose change in a plastic gum container.
• Use clips on the metal headrest to hold purses.
• Keep small cleaning caddies to double as a fast-food holder.
• Organize registration, insurance, and paperwork in small binders that fit in the glove compartment.
• Use a plastic cereal container as a garbage can.
• Keep spot cleaners and wipes in the door compartment to handle small spills.

Love Your Laundry Room

If there's any room in the house that's hard to love, it's probably the laundry room unless you LOVE doing laundry (not it!). But with some simple organization and decluttering tips, you can turn your laundry room into a space you actually enjoy spending time in.

• Put a thin shelf between the washer and dryer for soaps, cleaners, and more.
• Hang a basket on the wall for lint removal to save floor space.
• Use metal shelving for hanging clothing to dry and hold bulky items.
• Attach the ironing board to the wall.
• Use a door shelf to hold lint brushes, spot cleaners, etc.
• Use a dry-erase marker to leave yourself notes on the washer and dryer about the load.
• Have clear canisters on hand to hold dryer sheets, pods, etc.
• Mount a drying rack on the wall.
• Store brooms, dustpans, and mops on hooks behind the door.
• Have a lost sock basket to find mates.
• Use a shelf as a folding table.

Related: Small Laundry Room Ideas to Make the Best Use of Your Space

Give Your Garage a Glow-Up

If you're parking stuff in your garage instead of your cars, some organization tips can help you create a space where your cars and other things can co-exist.

• Organize one area of your garage at a time.
• Make use of the ceiling to add shelves and hooks.
• Go vertical and use all the available wall space for storage.
• Try installing a track system for oddly-shaped equipment.
• Install metal shelving units.
• Rather than one big toolbox, make small tackle boxes into tool kits for specific jobs.
• Store lawn items near the door where they are easy to access.
• Create a workspace.
• Label all your containers with a dry-erase marker.
• Keep everyday items on the middle shelves.

Try Time Management for Decluttering

Part of organizing your life is . From organizing your computer to managing cleaning schedules, having a plan makes things run smoother.

• Carve out 15-20 minutes a day to keep things organized.
• Have everyone contribute to organizing. Come up with a plan and help your family find ways to stick to it.
• Make schedules for cleaning and organization that are clearly visible to everyone.
• Routinely evaluate your stuff and do a purge.
• Set goals and prioritize tasks for organizing.
• Plan to organize specific spaces daily and weekly.
• Choose one area to organize at a time.
• Organize your items by season to create a yearly schedule.
• Consistently straighten visible areas of clutter like desks, countertops, and tables.
• Don't forget to take breaks to recharge.
• Make lists of what you have and evaluate them often.
• Don't put off tasks.

More Organization Hacks for Every Room

Small details make a big difference in having an organized home. These are the organization hacks we use in our homes to keep stuff in its place. 

• Look for unused space and figure out how you can use it effectively. For example, add a coat rack to the back of a door.
• Consider putting shelves above doors and windows to make use of empty wall space.
• Hang pots and pans to give yourself more cabinet and drawer space.
• Use a shoe hanger on your bathroom door to organize all your hair tools and brushes.
• Take lazy Susans and put them all over your home for organization. For example, they work great to organize condiments in the refrigerator.
• Stick a magnet on the back of a bathroom cabinet door. It easily holds nail clippers, tweezers, and other small metal objects.
• Organize under your sink to make finding what you need simple.
• Try organizing your pantry by food type or category with transparent jars.
• Use mason jars or clear containers to keep items in the fridge organized.

Declutter Daily

We mentioned that decluttering is an ongoing task, but once everything is organized, it does get easier. These are the daily maintenance tasks necessary to help you stay organized. 

• Put things away immediately. Rather than leaving a charger or keys sitting, make it a habit to always put them away.
• Consider where a new item might fit in your home before buying it. It can also be helpful to get rid of one item for every new item that comes in.
• Make sure every item in your home has a space. If it doesn't, make one.
• Use chore organizers to ensure your whole family is on the same page with cleaning.
• Keep a donation box readily available to fill as you declutter. 
• Emotionally detach from items you don't use so they don't cause clutter. Designate one container for special items with no use.
• Purge broken items.

Organize Your Life

We know it sounds like a lot of work, but ultimately, it's worthwhile. So take a little time to organize all the things, and you'll find that once everything has a place, it's a lot easier to maintain.