Tips For New Home Owners – Organization

The move is over.  The boxes have been broken down and are stacked in the garage.  And the mess
is loosely organized meaning the stuff is in the right room but not really put away.  There really are ways to make this easier than you think!  It’s called organization.  So take a deep breath, let it out, and get started in organizing your new home.

To begin with work only in one room at a time.  If you did not toss out extra stuff before the move,
now is the time to do it.  The two year rule, rules here.  Organize your items.  Put things into containers.  In the bedrooms buy closet organizers if you can afford it, and custom closets are the way to go.  Costco, Target and other stores sell these and they are worth every penny in yourpiggy bank.  If it’s not in the budget, stacking bins are the way to go.  Put all of your shoes together neatly.  Fold  clothes neatly.  Hand up your clothes after they have been used.  Donate clothes that no longer fit, are not to your liking
or haven’t been on your body in 2 years.  Same for the rest of the family.

In the Kitchen, work on the drawers first, then the cupboards, the lastly if you have one, the Pantry.  Put like items together.  Put items you use infrequently out of the way but not so out of the way that you forget
about the items.  The less you have out on your counters the neater your kitchen will look.  Try to only keep the items you use regularly like the toaster, coffee maker and mixer.  If space is at a premium, and you don’t have a large enough kitchen to store everything, get a cabinet for your garage that has doors and put those
big items in it. The Pantry can get cluttered very quickly so try to shelve like food items in the same area.  It will make your life much easier when you are searching for items later on.

Don’t make the garage your dumping ground.  Do get those moving boxes out as fast as you can.  Either give them away or sell them on Craigslist or your moving company will often come and pick them up for you, for free!  Recycle the boxes that have seen their last move.  If your garage has storage already there put things away.  Store bicycles hanging.  Hang your gardening tools from clips along the wall.  Put tools away once they’ve been used.  If you do this, there might be room for your car or cars.  Garages often
have great storage above the eaves so look up when considering where to put things.

The final comment about organization after a move is to keep things simple.  If you don’t use it give
it away.  We have many charities seeking items and they often mail notices out to neighborhoods about future pick ups.  Take advantage of these and give your usable items away.  Don’t get hung up on keeping things because they are truly a burden mentally and physically.  Recycle everything that you can.   It is freeing to have less.  If you have moved into a smaller home you know well
how hard it is to pair down.  Be firm and do it.  You will find your life is much, much better.