Conquer the Clutter: A 7-Day Home Organization Plan

I don't know if it's the time of year or because we amass so much clutter after the holidays, but January and February are typically home organization months at our house. The festive season, while joyful, often leaves a trail of new toys, gifts, and decorations, not to mention the general build-up of stuff that seems to accumulate over the year.

If your home is starting to feel more "mess" than "masterpiece," don't worry! Transforming your space doesn't have to be a daunting task. With a little planning and a bit of elbow grease, you can create a home you love in just one week.

This isn't about achieving some unrealistic, magazine-perfect ideal. It's about creating a space that feels calm, functional, and reflects you. It's about making your home work for you, not being annoyed and stressed in a cluttered environment.

Day 1: Home Organization Starting Point - The Great Declutter

This is the most crucial step. It can also be the most overwhelming, so start small and start on a day when you have time and little interruptions.

Choose one area – a drawer, a shelf, or even just a corner – and tackle it ruthlessly. The key here is the "one in, one out" rule (or even "one in, two out" if you're feeling ambitious!).

Ask yourself:

• Have I used this in the last year?

• Do I love it?

• Is it broken or beyond repair?

  
  

If the answer to these is no, it's time to let it go. Be honest with yourself. Clutter is often tied to emotional attachments, but holding onto things you don't need or use only creates more stress.

The Home Edit's method for organization - color coding!

Day 2: Categorize and Conquer

Once you've decluttered, it's time to categorize what's left. Group similar items together. This will make it much easier to find things later and prevent clutter from accumulating again.

Think about how you use each space and what makes the most sense logically. For example, keep cleaning supplies together, office supplies together, and so on. If you need inspiration on how to do this, check out The Home Edit's show on Netflix. It will inspire some good ideas.

Neat Method Grid Basket in Gold

Day 3: Storage Solutions – Your New Best Friend

Now for the fun part! Investing in some good storage solutions can make a world of difference. Clear bins are fantastic for fridges or storing cleaning supplies in cabinets. Storage baskets can be decorative and amazing for pantries and linen closets.

Some products I've personally love include:

• Neat Method Grid Baskets: These are great for everything from clothing to linens to pantry items. They come in various sizes and are designed to stack neatly, maximizing your space. Typically, you can find them on sale so sign up for their email list if you want to get a discount. Neat Method also has personal organizers so if you need help you can hire their team to come to your home - super cool if you're willing to shell out some money for this process.

• Clear Refrigerator Bins (from Amazon): These have been game-changers in my fridge. No more loose yogurt or applesauce pouches floating around my fridge. I put almost all of my kids' snacks in these and put them in a spot where they can reach them so they can help themselves and know how to put things away if they're not interested in that item at the time.

• Baskets for Toys: I think I've linked all of my favorite baskets in our kid's post. Check them out. I have my kids put their toys back in their baskets to help avoid too many floating around as well.

Neat Method Acacia Drawer Insert

Day 4: Tackle the Hotspots

Every home has them: the dreaded hotspots where clutter tends to gather. It might be the kitchen counter, the entryway table, or the "junk drawer." Now that you've decluttered and organized, address these areas specifically.

Create designated spots for everything that tends to land there. I've found the drawer inserts can also be helpful. My junk drawer shares space with our silverware so I have a wooden insert for silverware and then a plastic storage bin for random things like pens, scissors, etc.

Neat Method Glass Jars in Pantry

Day 5: Vertical Space – Your Hidden Weapon

Don't forget about vertical space! Shelves, wall-mounted organizers, and even over-the-door storage can significantly increase your storage capacity. Think about how you can utilize the walls and vertical space in each room.

Our Pantry is an odd shape so I've really leaned into the baskets here so that I can leverage more of the height and organize all of our medicines, bandaids, random kitchen items, etc. I also have unboxed almost all of those things into clear jars so that I can see everything as well and it's been much easier to use and keep clean.

Day 6: The Finishing Touches

Now that everything is organized, it's time to add the finishing touches. This might involve adding some decorative touches, like plants or artwork, or simply making sure everything is clean and tidy. A little bit of effort here can make a big difference in how your home feels.

Day 7: Maintenance is Key

Congratulations! You've transformed your home! But the work doesn't stop here. Maintaining your organized space is crucial. A few minutes of tidying each day can prevent clutter from creeping back in. Make it a habit to put things back where they belong, and regularly declutter and reorganize as needed.

I once saw a rule that said don't spend more than 2 minutes putting things away in a day so I keep that rule. Try to get everything I can put away in 2 minutes and then save the rest for the next day. I typically look at things once a month as well to see if it's starting to get a little out of control and if so I make time to get things back in order.

Transforming your home is a journey, not a destination. Be patient with yourself, celebrate your progress, and enjoy the process of creating a space that you truly love. It's an investment in your well-being that will pay off! Cheers!