Even in the largest, most spacious homes, it can be difficult to manage clutter. Even if you start
off with all of your things nicely organized, over time, it seems like knick knacks, papers, and
other items spread across every available surface. This is particularly true in smaller homes,
which may not have that much storage or organizational space. The key to keeping your small
home free from clutter is to use your creativity to devise interesting ways to organize and store
your things out of the way. Here are some strategies you can use to get started.
Organization may seem like a formidable task, but it becomes easier if you prepare yourself
beforehand. Don’t feel like you have to tackle the entire house in one day – by taking it little by
little, room by room, you will make the overall process easier, and you will give yourself a boost
of positive feelings after each small success. The first way to organize your possessions is
simple – declutter your home before trying to find ways to store your things. Over time, people
tend to acquire items that may or may not suit their present tastes. Be gentle but firm with
yourself when you are going through your things – if a particular item doesn’t speak to you, fit
your style, or call back a particular memory when you look at it, you may want to consider
getting rid of it completely.
Next, a lot of clutter is simply a side effect of slipping organizational habits. Instead of tossing
your shoes aside when you get home at the end of the day, put them in their dedicated shoe
holder or in your closet (if you live with other people, make sure they follow that rule as well).
The same goes for hats, coats, and other wearables that tend to get scattered across the
house. You can drastically reduce the amount of paper clutter in your home by going through
your mail right away and immediately throwing away your junk mail. To free up space in your
drawers and cabinets, try putting your hand towels and rags in a small basket with a dedicated
location. In general, by making a dedicated space for each of your items and getting rid of the
things you don’t use or don’t like, you will make your home seem much more organized. If this
task seems like too much to handle on your own, you may want to consider hiring a professional
organizer to help you get started, a service that typically runs between $40 and $50 an hour.
You may find yourself constantly short on space in your cabinets, drawers, or closets. Maximize
the space in your closet by using organizers and hangers with multiple levels. You can also put
a hat rack or shelving in the space above your clothes to maximize its storage potential. For
your smaller belongings, many designers make nightstands and tables with extra drawers subtly
worked into the design so that you can turn your corners into great areas for storage. If you
have tall enough ceilings, a bookcase with square cubbies can be the perfect place to put
baskets where you can store your smaller items. Jewelry boxes can also be a great help for
many things besides jewelry, like rubber bands and paperclips. In general, think in terms of how
you can use the space you have available. For instance, hang your keys on a key holder by the
front door instead of putting them on an already-crowded table.
If, ultimately, you find that you just don’t have enough space, you may want to consider renting
a small self-storage unit for the things you just can’t get rid of that won’t fit in your home.
Always research the cost of a container first; for instance, the average price of renting a self-
storage unit in Dallas over the past 180 days is $73.79.
No matter the size of your home, it is possible to keep it clutter free. All it takes is a little extra
ingenuity and organization to rework your existing pieces into clean, multi-use storage pieces.
If you decide to use the services of a professional organizer, Big Texas Home Buyers highly recommends contacting Lori Peniston with Disaster2Design. Our founder, Heather Faires, has used Lori’s expertise to organize her walk in closet in her personal home and is very happy with the results.
Need to sell a house in the DFW area and don’t want to deal with the mess? Call us at 214-444-9385 or complete our Fast Response Form.
For more resources on getting organized, check out the following article:
The Art of Tidying Up: A Complete Guide to a Decluttered Life
https://groomandstyle.com/art-
