Pro tips to be more organized at home. ~ How I make the most out of organizing my home.

If I had a nickel for every time I thought, “If I were more organized…” I would be set up for life. So, after years of wishing, I sat down to ask myself, “How can I be more organized?” After getting deep into Pinterest and thinking on some of those well-learned lessons from mom, I started to make some changes around my home. As I began to work on my home organization, I began to realize something.

Home organization is a lot more than putting your things away nicely. Don’t get me wrong, organizing your possessions is a large part of the process. But, there are other parts as well. For example, how can you organize your things if you don’t have any time to do that? I break home organization into three different categories.

• Possessions
• Agenda
• Meals

Possessions

We are starting here because this is the place most people start with when they want to get organized. And it is a big one! There are so many components to organizing your possessions. Each one is important. Because of that, I find I spend the most time on this category. If you are wanting to organize your home, organizing your possessions is going to be vital.

6 Ways to organize your possessions

1. decluttering
2. containers
3. folding
4. categorizing
5. maximizing space
6. a place for everything

Decluttering

I struggled if I should make this its own category or not. I decided to group it in with organizing for two reasons.

• One, if you try to organize possessions you don’t have room for, you will never get fully organized. (Welcome to my daily battle.)
• Two, you are thinking about organizing every single thing you own. It is going to take time and effort. So, why waste any of that time or effort on possessions you really do not like, want, need, use, or care about?

I am not talking about a quick declutter of that closet either. When I use the word “declutter,” I mean a complete overhaul of the things you own. It will take longer than an afternoon. Much longer. I challenge you to take every single thing you own out of wherever it is being stored. Then, look at each and every item. Decide what you need to keep and what you need to get rid of. If you are anything like me, you will find a lot of things you have forgotten you have. This step is huge and time-consuming but so freeing.

So, before you start to organize, declutter. It’s important. Meghan said so.

If you need any further tips on decluttering check out my post here.

Containers

Once you have cleansed your home of all those items that are really serving no purpose and just adding to the mess, you are ready to find permanent homes for the things you love. To help you keep track of them, you are going to need containers. Now, if you want to go out and purchase new, beautiful, clear plastic containers in all sizes to store your things, please do. But, if that expense is a little too much to swallow right now, that is fine too. You can have a beautifully organized home on a budget. So, start collecting shoe boxes and other cardboard boxes. If you want them to look pretty, you can spray paint them, cover them with pretty paper, glue roping around them, cover them with fabric, the options are endless.

You are going to want containers of all different sizes from very large (for storing holiday decor, etc.) to very small (for organizing drawer space). It helps if they have clear lids so you can see inside, but as I said before, that is not always realistic. Instead, as you sort items out, place in them in the container so that everything can be seen if you take the lid off.

Label, label, label. Everything. Always. You can make cute label tags or write directly on the box. Whatever floats your boat. But make sure you can see what is in the box at a glance. If you have terrible handwriting, try using Canva to make some pretty tags with very little effort. You need next to no design experience and can just use a template if you want to.

Folding

Linens, clothing, and accessories all need to be folded as you put them away. The method you choose for folding is very important. Just like in containers, it helps if anything you put in a drawer is stored so you can see it all at a glance. Hubs and I store all of our shirts folded upright so we can see them all quickly.

Plan for your space when you fold. My mom folds her towels in thirds then in half. I fold mine in thirds then in quarters. I have tried other methods, but the thirds then quarters is the only way I can get them to fit in the space I have. You might have to play around with it a little. I know when I first started storing my shirts upright, I had to fold them three different ways until I found the way to get them all to fit.

Don’t let the process deter you. Once you know how to fold your things so they fit in your space, you will be able to easily keep up with keeping things organized in the space you have.

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Categorizing

This might seem obvious, but try to keep like objects together. Duh, Meghan! But this is still one of the most difficult steps for me because categories can be so broad. Do I want to store the random fireworks with outdoor activities or holiday decor? I don’t know. They don’t fit into a category. Should they be a category of their own? And there are only 3 little boxes, so are they even worth keeping? How did these get past the decluttering stage? So many questions! The drama keeps me going, guys.

Another factor is the very real truth of organizing. There is no one way to sort into categories. I tend to focus on two different ways. While I don’t think there is any one right way to categorize your things, I do think one of these ways is more effective than the other. First, I’ll show you two ways to categorize, then I’ll explain my preference and why.

Now that you know the two ways you can categorize, I’ll share my favorite. I prefer to categorize based on what my things are used for. It doesn’t always work out that way, but it is much simpler for me and for Hubs when all the linens are in the same space, all of our camping gear is stored together, and all of our board games are in one place. The things we have categorized in this way are more likely to be organized and put away because we both have such a clear picture of where it all goes. It means we both know where to look for things, and we can keep the items together in a convenient space. For example, glass jars in the pantry cabinet, board games in the coffee table, camping gear in a tote on the cooler.

No matter which method you choose, you will need some categories as you organize. Start to sort like with like, put it in a container, and find a storage space for it. If it is an item you use on a regular basis, store is in an easily accessible space. If it is an item you use less often, you can store it in a more difficult to get to place.

Maximizing Space

I live in cramped quarters. Sometimes maximizing space takes a little creativity. There are four keys I have found that help me the most.

• Keep surfaces clear of clutter.
• Do not keep too much stuff.
• Plan your storage.
• Put things away so that you can find them easily.

Keep surfaces clear of clutter.

Small spaces easily get jammed up with clutter. My nemeses are receipts, papers, and odds and ends, and, of course, they end up everywhere. And I will be the first to admit, it makes my home look terrible. Hubs and I really do not have a lot of space, and letting our belongings pile up in places they do not belong makes it even worse. If you can find a place for all the things that pile up, you will already make your space look much much more open. While you may not have actually given yourself more space, you made it look like you have more space. Sometimes the old saying, “Fake it till you make it.” is actually very applicable.

Do not keep too much stuff.

The second, and maybe most obvious thing, I try to do to maximize our space is get rid of stuff. Stuff, stuff here, and stuff, stuff there. We have so much and juggling what we should keep because we like and use it and what we should get rid of because it is taking up space is a constant circus. We have to constantly judge our space. When you are trying to maximize the space you have, it helps to keep only what you can easily store in the space you have. What can easily fit in your closet, and that space above the washer and dryer, and, heck, even under your bed? When you have to start getting creative with the space you have, things are close to spilling out into your living space. At this point, it is a great idea to begin to evaluate how much you have and say good-bye to the things you no longer like, need, or have space for.

Plan your storage.

A third factor to maximizing space is to think about your furniture. For us, we needed several storage options, so we have added three bookshelves, a buffet, a cabinet, and a DVD stand to our furniture. Now, that means that every single wall in our apartment has a piece of furniture against it which makes our space look slightly crowded cozy. It also allows us to put things away. Which keeps things off the floors, table, and kitchen counters. Think about the space you are in and options available. Then, create the storage you need. If you are ready to purchase new furniture, choosing options with built-in storage could be an excellent idea. Ikea has many options of couches, beds, and coffee tables that can help maximize space by providing built-in and, often, hidden storage.

Put things away so you can find them easily.

Let’s get very practical. You have stuff. So, how can you put it away so that you have the most amount of space possible? I am not going to say it is simple, but there are some things that you can try that will help you out.

~Use containers.

We have already covered this before. (jump to containers) See my container roundup for more ideas.

~Arrange storage spaces so you can see what is in them.

If you open a cabinet and can find exactly what you are looking for, you have maximized not only your space but your time as well. If you have very deep storage spaces, store items in labeled containers. If you have shallow storage spaces, arrange items so that you can see every little thing in the space as you open the door. Our goal is to easily see what is stored at a glance.

~Label everything.

Can we call this self-explanatory and move on. Put a label on every container that lists the contents. Now, let’s call this self-explanatory and move on. (product-labels) ~photos to show

~Put things in the most convenient spots.

Part of maximizing space is making it more practical. If you use the blender often, do not stick it in the back of a cabinet. But, rarely used items like holiday decor, seasonal items, or serving dishes can go waaayy back in the back of a storage area. Essentially, we are wanting to make the most out of every storage space and surface. Sometimes that means keeping it completely clear, which is how I would ideally like my kitchen counters, but sometimes it means keeping certain items out so you can easily access them. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you how to make sure they don’t look messy next.

~Find pretty storage solutions.

I used to shove all of my receipts in a file cabinet. But not as soon as I got them. No, a couple of weeks later… maybe. Until then, they were crumpled in my purse, laying on the counter, or fluttering to the floor. Then, I bought a flip-top jar from TJMaxx for a couple of bucks. It is pretty and even though it is now stuffed with receipts, it does not look like clutter. It is practical, easy, and looks cute sitting out on the shelf. So, if you want a pen caddy, find a cute one or wrap a tin can in yarn or pretty scrapbook paper. Find a cute tray for your remotes or create a command center wall. If you keep your coffee pot on the counter, arrange a tray with the coffee supplies you use every morning and your kitchen will look more like a coffee shop, which is a win if you ask me. If you are going to use the space, make it pretty.

A place for everything

It might take time to find a home for every single possession you have, but it is time well served. The old adage, “A place for everything and everything in its place.” still holds true for an organized home. Now, that doesn’t mean your children or “ahem” husband or “gasp” you will always put your things away in their place. But if everything has a place and the whole family knows where it is, it is much easier to put things away quickly when it matters. When you have lots of little things just hanging out with no place to go, it messes up the groove. It also makes tidying much more stressful and isolates each person in the family as they try to shove items with no home into any place to put them away. In the end, it doesn’t really matter anyway, because more things just end up out since the organization groundwork has not been laid.

Agenda

Your time is so valuable. And it is a limited commodity. And scarcity just drives the prices up. Which means every minute of your life gets more precious. Organizing your time will help you stay focused and complete the important tasks ultimately maximizing your productivity. Do not skip this step!  

Prioritize

As you look at your tasks for a day, analyze how important each one is. Pace your time so that the most important things are getting done first and the less important things can be moved to another day if necessary. If there is never enough time in your day, consider prioritizing your commitments so that you can move a few things off your plate. Tough choices are, well, tough, but sometimes they are a necessary step to organizing your life.

Routine

I know the word routine scares some people, but a routine can truly help organize your time. That doesn’t mean you have to eat dinner at the same time every day or always hit the gym right after work. But, by setting a routine for mundane tasks like getting ready, cleaning, or even relaxing after work, you can save yourself time and make sure all of the daily activities that you are trying to get done can be done. I have found routines to be one of the easiest ways to organize my schedule for maximum time.

Planner

I. Take. My. Planner. Everywhere. It doesn’t matter what kind of planner or calendar you use. But, please use one, unless you are one of the super-humans who can remember everything without writing it down. Then, don’t worry about it. But for the rest of us, we need a better system. Use a bullet journal, digital calendar, or yearly planner-whatever works well for you. Write down your commitments. Mark how high on your priority list they are, and use it to keep track of your life. It will come in handy when you are working on setting priorities to your time, and it can help you remember any tasks that just keep falling off your plate.

Flexibility

This is where we add a grain of salt to everything I have said about your agenda–your priorities, your routine, and even your planner. Some days don’t work out the way we plan, and we need to be ready for that. Rigidly sticking to a schedule can be more stressful than running around willy-nilly because there is a lot more guilt involved. So, be ready to skip a routine, move things around in your planner, and re-prioritize when necessary. I know I do a lot better when I am mentally prepared to be flexible. Otherwise, I try to rigidly stick to my routine and cross off every little thing in my planner. Then, I am disappointed in myself for my day not going exactly as planned, as if it ever does. While having a routine helps me maximize my time, planning on having my schedule shaken up can help me better pivot with life to accomodate all the unexpected that happens.

Meals

You have to eat. No matter how busy, no matter your diet, no matter how much you enjoy cooking. But, what in the world are you going to prepare for lunch? Every day? Seriously. Or how can you make sure you and your family are eating healthy breakfasts? Every day? Does anyone else struggle with this? My time saving, bad habit busting way is a meal plan. Setting a plan for what I am going to eat, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, helps me eat a much healthier diet, save money on groceries, and save time because I only have to shop and think about meals one time. If setting a meal plan is a little overwhelming for you, here are three hacks to help you get started.

Tried and True Meals

Start by making a list. Yes, of course, a list. Because I love ’em. This list is going to be your master copy for all of your meal planning. It is best to stick to tried and true meals for this part. You can always try new recipes and add new favorites to the list, but for now: what do you like to eat for breakfast? What are your favorite things to prepare for dinner? I make a list for each meal of the day. I even go so far to make a list of favorite snacks and side dishes.

Meal Scheduling

There are many different ways people schedule their meals.

When I first started out, I mapped out three or four weeks of meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and cycled through the weeks each month. There was a lot of prep work up front, but it made meal planning a breeze. But as I got older, and I started to try to make more healthy, clean eating meal choices, a lot of those old favorites fell out of rotation causing my old meal plan to be significantly less helpful.

One of my favorite ways is to assign each day of the week a theme. Taco Tuesday, anyone? This is a great way to stay flexible with meal planning but still provide enough structure for it to be a bit of a no-brainer. This is nice if you are just starting out on meal planning or if you don’t like to plan. For me our themes were:

• Monday: (grocery shopping day) an easy, quick dinner
• Tuesday: Hispanic cuisine
• Wednesday: a favorite recipe
• Thursday: Asian food
• Friday: Pizza or grill
• Saturday: meat and veggies
• Sunday: try a new recipe

Now, I use a mix of both methods. I use a meal bank of tried and true recipes and fill in the meal plan in my bullet journal. This has worked for me because it has a drag and drop structure and adds enough variety to our meal rotation. (Hubs cannot eat the same thing week after week without getting sick of it.) I still stick to the themed structure a little bit. But I will choose a meal based on what we want that night or who is cooking. We will still probably have at least one Hispanic and one Asian inspired meal each week, but the day they fall on varies wildly with our schedule.

The moral of the story here is to pick a method of meal planning and stick to it. I can tell you firsthand that it saves me time, money, and energy when I take the fifteen minute to plan what we are eating each week.

Meal Prep

Meal prep is not for everyone. But, it can be a major time saver. Prepping out lunches for the week or cutting all the veggies ahead of time, browning hamburger, and making bone broth can all save time and support healthier eating habits. Some people are prep powerhouses and can prep a whole month’s worth of freezer meals in a Saturday.

Meal prep doesn’t have to be for dinner only. I don’t do well prepping dinner because we use so many fresh ingredients, and I think they taste better when prepared fresh (look who’s picky now). But, I will put together smoothie packs for my breakfast, prepare individual containers of trail mix, and make a week’s worth of lunches. For me, prepping lunches, cutting veggies for a snack, and washing the fruit from our grocery run are simple steps that take less than an hour but save me a lot of time each day.

Pin it, and read later.

Organize it!

Some people are so good at organizing their home. (You know who you are, supermom.) But I have good news for you. This is not a talent like musical ability. Anyone can learn how to be more organized. It may not be easy, and I won’t promise you will not feel stressed and ask yourself why in the world you even started this journey. But, I can promise the end result will give you more space, more time, and more joy. Which is the perfect recipe for a relaxed, focused life. So, close this web browser. Put on some tunes. And start today. Because I want that for you.