Clutter accumulates in a home the longer you live there. We all have a closet, basement, attic or garage (and sometimes all the above!) that houses a plethora of items we just don't have the time, heart or energy to go through and organize. There are
plenty of ways that the average person can get organized - you just have to commit to it and choose your method. Here are a few tried a true, and some new ideas to get you started this January.
Start small: Do one room or corner at a time and you will be more productive and stay focused. Start with the floor and clear off anything there. Identify what can stay and what can go and separate into piles to give away, create storage for or re-purpose. Then move onto flat surfaces which are a magnet for papers and miscellaneous items. Sort out and throw away as much junk mail and old receipts as you can which will give you a feeling of accomplishment. We've read about the four box method where each room has four boxes. Trash, give away, keep or relocate. Every item in a room has to fall into one of those boxes which you can then deal with one at a time. For more ideas like these
click here.
5 minutes is all it takes: Designate 5 minutes a day and tackle a small project; clear a shelf, or counter space, pick up 5 things that are out of place and put them where they belong, put a load in the car to donate to charity, pull out clothes you haven't worn for a while or clear out a medicine cabinet. Do 5 minutes a day and you will start to feel the effects. For more 5 minute decluttering ideas,
click here.
One word. Pegboards: Pegboards are an organizers dream. They can be used to organize so many things from
tools to
gift bags,
hanging baskets, and
kitchen utensils. You'll be surprised how easy and affordable it is!
Clear your garage: Many of us enter the home from the garage and as such, the feeling you get when you first see it should not be one of disorganized clutter. Experts recommend you set aside a day or a weekend and get the job done in one go if you can. Go through everything; boxes that may have never been unpacked, old camping gear and yard or car parts that may be broken, rusted or useless. Check household chemicals that may be expired and may require special disposal, and toss anything you haven't used in 2 years or more. Apply the same concepts as with any other room with three or four piles (you can use tarps or chalk to designate areas) to determine where each item belongs, and soon you may be able to park in your garage like 30% of people are able to do! Need more help in the garage?
Click here. 
Repurpose: There are so many things that can be repurposed. You just need a little imagination. Spice racks can double as a
storage spot for nail polish or
books. Mason jars can store
paper cupcake liners, Lego pieces can hold cords and key fobs (how cute!), velcro can be used for practically anything, hanging fruit baskets can double as
storage for bath toys, or a toilet paper holder, and magazine racks can be screwed to the wall sideways to create a handy shelf, set on a counter top to
store baking racks,or
screwed on the inside of a cabinet door to hold your curling iron and hairdryer.
Make 2016 the year of simplifying your space and sticking to it!
How do you start your decluttering projects? Let us know on
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emailing us.
