Having a decluttered and organized space helps lower stress, saves time, and saves money. It also frees up your space and your mind, says Heather DeVouge of Make Space Organizing, based in Pictou County, N.S.
“I also have a terrible memory, so having things organized is a necessity for me,” she says, adding that her experiences after moving several times and going through the process of decluttering and downsizing convinced her that organization was essential in her home.
When it comes to getting organized, DeVouge says to start small - even if it’s just one drawer.
A lot of people put off home organization until they can do it perfectly or have just the right tools or systems, or baskets, but striving for perfection leads to procrastination, she cautions.
Organizing is an evolving process, so know that things can always be re-arranged or set up differently after you start.
For DeVouge, the two big things are:
1. Declutter first, so you're only organizing what you need. There's no sense in organizing clutter.
2. Don't buy anything (like baskets and containers) until you know what you have and where it's going.
One way to start today, says DeVouge, is to get an empty box and put it in a closet or near a door. Anything you come across that you don't want and would like to donate, put it in the box. As soon as the box fills up, put it in your trunk and drop it off at a donation centre the next time you're out. Repeat.
“This will help you get into the mind space of decluttering and help in controlling future clutter,” she says.
Tips for organizing
When it comes to organizing the items you want to keep, DeVouge offers these easy tips for repurposing everyday items:
1. Use shoe organizers in new ways - These can be hung on the back of a door or in a closet and are great for holding cleaning supplies, kid's toys, craft supplies, makeup, hair care products, electrical cords, and chargers, etc. The best ones have clear plastic pockets so you can see everything, she adds. And don't be afraid to change up the contents based on the time of year or your current needs. During the summer months, DeVouge had one with sunglasses, sunscreen, bucket hats, hand sanitizer, and flip flops. In the winter, it's used for mittens, gloves, and hats.
2. Shower curtain hooks or 'S' hooks - attach these underneath a wire shelf or on a closet rod to hang bags, umbrellas, belts, or scarves.
3. Ice cube trays - these can be used in drawers to separate beads, jewelry, or any other small items - it's cheap divided storage.
4. Sandwich or snack-sized baggies with zipper closures can be very handy in the organizing process to hold all the small items you come across (screws, coins, buttons, etc.). It's easier to pull an item out of a bag than trying to look through a messy drawer.
5. Binder clips can be clipped on the side of the table edge to hold cords. If more than one is being used, just label your binder clip ('phone', 'iPad', etc.)
6. Use the plastic ties from bread bags or some craft tape to label your cords. Write on the plastic tie or tape and then put it on the cord near the plug - no more guessing what's what.
7. Re-use items from your kitchen for organizing. Cookie tins as storage containers, soup cans to store pens, crayons, markers, and tuna cans in drawers for items like binder clips, paper clips, tacks, elastics, etc. Try cutting cereal boxes to the right size to use in drawers, and join a few together to suit your specific needs.
The big rule in organizing, says DeVouge, is that everything needs a home, and everything needs to be kept in its home.
"If you follow this rule, you will never lose anything. You will know exactly where in your home an item is," she says.
"Think about a fork. You know exactly where to find one and exactly where it goes when putting it back - when's the last time you lost your fork? Everything else can be assigned a home in the exact same way."
Simple, labelled containers will always do the trick, says DeVouge. A few container examples include one for cords, light bulbs, batteries, manuals, or any other type of content.
By removing the clutter, giving everything a home, and making sure everything is always in its home, you will save so much time looking for things and save money on replacing lost items, says DeVouge.
