Tips for Creating Organization and Functionality in the Home

Being overrun by piles of clutter is perhaps the most physically and emotionally draining thing that can happen to a household. Too much stuff can ruin the functionality and the aesthetic appeal of the home while also creating tension and stress between family members. Clutter usually sneaks in gradually and feeds off of busy schedules, messy children and general lack of desire to keep things organized. Nevertheless, keeping an organized household should be a priority because organization creates a zen-full atmosphere that inspires peace of mind and tranquility.

Below are a few practical tips for creating organization and functionality within your home.

• Host a yard sale: The first thing that you need to do is get rid of everything that you no longer use, need or want. Take some time with your family going through all the rooms of your home and separating the wants from the not-wants. Once you have compiled a healthy stash of furniture, toys, clothing, knick knacks and general home décor, clean everything and then host a yard sale. Selling your usable goods will help you to de-clutter while also making some extra money. Donate all of the items that didn’t sell to your local donation centers.
• Become minimalistic: Being a minimalist doesn’t mean that you will be depriving yourself of the things that you need, instead, it means that you have all you need without overdoing it. You can create a minimalistic attitude by not buying more than you need and by shopping less often. Also, using duel furniture such as an ottoman/storage and a bookcase/TV stand will create less clutter.
• Keep planners: Planners are essential for keeping schedules organized and also for remembering important dates and implementing chore charts. You can keep one in the common area of your home and then invest in Meridian high school planners or digital ePlanners so your children will be more efficient and organized at school.
• Designate a drop off area: Your designated drop-off area should be near the front door to be used as a “as I come in, as I leave” portal. The drop-off area should comprise of hooks for jackets, backpacks, purses and keys and caddies for shoes and umbrellas.
• Keep it tidy: Avoid walking away from fresh messes. Clear dishes from the sink right away, take the trash out as soon as it is filled, clean the spills and avoid making piles.
• Implement an award system: Everyone likes to be rewarded for a job well done, therefore, you should implement an award system to help inspire your children and your spouse to adhere to their chore charts. The awards can be in the form of money, candy or a small gift.
• Create a recycling center: Recycling everything that can be recycled is a wonderful way to deter clutter. Designate an area in your home to be the recycling center – throw all of your recyclables in and then donate it to your recycling center once it is filled up.
• Deep clean one area a day: Busy schedules may make it impossible for you to deep clean your entire home all at once, instead, try to keep your whole house tidy while deep cleaning one area a day. For example, you can vacumm and dust the bedrooms on day one, clean the bathrooms on day two, mop the floors on day three and so on. Once you have got a routine down, cleaning this way will become second nature.
• Use less paper: Paper is one of the most clutter inducing items you can invite into your home, therefore, you should make an effort to use less of it. Utilize technology by going paperless with your billing and reading ebooks. Additionally, you should print on both sides and recycle all your  used paper.
• Keep it organized: Continuously organize your food pantries, bookshelves, closets and toys and sporadically pick out the items that you no longer use or want. Once you have a healthy collection of non-wants, take them to your donation center or host another yard sale.

Just as disorganization and inviting clutter is a gradual habit, so is creating organization and functionality. You may not become a guru of organization right away, but as long as you are putting in the effort, you will be eventually rewarded with a clutter-free home.