Getting Organized 101
Getting Organized 101
Going back to basics on how to get organized
The first three months of the year are always A Good Home’s busiest time for organizing projects. Between new year’s resolutions/goals and newly found motivation, as well as more time spent hibernating indoors, so many of us have organization on the brain.
Like any other goal, it’s important to start with the basics in order to lay a strong foundation for long-term success. And to us, organization 101 is all about understanding the four-step process. Getting your home organized is not an overnight success. It requires a ton of upfront effort, careful planning, thoughtful implementation of systems and materials, and long-term maintenance. But it’s always worth it.
In the fall of last year, I was invited on to WFSB-TV/CT Channel 3’s “Great Day at 9A” with Nicole Nalepa and Scot Haney to talk about the comprehensive process of getting organized. In this short segment, we briefly discussed the four key steps to getting organized, while sharing an important takeaway from each step.
After wrapping up this segment, Nicole and I headed into another studio for a longer form discussion on the topic for her podcast, “Mommyhood Unscripted”. In this thirty-minute episode, we expanded upon each step, including what each step entails with examples, questions and recommendations/advice throughout each step.
GETTING ORGANIZED 101
Step 1: Declutter & Edit
The first step in getting organized is to declutter and edit your space. This is where you’ll take everything out and decide what’s staying and what’s not.
The very first crucial step in getting organized is taking inventory of your belongings in your space.
Proper decluttering & editing requires you to take every single thing out in order to accurately evaluate what you have.
If not, things can be missed such as doubles or triples of something you didn’t realize you had, or even just the sheer volume of a single category.
Decluttering and editing is not about forcefully adopting or applying minimalism in your life or getting rid of things you actually want or need, but it does require a level of honesty and evaluation with yourself about the things you own and whether you truly need, want, or like certain items.
The truth is that everyone has too much stuff, and everyone can benefit from decluttering and editing their belongings.
I suggest starting small with one easy category to prevent feeling overwhelmed. This category will be different for everyone.
For example, you can simply start with one drawer in your kitchen, gain confidence in the process and your progress, and build from there.
Don’t try to tackle too much at once – this can often be the biggest deterrent in seeing the entire organizing process through.
You can try setting a timer for 20 minutes at a time, or you can set a goal for one drawer, cabinet or shelf per day until you’re done. Make your goals realistic so that you can keep the right mindset through the process.
As you work through each drawer, cabinet, shelf, etc. create three types of piles: Keep, Donate, and Discard. You can also start to broadly group your “Keep” items into categories as you’re working.
For example, as you’re working through a kitchen “junk” drawer, group together any pens or writing utensils, maybe paper supplies like post-its or small notepads, rubber bands, etc. This will make the planning phase in step two easier for you.
Step 2: Plan & Measure
After you’ve gone through and sorted your space, in Step Two you’ll plan and measure for your organizing systems. You’ll start with broader space planning to determine your layout, and then you’ll create more defined systems within each cabinet, drawer, or shelf based on what’s being stored in or on it.
Start with planning a broad layout of your space.
Do this by taking all of the different categories in your space and creating a list, then applying each category to a designated location.
To stick with the kitchen example, most kitchens will have the following types of categories: “Cooking Tools”, “Food Wrap”, “Tupperware”, “Prep Supplies” (like stainless bowls, measuring tools, strainers etc), “Flatware”, “Pots and Pans”, “Other Cookware”, “Linens” and more.
You can do this by simply writing out all of the categories on post-its and sticking them to the drawers, cabinets and/or shelves until everything has a place.
While doing the initial space planning for your general layout, think about how you want to use the space and function in it, and let that guide your layout.
To stick with the kitchen example, you’ll want to designate all of your cooking supplies like cooking tools, pots and pans, and prep or cookware around your stove/and or oven; Similarly, you’ll want to designate all of your clean-up supplies like tupperware, food wrap, and kitchen linens around your sink and dishwasher.
Another example would be to place any breakfast foods together in one designated area of the pantry. The same goes for snacks, dinner, and baking supplies.
After your broader layout is determined, you will then plan the organizing systems within each drawer, cabinet, shelf, etc. based on what’s being stored.
Every kitchen is going to look different, both in the broader layout as well as the more defined organizing systems, but most kitchens benefit from the use of various drawer inserts and drawer dividers.
Measure length, width, height or depth of every drawer, cabinet, and shelf that you’ll be using organizing materials in, and remember to take note of any obstructions (like a pipe under the sink) to determine what materials can fit.
Step 3: Implement Systems
In Step Three, you’ll implement the organizing systems into your space using materials and applying labels where needed.
The best organizing systems are simple, intuitive, and easy to maintain. Don’t overcomplicate your systems.
Broad categories/labels often work best.
With this approach, systems are easier to use and maintain. Often when systems are too detailed, systems become cumbersome.
For example, in a pantry, you can apply the label “breakfast” and “dinner” versus more detailed categories such as “oatmeal” and “pancakes”, or “mac and cheese” and “rice”.
Another example, in the playroom or your child’s play space is to use more generalized categories and labels like “wheels” versus more detailed ones like “trucks” for one bin and “trains” for another bin.
When setting up your systems, don’t feel like you have to follow any organizing trends. Be realistic with your habits so that you set yourself up for success long term.
For example, we often decant food into canisters in our pantry projects and love the look. But, we always ask clients if it's a realistic system for them. It requires an extra step and understandably it may not be something that they’ll keep up over time. So, if it feels like too much for you, don’t do it. Something that works for someone else and their family may not work for you, and that’s OK. Organizing is not a one-size fits all.
What works for you and your family might be different for someone else and their family.
If one of your goals in getting organized is to encourage your kids to be more independent in their morning routine, it might make sense for you to place your breakfast items on the lowest shelf of your pantry.
Step 4: Maintenance
Step Four is the maintenance and upkeep of your organized space.
Homes will inevitably get messy. Just because your home is organized, does not mean it will always be tidy.
The organizing systems are there to guide you, reset, and help you get back on track
The upkeep of your organizing systems requires effort, but is so worthwhile once you enjoy the benefits, and it becomes easier and more intuitive over time with practice.
Get your entire household on board.
Keeping your home organized long-term is a group effort, and though it won’t look perfect all the time, having everyone working towards the same goal is impactful.
The practice of organization is a valuable life skill, and it’s something I think people are never too young or too old to work on.
I suggest decluttering/editing one to two times a year, especially with children who often accumulate and outgrow clothes, toys and belongings throughout the year.
This will help keep clutter from building too much over time.
Psst! One last thing… we just launched ASK A GOOD HOME, a subscriber-only q&a forum on Substack. If you’re looking for help, support, recommendations, advice on any home topic, including getting organized in the new year, we’re here to help! You can learn more and subscribe here.