The past two years have seen many of us spending a lot more time at home. Whether you’ve been working from home full or part-time, or doing “staycations” instead of traveling, your home may be showing the effects. If your home is overrun with clutter, it may be time to take action and get organized, especially if you are tinkering with the idea of listing and selling your home in the coming months to take advantage of the strong sellers’ market in Phoenix by downsizing or moving away.
You may not be the next Marie Kondo, but there are some practical strategies that can help. So before you take a deep dive into organizing, consider the following tips.
Declutter
Always the first step in getting organized. Be forewarned, this step takes time because it requires sorting closets, drawers, cabinets, etc. One rule of thumb is to clear off all flat surfaces such as countertops, tabletops, nightstands, desks, etc. Take everything off and only add back what is essential. Store the rest in drawers, bins, etc.
Consider how much something is being used. If your closet contains clothing that hasn’t been worn in two years, it’s time to donate those items. If your kitchen drawer has ten spatulas, time to scale down. And if something is just plain junk, toss it. Keep the best and get rid of the rest.
Tackle one room at a time. Don’t try to declutter your entire home all in one go. Odds are, you’ll become overwhelmed and stop halfway through. Set small goals such as one room each Saturday. If even that’s too ambitious, set smaller goals such as cleaning out a single drawer in an afternoon, or picking out five items from your closet to donate.
Improve Available Space
You don’t necessarily need to add square footage to your home to create added storage. The key is to maximize the space you already have. This will have the added advantage of making your home more appealing to potential buyers if you do decide to list your property. Think creatively about additional areas that you can put to work. A dead corner in your home could be a great place to add an attractive cabinet. Take advantage of space beneath a staircase or under a window seat.
Other ways to add storage space is to go up, out, and under. The space under your bed can be a convenient place for storing extra bedding or clothing in off seasons. Store them in flat plastic boxes. Going vertical works well in garages, mudrooms, and basements by using pegboards, hooks and shelves. Adding horizontal shelves can be a convenient way to store and display books and pictures.
Make Storage Visible & Attractive
Your storage items don’t necessarily need to be put away in a dark corner of the garage. Companies like The Container Store and Ikea offer many options to fit in with your décor including clear plastic, acrylic, and wood. Portable furniture that blends with your décor is also an option.
Internal organizers for cabinets and drawers can really make a difference, especially in the kitchen. Inserts and drawer dividers and holders for plates & spices work wonders for keeping what you need organized.
Organize With Color
Whether you’re trying to organize the family room, or hoping to make your home office work better, use color to enhance your efforts. Assign each child a different colored container for their belongings. Organize bills and other important papers by function and assign a color for each in your office.
Accessibility and Flexibility
Make sure that the items you need most often are the easiest to access. Place the items you don’t need to get to as often on a higher shelf or in another area.
Use a storage system that can adapt to your changing needs so that you can reconfigure and reuse solutions to solve a variety of organizational problems.
Know What You Have & Where It Is
A label maker is your best friend when it comes to organizing. Even clear containers should be labeled. Being able to instantly identify the contents of a container can save you time and frustration. Make a list or spreadsheet on your computer of what’s where in case you forget where something is or if others need access to it.
Even though the idea of organizing your home might not sound like a fun time, getting and keeping it organized has a ton of benefits including reducing stress, saving time, saving money, and it can even improve relationships and promote better sleep. If those things sound good to you, then grab your containers and lets get organized!
Getting Organized to Sell? Contact The Donnelly Group!
If you are reading the headline news about the continuing strong sellers’ market in metro Phoenix, wondering if the time is right to downsize to cash in some of your equity, please don’t hesitate to contact the Donnelly Group at 480-792-9700 or by email. We will share our considered opinion on your property, and help you weigh your options…as we all need somewhere to live!
