5-Step Organization: De-Clutter Your Home and Live Better

Stacks of magazines in wicker crates by the couch …old notes, receipts, and wallet-size pictures on kitchen countertops … once-used bread makers, TVs, instruments and holiday décor in basements and attics … out-of-fashion, worn out clothes in bedroom closets.

If you're sick of living with clutter, the time to take action is now.  With this easy 5-step home organization system, you can make your home relaxing, comfortable and clutter-free for years to come.

Step #1: Make Family and Friends Aware

It's great that you're motivated to de-clutter your home and live a cleaner, better life.  But if the people living with you aren't in the loop, expect to return home to the same clutter you cleaned up.  Before beginning the cleaning process, inform family members or roommates about your plan.

If you're thinking right now, my roommate will never go for this, they're filthy, pitch the idea and see what happens.  You'll be surprised about people's response to passion and initiative.  Also, don't be afraid to say, "This isn't working for me anymore.  I'd really appreciate it if you'd help me clean up around here."

If you have kids – making them aware is no problem.  That's why the words "chores" and "grounding" were invented.

Step #2: Embrace the "Clean as You Go" Principle

Many home chefs like to clean as they cook.  For instance, after mixing a bowl of cookie dough, they'll clean the bowl after placing the balls of dough on cookie sheets.  This allows for more counter space when the cookies come out of the oven – space to prepare other food, space for the cooling racks and space to place a glass of wine.

Applying the "Clean as You Go" principle to your home will keep your home tidy.  For instance, when you finish doing a project in the garage, clean up the debris … after picking out an outfit for the day, hang the "unchosen" back in your closet … and after watching a movie, put the DVD back in the case and put the DVD back in the holder.  Simple things like that.

Applying this principle to your home will also give you the ability to see where true clutter lies.  When everything is tidy and clean, distractions (unnecessary objects and piles) stick out easier.  Notice these distractions and fix them.

Remember, tidiness compounds.  The more you do it, the more organized your home will be.  Even when you don't feel like putting those clothes back before leaving for work, do it anyway.

Step #3: From Now On, Buy Things You Actually Like

Take area rugs for instance.  The next time you're at a home décor warehouse, don't buy an area rug just because it's on sale.  Instead, wait a while and save up for one that will last – one that you actually like.

But you're probably wondering, how does buying things you actually like reduce clutter?

Well, think about what happens to things you buy that you kinda like.  After a few years, they end up in the basement.  You tell yourself those things will be used in the future – maybe by your college-bound child or just-engaged nephew – but they rarely are.  All these things accumulate in the basement and, before you know it, there are piles upon piles of stuff.

Threatened by all these piles, you continue to feed them instead of chop them down.  It's not you – it's just human habit.

Step #4: Donate Items You NEVER Use

Back to those piles we were talking about.  Yes, they're incredibly hard to get rid of – almost as hard as shedding 5 pounds of stubborn belly fat – but it's possible.  In fact, sometimes, people are willing to do some of the work for you.

What I'm talking about are donation organizations like Goodwill that offer to pick up your "junk" in select locations. Plus, even if your local Goodwill doesn't offer pickup services, locations are never more than a few miles away if you live in a city.  [View Goodwill locations here]

Getting rid of these piles will clear up your basement and give you the ability to organize things you use annually, or things you use rarely but still want to keep.  Holiday décor, well-aged wine, sports memorabilia, family photos, expensive furniture and more.

Step #5: Store Items You RARELY Use

This may sound contradictory to what was said above, but that's only if you have a basement you never plan on renovating.  Chances are, if you have an unfinished basement in your house and have kids, eventually you'll turn it into a den.

Consider this scenario: you renovate your basement and are only left with a small area of storage.  In this storage area, you store the items you use annually.

But what about the things you rarely use and still want to keep?

That's when it's smart to start looking for safe, secure self-storage facilities in your local area.  Whether you live out west in Santa Monica, CA or in Richmond, VA in the east, there are tons of self-storage facilities that you'll find as clean as your newly organized home.

See how all of this organization businesses connects?