3 home organization projects to try if you don’t know where to start
“I don’t even know where to start” is often one of the first things I hear from people who are struggling with disorganization. Whether you’ve always found it difficult to be organized, or things feel particularly chaotic because of a recent move or change in your family, tackling clutter can feel overwhelming.
“Start small” is the advice often given to people who want to get organized. While I think this can be good advice, it’s pretty general. Having a specific plan or project can be helpful. Today, I wanted to share some organizing projects that can be completed quickly, are relatively painless, and have a big impact. In other words, these projects are a great place to start if you’re hoping to bring more order to your home and your life.
Store your government documents securely
For me, there’s nothing more anxiety-inducing than knowing I need an important government document and not being able to find it. If you don’t have a central location for your family’s important documents, I highly recommend trying this project. Here’s what to do:
Gather all of your family or household’s important documents in one place. Think about docs that you wouldn’t want to lose, but you don’t need to access every day — birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, vaccine cards, etc. You may have other types of documents to add to this list.
Place all of your documents in a folder/organizer with tabs or dividers. This small accordion file works great. (Please note: I don’t make money off anything I link to on my website. If I link to something, I truly find it useful!)
I recommend sorting your documents by type (for example, all passports in the same folder) so small items like Social Security cards don’t get lost in the pages of bigger items like passports.
Store your folder/organizer in a lockable, fire-proof safe.
Purge your old packaging
With the rise of online shopping, I’m finding more of my clients keeping lots of empty (or mostly empty boxes) in their homes. There are usually two reasons people hang on to old boxes:
They think they might use the box in the future.
They just haven’t taken the time to get rid of it.
Unfortunately, empty boxes and containers can take up a lot of space, and can make your home feel cluttered. Here’s what to do with them:
Do a sweep of your home for packaging you’re holding onto, but not actively using. Here are some examples of things to look for:
Cardboard delivery boxes
Old moving boxes
TV, computer, electronics, or shoe boxes
Paper or plastic grocery bags
Empty food containers (yogurt containers, peanut butter jars, old takeout containers, etc.)
Fancy paper shopping bags, gift bags, and wine bags
Small cloth bags (the kind jewelry or trinkets might come in)
Ask yourself if you have an immediate use for your packaging. For items that are seasonal (such as gift bags), ask yourself if you used that item for the last holiday. If you didn’t re-use a gift bag at Christmas last year, will you re-use it this year? Be honest with yourself.
Purge anything you don’t have an immediate use for. Most likely you won’t need or use these items in the future, but even if you do, they can be replaced inexpensively.
Here’s what to do with everything:
Cardboard boxes can be broken down and recycled. I highly recommend getting in the habit of breaking down boxes and putting them in your recycling immediately after opening. If you have good quality moving boxes, consider giving them to a neighbor who is moving through the Nextdoor app or your local Buy Nothing group on Facebook.
Recycle paper shopping bags and gift bags. Bags with glitter or special decorations may not be recyclable — if you have any of these and they are in good condition, try giving them away through your local Buy Nothing group.
For plastic shopping bags, check to see if your local grocery store accepts them. In the Pittsburgh area, many Giant Eagle stores have plastic bag recycling bins.
For empty food containers, check to see what your local recycling program will accept. If you have types of plastic or containers that aren’t accepted in your curbside program, check to see if there are other recycling centers in your area. In the South Hills of Pittsburgh, Michael Brothers is an amazing resource for recycling many different types of plastics.
Give away your small cloth bags through your local Buy Nothing group. You can also recycle textiles at H&M stores.
One last thought on packaging clutter — if you struggle with it, know that you’re not alone. Packaging is constantly coming into our lives, and for some people, getting rid of it feels wasteful. Think about ways you can cut down on incoming packaging. Can you use reusable bags when you shop, or ask the cashier to skip the bag if you’re only buying one item? Getting in the habit of doing these things can make a big difference.
Create a permanent donation box
If you’ve ever done an organizing project before, you probably ended up with a bag or box of items to donate to your local thrift shop or your favorite charity. Instead of treating this as a one-time project, why not create a permanent spot (or spots) in your home to collect items you’re no longer using or loving?
I have a donation box in my closet. Whenever I notice an item that I haven’t worn in some time (and probably won’t wear again), I toss it in. When the box fills up, I take it to my local thrift shop. (You can also set a calendar reminder to drop off donations monthly or quarterly, if that helps you remember to get things out of the house). You can set up a donation bin in any spot where you tend to collect clutter — near your entryway, in your basement, or in your garage are all good places.
I like this approach because it’s a reminder that decluttering isn’t a one-and-done event. Yes, sometimes it is helpful to do a big purge and get lots of clutter out of the house at once. But for most of us, new things are always coming into the house, and it’s easier to gradually declutter instead of waiting for lots of things to pile up. (As someone who has driven a full carload of items to my local Goodwill only to find it was no longer accepting donations because it was full, trust me it’s better not to let things pile up.) We can constantly be evaluating our things and letting go of the ones that no longer serve us.
I hope one (or all) of these projects inspires you to get started on your organizing journey.
