Simple Systems For a Brilliantly Organised Home
Make life easier with these foolproof decluttering tricks and ideas to get your home running smoothly and efficiently
Katherine Blackler
11 April 2017
Want to make your home as organised as possible? Katherine Blackler of SortMySpace explains how we can introduce some simple systems in our homes to make everyday living that little bit easier.
Get started with a simple audit
Gather all your similar items in one place, including shoes, CDs, books, food items, jewellery, paperwork and loose batteries. You’ll be able to see exactly how many duplicates you have, what’s no longer serving a purpose for your household and what could be thrown away. Once you’ve decluttered, keep similar items together to make it easier to always find them.
Gather all your similar items in one place, including shoes, CDs, books, food items, jewellery, paperwork and loose batteries. You’ll be able to see exactly how many duplicates you have, what’s no longer serving a purpose for your household and what could be thrown away. Once you’ve decluttered, keep similar items together to make it easier to always find them.
Streamline your desk space
Think about what you use most frequently and make sure those items or tools are within easy reach. Rest your elbows on the edge of the desk and sweep your arms in a semicircle motion over the surface. This is your prime desk space and should contain your key everyday items within half an arm’s reach. This could include your laptop, a notepad and a pen pot.
Then draw a larger semicircle with your arms extended. This area should contain the next level of most useful things you want without over-stretching. For example, a calculator, tissue box, your in-tray and a desk lamp.
See what else is taking up space on your desk. If there are files you only need to use monthly, move them to a shelf to give you more breathing space day-to-day. You can apply the same principles to your kitchen countertops, too.
Think about what you use most frequently and make sure those items or tools are within easy reach. Rest your elbows on the edge of the desk and sweep your arms in a semicircle motion over the surface. This is your prime desk space and should contain your key everyday items within half an arm’s reach. This could include your laptop, a notepad and a pen pot.
Then draw a larger semicircle with your arms extended. This area should contain the next level of most useful things you want without over-stretching. For example, a calculator, tissue box, your in-tray and a desk lamp.
See what else is taking up space on your desk. If there are files you only need to use monthly, move them to a shelf to give you more breathing space day-to-day. You can apply the same principles to your kitchen countertops, too.
Label kids’ attire
Organise children’s clothing by using a fabric marker to add dots to the garments’ labels. One dot will signify all clothing that belongs to your first born, two dots for your second, and so on. When you pass something down from the first to the
second child, you can simply add a second dot. This simple method will help whoever is putting the laundry away know where each item belongs.
Organise children’s clothing by using a fabric marker to add dots to the garments’ labels. One dot will signify all clothing that belongs to your first born, two dots for your second, and so on. When you pass something down from the first to the
second child, you can simply add a second dot. This simple method will help whoever is putting the laundry away know where each item belongs.
Add drawers to your cupboards or shelves
In a kitchen or utility room, where you have wall-mounted cupboards, use boxes as makeshift drawers to house your jars, bottles or packets. This makes it much easier to pull down all the contents without everything toppling on your head. You’ll also be frequently reminded what’s hiding at the back of the cupboard. It’s worth using transparent acrylic boxes to easily see the contents from a lower level.
In a kitchen or utility room, where you have wall-mounted cupboards, use boxes as makeshift drawers to house your jars, bottles or packets. This makes it much easier to pull down all the contents without everything toppling on your head. You’ll also be frequently reminded what’s hiding at the back of the cupboard. It’s worth using transparent acrylic boxes to easily see the contents from a lower level.
Smarten your hallway
Allocate a space close to the front door for processing all inbound post and school letters before they get lost around the home. It’s also a good idea to keep a slimline shredder here to destroy all junk mail instantly before it even creates a pile.
Install individual hooks and baskets for each family member so they can easily find their own belongings when leaving home each morning.
Allocate a space close to the front door for processing all inbound post and school letters before they get lost around the home. It’s also a good idea to keep a slimline shredder here to destroy all junk mail instantly before it even creates a pile.
Install individual hooks and baskets for each family member so they can easily find their own belongings when leaving home each morning.
Organise your garage, shed or loft space
Store as much as possible in transparent boxes so you can easily see what you’re looking for without having to upturn an entire stack.
If you’re storing things you rarely use but can’t bear to part with, put a piece of parcel tape over the box edge with today’s date and test how long it takes before you break the seal on that particular box. If you review in a couple of years and the tape is still intact, you can be far more confident that you don’t really need whatever’s inside.
Store as much as possible in transparent boxes so you can easily see what you’re looking for without having to upturn an entire stack.
If you’re storing things you rarely use but can’t bear to part with, put a piece of parcel tape over the box edge with today’s date and test how long it takes before you break the seal on that particular box. If you review in a couple of years and the tape is still intact, you can be far more confident that you don’t really need whatever’s inside.
Declutter your wardrobe
Organise your clothing by challenging yourself to operate on a one-in one-out basis: every time you buy something new, select an item to throw away.
To confirm which clothing you actually do wear, hang all your coat hangers backwards with the hook poking towards you. Each time you wear an item, hang it back in the wardrobe the other way round. After six or 12 months you’ll clearly see which clothes you haven’t worn, as the hooks will still be poking towards you. You’ll be more confident to part with them when you know you really don’t wear them.
Organise your clothing by challenging yourself to operate on a one-in one-out basis: every time you buy something new, select an item to throw away.
To confirm which clothing you actually do wear, hang all your coat hangers backwards with the hook poking towards you. Each time you wear an item, hang it back in the wardrobe the other way round. After six or 12 months you’ll clearly see which clothes you haven’t worn, as the hooks will still be poking towards you. You’ll be more confident to part with them when you know you really don’t wear them.
Utilise a snag box
Position a snag box in, or near, your wardrobe for items that need fixing, altering or dry-cleaning. This will avoid the disappointment of reaching for clothes only to recall they’re dirty or missing buttons.
Which of these organisational systems could you use in your home? Tell us how you get on in the Comments below.
Position a snag box in, or near, your wardrobe for items that need fixing, altering or dry-cleaning. This will avoid the disappointment of reaching for clothes only to recall they’re dirty or missing buttons.
Which of these organisational systems could you use in your home? Tell us how you get on in the Comments below.
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Labelling kids clothes with a dot is a great idea! I wish I'd thought of that when mine were little. I added initials to the laundry label on bedsheets once our teenagers moved into double beds as I got fed up spending ages trying to figure out which sheets belonged on which bed every time I ironed them. I suppose I could have chosen different colours - all the sheets in our house are white.
Glad it was helpful @dreamingofparadise! I know the feeling @K.Donovan, I spent a few hours measuring and labelling bedsheets for a client recently to reduce their pain! Why on earth the manunfacturers don't all tag them with a simple double / king / superking etc is beyond me!
Thank you. There are some really practical tips here for checking which items are actually used. I'm off to turn the clothes hangers in my wardrobe around right now!