“What day is it?” we ask ourselves as we near February of the new year. We’ve finally stopped accidentally writing “2022” and put all our holiday decorations away. Our homes look somehow cluttered and bare at the same time, which is the perfect time to purge, organize, and restyle our homes while we wait for warmer days to grace our presence.
Read below for some of our favorite tips and tricks to give your home a fresh new look to go along with your New Year’s resolutions!
Get it all out in the open
This decluttering method is best done room by room, drawer by drawer, closet by closet. We also recommend only tackling one room or area at a time, possibly scheduling one or two per week to prevent overwhelm and burnout.
- Get it all out in the open: Take everything out of the cabinets, off the shelves, and off of flat surfaces.
- Organize into three piles: Keep, donate, and garbage.
- Keep only the things you are sure you will use in the future
- Using a storage tote for your donations is an easy way to transport from your home to the nearest donation center!
- Throw away anything you know is expired or can not be donated or recycled.
- Wipe down all surfaces and inside all cabinets with a multi-purpose cleaner and a clean rag.
- Put everything from the “keep” pile back in a way that makes sense to you. Put seasonal things up high and things you use daily within arms reach.
The 90/90 & 20/20 Rules
Thanks to The Minimalists, we have some handy rules that can help us downsize when we're struggling with letting go of excess clutter.
90/90 Rule: If you haven’t used it in the last 90 days and don’t plan to use it in the next 90 days, there’s a good chance you can get rid of it. With the exception of special occasion items (the suit you wear to weddings, that Christmas platter you use for cookies every year), most of these items can be donated, recycled, or thrown away. For those remaining special occasion items, try keeping them in storage totes where they can be easily located but also out of the way.
20/20 Rule: This rule applies to those “just-in-case” items that build up in unseen areas like the hallway closet, junk drawers, and pantry shelves. For the trial size shampoo you bought on vacation when your luggage got lost, the bug spray you bought but hate the smell of, or the floppy hat you got for that beach trip that got canceled. If you’re hanging on to it “just in case”, ask yourself if you can get it again for under $20 and in under 20 minutes. If the answer is yes, you can likely let it go.
Closet Organization Systems
Closet organization systems are not just for your bedroom anymore. With Organized Living, you can create the organized pantry, garage, or closet of your dreams in 4 simple steps:
1. Go to www.OrganizedLiving.com and click “start designing”.
2. Select the room and layout, enter your dimensions, and choose your finishes and customizations.
3. Print your order sheet with all Product ID numbers, then order through your local Kenyon Noble.
4. Install and start organizing!
The Clutter Basket
Utilize a decorative basket to collect random clutter throughout the day. As you see something that needs to be put away, just drop it in the basket. Every night before bed, take 5 minutes to return all items in the basket to their rightful homes. This keeps your home tidy and things where you can find them when you need them! Pro-tip: Put this basket in a high-traffic spot like the bottom of the stairs or in the living room, so you can drop those rogue toys, books, and knick-knacks as you walk by.
Small Spaces:
Unless you have a Pinterest-worthy mudroom, chances are your entryway becomes cluttered in what seems like the blink of an eye. Here are some common problems with easy solutions to make your entryway feel tidy and welcoming.
Shoes: Consider putting a shoe organizer in the bottom of your hall closet for overflow and only keep one or two pairs of shoes per family member in the immediate vicinity of the entryway. Pro-tip: make sure to tidy up any hidden storage on a regular basis, keeping the area from becoming too messy or overfilled.
Jackets: Keep only one or two seasonally appropriate jackets in your entryway. Store any off-season outerwear in storage bins or a bedroom closet, where they can be easily located when you need them.
Reusable bags: Try storing any reusable grocery bags in an easily accessible area near the door (you know if you forget these, you’re likely going to bring home plastic bags that will accumulate under the sink). Some of our favorite storage methods include folding them neatly and keeping them in a designated basket, or hanging them in a closet using a space-saving closet rod hook.
Hats and gloves: If you have shelving near the door, a decorative basket is a great way to wrangle all your winter gear and keep it from becoming an eyesore. In the warmer months, you can add these items to any seasonal storage bins.
Small Closets: Hanging closet organizers are a great way to utilize the vertical space in narrow closets. These organizers come in two standard sizes: narrow for items such as shoes or dog leashes, and wide for folded items such as blankets or sweaters.
Organization comes in many shapes and sizes, and the above is a jumping off point. Make these organizing tips fit your needs, and continue to implement throughout the year to keep your home tidy year-round.
While do-it-yourself projects can be fun and fulfilling, there is always a potential for personal injury or property damage. We strongly suggest that any project beyond your abilities be left to licensed professionals such as electricians, plumbers, and carpenters. Any action you take upon the information on this website is strictly at your own risk, and we assume no responsibility or liability for the contents of this article.