There are some simple steps on how to organize your home in 30 days, and by addressing them one by one, you can create a system that not only works in your life, but that you can keep as well.
“Making a home look beautiful is the easy part,” says Kia Stanford, interior designer and founder of Kia Designs. “Keeping it that way is not the case.” It’s all well thought of things like kitchen storage ideas, but add kids or dogs to the mix and goodwill often goes out the window. So how can we design our spaces in a way that encourages organization? And how can design reduce those mental barriers to being tidy?
We asked organizational expert, author, and TV presenter Daily Carter to give us the steps for a simple 30-day program, a month of triage that lasts all year…and beyond.
How to organize your home in 30 days
(Image credit: James Merrill)
1. Start by grouping the items together
“Organizing your home is really simple—it’s just about making sure everything is grouped together and in the right place,” says Daley. “First, get out of your house and come back to it with a notebook and pen and try to figure out how each room has deviated from the original view, and what you need to do to get it back that far.” Look at the living room ideas you had when you decorated as a useful starting point. “We won’t see what to do until we take a step back.” Dailey says. “You may want to write a list of 30 areas to deal with, prioritizing the area that most impact your life.”
2. Start in the bedroom
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Deli says bedroom storage ideas are the perfect place to start the practical work. “If the whole house is crowded, start with the bedrooms, because sleep is our most important commodity,” she says. The questions to ask are: Do you love him? Do you need it? Is it purposeful?
3. Wait 15 minutes every day for 30 days
When you’re hoping to organize your entire home, it’s best to break tasks down into small parts. “I recommend doing a daily 15-minute challenge,” Daley says. You’ll likely end up doing it longer, but the 15 minutes seem achievable and give you that initial boost. You have to be in the right frame of mind to handle this.
4. Focus on small areas
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Getting rid of clutter can be overwhelming, and it’s better to really focus on a very small space — one drawer, for example, rather than worrying about how to organize the kitchen. “If you’re feeling hopeless, try starting with very small things,” Daley suggests. “For example, a cutlery drawer – to make you feel better.”
5. Turn your attention to other family members
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“Toys and clothing are the biggest problems in most homes, as we tend to have a lot of both,” says Deeley, and recommends kids’ toy storage ideas be the place to focus next. Watch what your kids are playing with and try rotating their toys so there are fewer things in their space. Educate your children about the value of donating their toys – wouldn’t it be a good idea to give them to a family in need or a children’s hospital? Children will donate it if they think it will help another child.
6. Now look at every room – still for 15 minutes every day
“Kitchens are the next big area—everyone is over-buying food, especially pasta and snacks,” says Dilley, with tips on how to organize the pantry. Try to give yourself a limit on one shelf/drawer. Things get messy when you have too much. Match Tupperware lids to the bottoms so you’re neater and not constantly looking for a lid, and stop buying bags for life, water bottles, and coffee jugs – often that’s a big problem. A lot of keeping clutter is about keeping what you have to a minimum.
7. stick to it
You are now ready to treat your home in a whole new way. By breaking tasks down into small parts, thinking of organization as a task that only takes 15 minutes each day, and learning to view rooms as easily handled areas, you will be set up for life. Look at target areas like entryway storage ideas and don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by them. you can do that. Good luck and God bless you!