How To Ensure Your Organizing Systems Stand The Test of Time
At Simple Home, we understand that implementing an organizational system in your home is only the first step. Keeping up with the systems we put in place is equally important. After all, the goal is not just to have a clean and clutter-free home, but also to maintain it that way. So often we hear from our clients “how am I ever going to keep up with this after you leave!?” The truth is that, while we go to every height to make our systems as easy as possible to maintain after we are gone, staying organized does take some effort. Even when you hire Simple Home to get your home organized for you, while we put in countless time, research, thought and expertise into creating systems that work for you, you can’t expect your home to remain meticulously and thoughtfully organized if you don’t commit to keeping it that way! Whether you have used our services or you have implemented systems on your own, this blog post will provide you with some tips on how to keep up with the organizational systems in your home.
1. Form Habits
Make it part of your daily routine to put your belongings back in their designated homes. A solid organization system will designate a logical home for every single belonging, so getting things put away should not take too much time or effort given you have a solid system in place. So, before winding down each night, take a quick circle around your home and make sure all those stray items are tucked in to their homes.. By making these small tasks habits, eventually you won’t have to think twice about it. Putting and keeping items where they belong will become part of your daily routine!
2. Declutter Often
Decluttering is an essential piece of keeping your home organized. While you don’t have to become a minimalist to maintain an organized home, it is still incredibly important to be intentional about what you keep in your home. If you haven’t used it in years, you more than likely don’t need it now and won’t need it for the next several years; Get rid of it.
Make a conscious effort to schedule regular decluttering sessions to keep your home free of things that are old, worn out or unnecessary. Depending on your home and lifestyle, you may want to schedule a decluttering session once a month, every season, or twice a year. During this time, you can go through your belongings and get rid of items that you no longer need or use.
Tip: If you have kids who grow out of clothes and toys on a regular basis, it is best practice to purge or store these outgrown items as frequently as possible to prevent clutter!
3. Use storage solutions
One thing that we emphasize as often as we can and perhaps the most vital aspect when it comes to keeping a home organized is the need for storage solutions. Storage bins, baskets, turntables, drawer dividers, shelves, hooks, etc. are all mechanisms to keep belongings contained, and containment is key in avoiding overflow and overbuying, knowing where to find items when you are looking for them and knowing where to put them back when you are done. On top of containing your belongings with proper storage solutions, labeling your storage solutions is imperative to being able to find your items quickly when you need them.
If you aren’t sure which organizing products to use, check out our blog on our favorite budget-friendly storage solutions to help you get started!
4. Keep surfaces clear
Keeping surfaces clear of clutter not only decreases the stress and overwhelm you feel walking into your home, but it motivates you to keep the rest of your home clutter free as well. Countertops, tables, and desks should be free of any unnecessary items. This not only makes your home look tidier but also makes it easier to find and use the items that you need.
5. Don’t procrastinate
This is probably the best advice we can give you when it comes to staying organized. Do NOT procrastinate! Organized people do not procrastinate when it comes to cleaning and organizing tasks. If you notice something that needs to be tidied up or organized, do it right away. This will prevent tasks from piling up and becoming overwhelming.
6. Make sure your systems evolve with you
One thing that people often don’t realize is that just because a system has worked for you in the past doesn’t mean it will work for you forever. And this is okay! This doesn’t mean that the system you implemented originally is a failure. It just means that you and your family are growing and evolving — and so should your organizing system! For example, babies don’t eat soft foods forever, so as your kids develop, you may need to change out labels and even add more real estate to their snack zones (one bin of snacks may have worked for baby, but your 5-year-old probably seems like an endless pit requiring more snacks than you ever thought possible). Along these same lines, as your kids grow, you may not need that drawer of kids dishes anymore — Allow yourself to repurpose these spaces so they are useful to you here and now.
In summary, while implementing organizational systems in your home is a tremendous start to living an organized life, keeping up with those systems requires discipline and consistency. By making it a habit to put things back where they belong, scheduling regular decluttering sessions, using storage solutions, keeping surfaces clear, and avoiding procrastination, you can maintain a tidy and organized home. At Simple Home, we are here to help you create an organizational system that works for you and your family, and we do everything in our power to set you up for success when it comes to ensuring your systems will stand the test of time. Contact us today to learn more about our professional home organizing services.
Still feeling stuck?
We know that even with these tips laid out for you, staying organized may seem like an impossible task as you’re just trying your best to keep your kids alive and maybe take care of yourself every once in a while. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the thought of decluttering regularly, ask us about our Keep it Simple program where we come to your home at regular intervals to help you get and stay organized.
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