If you’re like most people, organizing probably feels like a daunting and dreaded task, but it doesn’t have to be! Truly!

You might look at a space in your home and think, “Where do I even start?” or “Why does it feel like my space gets more chaotic when I try to organize?

If you’re like most people, organizing probably feels like a daunting and dreaded task, but it doesn’t have to be! Truly! You might look at a space in your home and think, “Where do I even start?” or “Why does it feel like my space gets more chaotic when I try to organize?

Here's the secret: Think globally, act locally. Don’t think about organizing the whole house. Don’t even think about organizing a whole room. Start small…

Pick One Small Space Within a Larger Space

Select the room you want to start with and then select the smallest space within that room. For example:

• A single dresser drawer

• The summer shirts hanging in your closet

• The first shelf of the pantry

• The top shelf of a closet

 Completely Remove All Items from the Small Space You Selected

Do not just pull out a few items you don’t want. Everything must come out! Dump the drawer, pull your summer shirts out of the closet, etc. You’re about to make decisions for each individual item.

 Sort Items into Piles

Use laundry baskets, plastic tubs, or large blankets or towels to help with sorting. Label each area for efficiency:

•  Stay – Items going back into the space

• Relocate – Items that belong elsewhere in the house

• Give – Items to donate

 Stay Items

It’s time to organize what’s left!

 Once you have decided what is staying, divide those items into smaller categories. For example:

•  Writing utensils

• Inside tools for small projects

• Miscellaneous small things

 Divide the items into categories that make sense for you and your lifestyle!

Use storage containers to keep everything in its place.  For example:

• Writing utensils go in a long, skinny tray

• Inside tools go in a wider, deeper rectangle basket

• The miscellaneous items go in a basket that matches the tool basket

You now have trays and baskets organizing your three categories in your one space.

Relocate Items

Immediately put these items where they go. Do not procrastinate. 

Give Items

When you are deciding whether you want to give items away to specific people, try to sell them online, or just put them in a bag and drop them off at Goodwill, you must be honest with yourself. Really, really honest. Are you truly going to get that box of old baby toys to the neighbor who just had a baby? Are you really going to list that sweater online and do all of the work involved in selling it? In some cases, something is valuable enough to put your time and energy into trying to recoup some of your money, but most of the time, it’s a lot of work for a little payoff and you will end up with a box full of items that you should have simply donated. My advice: DONATE IT IMMEDIATELY.

Repeat the Process

Continue working through each small space within the room, until the entire space is organized. Then, celebrate! Pat yourself on the back and reward yourself with a small treat: an iced coffee, a mud mask, an ice cream cone… a trip to Hawaii! (Small is relative.)

Tips for Staying Organized

• Everything should have a designated place. Your TV remote control might go in a tray on the coffee table or in an end-table drawer. The key is consistency.   

• Don’t put it down, put it away. When you get home, don’t put your purse down, put it away. Don’t set your travel cup on the coffee table, put it in the dishwasher.

• Storage containers don’t have to be expensive. Your storage containers don’t have to cost a fortune.   The important thing is that everything has a home.

• Sort in a way that makes sense to you. There isn’t one way to sort something. For example, books can be sorted by author, by title, by genre, by color, by size, or you can even put your books on the bookshelf backwards.

• Take breaks as needed. Did you finish sorting one drawer and need to take a break? Take a break! Your sorting stamina will grow as you get more comfortable with the process. It’s OK to stop when you want to stop, you don’t want to get burnt out, but you also need to be consistent and set a goal. One drawer a day, thirty minutes a day, whatever goal makes sense for your lifestyle.

• Let go of the guilt. You can’t keep every gift you ever receive. You probably don’t even like every gift you’ve ever received. It’s OK to let items go that you don’t love or won’t use.

• Create a permanent “Give” box. Anytime you realize you don’t need an item, or no longer want it, add it to your box. When it’s full, donate it. 

Want assistance? We’d love to help! View our services at AustinStyle.net/organizing or reach out anytime!