Decluttering and organizing go hand in hand, here are some tips for each room in your house:

Kitchen

The kitchen is the hub of the home, and it tends to collect the most clutter from other parts of the house.  Start clearing one area of the kitchen at a time, beginning with storage spaces, including the pantry, cupboards, and drawers.

• • In the pantry: Throw away stale or expired items and donate canned goods that you know will go uneaten but are still edible.

• • In the cupboards:  Remove chipped dishware, as well as utensils, pots, pans, and bakeware that are damaged beyond repair.

• Keep the kitchen clutter-free:  Put items where they belong and leave a small bin to collect items that don’t belong there.

Living Room

Too much clutter makes it difficult to relax.  The mantra for this room is, “A place for everything; everything in its place.”

• • Create an easily-accessible, permanent storage space for items you use most often, such as the remote control.

• • Fold throws and place in a decorative basket within reach of the sofa.

• • Sort through your electronics to determine what works and if you still use it.  Store your frequently used electronics where you tend to use them.

• Recycle back issues of magazines and newspapers you’ve already read. Donate books you don’t want to keep and categorize the others in your library.

Bathroom

Create more space in your cabinets, linen closet and on the counter.

• • Clean out the medicine cabinet and discard outdated medications, skin care, and makeup.

• Organize the drawers and shelves so the items you use the most are readily available.

Bedrooms

In the bedroom, clutter seems to center around storage areas, such as closets, drawers, and nightstands.

• Clear out dressers, wardrobes, and closets by removing non-seasonal clothing you haven’t worn in more than six months and items that no longer fit.  Sell or donate pieces that are still in good condition.

• Organize your drawers by function: undergarments, activewear, t-shirts, etc.

• Depending on your bedroom, purchase a hanging storage unit or floor shelf for shoes.

• Separate anything that should go to the cleaner or a tailor.

• Remove everything from the nightstand and place items that belong elsewhere in Bin #1

Thank you, Margie, with Carpenter Realtors, for sharing these great tips with us, so we could share it with you.

*Source: Becoming Minimalist