Many people believe that tidying up a room means just doing one big clean sweep and it will stay that way forever. But the truth is that true organization isn’t a single action, it’s a system. It’s no secret that without a system in place, things can easily get messy even if they aren’t right now.
There is no easy answer to “how do I declutter my house?” other than building better systems, routines and habits for everyday living.
Why Cleaning Doesn’t Work Long Term
Cleaning does give you a sense of satisfaction, but what it doesn’t do is create lasting change. If you don’t have a system in place, there will always be room for clutter.
The problem isn’t that you need to do more. The problem is that you don’t have a system in place yet. There isn’t a system for where things belong or what needs to happen, so things naturally spread.
This is why so many of us feel like we never really clean but are always cleaning.
First, Get Rid of Everything
Before you begin to organize, the first step is to clear away what doesn’t belong there anymore. Often we think our space is cluttered when in reality it just needs more space.
Decluttering is a vital first step for organizing because it allows you to see the space clearly to make decisions. Without decluttering first, the organization plan you created will get overcrowded and become unmanageable.
Define Zones in Your Space
Zones are one of the simplest and most effective ways to organize a space. Each area needs to have a clear function, which could mean an entire bedroom or an entire section of a closet.
By knowing the function of each space, you know exactly what each object should do, meaning you won’t have to make as many decisions when it comes to organization because everything already has its place.
Make it Easy to Put Things Away
Any organizational system is useless if it isn’t easy to maintain. If getting used to a new system means having to remember a whole different way of putting things away, you won’t end up sticking with it.
Storage must be functional, functional and visible. It needs to be something that fits perfectly into your daily life and not something you need to think about twice before using.
Daily Habits are More Important Than One-Time Events
A tidy home will only be maintained if you continue the habits that created it. Cleaning the bathroom once won’t keep it clean forever but continuing the daily habit of cleaning the toilet brush and toilet seat daily will keep it in tip-top shape for years to come.
The goal isn’t necessarily to create a one-time event but rather to prevent the mess before it happens by continuing to clear away unnecessary objects, put things in the right place immediately after using them, etc.
Design for Your Habits
The way your home is designed should reflect the way you live in it and not the way you think you should. If you are always leaving keys in the entryway, for example, having an elaborate “organizing station” for your keys in the entryway will only fail because you won’t use it.
It’s important to make sure your organization systems are ones that you can follow along with on a daily basis. They can’t be things that you have to constantly think about, because then they simply won’t work.
To Conclude
Your goal should be to create a clutter-free living space that doesn’t just stay clutter-free, but one that is actually easy to keep that way.
When you get used to your new organization systems, you won’t have to think about them at all, they will just work for you.