Get It Done: How to Organize Everything

Tired of digging through that overstuffed T-shirt drawer? Annoyed by those mountains of papers? Even the tidiest house can have too much of this or that. The issue: We tend to put off decluttering because it can feel overwhelming. But the process is really quite simple, and every project can (and should) start the exact same way, says Tyler Moore, a New York City-based blogger known as Tidy Dad.

Whether you’re tackling your dresser, pantry, linen closet, or whatever, first empty everything out and look at what you’re dealing with. “Until you sort through your stuff, you won’t be able to figure out how to organize it,” Moore says. Set aside anything that should be tossed or donated, then go through what’s left, grouping like with like. Finally, put things back in a way that makes sense. If you’re ready, pick one of these common clutter spots and have at it, using our advice. Then enjoy how it looks and relish that sense of control.

Conquer Crowded Dresser Drawers

Try vertical folding! Dollars to doughnuts you’ve got a few stacks of T-shirts in your dresser and have no idea what’s at the bottom (or even in the middle!) of each one. Embrace the vertical folding method: Fold shirts in thirds to create compact little “packages” that stand up on their sides. This way, you can slide shirts in and out and view your options. So that’s where the blue stripy guy went!

Make Room on Your Closet Rod

It's easy to run out of room on your closet rod, especially in winter when heavier sweaters are taking up a ton of space. Or, any time of year if you have small closets or too much stuff! The good news is that there's a fix (no, not buying a bigger place). It's space-saving hangers.

Check out the versions that have six regular hangers and unhook on one end. These hangers maximize vertical space and free up the bar. When you want to really take a good look at all of the items, you can hang up both ends and see everything horizontally.

To keep things organized, use these hangers to store like items. Maybe one is strictly for dress shirts, while another is for jeans. That way, you can look at all your options at once.

Stop Shoes From Cluttering the Entryway

There's something so unsatisfying about stepping into your home and seeing dozens of pairs of shoes lined up by the door...if you're lucky. A lot of the time you'll just find them wherever they were last kicked off!

Step up your shoe storage game with a shoe cabinet. These provide extra surface area for your keys and wallet while also hiding an impressive number of shoes (up to 12 pairs). There are lots of cabinet options out there now, but we’re partial to the ventilated ones from Ikea (no smelly foot odor here). They’re the OGs and still the best.

Keep Sweater Stacks From Falling Over

Looking to make your open closet shelving look a whole lot neater? Invest in one of our favorite tools: shelf dividers. You can stack clothing to your heart's content without the leaning towers of wool!

These dividers will keep your sweaters and sweatshirts separated and nicely piled. Plus, they're practically invisible, so they don't make the closet look cluttered. If you're not big on sweaters, they also come in handy for folded jeans, rolled bath towels, and sheet sets. Just move them around to adjust the spacing, and voila, streamlined storage.

Show Off Your Purse Collection

When you have an impressive selection of bags, it can be hard to keep them all in one spot, especially if you don't have room in your closet to give them their own section (goals). Think outside the closet. Just outside the closet.

Over-the-door organizers are used for all sorts of items, but we like it for clutches, totes, satchels, cross-bodies, saddle bags...we could go on and on! The little wire basket compartments help them stand up and maintain their shape, keeping them nicer longer!

Storing purses this way also allows you to take a look at your full inventory in one glance, so you can pick the perfect accessory for any outfit. Even when you're running late for work and have about 30 seconds max.

Deal With Tangled Utensils

Imagine how nice it would be to reach for a whisk and actually get a whisk. Install a peg rail below your upper cabinets and live the dream.

Tidy Your Kitchen Tools

Toys

Store Stuffed Animals

Turns out, the fabric pockets of hanging closet organizers are great for stashing blocks, small stuffies, toy trucks, and more. Park favorites lower for little hands to reach.

Get in the Game (Pieces)

It’s hard to win at Monopoly when half the cards are mixed in with the MagnaTiles. Corral those tiny pieces for each game and pre-sort them into zipped baggies. Then pass go and collect $200!

Hide Space-Clogging Spices

Instead of letting them eat up cabinet space, lay bottles down in a drawer—with or without the help of an organizer. Grab and shake!

Store Your Spices

Sort Your Beauty Supplies

The best way to make a bunch of little things feel like an intentional display? Put ’em on a stand. Line up potions on one level and nail polish or makeup on another. Bonus points for color-coding.

Papers

Hang Command Center Clipboards

Install clipboards on the wall over your desk for a new (prettier) take on inboxes and outboxes. Use mounting tape (make sure it won't rip off any paint) to arrange them in a row or grid. Then, choose your labels. We suggest "to pay," "to deal with later," or, best of all, "to shred." Alternatively, organize everything by person. Each family member gets their own clipboard, and items pertaining to them (field trip forms, receipts) go on their board.

Create a Makeshift File Cabinet

If you have a deep drawer (at least 14 inches), install rails and hang some file folders. They’re great for school forms, tax returns, and other stuff you need handy.

Build Themed Binders

Sort important documents by subject in neat (again, maybe even color-coded) binders. Keep one for bank stuff, one for your pet’s vet stuff, and so on. Put the binders somewhere easily accessible, like on a desk or in a drawer.

Gather Your Chargers

Stop getting your wires crossed! Wind them up and use a box with compartments (like a tackle box, jewelry box, or tea organizer) to hold them. You can even add some labels! Easy to find, easy to identify, and unlikely to get tangled up.

Organize your tech cords

Books

Frame a Doorway

Whether you're a fan of fiction or a lover of striking memoirs, chances are you're constantly looking for somewhere to put them all. Install makeshift built-ins by adding shelving around a doorway in your bedroom, living room, or wherever feels right. The vertical storage keeps your favorite reads from cluttering your surfaces and creates a chic library look.

Craft a Reading Cart

We're of the firm belief that there's no such thing as too many books. When it comes to storing them, you just have to get creative. Which brings us to this novel idea (sorry, we had to). Put them on a wheeled cart that you can roll around or tuck into a closet if need be.

You can keep all your go-to cookbooks (and magazines, hint hint) on a cart in the kitchen so that your favorite recipes are at the ready, or fill each level with kids' lit and roll them from one kid's room to the other's, depending on who needs a bedtime story.

If you're looking for some extra credit, try arranging them in a visually appealing way, like we did here, by color-blocking them.

Accessories

Corral Your Baubles

To organize your most-worn gems, first head to the kitchen (or kitchen supply store, or thrift store). Grab tiny bowls and plates and set them up in a drawer or on your dresser. Then sort pieces by color or style until they make sense to you—and look pretty!

Hacks for storing jewelry

Find a New Place for Your Bangles

Skip the jewelry box. Get a tension rod and install it in a cubby in your closet. Hang some S-hooks from it and use them to hold your bracelets and necklaces.

Read the original article on Real Simple