by
Katie Grayson
| Jan 17, 2016
An Organized New Year
The six tips you need to stop the mess from piling up inside your door.
1. Welcome in a Wastebasket & Recycling Bin
Photo via Nicole Dawn Designs
Clutter typically starts with items that don’t have a home. Mail, books, coupons, and newspapers pile up right inside your door. While they’re not technically dirty, they create a messy look. While wastebaskets and recycling bins aren’t the most attractive item in your home, they are a quick fix to clutter. Add one wherever your paper mess tends to add up for a quick solution to clutter.
2. Give everything a Home.
Photo via My Pink Life
From mittens to book bags and jackets, the items you use daily tend to pile up. Establish a ‘home’ for the items you use daily. Prevent blocking the front door by giving shoes a specific mat or rug to sit on. Add labels to bins and baskets for hats and mittens. Give every person in your home a specific coat hook or area to prevent items getting lost or stock piled because there isn’t a specific home for them.
3. Go paperless.
Photo via Evertt Clinic
Remember all of that mail we talked about? Get rid of it! Go paperless: sign up for electronic bills and statements to keep your paper trail to a minimum. Cancel magazine subscriptions for titles you haven’t read in months.
4. Take Advantage of Closet Space
Photo via Better Homes and Gardens
Keep those entryway closes clean and organized. These are great areas to use vertical storage solutions. Vertical storage uses less floor space, making it feel less cluttered. Get the most out of vertical storage by storing seasonal items that aren’t used on a daily basis higher and those daily items lower.
5. Opt for built-in storage
Photo via Decor Pad
Utilize furniture and designs that have built-in storage. Benches can often have built-in storage in the base, which makes a great home for backpacks, gloves, and more. Use items that are dually decorative and can be used to store items. Have a favorite Coke crate? Use it as a key holder to make it functional.
6.One in, one out.
Use the one in, one out mentality. Whenever you get one item in, you get rid of one. From jackets and shoes to magazines, this technique will help keep the clutter minimal.