Summertime in the Lakes Region is typically a revolving door of house guests. Between hosting barbecues, enjoying the lake, and taking family vacations, we can lose track of our routines and our “stuff.”
August is the time we begin asking ourselves, “Why do things seem to be out of control? I planned on organizing that pile of paperwork, clearing the counter of clutter, and keeping up with the laundry!” Yet, here we are and none of it has happened.
This scenario is all too common. However, Mia Whalley, from NH NEAT, is here to share some good news. It’s never too late to get and stay organized for the remainder of the summer.
Oftentimes, getting started is the hardest part. We totally get it. It can feel debilitating when you’re staring at a closet full of clutter. Let me walk you through this step-by-step process on how to declutter and organize your home.
Getting Started
Before you get started, make sure you’ve set aside enough time to fully tackle the space. Just to be safe, take the amount of time you think it will take, and double it.
Organizing projects always take longer than you think, and giving yourself a realistic time frame is the best way to set yourself up for success. Take a look at our list of projects you can tackle in one hour or less as a starting off point.
6 Steps to Declutter and Organize Your Home
1. Pull everything out.
Yes, everything! Whether you’re organizing a bathroom or kitchen there’s only one way to effectively get organized. That’s by starting fresh.
Empty every last cupboard, shelf and drawer. This will also give you the opportunity to rearrange placement, if necessary.
2. Categorize it.
Once everything is out, it’s time to place like items together. In a closet, you might use categories like dresses, pants, tees, and blouses. In a kitchen, maybe dishes, flatware, gadgets, utensils. If a category is on the large side, sub-categorize.
3. Edit.
Now that everything is categorized, you can easily see what you own and access what should be tossed or donated. Don’t hold onto duplicates. Unless, you use both at the same time.
For example, you don’t need two pizza cutters. Pick your favorite and set aside the other for donation.
4. Place.
Place your items back into the space, making sure to keep each category together. The most important part of placement is locating items based on frequency of use. Eye level shelves and top drawers should always hold your most frequently used categories.
5. Measure.
In many cases, organizing products help keep systems in place and provide a more streamlined visual. Before purchasing any bins or baskets, make sure you measure the space first! This step gets missed often. However, it’s super important if you want to avoid returning products that don’t fit.
6. Contain and Label.
Contain each category as needed using dividers, bins, baskets, and canisters. Don’t forget to label. This will keep everyone in your family on the same page and make it super easy to find things and put them away.
Conclusion
Now that you have all the steps, it’s time to get NEAT! Share your project with us by tagging #neatnh and #lcgroupnh on Instagram so we can celebrate your win. And if time is your challenge, we’ve got you covered. Click here to contact NEAT. We can’t wait to “neat” you!
About Mia Whalley
Mia Whalley is the owner of Neat Method in New Hampshire and has been a resident in the Lakes Region for over 15 years. She is a member of the Lakes Region Builders and Remodelers Association. Mia is also a committee member for their annual Parade of Homes Tour. Scheduled for Columbus Day weekend. She and her team had the honor of working with Lighthouse Contracting Group in their 2018 Parade Home: The Rocky Retreat.
