When you’re done, the only things touching the floor should be your furniture. This is an important first step — you’ll have a much more difficult time cleaning around your clutter rather than you will have simply getting it out of the way.
Place the “keep” items in the box for things to keep and place the “get rid of” items in the box for things to throw away. Don’t be afraid to part with items you haven’t used in years and that don’t hold any sentimental value. Saving an antique keepsake given to you by your grandmother may make more sense than saving a stack of last year’s junk mail. To determine which items of clothing in your closet you need to get rid of, turn around all the hangers in your closet so the hooks are pointing towards you (the wrong way). When you wear something, hang it back up the normal way. In three to six months, any hangers facing the wrong way are holding clothes you haven’t worn, and should go in the donation box. [2] X Research source
Give your used clothes and furniture to a secondhand store. Charities like Goodwill and the Salvation Army usually accept used items in good condition. Give your books to a library. By donating used books to a library, you give others the chance to discover new books. Sell or give away possessions online. Classified ad sites like Craigslist usually have sections devoted to getting rid of used goods for cheap or for free.
Add shoe storage like shoe racks, shoe cubbies or hanging shoe organizers. Add closet storage like plastic bins, woven baskets, or even milk crates for out of season items or small items like socks, undergarments, and scarves. Add hooks on the wall to hang up bags and belts so they are not lying in a pile on the floor.
You can find drawer tidies at your local office supply store or furniture store. However, you can also make them yourself. Simply join together pieces of cheap wood or plastic to divide your drawers as you wish. Be sure to measure the depth of your drawer first so that your homemade tidied fits. [6] X Research source
Look for a desk for storage solutions like pull out drawers for printers and keyboards, and shelving above your computer to keep any files or papers in order. Thread cords through your desk or drill a hole into a nearby cabinet to store your power cord and keep it out of sight. Bundle cords together with velcro strips or electrical tape. Always label your cords with a piece of tape so you can figure out where it leads to without having to unbundle the cords.
You can also purchase a multi-device charging station to keep your chords from getting tangled and disorganized. [8] X Research source
Not only will it be easier for you to remember to put your things away in the right spots — it will also be harder for you to create a mess again. Don’t worry about spending money on “nice” labels — simple post-it notes and masking tape will work just fine. If you are using decorative boxes to hold electronics or other odds and ends, make sure you label them so you know what each one contains.
Sliding baskets or bins under your bed for linens, blankets, and towels. Making space for items on wall shelves like small pictures or figurines. Hanging a coat rack over your door so you aren’t tempted to throw your coat on your bed at the end of the day. Placing items between books on your bookshelf to add some interesting detail as well as keep your books in order.
Walk around your room and consider how hard or easy it is to get around your furniture. If it is a tight squeeze between your bed and your desk, or your door and your bedside table, it may be a good idea to invest in furniture that better fits the space or remove items of furniture for now to create more room.
