Need some basic tips for organizing the most used rooms in your home? Here is a room-by-room checklist that will help you get started.
Bedroom
☑ Decide what you want at your fingertips and what things can be stored
☑ Go through your closet and pull out everything you have not worn in the last year and donate those items
☑ Hang like items together—group shirts together, pants together, dresses, etc.
☑ Donate to local charities or friends and family items that are still in good condition but you no longer need. Schedule a donation pick up with DonationTown.org
Kitchen
☑ Determine the flow of activity in your kitchen before you decide where to place items
☑ Things that work together should be stored together, such as baking supplies, plastic containers (with lids), pots and pans with lids, and large platters and bowls
☑ Drawer dividers are a good way to keep smaller items separated
☑ Place glasses near the sink or the refrigerator for easy access to beverages
☑ Put healthy snacks for your kids in an easy-to-access drawer or cupboard
Home Office/Den
☑ Make sure you have a good chair, good lighting and ample workspace. Without them it’s harder to be organized and effective.
☑ Keep only supplies you need on a daily basis on your desktop
☑ Assign a contained space or “in-box” for your incoming documents and only use it for items that haven’t yet been reviewed such as paper mail, receipts, and catalogs.
☑ Make a decision about what action or task you need to take with each document (including recycling) and follow through during dedicated “admin” appointments
☑ Keep the most recent papers in the front of the file. Whenever you open it, the current information will be on top.
Garage/basement
☑ Sort, purge, and then decide the proper storage containers or fixtures for the treasures that you must keep
☑ Design a floor plan for storing items and stick to it
☑ Get rid of things that don’t work
☑ Clearly label both the tops and the sides of containers
☑ Consider floor-to-ceiling possibilities for shelving, racks, stack-able drawers, hooks and pegboards, and don’t forget the rafters
REMEMBER: When you are done organizing, make sure you donate clothes, books, furniture and other household items to a local charity.
