Do you have a space in your home that needs an overhaul? Perhaps you have a space that doesn’t work well for you in your daily routine, and you’d like it to be streamlined for efficiency. If you’d like to know how to organize any space, I’ve got 5 simple steps that you can implement anywhere in your home.
These 5 steps can be used to reorganize, rearrange, revamp or repurpose any space in your home. Keep in mind that these steps should just be the beginning in helping you to reimagine your space and how it can work better for you.
I hope these 5 simple steps will help you brainstorm your space and have a fresh start in making that space work better for you.
How to Organize Any Space in 5 Steps
1 | Start with a Clean Slate.
Identify the space in your home that needs a facelift or isn’t working to your satisfaction. It could be a fairly large space like a pantry, closet, or entryway. Or it could be a small space like a “junk” drawer or cabinet under the sink.
Once you’ve identified the space, empty it out COMPLETELY.
Now that it’s empty, this next step is an important one – forget about how that space is currently used. Forget everything. Don’t worry about how it looks right now. Disregard how the floor plan says it should be used. Forget how it’s even being used right now.
Set aside any preconceived notions you have of that space or even current feelings about it, whether they be positive or negative.
The space is to be empty – a true blank slate.
2 | Decide the Look & Feel.
Now that you’ve emptied out the space to create a blank slate, do this brief exercise to brainstorm the look and feel you want to achieve for the space.
Close your eyes and consider how you’d like this space to feel. Imagine that this space is revamped, rearranged or reorganized to be exactly how you want it to be. Come up with very descriptive words of how you want to feel when you are both looking at the space and using the space.
Jot down what kinds of textures, fabrics, colors or objects would create the look and feel you desire for this space. Write down ALL the descriptive words that come to mind.
A few words I’ve used for my own spaces are tidy, cozy, calm, sleek, simple, easy, and fun, just to name a few. Of course, you’ll want to list as many words as you can, as opposed to only a few.
Imagine what it looks like, what it feels like, how it can be used and how you want to feel when you’re using it. Be as specific as possible (i.e. not tripping over things, easily finding what you need, having quick access to things, having plenty of breathing room, feeling serene or refreshed, etc).
3 | Decide the Function & Purpose.
Now that you’ve imagined the look and feel of the space, let’s move on to define the function and purpose of that space.
No need for a thesis statement, just a brief one-sentence summary of why the space EXISTS and how it SERVES you in your home.
Some examples could be “this space makes it easier to get out the door in the morning” or “this space helps me unwind and relax in the evening.”
Answer the following questions:
- What is my GOAL for this space?
- How does this space need to FUNCTION at its most basic level?
- What should this space DO for me?
- How can this space better SERVE me?
- How can this space make my life EASIER?
4 | Ruthlessly Purge.
In order to know how to organize any space effectively, you must declutter. Organizing isn’t made possible without decluttering. Organized clutter is still clutter that keeps your space from being as streamlined and functional as possible.
Pare down the space to ONLY consist of what serves you related to the function and purpose of the space.
Spend time to edit, purge or declutter your belongings in that area to simplify it down to that defined function and purpose.
Getting rid of the excess will help streamline your use of that space because it will be simplified to its basic use.
5 | Go for it!
Now is the time to dive in and begin creating the space you’ve just imagined!
You can easily organize any space by placing frequently used items at the front or at eye level. Place the less frequently used items at the very top, very bottom, or in harder to reach places.
You may find that once you’ve completed the aforementioned steps, the space will have extra room to breathe. Maybe you won’t need as many organizational bins, furniture, decorations, or excess stuff.
If you DO need more objects to reimagine and reorganize your space, then shop your own home first. Maybe you’ll realize you need to swap items out from different spaces. Perhaps you will find new uses for things you already own.
If your space needs new organizational containers to function optimally, there’s no need to break the bank. Any space can be reimagined with style while still staying under a budget. Sometimes cardboard boxes covered with contact paper or Dollar Tree bins will do the trick. If that’s not your style, the Container Store always has an excellent selection of products to organize any space.
Set a Date to Revisit the Space
When you organize any space, be sure to set a date to revisit it a week or a month later. Be sure to give yourself sufficient time to utilize the space. After a few weeks, you can assess if the systems need to be altered in order to make the space work better for you.
In case the space isn’t working you can troubleshoot as to why and what you could do to improve it.
Leave a Reply