I've always been a little bit of a neat freak. I like things exactly where I can find them and I don't like clutter in my house.
Especially with COVID keeping us all inside for the past few months, I feel like my desire to be organized has been kicked into overdrive. If you're in the same boat as me and you're looking for some ways to get organized, I've created a guide with some of the tricks that have helped me.
Keep reading to learn my organizational tips!
5 Easy Organizing Tips
Regardless of how much space you have in your home or what your budget is, there are tons of simple ways to get more organized.
Some of these are:
Bins, Bins, Bins
Bins are my best friends. The trick here is that you don't need to get fancy with your bins. Sure, you can indulge a little and grab the fancy ones, but you don't have to. A bin is just meant to hold your stuff, so why spend more than a few dollars if you don't have to?
I've found so many of my bins from the dollar store. With this type of deal, you can organize an entire closet for less than $10! You can also buy bundles from Amazon or Walmart for around $20 for a few that all match.
If you're crafty, you can also make your own bins.
2. Go Through Your Closets and Cupboards
I know one of my biggest enemies when it comes to organizing is space. If I don't feel like I have enough space in an area where my stuff is supposed to go, I tend to get overwhelmed and just not even try.
For example, I came home with groceries the other day and my pantry was an absolute nightmare! I had random empty boxes (who else's husband finishes food and leaves the box behind?), expired food and spices, and food I tried and didn't like so it remained untouched for months.
I didn't even know where to put the food I just bought, so I had to take 15 minutes and go through the pantry. I discarded the old stuff and grouped the stuff by category (Ex: one shelf snacks, one shelf baking, one shelf pasta, etc.).
Trust me when I say a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. My pantry catastrophe was something that haunted me every time I opened the door, so tackling it head-on made finding space for new food much easier.
3. Make It a Habit to Store Seasonal Stuff
I used to just keep random Halloween, Christmas, and summer stuff all thrown in the same tiny closet until I was ready to use it. I never wanted to take the time to actually go through things and figure out what wouldn't be used for a few months.
When I bought a larger house I decided it was time to stop making excuses. I have a basement now with space specifically built for storage, so I really had no reason to keep up this chaotic cycle.
So, I invested in some large plastic containers and started sorting through the clothes from the previous season. All my sweaters, pajama pants (except for maybe one or two pairs), holiday sweaters, and reindeer onesie went into basement storage. I now keep all my holiday and seasonal decorations in a little nook in the basement where I can easily find them.
Now, I don't know if the rest of you are as lazy as I was. In my defense, I was working and in the last couple of years of school, so I had a lot on my plate. Now that I have a little more time I realize how much easier it is to just store the seasonal stuff so you aren't overwhelmed. Even if you don't have a basement or a large storage space, you can maneuver your space to be a little more organizational-friendly.
4. Store by Category
If you're more of a Type-A personality like me, having a bunch of random stuff thrown together is enough to throw you into full-on panic mode. I like my stuff to be organized according to the category so I know exactly where to find things.
For example, I have all of the drawers of my dresser organized according to what is in them. So, t-shirts, tank tops, shorts, leggings, and sweatpants all have their own place. Whether that place is one half of a drawer or an entire drawer to itself, I try not to mix my clothes.
Additionally, I have a little bin for all my socks. I use this same system for hair tools, makeup, lotion, feminine products, and basically everything else in my house, to be perfectly honest. If you want to take it a step further, add labels to your drawers or bins!
5. Set Aside a De-Cluttering Day Every So Often
Like I said before, clutter is the last thing you want if you're trying to stay organized. If you have a closet, drawer, fridge, or even a garage full of randomness, it can be overwhelming to tackle if you don't have much time.
This is why I set aside a few hours or an entire day for de-cluttering. I do this probably once every month. I just go through and toss out anything that's expired, donate clothes I'm not interested in, and recycle papers I don't need (unless the papers contain confidential information, in that case, shred it).
I find that these de-cluttering days make me feel refreshed and ready to take on the week ahead a little bit better, it's like de-cluttering the home is also de-cluttering the mind, for me at least.
A lot of people think that becoming more organized entails hours and tons of money trying to recreate those over the top Pinterest pictures. If you have the time and resources to do this, by all means, go for it! If you don't, there are still plenty of ways to practice organizing that are free or inexpensive.
Remember, no matter how daunting your organization endeavor is, you have to start somewhere. Once you get a little more organized, you'll feel so much better!