Finding A Place For Everything

Finding A Place For Everything

Conquer clutter once and for all

Many of us wage a constant battle against clutter. We have more "stuff" than we know what to do with, yet we can't bring ourselves to throw our treasured artifacts away. Surely there must be a way to get organized and stay organized?

Try these steps to start conquering that clutter before it takes over your home:

Sort

Organize each room, sorting into piles using the following criteria:

• Things you use often
• Things that you haven't used in a while, but you know you'll use some day soon
• Things you haven't used in more than a year
• Things that are seasonal

Sift

If you haven't used something in more than a year, maybe it's time to say goodbye. Sometimes you have to be a bit ruthless. These items are probably a large percentage of your clutter! Here are some options:

• Have a garage sale
• Let a consignment shop sell larger items for you
• Give things away to friends or family members
• Donate items to charity – you'll help a worthy cause, and get a tax deduction! (Be sure to get a receipt.)

Store

If you've done a good job of sifting, you'll have more room for storing. If you have a basement or attic, these are two obvious locations for storage, but don't overlook other spots such as closet shelves or under the beds. There are all kinds of nifty containers that will stack on top of each other, provide storage and look good at the same time (and squeeze into tight spots).

Shop for solutions

You can find containers of all shapes and sizes, designed to hold everything from tiny Christmas ornaments to bulky blankets. Depending on your needs, you might want to consider buying:

• A filing cabinet for documents, receipts and other papers
• Dual-duty furniture, such as a coffee table with drawers or a bench with a lift-up top
• Covered plastic bins for blankets or clothing
• Specially designed containers for ornaments and other small items
• Small rolling cabinets with drawers for office supplies and current bills
• Shelves for just about anything – books, games, shoes, whatever!

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