Are you one of those folks who has a drawer full of mismatched socks? Or maybe you're still looking for that one sock that's been missing since last summer.
If so, you know how frustrating it is to have a space that's not organised. It's time to get your space in order.
You might be thinking, "But I don't think I have that much stuff!" That's true, but the problem is that you don't know what you've got! You're so used to living with all this stuff around you that you can't even see it anymore. And when you do find something, it's just a momentary distraction from the other stuff that's sitting there and making the room seem cluttered and messy.
The solution? Use signs and labels to organise your home by area. We’ve all seen the amazing TikTokers and their organised homes and thought, “oh, how beautiful is that?”. Finding a professional organiser to manage your house isn’t easy so here is our guide to getting your home video tour ready!
The first step is deciding what area of your house needs organising first. For example, if your kitchen drawers are overflowing with various utensils and pots and pans, focus on tackling that drawer first before moving on to other areas in your kitchen (or house). You'll be surprised at how quickly this can be done if you just focus on one area at a time!
This will help you see the big picture and understand where everything belongs—and where it doesn't belong! Once you've decided which area needs organising first, start putting up signs that say things like 'Kitchen utensils' or 'Socks' (socks are always the beginning of the stress… why are they regularly behind stuff?).
The tip for using labels and signs effectively is to use them consistently. So, once you know which area you are working on, find a style of labelling and signs that works for you so that you can recreate them everywhere!
Tackle one area at a time. For example, if you're not sure where all those cords are supposed to go, start by trying to label all of them with their purpose (such as "AC power cord"). This way, when you're looking for something specific like an AC power cord or Ethernet cable, you'll know exactly where to look because they'll be grouped together based on their purpose instead of being scattered around everywhere else!
The main areas we have found people get the most organising success are kitchens, pantries and laundry. Check out these top tips from our team.
Label your drawers.
If you're looking for an easy way to keep your drawers organized, then label them. Labelling your drawers is another great way to keep things organised. If you have a dresser with multiple drawers, label each one with the type of clothing that belongs in it. For example, you could label one drawer "shirts," another "pants," and another "underwear." This will help you find what you need quickly and keep everything in its proper place.
For kids and partners, this is a really good way of getting them to help with the laundry too, they can’t put anything in the wrong place if it is clear why they go.
Using this technique with cupboards and drawers around your home can make sure that everything is always put back in its place and nothing is left in the communal dumping ground.
Put signs on dedicated areas
A sign can be used to help you organise your home. For example, you could put a sign on the front of a closet that says "linens" or "towels" to designate what should be stored there. You could also use signs to designate areas for different activities, such as a sign that says, "craft area" or "office space." This will help you stay focused and keep your home organised.
A good rule of thumb is to start with one sign (or a few) and then add more as needed. It's easier than trying to remember where everything goes!
Label your pantry!
Wherever you have created your pantry, under the stairs, in the garage or even in a dedicated pantry room they can get messy quickly, especially if you have family members in there 5 times a day for their chocolatey fix.
To keep your pantry at its best, create a system that everyone can follow. Label your pantry items with their expiration dates and arrange them in alphabetical order. This will not only help you keep track of what you have, but it will also help you plan your meals accordingly.
Use clear containers instead of bags to store dry goods like rice, flour, and sugar so that everything is visible at once. You'll be able to see when something needs replacing and be able to plan meals based on what's on hand.
Keep baking supplies together in one cabinet or drawer so they're easy to find when needed (and there's no excuse for forgetting that special ingredient).
Create a section just for snacks or quick treats. This will stop the family rooting through the whole pantry and they can just go directly to what they are looking for.
Label your cables.
Finally, labelling your cables can also be helpful in keeping your home organised. If you have a lot of electronic devices, it can be difficult to keep track of which cable belongs to which device. Labelling your cables will help you keep them organised and prevent you from accidentally unplugging the wrong device.
If you're anything like me, it's not uncommon to unplug a cord without checking that it's the right one. This is especially true when I'm making a sandwich or taking out the trash! By labelling your cables, you'll know exactly where everything goes so that it doesn't get mixed up and cause confusion.
So, how does having an organised space change your life?
Well, for starters, it takes away some of the stress you get from being surrounded by too much stuff. Instead of being stressed about buying more helium balloons and lanterns for your next party instead, you can focus on having fun by organising your space.
So go on, invest in some signs and try to relax a little bit. No one is going to be able to see your messy house except you, and you have everything under control. All of that time spent organising your space will mean more time for fun and sleep!
Live by this rule!
TTFN