The New Year gives you a fresh start to get to things you may have neglected. Getting organized is one of those things that takes a bit of work but can pay off instantly in peace of mind and satisfaction. You won’t have to scramble to find your keys in the morning or track down that tool you used months ago but can’t find now.
There’s no shame in being unorganized – a few of us are! Highly rated service providers tell us the most disorganized areas of the home are bedrooms, closets, and garages. The biggest contributor to clutter and disorganization? Anything on paper.
“A lot of what I hear over time has been they are very stressed, worried that with all the other things that keep them busy in life that they are getting chronically disorganized and when they are at home then don’t feel comfortable anymore they don’t like being in their space. Paper is one of the biggest issues I see," offers Carrie Bell, Professional Organizer.
I think all of us can admit to having some area of their house that is a little more cluttered then it should be, but the key here is finding out whether you can fix it yourself or whether you need to hire someone and what are the steps to get it resolved.
Organize your bedroom:
- Clear it off: Clear off and dresser tops and make a designated, exclusive spot for things like cell phone, change and keys. And then store those items there and only there.
- Extra space: Under the bed storage is great for off-season clothing or shoes. Use specially designed containers or boxes and don’t forget they’re there!
- Create extra space: Shoes can quickly take over your bedroom. Expand storage space in your closet with shelves on the floor or over-the-door, or store shoes in their original boxes on the shelves above your hanging area.
Organize your closet:
- Start fresh: Empty everything out of the closet to get a good look at what you have and what belongs in the space.
- New Shelving: Consider new shelf configurations or even additional shelves if you have the space.
- Purge: Donate or dispose of things you know you don’t use anymore.
- Color code: Keep your clothes together by color so you can find things easier. You can also do this with your accessories such as; scarves, jewelry and belts.
Can’t decide what to purge and what to keep: At the beginning of the year face all your hangers in the same direction. Once you wear an item and return it to your closet, turn the hanger in the opposite direction. At the end of the season or year get rid of any clothing where the hanger is still facing the original way.
Organize your papers:
- Junk Mail: Get rid of the junk mail right away. Don’t let it pile up.
- Bills, Bills, Bills: Sort your bills by order they are due and keep them all in the same spot.
- Store the important: Establish one place for important papers like tax returns, receipts or insurance documents. Organize them by type and date so you can find them right away.
Organize your kitchen/pantry:
- Is it expired? Throw away expired foods, including herbs and seasonings.
- Sort: Store like items together – soups, vegetables, pasta, cereal etc… so you can quickly see what you have available and what you may need more of.
- Condiments: Ketchup and mustard go together, right? Store them – and other like items – together, too.
- Start simple: If you haven’t used it in two years, consider disposal or donation.
- Group Items: Create zones by putting all garden tools together and all auto products in their own zones.
- Go vertical: If you can hang it up, do it – tools, toys and bikes are great candidates for vertical storage.
However you decide to organize make sure you first determine how you want the space to be used and how you can maintain it once it’s organized.
No task is too small or large for a professional organizer, so ask for help if you’re uncertain about how to begin or what to do to best use your space within your budget and capabilities. An organizer can do as little as pointing you in the right direction to helping you sort and re-store your belongings.
Hiring an organizer can be as little as $100 if you are having someone come out to do a consultation. The key here is knowing how much you are getting into from the beginning. And you might find, “you know what I can do it myself if someone gives me suggestions of how."
When hiring a professional organizer the first thing you want to do is make sure you’ve got a good reputable one with experience and a history of organizing. Checking with friends and family, checking Angie’s List can be a great way to find good resources. Then you need to know exactly what you are going to be getting and how much you are going to be paying. Are they just giving advice? Are they actually going to be doing the organizing? Do they bring the supplies? Do you have to take away the stuff that is getting thrown out or do they take care of it?
Angie Hicks says, "The key to
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