Last updated on January 7, 2025
You don't have to wait for spring to get organized. Instead, why not resolve to say “see you later” to the growing collection of rarely used items in the most used areas of your home, like your bedroom closet, bathroom, and kitchen?
Here are some simple solutions that will help us all reclaim much-needed personal space in the most popular rooms in your home.
Storage solutions in dressers
Flip the script and stack clothes vertically instead of horizontally. This space-saving trick allows for extra storage and helps you see what you have in your drawers without having to search.
closet cleaning
When it comes to cleaning out your bedroom closet, be tough. Donate any clothing that no longer fits, is out of style, or hasn't been worn in a year.
Need help determining the latter? Try the coat rack trick. Here's how it works: Reverse all the clothes hanging in your closet so that the open end of each hanger faces you. Every time you wear an item of clothing, hang it in the closet in the opposite direction, with the opening facing away from you. After three to six months, you'll be surprised to see exactly which clothes you haven't touched.
Don't want to donate? If you want to make some extra money, consider selling your clothes at a garage sale, street consignment sale, or through an online business like Posh brand.
Purge your dresser
Keeping a bathroom tidy can seem like a losing battle. A bottle of dry shampoo here, a capful of toothpaste there and the room can quickly feel cluttered. Whether you're a product junkie like me or a minimalist, the key to keeping a bathroom tidy is to adopt the mantra: lose it if you don't use it.
Take inventory of everything under your sink and in your cabinets. Throw away bottles of half-used lotion, scrub, makeup, and hair products that you haven't used recently. If you purchase items in bulk from a retailer like Costco or BJ's, gather all duplicates and place them in a clearly labeled storage box elsewhere in your home.
Many medications should not be exposed to moisture. Read your prescription labels carefully and replace any medications that are sensitive to moisture.
Clean your kitchen counters
When it comes to what's on the kitchen counter, unless it's Thanksgiving dinner, less is definitely more.
An easy first step toward a tidy kitchen is to take care of the dishes. Put all your dirty dishes in the dishwasher or wash them in the sink as soon as possible after using them. Practice putting clean dishes away immediately after washing them to keep the dishwasher empty for dirty dishes.
Next, take a close look at the small appliances that really belong on your countertops. Think of a coffee maker, toaster, and blender. Chances are you consume more cups of coffee a day than bagels and smoothies, so consider moving your toaster and blender to a lower cabinet in your kitchen.
A word to the wise: don't try to do it all in one day. Set aside time: 15 minutes a night or several hours on the weekend. This way, you won't feel overwhelmed when sorting through your unwanted and unnecessary belongings.
Junk drawer, no more!
A “junk” drawer is an essential space in every home, but sometimes it is even necessary to clean these spaces. Take inventory of everything in your drawer and use dividers or clear plastic containers to keep everything under control.
Pantry Organization
Now that everyone is done digging through the pantry after the holidays, it's time to give this space a refresh. Take the time to sort similar items into attractive containers, place baking ingredients in large clear containers, add canned food storage, and leave room for miscellaneous items to make the most of your space.
Ready for even more storage solutions? Verify Brilliant ways to put away your kids' mess.
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Allen Tate is the largest real estate company in the Carolinas with more than 70 offices and 1,800 real estate agents in the Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, High Country, Upstate SC, Highlands/Cashiers and Asheville/Mountain regions. Allen Tate is a partner at Howard Hanna Real Estate, the largest private real estate brokerage in the U.S., with 500 real estate, mortgage, insurance, title and escrow services offices and 15,000 sales associates and staff. in 13 states. For more information, visit www.allentate.com and www.howardhanna.com.
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