One of the most popular New Year’s resolutions is to get organized, and we’re here to help! If you’ve already purged and decluttered your home for the new year, it’s time for the next step: keeping tidy by finding your best practices! We all know it’s way too easy to fall back into old patterns and re-build the mess, but not this year.
Whether you’re looking for kitchen organization tips for your rental home in Dallas, TX, want to keep your apartment in Spokane, WA closet tidy, or manage to always have clutter in your home in Cleveland, OH, we’ve got you covered. After all, ‘tis the season for making new habits and better yet, actually sticking to them.
Keep a clean kitchen
Another top resolution is cooking more (or learning to/getting better at), and what better way to get started on your goal than with a tidy kitchen?
1. Group items together
When reorganizing your pantry and cupboards, Spruced Up Maine’s Julie Clifford and Monica Robert recommend “group[ing] similar items for easy access.” For example, keep all your spices in one area or all your tea and coffee on the same shelf.
The same goes for non-food items! After you’ve thoroughly decluttered, Sarah Organizes’ Sarah Cadwell suggests “group[ing] similar items together — think baking supplies, snacks, or cooking essentials — to make everything easier to find.”
2. Find a system that works for you
Everyone has a different way of setting up their kitchen, but remember this is your space. Sarah recommends “keep[ing] your most-used tools and ingredients within easy reach, so your kitchen works for you, not against you.” After all, “A decluttered kitchen is the first step toward a more organized and stress-free home,” says Sarah.
Organize your closet
Beyond the kitchen, the closet can not only hold lots of clutter but is often in need of organization. With changing seasons and shopping trips, it’s easy for closets to become incredibly disorganized.
3. Use storage containers
After you’ve decluttered and are in the process of reorganizing, Orderly Balanced’s Barbara Tanaka suggests “Us[ing] baskets to organize scarves, hats, and gloves, and maximize your floor space with bins for larger items.” This tip is especially handy for seasonal items you don’t use often. For example, you can thrift a cute wicker basket for all of your swimsuits or use a clear bin to hold (and see) all of your belts.
4. Utilize your hangers
For ensuring you stick to your resolution of keeping your closet tidy, Clear Path’s Sarah Proctor says to turn all your hangers the opposite way – so that the hook faces out. “Throughout the year, after you wear an item, hang it back up with the hanger facing the normal way. After a year has passed, you’ll know what hasn’t been worn by the direction of the hangers,” says Sarah.
This tip is especially helpful for clothes that are harder to part with since it’s “easier to part with things when you have a visual of how long it’s been since you used them.” Consider opting for slim hangers as well to best optimize your closet space.
5. The six-month rule
Owner and lead organizer Alexis Lombardo of Sort And Sweet encourages “using the ‘six-month rule’” for ridding of items. “With a few exceptions (ie, holiday decor, skis, formalwear), if you haven’t used it, needed it, or wanted it in the last six months, it’s time to part with it,” says Alexis. Although it can be hard to part with items, keeping track of what you actually wear can be helpful when it comes time to clean your closet again.
photo courtesy of Smart Move Organizing
Commit to continuously decluttering
Decluttering is a year-long process! Here’s how to keep up with it so you don’t derail your progress from a New Year’s declutter.
6. Keep a donation box
Another great way to keep your home organized is by “keep[ing] a permanent donation box in a convenient spot, like a closet or a garage, and make a habit of regularly editing and purging items as you come across them,” says Kiki Anderson, owner of TidyBird Interiors. “By consistently adding to the box, you’ll keep your home in a state of flow, making decluttering a natural, ongoing process rather than an overwhelming event,” adds Kiki.
Regardless of what you’re decluttering, remember to “review each item and decide whether to keep, donate, trash, or recycle it,” says Kelsey Nodgaard of Smart Move Organizing, recalling the three categories method. Consider “donat[ing] unused items or expired pantry goods to free up space and give them a second life,” suggests Active Organizing’s Raphaela Calabresi. For donations, “Many donation centers offer free pick-up, so utilize this service to make this easier and with the knowledge that what you no longer need is now being used to help others,” adds Alexis.
7. Create and stick to a rule
To keep tidy, consider implementing a rule or two into your home organization ideas. A great rule of thumb for keeping organized is that “when you’re done, put it away,” says The Clutter Wiz’s Teresita de la Torre. “This is the one I struggle with in my own home,” but might work for some of you, says Teresita.
Another great method, especially for clothes, is the “one in, one out” technique. For example, if you buy a new pair of leggings, it’s time to get rid of a pair you no longer need or wear. Although this is sometimes hard to execute, consider once again setting a timer and “spend 15 minutes per day choosing a certain category to declutter ex. papers, jackets or kitchen tools,” suggests Well Kept Organizing’s Elizabeth Hardy. You could also “First look for obvious trash or damaged items, then donations, then categorize the items you are keeping by like item,” adds Elizabeth.
An organized home means an organized mind
Having an organized space can truly do wonders for your life. Although it can be difficult to commit to this resolution, the benefits are truly worth it. “Remember, decluttering isn’t just about removing excess but also about creating systems that help maintain a tidy, stress-free home,” says Raphaela. This continuous process of “Decluttering and organizing creates a more peaceful and functional home,” adds Kelsey, and believe us when we say all this work will be worth it.
