This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full Disclosure Policy for details.
There’s something about an empty drawer. The promise, the clean slate, the fresh start…it’s like a new beginning. Call me crazy, but I really do like moving. I love the opportunity to pull everything out of every cupboard, drawer and closet. It makes me feel like I’m organizing like a pro. I enjoy purging with the motivation of “Do I really want to pack that and carry it with us?” And then, you do it again at the new house, this time with the question, “Do I really want to find a place for this kitchen gadget/bag of half-used birthday streamers/set of dishware I never use…”
No, I am not moving. But I did move nine times in the first five years we were married. So yeah, I got pretty good at it. And the other day, I walked into my room and discovered Charlie had completely emptied one of my drawers. Nightgowns and lingerie were strewn across my bedroom floor. In exasperation, I picked everything up and tossed the pile on my hope chest to deal with later. This morning, I yanked open the drawer to put away my nightgown and it was completely empty. I was struck with a strange feeling of anticipation and promise, rather than irritation. OK, I was slightly irritated about having extra work to do, but I do get such a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction from taking control over a tiny corner of my life. 🙂 So allow me to share some of those “good feelings” with you.
5 Tips for Organizing Like a Pro
1. Just Start.
Organizing can be a daunting task, especially if you’ve let things go for a while. Don’t focus on the big picture (the entire house, the garage, the bedroom, etc.) Choose a small area to begin with, like the closet, or the dresser. If that’s still too overwhelming, choose the closet floor or only one drawer. Just pick something, don’t get distracted, and do it.
2. Empty it Completely
You can’t get through any project without starting from zero. Trying to organize what you have as you pull it out will only end in frustration as you run out of places to set things down until you know what to do with them. So empty the drawer out onto the bed, or pull everything off the closet floor so you can start with a totally clean slate.
3. Start with Three Basic Piles: Keep, Toss and Sell
This is just a broad, initial organizing tactic. You’ll go through your keep pile in more detail later. For now, fill up those trash bags with anything without value. But be careful! You’d be surprised what can sell at a garage sale. (Read more about running a successful garage sale here!) An odd dish with no match will still appeal to someone-as long as it’s not chipped or broken. Some long-forgotten shirt in the back of your closet may be outdated, but if you can get .50 out of it, don’t throw it out! Toss it in the Sell box! Those .50 items can really add up quickly! But, if it’s stained, ripped, broken, dirty beyond repair, expired or useless, then toss it!
4. Organize the Keep Pile
Now that you’ve purged your “target zone” of trash and filled up your Sell box with things that will make you some money, it’s time to go through that Keep pile and determine what actually needs to go back in and what needs to find a home elsewhere. This will also act as a second filter. When you’re wandering around the house trying to decide what to do with the blender you found in your bedroom closet, it may occur to you that you don’t really need it after all. There’s another money-maker for the Sell box! So fold everything neatly and put it back in the drawer, or wipe down all the dishes and put them back in the cupboard. Whatever your target zone is, fill it back up neatly with only the items you’ve determined to keep.
5. Clean up and do it Again
Put away what’s left where it belongs and choose a second target zone. You don’t need to do this all in one day, one weekend, or even one month. But if you’re consistent about finishing one small area per day, I bet you’ll find you’ve organized your entire home in one or two months’ time. And it wasn’t an overwhelming task that left you exhausted and frustrated. In fact, since you’re now organizing like a pro, your friends may ask you to come do their house next! 🙂
- Chocolate Orange Cookies - November 2, 2024
- Nutella Banana Bread - October 14, 2024
- Bacon Onion Dip - September 13, 2024
Ruth James says
In addition to my home I have a summer home. When it is fall I begin a to-do list of what I need to accomplish at home before the cottage season begins again. Last winter I vowed to clean all the drawers in my home. One at a time (junk drawer) or a full dresser, linens, crafts, kitchen, underwear, husband’s—–ALL of them. What a refreshing wonderful difference it made! I am still enjoying las year’s success. This year it’s the collection of old photographs!
Nicole Burkholder says
Oh, man- the PHOTOS. I have YEARS of photos I need to organize. Going to digital years ago just killed my system! Having clean and organized drawers is so awesome!
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says
I’ve got lots of organizing to do, but I find small projects work best for me. Baby steps! Working on my office now. I couldn’t see the floor a few days ago.
Nicole Burkholder says
Yes, I attempting to clean up and organize the whole house the other day and it was an utter failure. I did get the bedroom about 90% done, but that was it! I bit off too much for one day 🙂
Fashnboucou says
Thanks for sharing. I have steps 1-4 packed down. It’s #5 that always gets me lol.
Emily @ Love, Pasta and a Tool Belt says
Great tips! Thank you! I was just sitting here thinking how I need to organize my closet and nightstand drawers. Going to start right now 🙂
Nicole Burkholder says
You’re welcome! I LOVE to be organized, and I even enjoy the process, but I hate just getting started!
Gabrielle@MamaGab says
You bet!!! That’s how I do it with clothes anyway.
Allie says
Stopping by from the Daily Blog Boost. Can I just say I love the “custom art not included” picture?? Love to see evidence that none of our lives are perfect and am glad you’re good with that. 🙂 Great tips for organizing too!
Nicole Burkholder says
Just realized that I never responded to this, and I LOVED your comment regarding “real life” vs blogger perfect. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Mel says
Awesome tips, I made some organising buckets labeled with keep give toss and I just pick areas, it’s better but I think any home with kids will always have clutter, they seem to breed it lol.
Nicole Burkholder says
Every year when we have a garage sale, I think, WHERE did that all come from?!? 🙂
Christina @ Juggling Real Food and Real Life says
I feel so much better when I am organized. I really need to be more organized in additional areas in my home. There is often quite a bit of problem-solving that goes with organization and I get hung up on those details. Great advice to start small. Perhaps, I will feel like I’ve accomplished something and be motivated to keep going. Thanks for the advice.
Nicole Burkholder says
It’s just like eating right- you feel so much better when you do, but it’s still so hard! 🙂
DeDe@Designed Decor says
I like the keep toss and sell! I just had a garage sale and now I have a huge pile going to goodwill. It is NOT coming back into the house!
Nicole Burkholder says
I have a garage sale every single year. And every time, I wonder, “Where did all this stuff come from?!?” And my #10 tip for garage sales is to take it away afterwards-DON’T bring it back into your house!! 🙂
Jeanie @ create&babble says
I’ve been working on organizing my craft room and these are great tips! Some times organizing can be so overwhelming and breaking it down into manageable chunks really helps. Thanks for the tips!
Nicole Burkholder says
One little drawer at a time! 🙂
Megan says
Thanks for sharing your tips!! They will come in handy as I go through and organize my home in the coming months! 🙂 it’s always a daunting task, but it needs to get done. Thanks again!
Christina @ The Scrappy Housewife says
These are great tips Nicole! Especially the “just start”. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and over think it.
Nicole Burkholder says
I was listening to a podcast (Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income) and his guest said, “If you want to be, do.” That’s really been sticking with me. Just do it! Nike has something, there. 🙂
amy @ one artsy mama says
Want to come organize for me? Lol. I like your first tip best because my problem is I always say, “Ugh, I don’t even know where to start”…so I don’t.
Nicole Burkholder says
I can’t imagine adding in all the “crafty” stuff to keep organized! 🙂 I’m a little weird and I really love it. But it does take a push to just get going!