Tips for Sorting, Displaying, Filing and Storing Items around the House
Keeping items in your house organized is essential to the proper function of everyday living. There are many things in your house that need to be sorted, displayed, filed or stored. Here are some tips for helping you organize items in your house:
Place all receipts in a shoebox or file folder. If you have an excessive amount of receipts, you may want to have an envelope for each month to keep the receipts separated.
Keep coats and jackets hung in a closet, on a coat rack or on hooks by the door.
Have a place to put your keys when you enter the house. You can have a box or container near the door. If you put them in the same place every day, you’ll know where to find them.
Shoes should be kept on a shelf, in a closet or on a mat near the door. There are organizational products made especially for shoes.
Display family photos and artwork on the wall in frames. This will help decorate your home and keep your special pictures organized.
Keep only essential items on your desktop, like your computer, a writing utensil and paper. Have a place in drawers or files for all of your paper and supplies. These tend to clutter the desktop and can easily be stored inside the desk.
The cords from your computer or television can look cluttered. Purchase a cord sleeve or organizer. This is a great way to hide the cords and make the area look more organized.
Put your mail in one box or bin. Take time at least every other day to sort through the mail. Throw away any junk mail and put other mail where it belongs.
A good way to keep bills and other important papers in an organized fashion is to purchase a filing container. You will be able to find your papers when needed.
Have bins specifically designed for recycling. Put all the newspapers in one bin, plastics in another bin and aluminum cans in a third bin.
Use a nightstand to keep items organized near your bed. The stand should have a clock and a lamp on top. The drawer can hold your eyewear, books, magazine and any bedtime medicines.
Most beds have space underneath that can be used for storage. Purchase plastic bins that will fit comfortably under your bed. These bins can slide in and out for simple storage of shoes, sweaters and winter or summer clothes.
Purchase drawer inserts to help you organize items in a drawer. These are usually made of plastic or wood and can help organize underwear, utensils, jewelry, bath products or socks.
Use boxes or baskets in your bathroom or hall closet to keep items organized. Put all of your medical supplies in one basket. All of your cleaners should be placed in another basket. Baskets can also be used to separate your towels.
Put toys in a special location in the child’s bedroom. A toy box can be a good place for toys, but sometimes the boxes are so big that toys get lost. Having smaller boxes with fewer toys will help keep the items well organized.