10 Practical Ways to Keep Your Home Organized

Maintaining an organized home can be a challenging task, especially in today’s fast-paced world. However, it’s essential for creating a peaceful and efficient living environment.

When your space is clutter-free and well-organized, you’ll feel more in control of your life and have more time to enjoy the things you love. In this blog post, we’ll explore ten practical ways to keep your home organized and clutter-free.

Whether you live in a small house like me or a very large home, the key to a less stressful home is organization.

blue and white flowers arranged in a blue and white vase - organized home

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1. Declutter Regularly

The first step in creating an organized home is to declutter regularly. Set aside time, perhaps a few hours each month, to go through your belongings and decide what to keep, donate, or discard.

Ask yourself if an item adds value to your life or if it’s just taking up space. Be ruthless and honest with yourself. The less stuff you have, the easier it is to maintain order.

2. Establish a Place for Everything

One of the most effective ways to maintain an organized home is to ensure that every item has a designated place.

This means creating a home for everything from your keys and mail to your shoes and kitchen utensils. When items have a designated spot, it’s easier to put them away, and you’ll be less likely to leave them lying around, contributing to clutter.

3. Use Storage Solutions Wisely

Invest in storage solutions that make the most of your available space. This could include shelves, cabinets, drawers, and storage bins.

Choose furniture with built-in storage, such as ottomans or coffee tables with hidden compartments. Utilize vertical space by installing wall-mounted shelves or hooks to store items like books, bags, and coats.

4. Label and Categorize

Labeling and categorizing items can significantly improve your home’s organization. Label boxes, bins, and shelves so you can quickly identify where everything belongs. Categorize similar items together, like grouping all your cleaning supplies or office supplies in one designated area.

This simple practice makes it easy to find what you need and put things back where they belong.

5. Create Daily and Weekly Cleaning Routines

A clean home is an organized home. Establish daily and weekly cleaning routines to maintain order and prevent clutter from accumulating.

Daily routines might include making your bed, doing dishes, and tidying up common areas. I make my bed every single day and it just sets the tone for the rest of my day.

On a weekly basis, set aside time for more thorough cleaning tasks like vacuuming, dusting, and washing floors.

6. Sort and Manage Paperwork

Paper clutter is a common issue in many households.

To keep your home organized, create a system for managing paperwork. Invest in a filing cabinet or use labeled folders and binders to organize important documents like bills, receipts, and medical records. Regularly go through your paperwork to discard anything you no longer need.

Go through your mail daily. If I go through my mail daily, once I put what needs to go in the recycle bin and needs to be shredded, I’m either done or have one piece of mail to deal with.

“Organization isn’t about perfection; it’s about efficiency, reducing stress and clutter, saving time and money, and improving your overall quality of life.”

– Christina Scalise

7. Digitalize When Possible

In today’s digital age, much of our lives exist online. Take advantage of this by digitizing documents, photos, and other important items.

Scan paper documents and store them digitally in an organized folder system on your computer or in the cloud. This not only reduces physical clutter but also makes it easier to find and access important information.

Going paperless was one of the best things I ever did!

corner of our living space that has floor to ceiling built-in bookshelves for storage and organization

8. Practice the “One In, One Out” Rule

To prevent clutter from building up, adopt the “one in, one out” rule. Whenever you bring a new item into your home, whether it’s a piece of clothing, a gadget, or a decorative item, make a commitment to donate or discard something similar that you no longer use or need.

This rule ensures that your possessions remain manageable and helps you think twice before making new purchases.

9. Involve the Whole Family

Once you have your home organized is important to involve the whole family.

Keeping your home organized is a team effort, especially in a household with multiple members.

Involve your family in the organization process by assigning tasks and responsibilities.

Create a chore chart or schedule regular family meetings to discuss and address any organizational issues or goals. House your family schedules in the Command Center.

When everyone is on the same page, maintaining order becomes more manageable.

10. Don’t Procrastinate

Procrastination is the enemy of organization. When you notice something out of place or an area that needs tidying up, take care of it immediately.

The longer you wait, the more likely it is to become a bigger problem.

Make it a habit to address clutter and disorganization as soon as you spot it to prevent it from spreading and becoming overwhelming.

Conclusion

Maintaining an organized home is a continuous process that requires dedication and effort, but the benefits are well worth it. An organized home is more peaceful, efficient, and inviting.

By decluttering regularly, establishing designated spaces, utilizing storage solutions, and implementing good organizational habits, you can create a harmonious living environment for yourself and your family.

Remember that organization is not a one-time task; it’s an ongoing practice that, when integrated into your daily life, can transform your home and simplify your routines. Start today, and you’ll soon enjoy the rewards of a clutter-free and well-organized living space.

Peace, Love, and Happy Organizing

Meet Me

My name is Lynn. I live in the suburbs of Chicago in a 1,300 sq. ft. home with my Handy husband, Keith.

I’m an open book about my life on my blog. You can find out more about me by visiting my About page.

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6 Comments

  1. What a nice read, I cannot wait to apply such ideas on my own.

    1. I hope it helps you to stay organized in your home!

  2. I love the advice and how you broke organizing down so I could make a checklist! Thank you for the challenge Lynn!

    1. Thanks Amy – My life is a series of events that repeat each other to keep my house organized 🙂

  3. Wendy McMonigle says:

    These are beautiful tips, Lynn, thanks for sharing. Now, I need to do it.

    1. We all need reminders. I’m organizing paperwork today that I haven’t gone through for three months. Sometimes life just gets in the way.