Give Your Home a Summer Makeover

When the temperature heats up this summer, you may want to focus your attention on tackling some organizing projects indoors with the air conditioner blasting. A little effort now can go a long way in making your life easier.

When You Need an Overhaul

If you find yourself drowning in clutter or can never locate the mate to your favorite shoe, you may need a major overhaul to get your belongings under control. The good news is that with a bit of planning and creativity, you can get your home in perfect shape so that it will be easier than ever for you to effectively navigate.

Here are some tips to help you reign in clutter and feel in control.

Start off small. Getting started may be easier than you think. Many professional organizers say that the best way to begin organizing your home is to identify one room or one area that you want to streamline at a time. Once you complete one project, you can move on to the next, tackling them in small, very manageable steps. Also remember that your home probably didn’t get out of whack over night. Just as the clutter was an ongoing process, so might be the case with getting it effectively under control.

Work within your lifestyle. Think about how you and your family live on a daily basis, then come up with some easy-to-use systems that work within your existing framework. For instance, if everyone always kicks off their shoes by your front door, consider investing in a bench with storage inside where you can stow some footwear and socks out of sight. Or, install a cubby system to keep shoes neatly organized but still very easy to find. When you find an appropriate way to work within your family’s current style rather than trying to get everyone to change their habits, this will help you be able to achieve more and just as important, will let you better maintain your organization over time.

Hold the clutter. There is an easy way to sort through piles of paper and mail by dividing the items up into one of three baskets: one for bills and other items that need immediate action, another for things that need to be addressed in the next few days or weeks, and one for information you want to save but don’t require you to do anything. The same approach can help you to manage piles of clothing, toys and other clutter by separating them into groups of what to keep and what to give away.

Give yourself a break. You don’t have to be perfect to be organized. Some easy tricks can help you stay on top of your home life by avoiding your weak spots. For instance, if you find dirty dishes piling up in your sink, consider giving yourself permission to take a break from your responsibilities. Keep paper plates and cups in a basket in your cabinet so they will be handy for your family to reach on busy days or days when you get home late from the beach. You don’t have to live perfectly; you just have to have some systems in place that can take you smoothly through your hectic days.

Invest in the right tools. At the heart of successful organizing is having the right tools to help you, such as plastic bins you can use to collect small toys, hair clips, or makeup. Look for clear sides so you can see what each bin contains, and use these to hold all of your clutter in neater ways. You may also find that buying more hangers (especially the stacking kind that hold multiple pieces vertically to make more space) can help you to keep your clothing neat and easy to group by type, color, or season.

Be creative. Just because a system works for your friends or your neighbors doesn’t necessarily mean it will be the right fit to get you efficiently through your day. Don’t be afraid to take risks and try what you think will work for your needs. If you aren’t on track with your first try, at least you will gain a better understanding of your needs and can try, try again.

Involve the family. You may also want to encourage your family members to help you with the process. By asking everyone to have a vested interest in organizing your home this summer, you may just find it easier than you expected to get your home in shape and keep it that way for many seasons to come.