When faced with an untidy house, it’s hard to know where to start. Organizing your home can be difficult, especially when your spaces just can’t seem to stay in order. Every person has a different vision for their home, and needs can vary by room, so there isn’t a universal way to organize your home.
If you have to tidy a space over and over again, consider hiring a professional. Professionals implement long-term systems catered to your needs to keep your home tidy longer. However, if you want to have a crack at it yourself, here are some tips for organizing your home like a professional.
How to Declutter & Organize Your Home Like a Professional
Decluttering and organizing your home will improve your quality of life. Your productivity can increase, stress levels can drop, and overall health can improve. However, getting started can be daunting. Luckily for you, organizing your home doesn’t have to happen overnight.
To keep your motivation high and maintain focus, spend a day or a week on each of the following steps. If you feel yourself wavering, give yourself a break. Everybody’s organizing process will vary depending on their vision for their home. Develop a thorough vision for your home so every action can be purposeful and direct. While the process varies by room, here’s a useful guide to get started.
1. Set Goals
A successful organizational process needs a clear idea of what you wish to accomplish. Set goals to guide you in having your space exactly how you want it. Whether you want fewer items, to find things more easily, or to dedicate the room to something specific, understanding the function of a space is essential to creating a system that works for you.
Jot down your goals on a sheet of paper so you have a reference when you lose sight of your vision. Writing down your goals will help you understand what you want from your living spaces and ensure you act with a purpose throughout the process.
2. Make a Plan
Once your goals are set, figure out how to accomplish them. Make a list of every task to address and the steps to complete it. Breaking down even the simplest tasks into parts will help you visualize the process more clearly.
Include which items belong in which spaces in your plan. These items are meant to support your goal for the space, so only include those you deem necessary. A thorough plan will ensure that if you ever hit a wall, you’ll know exactly how to get back on track.
3. Declutter Your Space
The first step to successfully organizing your home like a professional is to sort your items. Focus on one room at a time and remove every item from its current storage.
Clearing out your storage and laying out your items will help you evaluate whether an item belongs in its current space, needs to be moved, or needs to be rehomed. An empty room also allows you to get an idea of any storage solutions you may want to implement, like bins or drawers.
With all your items laid out, sort and set aside everything you know you’re getting rid of. Do the same for the items you’re keeping but don’t belong in that room. This brief filter of your belongings will greatly reduce the number of items to consider when setting up your space.
Group items based on their types and whether they should be stored together. For example, if you’re focusing on an office space, you’ll likely want to group writing utensils like pens and pencils together and place tools such as staplers and hole punchers together.
Grouping items in categories will help you evaluate if you have too much of something or if some items don’t fulfill a purpose. Once items are grouped, it’s time to decide what you need.
4. Purge Your Belongings
The best way to ensure nonessentials don’t make their way back into your home is to dispose of them soon after sorting them. The longer an item stays in your home, the more likely you are to decide there’s space for it.
However, purging is the most difficult step in organizing your home. This step requires you to push yourself to determine whether you need certain items or if it’s best to let them go.
Separate your belongings into piles you plan to keep, sell, donate, or dispose of. Consider each item’s function and whether it fits your vision for the space. Ask yourself how often you use each item, how many you need, or if another item already fulfills its purpose.
Possessions with little to no use can be sold, while lightly worn items can be donated. Those that have been heavily used should be recycled. Once you have your piles, get rid of the unwanted items as soon as possible. Then, consider going through your items a second time. You’ll be surprised how many more items you part ways with.
Nixxit provides a stress-free solution to getting rid of your belongings in the Bay Area, CA. We offer pickup services to collect your items and handle them for you. We donate what we can before recycling. Sending items to the landfill is our last resort. Nixxit has the experience, resources, and know-how to donate usable items, recycle what we can, and dispose of the rest responsibly.
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5. Organize Your Space
Now, your space is ready to be filled again. Organizing your space is where your vision for the room becomes a reality. Be mindful of where you place your things and store them strategically. Items should be stored near the areas where they’ll be used, and labels will help keep storage consistent.
Steer away from overusing storage solutions. Items should be out of sight but not difficult to find. Opening a cabinet to then search a bin for an item is counterproductive. Not only will that item be much more difficult to access, but you likely won’t want to put it back, and it’ll be left out in the open.
Here’s where you implement your creative storage solutions. You can use hanging storage on your closet door, build vertically to maximize floor space, and even use the ceiling in some situations. However, remember that space does not need to be used simply because it’s available. Organizing your home should make your spaces feel more open and less stuffy.
Purging before you organize discourages you from wanting to use every inch of space available. Even a well-organized space can become overcrowded and have the opposite effect you’re aiming for. Not to mention, cleaning the space will also be more of a hassle.
6. Maintain Your Space
You’re over the biggest hurdle, and you now have a structured room, but possibly the most important step is ahead: maintenance. Organizing is never a one-time event, but with effective maintenance, you can avoid the time-consuming and demanding process you just went through.
Create a routine for each of your spaces. Think about what tasks need to be done regularly to prevent disorder. This routine can include a daily tidy-up, weekly sanitization, and yearly purge. Building healthy habits can reduce the need for a purge.
If a new item is added, donate or recycle a similar one. Smaller storage containers will curb the urge to fill them with unneeded items. Returning items to their designated storage will prevent a mess from forming. Misplacing one item can quickly lead to misplacing another, and soon, you’ll be back to square one.
Maintenance requires constant effort and may even call for a lifestyle change, but a proper plan will keep you from needing the strenuous organizing process for a long time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the 5-Year Rule for Decluttering?
The 5-year rule for decluttering states that if you haven’t used an item in five years, you likely don’t need to keep it. This rule is useful in removing functional items like clothes or kitchen utensils, but it’s less effective in letting go of sentimental items.
What Is the Golden Rule of Organizing?
The golden rule of organizing is “one in, one out.” This rule states that if you bring a new item into your home, an old one must leave. Doing so will prevent you from filling your home with clutter. Follow this rule, and you’ll be surprised at the results.
What Are the 4 Organizing Styles?
The four organizing styles are bee, butterfly, cricket, and ladybug. The bee style is for people who leave items out until they can be stored properly. The butterfly style is for people who enjoy quick and easy access to items. The cricket style is for those who favor minimalism. The ladybug style is for those who don’t like surface clutter.
Need Help With Professional Organizing in the Bay Area, CA? We Can Help.
Organizing your home like a professional is arduous but possible. Proper organization will make your life much less hectic and more peaceful. In addition, your home will be easier to clean and stay clean longer.
Nixxit makes the organizing process easier with its pickup services. We handle your nonessentials, so you don’t have to. We carry large items and even clear out entire rooms if you need a clean slate. We work with local schools, community centers, and nonprofits to ensure your items go to those in need.
Contact or visit us today to learn more about our professional organizing services.
