Make The Daunting Task of Organizing Easier With These Tips

Remember when Netflix released Marie Kondo and it seemed like everyone was reorganizing their lives. But did we really follow through and declutter our spaces?

Everyday life can get messy quickly. So here are five tips to make it easier to organize your space and keep it organized as you move through your day.

1. "One In, One Out" Rule

The One In, One Out rule is very simple and works wonders to reduce clutter and maintain a minimalistic approach to life. To ensure you don't have a build-up of clutter over time, stick to the rule that every time you introduce a new item to your space, a similar item must be removed.

It is also recommended to teach this rule to children from a young age as it helps them to understand that storage space is limited. Encourage them to donate a toy they are no longer using when they get a new toy.

2. Expose The Items In The Drawer

When packing drawers, it is quite common to simply stack clothes up pancake-style. However, this conceals what is below meaning you tend to only wear the items at the top of the pile. To combat this, try folding clothes to “stand up rather than laid flat.

Marie Kondo, author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing explains that this is effective because you can see all the items “just as you can see the spines of books on your bookshelves." Thus because you can see it you will use it.

3. Does It Make You Happy?

Marie's famous "Does it spark joy?" theory is a brilliant way to talk yourself into getting rid of items you never use. She recommends organizing in the morning because according to her this is when "our senses are sharp enough to judge if our goods spark joy, or do not.”

“Try to appreciate and value more the items you do use and enjoy. This will make it easier to eliminate the goods which don’t have use in your life.”

explains Marie Kondo.

4. Invest in Drawer Organizers

A cluttered draw is less likely to be opened and you're probably going to be tempted to buy another potato peeler because you can't seem to find yours. However, instead of buying things you already own, invest in good quality drawer organizers and dividers.

Get a variety of sizes, shapes, and types and reorganize draws to suit your needs. In closets, use bigger bins and clearly label them to make it easier to find specific items.

5. Color Code

Nothing is more satisfying to the eye than a perfectly color co-ordinated filing cabinet, bookshelf or closet. Aside from being appealing to the eye, it also makes it much easier to find items.

Using a color-coding system in the office can make it easier to find important papers without the use of labels. A simple glance will guide you to exactly what you are looking for.

6. Make Hidden Spaces Look Pretty

Normally organizing seems to stop at the things that a guest would see if they walked through your home. However, if you have to look at a cluttered space every day, it will make you feel less productive.

So instead of ignoring spaces, like under the basin, create a well-organized utility zone using furniture-like pieces to spruce up the area. This, in turn, will inspire you to maintain the organization as well as use all the items stored in the area.