I feel like organization is all the rage right now. There are Netflix series solely based on organization, Pinterest and Instagram are full of photos of pantries organized by colors, and celebrities even employ people to organize their own spaces. It’s becoming very popular, and honestly, I am here for it. I love to organize and even more than that, I love the feeling I get after I organize a space. I have put together 4 tips to help you get, and stay organized in 2021.
1. Live within your space.
Have you ever heard the saying “the more space you have, the more stuff you accumulate?” In my experience I have found this to be true. It’s easy to keep things (even if they are not used anymore) if you have a spot to put it.
Our basement is finished and has become a great spot to entertain or spend time as a family. However, we have a very limited unfinished area that we are able to use for storage. I used to wonder how we will make it function for us as our family grows, but we always seem to make it work. I recently realized that it works for us because we live and store within the space that we have.
When I need to find a spot for something, I have to rearrange and a lot of times, get rid of something else. It sounds like it would be hard to just dismiss an item that you had intentionally saved, but I have found that we keep SO many things that we really don’t need. I don’t like to throw away perfectly good items, so most of the time I will offer it to someone else who I think could use it or I donate or sell it.
2. Cut the Clutter
This will be easier for those who have a larger storage space. The more storage you have, the more you can keep without it looking disorganized. But if you keep all the jeans you have outgrown (and will likely never fit into again), every paper your child has ever scribbled on, or multiple kitchen gadgets you never use, you will eventually run out of space. That is when things start looking cluttered. It is much easier to stay organized if you don’t wait until your space is out of control with things you don’t need or use anymore.
I am trying to be more intentional about what I buy. Doing this will save me a lot of time later on cleaning out drawers and closets. With less clutter, it’s easier to focus on the things that really matter to you. “Quality over quantity” and “less is more” are my mottos!
3. Find Storage Solutions
Another really helpful way I stay organized is investing in storage containers, shelving units, and utilizing a labeling system. We have found so many ways to use every available inch of storage space in our house. In our storage room and our garage, we have several shelving units that hold large plastic totes. The totes are labeled so things are easier to find. These have worked very well for us because it utilizes the space up high, which would otherwise be wasted storage space. There are dozens and dozens of different ways to organize every space in your house, and buying functional storage equipment is essential in staying organized because then everything will have a place.
4. Make it work for you
It’s no secret to those that know me that I love a clean and organized house. Something about it just makes me feel lighter, less stressed out. It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the idea of organizing your entire house, especially when you compare your house to those that you see in home design books or on Pinterest. Organize your space in a way that works for you. I try not to get too caught up in organizing things to make it look pretty (although that is a bonus), but organize to makes things function for our family.
There you have it… my biggest tips for getting and staying organized in 2021. Start small and organize your junk drawer or your kitchen spices. I would bet that you will feel so good afterwards that it will make you want to tackle your whole house. Good luck and happy organizing!
