Written by Antione Blue

Many people say they feel stressed when their home is disorganized. Trying to keep up with a demanding work schedule, home life and children’s activities, leaves one very little time to think, let alone keep your house in an organized state. With papers lying around, kitchen cupboards unable to close, books falling out their shelves, and clothes lying over chairs, how can one not feel stressed and overwhelmed? Disorganization in your home can cost you precious family time, space, energy, and money. If you’re always mislaying things or constantly searching for important items, it’s time for some good home organization .

Holding onto unnecessary stuff is often an emotional issue. There’s a long list of reasons why clutter can be hard to throw out. Just as we carry emotional baggage that is difficult to let go of, our lives can become filled with material objects that we feel compelled to hold on to. Many people are not even aware of how many ‘things’ they own, and how many of their possessions add no value to their lives. They consciously hold on to material objects, because this makes them feel secure. We get a lift when we are down by doing some ‘retail therapy’ but, more often than not, the high we experience is short-lived and we end up with yet another useless item. It’s important to remember that disorganization in your home did not happen overnight, and it will take some time to create the organized home you want.

There is a misconception that organized people spend a great deal of time keeping their homes neat and uncluttered. The fact is they probably once had too much clutter in their homes, and found a way to get organized. Not everyone is taught to be neat and organized, although if you are a neat freak and live with a messy person – it can drive you out of your mind! Taking control of the clutter in your home may seem like a daunting task, but if you do it slowly, one room at a time, you will become organized. And remember there are no short cuts! The job needs to be done properly, and you need to be ruthless.

The first thing you need to do is sort through your clutter – not just rearrange it. Get some large boxes, garbage bags, a permanent marker pen and adhesive tape. Start in one room, e.g. the kitchen, and mark two boxes: one box for things you don’t need, but could sell, and one to donate to charity. The garbage bag is for items that are to be thrown out. Get rid of expired cooking and baking ingredients, torn or worn linen, and chipped cups and glasses.

Once the junk is out of the room, you will be amazed at how much space you are left with. The same system can be used for the bedrooms. Many of us hang onto clothes that do not fit, or were bought on impulse, never to be worn. Sort them into the boxes (as per the kitchen) and throw out worn or torn clothes. They say “if you haven’t worn it for a year, get rid of it.” If your clothing cupboards are small and you’re pressed for space, pack shoes in clear plastic boxes. These are a great because not only can you see your shoes, you can stack the boxes. Also make use of under-bed storage containers to store towels and linen.

A good home organization requires also your family members to get involved. If you have children, get them involved in the home-organizing project. Let them sort out their old clothing and tell them how grateful an underprivileged child would be to have some of their old toys. An excellent way to save space in a child’s room is to get two or three plastic shelves on rotating wheels. They can be used to store clothes, toys or books and can be easily moved when cleaning. The room will look neat and uncluttered.

Throw out all those broken and useless electronic goods and appliances that people tend to hang onto. If you have a garage, fit shelves across the roof beams to store bicycles, paint and garden tools. A tall storage cabinet is also ideal for the storage of tools and equipment. Store sports equipment on shelves. Again, you will be amazed to see how much space is left, and now you can even park the car! Once you have your home well organized, you and your family need to make sure that each one plays a part in keeping it that way. Children must be responsible for keeping their bedrooms neat and free from clutter.

Simple tasks like tidying up and putting every item back where it belongs will inspire you and your family to keep your home looking fantastic!