You Can Never Be Too Organized

Are you spending most of your time indoors during the cool winter months?  We recently blogged about getting organized after the holidays, but what if you still find yourself battling clutter in interior spaces?  There are always small projects you can take on, bit by bit, to organize household areas that are usually out of sight.

Clothes closets (and shoes!): If you’ve already donated used garments to a thrift store or charity and still find that your closet seems stuffed, pull out your shoes.  Do you need and/or wear every pair?  If not, donate pairs that are still wearable, and dispose of shoes that are worn out.  If you have footwear that has been lying around waiting to be repaired, make time to take it to a local cobbler or pedorthist.  Consider investing in a shoe organizer that will keep your shoes in place when you replace them.  The style you choose will depend on the available space and how many shoes you need to store.  Options include racks like this one available from Wayfair, and cubbie benches like this model that can be purchased through Barnes & Noble.

The Little Things: Often small items, such as sewing implements, end up scattered and disorganized in drawers.  MarthaStewart.com recommends storing sewing supplies in a three-ring binder, a tip that also can be useful for other small items.

Medications and Toiletries: Medicine cabinets and other places where medicines or toiletries are stored also can become cluttered and disorganized.  Set aside some time to pull everything out of your medicine cabinet and dispose of empty containers of toothpaste or other items.  Check expiration dates on medications and properly dispose of those that are expired or no longer in use (see this information from the FDA to learn how to properly dispose of unused medications).  Wipe the inside of the cabinet clean while it’s empty, and then replace only items that you will use.  MarthaStewart.com recommends affixing a sheet of precut galvanized steel to the interior of your medicine cabinet (using construction adhesive) so that you can install magnetic hooks that will hold scissors and a mirror. 

Yes, use hooks!  Hooks, in fact, are great organizing tools for most interior (and some exterior) spaces.  Use them to hang hats, purses, and scarves in closets, for example, or to hang sleds, ski poles and goggles in mud rooms.  You also can hang mops, brooms, and other cleaning tools on the wall of closets or hallways. 

Storage Space for Your Car: The car is another area that tends to get cluttered.  One approach is to purchase an organizer for the trunk area from the manufacturer of your vehicle, and another is to create one yourself with a storage bin or canvas carry case.  Use the organizer to store items such as an ice scraper and compact shovel, and cat litter or sand to combat snow and ice.  You also should carry a flashlight, heavy blanket, flares, warm clothing, a first aid kit, water, and protein bars in your car in case of an emergency.

Jewelry boxes: Do you avoid dealing with the mess in your jewelry box?  If so, you likely spend more time than necessary detangling necklaces and bracelets and searching for lost earrings.  Bite the bullet and place all of your jewelry on a table, then detangle everything and separate the pieces into categories.  If you have enough time, this is also a good opportunity to clean dirty pieces and eliminate tarnish.  Once your jewelry is clean and organized, place it in a jewelry box that is equipped with separators, or use divided trays at the bottom of a drawer.  Martha Stewart offers a design suggestion for jewelry trays here.

Office desk drawers:  Most of us know what it’s like to search hopelessly and impatiently for pens, pencils, or stamps when we need them.  We find ourselves picking through drawers stuffed with receipts, erasers, staplers, letter openers, stationery and numerous other items.  Sometimes it’s best to keep small office items on top of the desk, as long as you store them in good organizers.  This desk organizer available from Office Depot, for example, features three lined storage compartments, a bottom drawer for small items like change or paper clips, and even a spot for your portable electronic device.

These are just a few organizational suggestions for your home.  It takes time to get every interior space organized, so handle the project one task at a time.  Every time you can’t find something you need or come across a cluttered area, make note of it.  Then make a list of items you’ll need to organize the space, schedule an hour or two to tackle the project, and before you know it you’ll be one step closer to having an organized home.