Thanks to The Healthy Homeschool for these great tips on decluttering and organizing. Read their article at http://www.thehealthyhomeschool.com/decluttering-organizing.

“Decluttering” is a buzzword that’s everywhere! There is something about clean countertops, a clean expanse of floor, and a neat-looking home that brings a sense of peace. However, there is a fine line between keeping your home clutter free and getting rid of things that you’ll wish you had back at some point. Following are some tips to help you declutter and organize your home!

What You Will Learn

How to effectively declutter
Tips to organize your home
Strategies for keeping your home clutter free

DECLUTTERING DOs

Declutter only one area at a time.
This will help prevent chaos and getting rid of things you didn’t mean to.
Do expect this to take some time, especially if it’s your first time decluttering.
Make sure you are not rushed.
Of course you want to be efficient and work through this as quickly as possible, but don’t be on such a tight schedule that you can’t give a bit of thought to what you are about to toss!
Clearly mark your “take-out” boxes or bags so that things don’t get mixed up.
Have one box for trash, one for donations, and one for yard sale (if that is part of the plan).
Do get rid of things that make you think “yuck” but you have held onto “just in case.”
For example, if you have not worn something in a whole year, chances are you won’t! Chances are you can toss it!
Make sure your home is as neat and clean as possible before you begin your decluttering project.
Do plan to keep your home clutter-free by thinking carefully before every new purchase.
(This will save you lots of money, too!)
DECLUTTERING DONTs

Don’t start on more than one area at a time.
I can tell you from experience, this is not a pretty sight!
Don’t start decluttering impulsively on an emotional whim
(think monthly cycles, traumatic events, or after visiting another’s home and developing — dare I say this? — “comparison envy”). Decluttering should be a conscious choice to weed out the things that do not enhance your lifestyle in the place you live each day.
Don’t start a decluttering project in the middle of a holiday.
Don’t start a decluttering project if you cannot see it through to completion.
Caution: take care when decluttering items that don’t belong to you
Even if they are your children’s items and you feel you can let them go without your children noticing, you need to make sure you are not giving away something with extreme sentimental value.
Don’t toss things you know you are likely to use again.
Yes, believe it or not, people do this.
Don’t begin a decluttering project in a house that’s already out of sorts and upsidedown.
It’s best to tidy up first as much as possible so everyone involved doesn’t go mad!

Being organized takes patience and some skill. But the first step is committing yourself to a project. So, to start, how about organizing your closet?

Whether you hire a professional to do the work for you of organizing your closet or you take it on yourself, start with a clear, well-conceived plan. Why plan? Once you start taking on a big project such as organization, it is easy to get distracted and sidetracked. By having a plan you can stick to what you are aiming for and in the end not end up with a mound of stuff piled on the floor with absolutely no idea how to organize it in any better manner than the way it was. This kind of impulsive behavior leads to frustration and discontent.

With a carefully crafted plan, you can also look forward to a smooth and swift process. The finished project will be comfortable to live with, and you won’t encounter any difficulties or unpleasant surprises during or after the project’s completion. Remember this simple equation: The more time spent planning, the less time or money spent later in physical labor or correcting mistakes.

With closets, you may find that yours isn’t big enough or is out of date. If this is the case, you may look into getting an estimate for a new closet or hiring a closet designer who can take what space you have and restructure it.

All right, now to get started on organizing your closet. Believe it or not there are some specifics to stick with or tips in getting things organized. Some are common sense but here they are:

Keep It Simple. Conserving space is important, but not if it makes the system harder to operate than a system using a little more space. Keep it simple; a system that isn’t being used isn’t a system at all, no matter how much space is conserved.

Tall or short people might consider shelves to accommodate their height, for more comfortable access.

Someone whose wardrobe leans heavily to folded sweaters has different requirements from someone whose closet is crammed with hanging suits.

A person with an extensive collection of shoes or hats might need more shelves and bins than hanging space.

If a bedroom is small and crowded, some bedroom furniture can be eliminated if, for example, a dresser is built into the closet.

Compromise. Few things in life, including organizing a closet, can be attained without some amount of compromise. You may have to forfeit advantages in one area to achieve advantages in another. Many parts are contingent on other parts, just like the pieces of a puzzle.

Hanging Your Clothes – Now for the other part of organizing your closet – how to hang things properly. Clothing has a particular way it should be hung, be sure to read the requirements. For hanging blazers, leather jackets etc, you should look out for heavy wooden or slim line hangers, that can give your ensemble that extra support to carry off their weight. Pants demand a proper folding style, which is placing both the legs parallel one on the top of the other. While hanging them ensure that there is enough space between different trousers in the cupboard.

Uniformity. The finished project will look more attractive if the products, hardware, materials, and appointments go together well. Personal preference influences whether the look will be utilitarian or decorative, but standardization and unity are impressive ingredients.

Organizing your closets can appear to be a daunting task. But with the right determination and well-crafted plan, you can work your way toward a well-organized closet!

About the Author: Rick Miller is on the staff of Only Slimline Hangers, a leading online resource for velvet hangers which are space saving hangers, non slip hangers and slim line hangers. For more information, please visit http://www.onlyslimlinehangers.com.