ORDER, ORDER!
Five speedy organisation projects for different rooms. Tackle a couple at a time, notice the difference it makes and be inspired to keep going…
THE HALLWAY
Shoes, keys, mail, coats, bags, pet paraphernalia, umbrellas… all these items are necessary but can clutter up your hallway. Try to minimise the number of things stored there, especially the dreaded shoe pile. Include shoe storage if you can, or try setting a limit for the number of pairs each family member can keep in the hall (hint: it should be no more than two pairs each!).
SPEEDY PROJECT – Manage your mail
Paper clutter is a big problem in many homes and mail pile-up is often the culprit. Here’s a rule of thumb: don’t let the post touch a table or worktop. Train yourself to sort it as soon as you pick it up. Toss junk mail in the recycling bin or run it through the shredder. Transfer bills or other important paperwork to an in-tray, desk or home office. This process takes only a minute or two each day. Also, go paperless wherever you can.
THE KITCHEN
Decluttering the kitchen needs to be an ongoing process – most home kitchens have enough kit to service a busy restaurant! Continually ask yourself if items still serve a purpose and try to limit yourself to only the tools you use frequently. While we all love a kitchen gadget, they should be removed if they’re not used regularly.
SPEEDY PROJECT – Banish the junk drawer
Scissors, random gadgets, bits of string… save time and hassle ransacking the junk drawer. Take everything out, ditch duplicates and items you no longer use, then group together the rest and ‘file’ by category in small zipped wallets. Label the wallets and store in an attractive container, canister or basket that you can get at easily.