Budget-Friendly Home Organization Tips for a Fresh Start

Winter isn't always the most organized season in our homes. With clutter left over from the holidays and limited opportunities to get outside, homes start to become disorganized and chaotic. Our real estate agents are here to help.

Organization Tips for Your Chicagoland Home

Whether getting organized is part of your New Year's resolution, or you simply want to get a head start on spring cleaning, these simple and affordable organization tips will help your Chicagoland home look its best this winter. 

Declutter and Donate (or Sell)

The first and arguably most important step toward a tidier home is eliminating clutter. That means identifying what you don't need, excess tchotchkes, outdated decor, unworn clothes, old books and magazines, and finding them a new home.

What to do with all your old stuff? Start by dividing it into three categories:

• Throw Out: Items that are broken, damaged, or so worn out that they're unlikely to be of use to anyone. Broken electronics, expired products, and old toiletries might fall into this category.
• Donate: Items that you're ready to see go to a new home. Think old clothes and shoes, kitchenware, small appliances, books, and anything else you're ready to let go of to your local thrift store.
• Sell: Items that have value but no longer serve you, like collectibles, antiques, and larger appliances that still work. List them on eBay or wait until spring to have a yard sale.

Use Uniform Kitchen Storage 

Kitchens and pantries tend to become over-cluttered with an over-abundance of containers. Boxes of pasta and cereal, and bags of rice, beans, and lentils, never seem to go away. 

Save space and create a more organized look by investing in uniform kitchen storage containers. Instead of tossing bags of sugar and flour in your cupboards or on yourself, you can enjoy the tidy look of matching, labeled containers.

Make Better Use of Your Drawers

If you live in a home where every drawer has become a "junk drawer," you're not alone. There are better ways to utilize kitchen drawers, desk drawers, and dresser drawers. Try a few simple tips: 

• Use adjustable dividers to break up drawer space, allowing you to organize the contents of each drawer better.
• Keep frequently-used items in top drawers, and less-used items in lower drawers. 
• Organize small items like pens, chargers, stationery, tools, and accessories in small containers with similar items within each drawer. 
• Neatly wrap cables and chargers and keep them all together in one drawer.

Invest in a Shower Caddy

Bathrooms tend to be some of the most cluttered rooms in every home, and the shower is a particular problem area. Shower caddies are available in a wide range of sizes and configurations, allowing you to keep toiletries and other shower items neatly organized and accessible.

Optimize Closet Space

Closets tend to become receptacles for everything you want to stow out of sight, and they can quickly get out of hand as a result. If your closets look over-stuffed, chances are there are better ways to use the storage:

• Use shelves all the way to the ceiling for seasonal clothing and bulky items like bedding.
• Install a second rod (one above the other) for double hanging
• Use floor bins or a small cart for shoes, sweaters, workout gear, and accessories
• Make use of vertical door space with hooks and hanging organizers

Contact us today to learn more about living your best life in Chicago. Winter is a great time to find your dream home in any of Chicagoland's unique neighborhoods, and our real estate agents are here to help every step of the way.