Getting organized can feel like an overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be. Taking things one step at a time and focusing on small projects can help you gradually transform your home into a clutter-free sanctuary. Here are 39 tips to help you organize every room in your house from top to bottom.
Kitchen Organization Tips
The kitchen often ends up disorganized because it’s one of the most-used rooms in a home. Stay on top of it with these tips:
Use Bins and Baskets
Store loose items like apples, onions, and potatoes in bins or baskets on the counter or shelves. This corals them into one spot and gets them off your counters.
Purge the Pantry
Go through your pantry and look for expired food to throw out. Then, group like items together and use shelf risers or organizers to neatly stack cans, boxes, and bags.
Tackle the Junk Drawer
Dump everything out of your junk drawer and sort through it. Toss out old random batteries, rubber bands, and worn takeout menus. Use small bins or trays to group similar items like tapes, matches, and spare keys.
Organize Spices
If your spices are a jumbled mess, gather them all up and sort them alphabetically. Store them in a spice rack or drawer organizers with alphabetical dividers.
Clean as You Go
Get in the habit of putting things back where they belong as you use them instead of letting items pile up. Wipe down counters when you’re done cooking.
Bedroom Closet Organization Ideas
Bedroom closets easily turn into black holes where clothes and shoes get lost in the abyss. Try these tips for taming the clutter:
Declutter First
Remove everything from your closet and decide what you actually wear and need. Donate or sell the rest.
Use Uniform Hangers
Uniform hangers in the same material and color make your closet look neat and organized. Stick with wood or plastic hangers.
Arrange by Type and Color
Group clothes on hangers by type and color. Hang all pants together alphabetically by color, all shirts together by sleeve and color, etc.
Utilize Shelving
Install shelving high up for storage bins of accessories and shoes. Use shelves near the floor for folded clothes, sweaters, and jeans.
Store by Season
Move off-season clothing into storage under the bed or in the back of the closet. Only keep items out that you need access to regularly.
Bathroom Organization Tips
With so many grooming products and tools, bathrooms can easily turn into disorganized spaces. Give yours order with these ideas:
Categorize Under the Sink
Group all similar items together in bins under the sink, like hair care, skin care, first aid, tools, extra toiletries, etc.
Utilize Wall Space
Install floating shelves or over-the-toilet shelves to store towels neatly and free up cabinet space underneath for bulky items like hair dryers.
Purge Expired Items
Go through all your bathroom drawers and cabinets and throw out expired medications, old makeup, ineffective lotions, and any other old products.
Organize a Medicine Cabinet
Use small bins or trays to organize bandages, medications, nail supplies, cotton swabs, and other medicine cabinet items.
Neatly Roll Towels
Evenly fold towels into thirds lengthwise. Then roll them tightly and store them upright and visible so they’re easy to grab.
Living Room and Entryway Organization Tips
As the first spaces people see when they enter your home, the living room and entryway need to stay organized. Try these tips:
Use Decorative Storage
Baskets, trunks, fabric bins, and ottomans with storage inside are decorative and functional ways to conceal items. Use them to store throws, toys, books, etc.
Designate a Landing Spot
Pick a table or bench near the entryway to serve as a landing spot for mail, keys, and other items coming into and out of your home.
Hide Cords
Coil up any loose cables behind furniture and use cable wraps or clips to contain cords neatly against walls. This instantly makes the room look tidier.
Arrange Media Components
Group all your TV components like cable boxes, streaming devices, and gaming consoles together into one organized cluster instead of scattering them.
Straighten Books and Decor
When books, framed photos, and knickknacks start to creep around, put them back in ordered rows for a polished look.
Kids’ Bedroom Organization Strategies
Children’s bedrooms easily become messy playrooms. Maintain order with these tips:
Edit Down Toys
Have your kids sort through all their toys and take out any broken ones or ones they’ve outgrown. Donate those and organize the keepers into bins.
Display Collections
For kids with shell, rock, or other collections, use shelves or shadowboxes to neatly showcase their finds. This removes clutter and teaches sorting skills.
Add Storage Furniture
Look for kids’ storage beds with drawers underneath or bookcases with cubbies and bins to stash everything from Legos to art supplies.
Assign Homes for Categories
Give every category of items—books, stuffed animals, clothes—its own dedicated spot so your child always knows exactly where to find and return things.
Encourage Daily Cleanups
Help establish the habit of putting away toys at the end of each day so their room stays manageable. Make it fun by setting a timer and working together.
Garage Organization Tips
Unlike indoor rooms, garage organization needs to account for changes in weather and temperature. Use these strategies:
Label Storage Bins
Sort gear into clear plastic bins labeled by contents: camping, sports equipment, car care, tools, etc. Labeled bins keep things visible.
Hang Tools and Seasonal Items
Maximize vertical wall space by hanging tools, ladders, bicycles, and seasonal decor out of the way. Use heavy-duty hooks and racks.
Add Shelving
Install solid garage shelving to hold larger items like coolers and spare tires up off the floor. Shelves also work for paint cans, automotive fluids, and hobby supplies.
Park Cars Inside
If space allows, keep vehicles pulled all the way into the garage. The emptier floor space lets you organize everything neatly along the walls.
Sweep Regularly
Dirt, leaves, and other debris easily blow into garages. Routinely sweep the floors to keep grit from building up around your organized zones.
Craft Room Organization Strategies
For crafters and hobbyists, an organized workspace is essential to creativity. Try these tips:
Store by Category
Group all similar items into categorized bins, like sewing notions, ribbons and trims, adhesives and glues, beads, scrapbook supplies, etc.
Display Tools Accessibly
Store often-used tools like scissors, pliers, and hole punches right on the desktop or mounted to the wall for easy grabbing.
Prioritize Good Lighting
Ensure your workspace has excellent task lighting. Supplement with natural light if possible so colors and details are easy to see.
Add Drawers and Shelves
Look for storage furniture like a dresser, shelving unit, or storage cabinet to stow small craft materials out of sight.
Minimize Clutter
Only keep out materials related to your current project. Store the rest and rotate supplies to keep surfaces clear.
Home Office Organization Tips
To stay focused, a home office needs to be organized. Apply these strategies:
Contain Cables
Gather electrical cables together with velcro straps or cable sleeves. Hide surge protectors behind or under furniture to keep cords contained.
Establish Zones
Set up distinct zones for activities: a file cabinet and shelves for storage, a supply station, a tech charging area, and your core workspace.
Purge Unneeded Paperwork
Remove outdated, unneeded paperwork from filing cabinets and desk drawers. Shred sensitive docs and recycle the rest.
Use Trays for Inboxes
Sort mail and paperwork vertically using inboxes, trays, or standing files. This makes papers easy to scan and access.
Add Drawer Dividers
Use custom dividers to organize office supplies in drawers. Sort by type, like pens, sticky notes, clips, etc. Dividers keep items visible.
Dining Room Organization Tips
As a space used for both storage and entertaining, the dining room requires smart organization. Try these tips:
Use the Buffet Top
Style serving trays, candles, and decor on a buffet as a styled console. Tuck extra dining items in the cabinets below.
Neaten Place Settings
When not in use, stack plates on a sideboard with cutlery rolled inside napkins on top for a restaurant-style look.
Stow Table Linens
Fold tablecloths, runners, and napkins into categorized bins inside buffet cabinets or a dedicated linen closet.
Organize Barware by Type
Store glassware together sorted by type, with bar tools and cocktail napkins nearby. Keep only what you use regularly.
Stage Extra Seating
Fold extra chairs neatly and arrange them along the wall or store them in the closet to keep the room looking orderly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Organizing Your Home
How do I know what to keep vs. what to toss when organizing?
Hold items up to these tests: Do I use this regularly? Does it have sentimental value? Does it serve a functional purpose or bring me joy? If the answer is no, the item is likely clutter.
What’s the best way to start organizing an overwhelmingly messy home?
Break it down into manageable chunks. Tackle one area, like a junk drawer or closet, at a time instead of trying to overhaul everything at once. Small victories keep you motivated.
How often should I “re-organize” areas that get messy again?
Every 3-6 months, do a quick purge of problem areas prone to clutter like closets, pantries, and toy rooms. Annually conduct a more thorough overhaul of your whole home’s organization systems.
What basic storage supplies help make organizing easier?
Clear bins and baskets, divided drawer organizers, closet storage systems, racks, hooks, shelving, and labeled containers for garage and hobby room storage are essentials.
Should I categorize my possessions by use or by location when organizing?
Organize by category (cleaning tools, clothing type, holiday items) but also store those categories conveniently in places where you use them. The combo method keeps things tidy and accessible.
Final Tips for Getting Organized
- Take it step-by-step: Organizing an entire home at once is overwhelming. Focus on one drawer, cabinet, or shelf at a time.
- Establish homes for everything: Return items to dedicated spots so they never get lost.
- Purge regularly: Clutter accumulates easily, so do quick purges often.
- Store seasonally: Rotating clothes, holiday décor, and hobby gear between seasons saves space.
- Maintain as you go: Putting things back as you use them prevents messes.
- Use visual organizers: Clear bins, matching hangers, and containers keep items visible.
- Involve the whole family: Get everyone invested in maintaining organization systems together.
Being organized at home provides a sense of control and makes daily life much easier. Use these tips to tackle disorganization room by room and get your house in order. Consistent maintenance prevents messes from piling up again. With some dedication, you can transform any home into a neat and tidy oasis.
