Five Nonnegotiable Tips for Maintaining a Tidy Space, Advised by Seasoned Organizing Experts
Tackling Clutter: A Systematic Approach to an Organized Home
A neat and tidy home is a dream many of us share, but the reality often falls short due to an abundance of clutter. With approximately 300,000 items lingering in our households (as per a professional organizer's estimate in a viral 2014 LA Times article), it's no wonder our homes become disorganized.
"Consider the space your belongings occupy, the guilt that comes when letting go, and the serenity you deprive yourself of when things don't have a proper place," says Ryen Toft, founder of Simply Luxe, a professional organizing company in San Diego. "At what cost do we hold onto something? When it no longer benefits us, let it go."
If you're ready to break free from the oppressive weight of clutter and the stress it brings, here are five easy-to-follow rules from the experts:
- Place Frequently Used Items Strategically
Marissa Hagmeyer, co-founder and COO of NEAT Method, emphasizes the importance of being strategic about where you store items. "In order to create a space that works harmoniously with our clients' lives, we always position the most frequently used items in prime real estate zones, such as top drawers and reachable shelves," she says. "Any space requiring a step ladder or crouching should be reserved for less frequently used items like holiday decor, serving platters, and seasonal clothing."2. Embrace the Garage Sale Sticker Technique
Toft swears by this old-school method. "Pick up a pack of colorful stickers used for pricing items at garage sales, and place them on items you're hesitant to part with yet," she suggests. "When you use the item, remove the sticker. Return after six months, and you'll easily identify what you genuinely use."3. Don't Attempt to Clear Everything at Once
Toft recommends scheduling regular decluttering sessions and tackling one area at a time. "Schedule a recurring event in your calendar, pick a single area, and stick to it," she advises. "Short 25-minute sessions dedicated to decluttering a linen closet, old clothes in the garage, or a kitchen cabinet can be surprisingly effective."4. Implement Simple Storage Systems for Closets and Clothing
Hagmeyer suggests using file folding, a space-saving technique that provides an instant visual of all your belongings. "Stacking means only the top item is visible, requiring shuffling through the stack to access the one you need," she explains. "File folding in vertical, upright rows eliminates this headache."5. Designate Drop Zones in High-Traffic Areas
Toft suggests assigning a drop zone for each family member in high-traffic areas such as foyers and mudrooms. "A small, lidded bin for each individual helps prevent visual clutter," she advises. "Regularly going through the contents of these bins every week or two helps maintain a tidy home."
With these simple yet effective rules, you can transform your living space into a well-organized haven.
- Adopting the file folding technique for closets and clothing can help in implementing simple storage systems that provide an instant visual of all your belongings, making it easier to organize your fashion-and-beauty items.
- Decluttering your home-and-garden items doesn't have to be a daunting task; by scheduling regular decluttering sessions and focusing on one area at a time, you can effectively reduce clutter in your realsimple lifestyle.
- Picking up a pack of colorful stickers used for pricing items at garage sales and placing them on items you're hesitant to part with yet can help in the decluttering process. This method, known as the garage sale sticker technique, allows you to easily identify what you genuinely use after six months.
