Oksana Schak
The start of a new calendar year is a time for reflection and new beginnings. Aside from the all too common ‘get in shape’ New Year’s resolution, improving home organization tends to be up there on the list, especially after 2020 when many people had to make their spaces work harder than ever.
Not only does being organized make your day-to-day life easier to navigate, but it also decreases visual clutter and the stress that comes from being overwhelmed. Below we are sharing four helpful organizational tips for a more organized home in 2021.
- Purge unused items
The best way to stay organized and reduce clutter is to conduct a “purge” of items you don’t need. Start by taking everything out of the area you’re organizing and asking yourself when the last time was you used each item. If it’s not of sentimental value and you haven’t used it for a given period of time, it might be time to throw it away. If items are still in good condition, you can donate them to a local thrift store or nonprofit of your choosing. It can be an overwhelming process, but scheduling some time for each room in your home can make it more manageable.
- Storage pieces are your friend
Make your space work for you by investing in multifunctional furniture pieces that come equipped with stealthy, built-in cubbies, shelves, and organization features. Today’s living room often serves as a home office, casual dining space, workout area, and homework space. The secret to keeping your living room looking organized while hosting a range of activities is controlling clutter.
- Rotate items seasonally
An easy way to declutter is to minimize the number of items out at any given time. For example, use under-bed bins to keep off-season clothes tucked away, so your closet and drawers have more space. Similarly, consider a toy rotation for kids. Have one container that holds a portion of toys while leaving out only what fits in the play spaces. Then, every few months, swap the groups of toys.
- You want to buy it, but do you need it?
2020 was the year for online shopping and buying things out of boredom. It can also be hard to turn down free things from friends and family who are moving or redecorating. Before you click on the ‘checkout’ button or bring something new home, ask yourself: Where will it live? Do I have space? Is it going to improve my quality of life? Do I already have something that could fulfill the purpose of the item? You want to make sure you fill your home with things you truly love and are useful!
Do you have additional tips that have helped you keep an organized home? Let us know in the comments below.
