I crave it — order, that is. Rows of shoes lined neatly against the garage wall, school and insurance papers standing at attention in my file holder, pillows perfectly plump on the couch, canned vegetables arranged alphabeticaly. I crave it, but I don’t have it. It sure would be nice though.

So, how do we simplify instead of multiply? How do we manage the chaos and clutter in our homes and stop more from seeping through the cracks? These tips aren’t full-proof for everyone, but they work for my family. Come on, let’s tap your inner organizer!

Baskets, containers, tubs and hooks… choose your favorite color, your favorite finish, your favorite fabric, your favorite whatever… Having a place for everything (yes, even messy things we would rather ignore) is imperative to keeping organized. Cardboard works just as well. I keep packing tape and a permanent marker near the storage room so I can mark boxes and containers before I put them away. I leave boxes in each closet of the house so we can toss in outdate or outsized clothes or linens. The list goes on. I love baskets and have several around the house and in the garage for odds and end that would create clutter if tossed in a pile. Hooks are just as handy and can double as nifty wall decorations. I use them in the closets, garage, bathrooms and laundry room.

Donate, Donate, Donate… Stacks of books and magazines? Donate them to your favorite beauty salon, nursing home, school or library. Extra clothes and linens? Donate to your nearest Goodwill or similar organization. There are so many worthy groups out there who need blankets, coats, baby clothes, maternity clothes and the like, especially when weather turns cold. Some of them will even come to your home to pick up the goods. Furniture collecting dust in storage? Donate to your church or school garage sale. You get rid of it and don’t have to do all the prep for your own sale.

Paper Overload… How often do you go through those 20 pieces of mail and only three are legitimate bills or letters? Do you toss them on the counter and watch the pile grow? Do unsolicited newspapers pile up on your drive? I’m guessing many of you have said yes to some or all of these. The best way to reduce your paper clutter is to stop it before it starts. Before you hit the door, toss the junk mail into the recycling bin, toss those unsolicited address stickers into the craft bin and concentrate on the important stuff you can promptly divvy into the bill and coupon baskets or memo board over your desk. Kid’s artwork piling up on the kitchen table? Invest in an inexpensive easel to showcase this youthful talent or mat and hang for unique wall decorations. If you are diligent about these processes, your paper clutter will soon disappear.

As you might have figured, I could go on and on about all the wonderful home organizing ideas out there, but time and space are short, so here are a few interesting sites and blogs on organizing your space. Have fun — I’d love to hear your ideas, too.

Regards!

http://www.marthastewart.com/organizing?lnc=1a89cf380e1dd010VgnVCM1000005b09a00aRCRD

http://www.lifeorganizers.com/

http://housekeeping.about.com/od/getorganized/u/getorganized.htm

http://housekeeping.about.com/b/