Organizing your Home for the New Year

There is nothing more exciting than starting a fresh new year filled with endless possibilities. It’s a chance to do things the way you have always dreamed of, and somehow it seems like the motivation to make it happen magically appears when the clock strikes 12 and a new year begins. If making your home organized is part of your New Years resolutions, here is exactly how to make it happen, broken down into 5 easy steps for you to follow in each room of your home. Are you ready? Your home sure is!

Make a Plan

Every successful venture starts with a plan, and getting your home organized is no exception. Gone are the days where you jot down “get organized” and wait for it to magically happen. Make a list with a plan for each room in your home, and the specific areas within those rooms that need to be organized. Be specific, including things like organize the drawers, closets, under the bed. As a bonus, even include to organize non-physical things like your phone apps and digital photos!

Toss Unused items

Once you have a clear direction of the plan you will follow, begin by going through each item and location on your checklist and toss away every item you don’t use. This will get rid of the clutter and allow you to see the things you truly have and the space that exists for them. Make two piles, trash and donation and place each item in it’s appropriate place. Whatever is clutter, trash, or isn’t essential should go in either one of these piles. Now is the time to be ruthless, so aim to get rid of as many things as possible.

Designate Spaces

Now that you’ve successfully gotten rid of all the clutter in your home, it’s time to designate specific spaces for the items that remain. Make big piles of like items, and then organize them in the room that you will most likely use them in. Depending on the room, you may also want to start a labeling system, so that things like important documents can be easily found. Make sure everyone in the house is aware of where things will be going.

Invest in Tools

There are tools out there that can help you better organize your home, and it’s good to invest in the ones that will best support your resolution and make the keeping up of it easier. For example, get a filing cabinet for your mail and important documents. Purchase extra storage like good looking boxes for toys, kitchen and bathroom items, and other miscellaneous items, and even a system to keep cord clutter down.

Make it Last

Apply these steps to every part of your home, and set a specific amount of time in which you want to accomplish them within each room. Before you know it, you’ll have the brilliantly organized home you’ve always dreamed of. From there on, the key is to make a continuous effort to keep things organized. It is important to create a feasible system that works with the time you have and lifestyle you lead. Simply make it a point to tidy up regularly, toss unused items, keep things in the rooms you have designated, and use the tools you have on hand to help you stay organized. Don’t get discouraged if at some point your house gets a little messy again, it happens to the best of us! Simply follow the steps above and get back on track.