Real Simple Real Simple Organizing Basics

MAYBE YOU WANT TO GET ORGANIZED but just can’t figure out how to begin. Or perhaps you’ve tried all sorts of techniques without enjoying any success. Whatever your past experience, now is the moment to stop stressing and start streamlining with the no-fail organizing plan you’re holding in your hands. Think of us as your coaches and the four chapters that follow as your playbook. You don’t have to figure out everything this afternoon; you just need to make the first move. So start by getting inspired and mentally ready, then head for Chapter 2, where you’ll learn the most effective organizing techniques and tools to add to your clutter-busting kit. By the time you reach Chapter 3, you’ll be tackling some challenging clutter—but you’ll still be doing it in bite-size…

If you want to get organized but never have—or never have successfully—you need a no-fail decluttering plan. Our three-step approach is designed to save time (fewer closet excavations) and aggravation (no more pantry landslides). It might also erase guilt, since clutter reminds us of the decisions, big and little, that we’ve dodged. More shelf space is lovely, but more mental space is the real game changer. What will you do with yours? Step 1 The Prep CONFER WITH YOUR TEAM “It’s essential to get everyone in on the process to ensure buy-in. Without collaboration, it’s unlikely anyone will honor your unilateral decisions on where things live,” says New York City–based professional organizer Andrew Mellen. Spark your family’s interest by transforming a key shared space, like the mudroom or kitchen. “Organizing is contagious—usually the…

“THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX” was the mantra from professional organizer Deborah Cabral for homeowners Christy and Tony Brokens on how to work within the tight dimensions of their entry closet and find solutions for their family of six. Out went the traditional hanging bar and one of the top shelves, and in came the wall hooks mounted on 1×6 boards hung at two different heights. “Coat hooks are quicker and easier to use because they put everything you need right at your fingertips,” Cabral says. Woven bins organize items on the top shelf based on the weather—rain, sun, and snow. To ensure the closet remains clutter-free, everyone is limited to two in-season coats and two pairs of shoes. The new setup pleases parents and kids alike. “I can’t believe how…

A DEDICATED PLAY SPACE should mean the end of kid clutter, right? Not always, as one family found as they struggled to stay on top of the balls, blocks, and trucks that come with raising two young sons. They didn’t even have a place to sit in the room. The couple hired clutter coach Chip Cordelli, who had the family clear the room entirely so they could assess which items the boys truly used. “This should be a play space, not a storage space,” says Cordelli. He advises parents to devote real estate to the top-10 large playthings and move less-popular items into a closet, rotating as needed. With all of the unused items banished, the room now offered the family a haven to create together.…

THE PILES WERE JUST TOO MUCH. To regain control of her townhouse’s closet, Joy Evans turned to Certified Professional Organizer Yvette Clay, owner of LivingOrder Austin, for some guidance. After assessing the situation, Clay determined the closet had plenty of space—but a major purge was needed. Once that was done, the appropriate organizing systems could be put into place. Clay’s key challenge to Joy: Get rid of anything you don’t regularly wear or use. Then move any non-clothes or accessories to where they truly belong. “My rule of thumb is that if you can’t wear it on your body, it shouldn’t live in the closet,” Clay says. PRODUCED BY PAMELA PORTER, PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARTY BALDWIN…

LETTING GO CAN BE HARD. Professional organizer Jonda Beattie once had a client who inherited her late grandfather’s electric organ. “She wanted to make an exercise room, but this organ was in there, unused and covered in a blanket.” A massive instrument that no one in your home knows how to play might seem like an obvious thing to let go of, but love was holding the client back. She loved her grandfather and knew he loved his organ while he was alive. “It took her three years to finally remove it,” says Beattie, co-owner with Diane Quintana of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. “A person has to be ready; it doesn’t necessarily happen a year after a death.” First Stop: Emotional Baggage Claim Whether holding on to your children’s artwork, your mother’s favorite…