Unfortunately, in real life, there is no magic spell that will instantly organize your living space and put everything in its rightful place. However, the best home organization tips from professionals definitely come close to such magic. While the internet is literally crawling with various tips, this list stands out because it comes from the brilliant minds of industry experts who have spent years helping people develop their organizational skills and turn chaos into coziness.
We have carefully selected and compiled a list of the 14 most important tips that will permanently solve the problem of clutter in your house or apartment. Whether your refrigerator is a chaotic mix of food, or your home stubbornly forms piles of clutter on the dining table every time you look around, these tips will help you take control of the situation.
1. Implement the "One-Touch" Method
Piles of items (mail, clothes, documents) that you promise to "eventually get to" can completely sabotage your chance at a well-organized home. If you tend to create this category of items that remains in limbo forever on a chair, Los Angeles-based professional organizer Megan Kessman says the "one-touch" method will help keep you on your toes.
It works very simply: as soon as you pick up an item, Kessman advises, "You must immediately decide its fate." This could be returning it to its rightful place, tossing it in the recycling bin, or donating it, but never put it back into a pile with the thought, "I'll deal with this later." This micro-habit is incredibly effective if you consistently put it into practice.
2. Create Fridge "Stations"
Overstuffed and cluttered refrigerators inevitably lead to "choice paralysis," food spoilage, and a mystery regarding what is actually available to cook for dinner.
To reduce the mess, experts suggest creating clear "stations" (zones) around the shelves and drawers. For example, dedicate a specific plastic bin exclusively for breakfast items (butter, cheese, jam), a separate tray for condiments, and a distinct zone for snacks.
3. Maximize the Nightly "Reset"
The main key to an organized space is regular, gradual work. One way to implement daily organization that doesn't require exhausting hours is the nightly reset. Kessman advises "resetting your living space for just 10-15 minutes" every evening before bed. Fold the blankets on the sofa, put away remote controls, load cups into the dishwasher, and clear any visual clutter. By doing this, you set yourself up for a much more productive and pleasant morning.
4. Choose High-Quality Organizational Containers
When it comes to buying plastic storage containers, there is always the temptation to choose the cheapest mass-market option. While this is a quick and attractive win for your wallet, strategic interior design consultant Barbara E. Tanaka recommends putting quality first. Investing in high-quality materials leads to fewer replacements and better longevity.
Quality (especially acrylic) bins and baskets also tend to have better features: they are sturdier, don't deform, have reliable latches, are easy to wash, and stack perfectly on top of one another.
5. Invest in Multi-Functional Furniture
Maintaining perfect order in a small space (especially in studio apartments) is not an easy task. The best way to combat this problem is by using multi-functional furniture. Classic examples include sofa beds with built-in linen drawers, storage beds with lifting mechanisms, and storage ottomans. Also, look out for fold-out tables and desks that serve as ordinary narrow shelves when folded.
6. Create Multi-Purpose Zones
You can create zones with different purposes throughout your home if space is lacking. Home organization expert Melanie Summers suggests, for instance, using spacious breakfast nooks for hobbies or crafts during the day, or transforming a part of the living room into a cozy work-from-home zone using a decorative screen or a bookshelf.
7. Batch Your Household Chores
When you overthink every single chore that needs to be done around the house, you quickly become overwhelmed and lose motivation. Experts suggest grouping your chores (a technique known as "batching"). For example: "The trash category could include ensuring new trash bags are available in all rooms at once, taking out the general trash, sorting recycling, and washing the trash bins themselves."
8. Consider Built-In Storage Systems
Designers note that today there are many built-in furniture options that are both budget-friendly (modular systems) and highly personalized depending on the geometry of your room. Floor-to-ceiling built-in cabinets offer more freedom, visually blend with the wall, and allow you to perfectly utilize every inch of space.
9. Always Measure Twice
You will never be able to create order at home if all the tools and systems you bought simply don't fit into your cabinets. Bins or baskets that don't slide perfectly onto their shelves (or prevent doors from closing) ruin your chances of tidying up before you even begin. Don't waste your time, money, or energy—always take a measuring tape with you before heading to the store.
10. Utilize Your Walls
Walls aren't just designed for a nice coat of paint or wallpaper. They are another massive surface area that can and should be used for smart storage. Experts say that floating shelves, pegboards, and stylish hooks are perfect for clearing off other horizontal zones in your home (like kitchen countertops, floors, and coffee tables). It is "like magic for maximizing vertical space."
11. Organize the Fridge or Pantry by Person
You are probably used to sorting the contents of your fridge or pantry by food type (vegetables with vegetables, sauces with sauces). But have you ever considered doing it by the number of people in the family? Allocating a personal basket for everyone can be incredibly useful in families with children (personal snacks) or for people with special dietary needs (a gluten-free or vegan shelf). Also, always use a rotating tray (lazy Susan) to access jars of spices and sauces easily.
12. "Eat the Frog" from Your Chore List
In time management, the concept of "eating the frog" means doing the hardest, most dreaded task first thing in the morning before doing anything else. The first step to a clean home is to identify your scariest and largest household task (for example, defrosting and organizing the freezer or sorting through a seasonal coat closet) and getting it over with. After that, the rest of the small chores will feel like an absolute breeze.
13. Color-Code Your Storage
Neutral, clear, and white shades are very popular right now, but there is also a wonderful place for bright colors in your organizational systems. A vibrant palette and so-called color coding "significantly reduce the time your brain spends searching for the right items." For example, use blue containers for work materials and cables, red or black for fitness equipment, and green for hobby items or a first aid kit.
14. Track Your Family's Efforts
Do organizational tasks and cleaning often take a backseat in your home, with all the responsibility falling on one person? The best way to get back on track is to "create a visible system for tracking agreed-upon responsibilities, their frequency, standards, and accountability." Physical tracking (like a magnetic planner on the fridge) distributes the household load much more evenly between you, your partner, or roommates, and significantly reduces domestic arguments.
Based on materials and expert advice from Forbes Home.
