With the new year comes New Year’s resolutions. If one of your resolutions was to be more organized, we are here with some tips so you can focus on the important things this year. Continue reading for our 4 quick steps to organizing your space.
1 – Make a Plan
The starting point is always a plan. Break your organizing down into manageable steps you can work through. Start with areas or rooms, and go through them one at a time. This will prevent you from feeling overwhelmed, and build up the excitement as you complete each section. Set yourself a goal. Remember, it can be as simple as cleaning and organizing the closet, to a complete makeover with a whole new storage system.
2 – Declutter
We all have items around the house that we don’t use. Some hide in the backs of drawers, others collect dust on shelves. With your plan in hand, go through each section you laid out to find items you no longer use or need. Compile these items into a donate pile. Protip- if you are unsure, box the item up, and store it. If you haven’t gone to retrieve the item in 6 months, it’s time to donate.
3 – Find a Home for Everything
The key to an organized space, is allocating a home for everything. Once you have decluttered, the real fun begins and you can get creative. This is where your goal comes in handy. If you’re planning a full make over, it’s time to account for what type of storage you will need. Remember it’s always better to buy storage bins, baskets, bags or totes, knowing how you will use them. Design your new space with purpose, and it will feel much more Zen. There are a wide assortment of storage solutions available. With options like shelving, drawer liners, closet organization solutions, totes & bins, there is a storage solution for your aesthetic. This can seem daunting, but once all items have a home keeping organized becomes that much easier.
4 – Clean up your Digital Space
Don’t forget your computer. Most of us focus on our living space, but our digital space can become cluttered and chaotic too. Set aside some time and organize your files. Find a filing system that works for you, and be sure to back up your important files on a separate drive in the unfortunate event of a drive failure. Be sure to clean out your phone too. Go through and unload any unused apps, and be sure to back your photos up. For more on cleaning your phone, check out this blog.
Bonus – If you have a lot of old photos and mementos, consider making them into scrapbook or album, or having them scanned. This will ensure your precious memories last forever. See this blog about how our Photolab can help you digitize your old prints.
