How to Be More Organized: Creating Calm and Clarity in Your Home
It all starts with good intentions: “I’ll just shove this in here for now. I’ll deal with it later because the in-laws are coming in five minutes.” But later never comes, and the next thing you know, the hall closet has become stuffed with everything from coats to skis to beach towels and holiday decorations.
We get it, friend. Life gets busy, and sometimes the rush to make dinner takes priority over recycling a delivery box. So you put the box wherever there’s room. Then, when you do have time to recycle the box, you can’t find it, because it’s buried under a pile of miscellaneous items that have been dumped into the same room in a hurry. Now you have to find a better spot for those items. No wonder disorganization is overwhelming.
Now imagine your spaces are clean and organized. It just feels better thinking about it, doesn’t it? That’s because an organized home positively impacts your mental well-being, as well as your productivity and overall enjoyment of life.
Fret not friend, your besties at Elegant Simplicity Interiors are here to help you achieve that!
We believe organization is a pathway to a more peaceful and fulfilling lifestyle. Like we've said before: “Organizing is about how to make your home serve you better. This way, you can relax, recharge, and give your best to the people who matter most.”
Now let’s get you organized and create some calm and clarity in your home. You got this!
The Power of Decluttering: Letting Go to Make Room for What Matters
OK, friend, it’s time to let go of what you no longer use, love or need. By eliminating clutter, you create space for what’s important. Here’s how to do it:
Mindful Decluttering
Mindfulness is the process of remaining in the present. When you apply the practice to decluttering, you take a moment to feel whatever emotions come up as you assess your belongings. Then focus on how the objects serve you now.
To do that, identify the happiness, necessity, and sentimental value each item brings you. Ask yourself questions like:
Do I use this regularly?
Does this have a place in my home?
Can this be easily replaced?
How does this make me feel?
Do I have a duplicate?
Do I want to keep, donate, or discard this item?
Consider donating items you no longer need but are in good condition. Shelters and charities may take them. For items that are unsuitable for selling or donating, you can discard them responsibly.
Create Functional Zones
Now that you’ve decluttered your rooms (well done, you!), you probably have more space to move around in. (Doesn’t that feel better all ready?) Take a look at that space and identify which activities take place in certain areas.
By assigning specific zones for different activities, such as working, relaxing, and eating, your home begins to make sense and function more easily.
Boost each zone’s flow and function by arranging the furniture strategically. For example, if your living room is the spot for socializing and entertaining, place two couches so they’re facing each other in the center of the room to encourage conversation. And you can do simple things like, promote relaxation with throw pillows and blankets.
If you need a designated area for work productivity, consider a well-lit corner. Placing a desk or table and a chair in a corner helps prevents traffic (i.e., interruptions) from flowing through the area. A shelving unit or cabinet by the desk to hold a printer, paper, reference materials, and any other relevant items keeps them within easy reach. For extra privacy, surround the workspace with tall plants or a decorative privacy screen.
Streamline Storage Solutions
You need a place to store the items you decided to keep after decluttering. This is where you can have some fun picking out storage solutions that are both practical and look good.
Bins and baskets are great for holding categories of items, such as pets’ toys, art supplies, or hats, scarves and gloves. They’re made in a variety of materials, too, such as fabric, wicker, and clear plastic, so you can choose ones that integrate seamlessly with your home’s décor.
Shelves and other organizational tools, such as entryway hooks to hold the dog’s leash and shopping bags, and kitchen drawer dividers, are also terrific at helping you find what you need quickly.
Build Organizational Habits: Simple Steps for Lasting Change
Habits are consistent, repeatable actions that have become automatically incorporated into your daily routine. They feel effortless, and by taking effort out of the equation, staying organized becomes easy. Here’s how to get started:
Establish Routines
Establishing daily or weekly routines dedicated to staying organized can help keep you that way. The beauty of routines is they let you know what you need to do and when you need to do it, enabling you to focus on more important things. You’ll also be more efficient, and have more free time. (Who doesn’t want more of that, right?)
You can create routines for tidying up and maintaining organized spaces. Here are a few tips:
Make your bed before leaving your bedroom in the morning. Then pick up any clothes that need washing and place them in the laundry hamper before having breakfast.
Before heading to bed at night, do a walk-through of your home and do some last-minute tidying up. Pick up and put away loose items, and put dirty dishes in the dishwasher.
Use bins and baskets. Storing related items in these types of containers enables everyone in your household to find them easily and know where to put them back. It becomes automatic – your family members are being organized without even thinking about it.
Streamline tasks. If you’re heading out grocery shopping, how about going to the electronics recycling depot on the way to drop off those old laptops that have just been sitting around the house?
Adopt the One-In, One-Out Rule
For every new item that comes into your home, a similar one must go. This process allows you to maintain the amount of stuff you have, so you’re never overwhelmed with an overflowing drawer of kitchen gadgets or a closet full of unworn shoes.
If you bought a new jacket, donate the one you’ve only worn a couple of times. Brought home a new book? Donate the novel that’s been sitting on your bedside table for months but have never gotten around to reading. If you purchased a new coffee maker, give away your French press. If you received a new throw blanket as a gift, donate your old one to an animal shelter.
Digital Decluttering
So much of our day-to-day is spent on laptops and smartphones, it makes sense we have “stuff” that would accumulate on those devices, too.
You can extend your organizational practices to digital spaces, such as email inboxes, computer files, and social media accounts. Your productivity will thank you.
Look at how your files are organized. Are they scattered across your desktop with file names like abc.jpg and file1.pdf? Rename them using a clear naming convention, and create folders to keep them in, by category.
Create a filing system on your computer for documents that need to be stored.
Set up email filters to minimize the amount of spam and junk and focus on items that actually require action.
Take a few minutes to unsubscribe from email lists you don’t actually benefit from, or unsubscribe as soon as an unwanted marketing email hits your inbox.
Set up your bills on auto-pay so you have one less thing to do every month as you eliminate worry about missing a deadline or incurring late fees.
Unfollow social media accounts that no longer serve your interests or don’t bring you joy.
Check out our (shameless plug) Digital Decluttering Kit.
Designing for Organization: Creating Spaces that Naturally Promote Order
Creating spaces that promote order naturally makes staying organized a breeze. And it’s not as hard as you might think.
Hidden Storage Solutions
One great way to minimize visual clutter is by using a hidden storage solution. These include built-in cabinets, drawers, and shelving, as well as storage ottomans and side tables.
No need to rush out and buy these pieces, though. You can cleverly conceal storage within your home's existing architecture or furniture by:
Keeping your most decorative items on display on your bookshelves while adding a roller shade or curtain to hide the not-so-attractive items.
If you’re lacking storage in your kitchen, a roll-out pantry might be for you. It uses the space between your fridge and the wall, and it’s ideal for storing spices, cans, and jars.
Store out-of-season clothing, extra blankets, sheets and pillows under the bed in plastic bins.
Maximizing Vertical Space
Using vertical space with shelves, hooks, and wall-mounted organizers can free up valuable floor space and give a room a more open feel. Ahhh!
Vertical storage also draws the eye upward, making it as aesthetic as it is practical. Consider the following:
Install wall shelves to store bins, baskets, and everyday essentials. Their vertical design uses wall space efficiently, while keeping your belongings within reach.
Take advantage of the vertical space behind doors by using over-the-door organizers. They’re perfect for storing shoes, cleaning supplies, and other items you want to keep out of sight but within easy reach.
Use vertical hanging systems, such as pegboards, hooks, and racks, to hang items such as tools, kitchen utensils, scarves, and necklaces.
Vertical clothing storage options, like double-hang closet organizers, maximize your closet space and keep your clothes neatly organized.
Invest in Quality Pieces
We love quality, multi-functional furniture because it’s beautiful, extremely practical, and stands the test of time. We think you’ll love it, too!
Well-designed furniture and storage solutions are truly an investment in your home and lifestyle.
High-quality pieces are built to last, with skilled craftsmanship and materials that withstand daily wear-and-tear. And they contribute to a more sustainable and organized home environment, because you won’t have to replace them as often.
Just A Few More Thoughts On How To Be More Organized
When you create a more organized home by:
Decluttering mindfully
Establishing functional zones
Rearranging furniture and storage to suit activities
Streamlining storage solutions, and
Developing organizational habits and routines …
… maintaining an organized home becomes so much easier. And you’ll have more time for activities you enjoy, as well as positive well-being!
If the prospect of reorganizing your home still seems overwhelming, then partnering with us, (ahem *wink*), can help you create spaces that are both functional and beautiful.
Organization is a continuous process of growth and refinement, and we’re here to help you embrace this transformational journey!
That’s our rift for today, thanks for tuning in :)
And please remember, if you’re in the preliminary planning stages of your next project, let’s chat.
P.S. If you loved this article, then you’re going to really enjoy 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home.