The holidays can clutter up your home like a junkyard after a tornado. Then soon after resolutions of a clean and organized home follow. Well getting your home to that perfect organized state is not as hard as you think. And once to implement the organization keeping your home clean is a breeze. SO here are a  few tips to help you get that clutter under control.

 Start With A Plan

Identify the things that need to be saved – things that you had before and new things, like gifts! What about old things that should be thrown out? You’ve been meaning to do it, and now’s the time. With a little discipline you can manage to part with some stuff! Finally, there are things you’d like to keep but could bring yourself to throw out of you have to. Let’s see how much space you have after you’ve stored everything else.

 Don’t Hesitate To Rearrange

The arrangement scheme you had before may not do now. If your storage was haphazard, this is the time to create some order. You know the first rule: small things in big things. Mix sizes so that those little bits of space between large objects aren’t wasted. Label drawers and boxes – or maybe color-code them. Whatever system works best for you should do fine. Just make sure to utilize the space you have and get rid of all the excess.

Storage Needs To Make Sense

Keep related objects together. This will make them easier to find and harder to lose. Mix the new things with the old things. Store stuff where you use it – or else, store it according to who’ll use it. Everyone in the family needs his own space – even if he doesn’t have his own room.

It’s Time To Clean Out!

Things you’re parting with need their own piles. Some things are old and useless (or just plain useless). Obviously, you trash these.  If you haven’t used an item in over 6 months you should consider getting rid of it. There is no need to find new ways to organize old items that should be gone. The point of this is to create space in your home and neatly fill it with the essentials of your daily life.

Then there are things that are still useful. Be sure to give these to a charity. They’ll distribute them or sell them. And don’t forget – you can get a tax deduction for the value of things you contribute. Just remember to save the receipts!

Finally, Make Notes

A list of objects and their new homes may come in useful in a couple of months – or even a couple of weeks! As for the new things – you may forget you have them at all. And you need to make a note of how to contact the parts and service center for each one. Write it down while you still have the instructions and the box. The more stuff you have, the more important this step is.

With a plan, your post-holiday clean-up will be fast and thorough. And you won’t have to do it again for a year! Keep in mind how it will effect your daily life and make sure to put in the time to make this work for your needs and be a helpful process. Good luck and get decluttering.

Brionna Kennedy is native to the Pacific Northwest, growing up in Washington, then moving down to Oregon for college. She enjoys writing on fashion and business, but any subject will do, she loves to learn about new topics. When she isn’t writing, she lives for the outdoors. Oregon has been the perfect setting to indulge her love of kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking.