Opening Words
Hello everyone, I'm a blogger who loves organizing! To be honest, I was terrible at storage initially, but after years of exploration and practice, I've found many useful tips. Recently, I noticed many of my friends are troubled by their messy homes, some are even on the verge of breakdown, telling me "I've tried my best, but my home is still a mess." Seeing my friends so troubled, I decided to share my experience. Trust me, organizing can become super simple once you master the right methods!
Basic Principles
When it comes to organizing, many people's first reaction is "Oh no, that's such a hassle," "That's too time-consuming," "I probably can't stick to it." I understand this feeling because I used to think the same way. But after years of practice, I've found that organizing can become both easy and fun if you find the right method. The "three-step" strategy I'm about to share is definitely the essence of my repeated practice!
First, let's talk about time management. Have you ever experienced this: seeing your room in a mess, deciding to do a major cleanup, but feeling exhausted halfway through and giving up? This is actually due to poor time management. I now love using a method where I set a 15-minute timer and focus on organizing one small area during this time. For example, organizing this desk drawer today, and this layer of the wardrobe tomorrow. This has two benefits: first, the time is short, so you won't feel too tired; second, you can see results quickly, giving you a sense of achievement.
I remember once, I used this method to organize my makeup storage box. In just 15 minutes, I cleared out all the expired skincare products and rearranged everything according to usage order. The next day when I was doing my makeup, I found that I saved at least half the time finding things! This kind of immediate positive feedback really makes you fall in love with organizing more and more.
Speaking of gradual progress, this is really crucial. I remember the first time I was determined to do a major cleanup, standing in the middle of my room, looking at the clothes, books, and miscellaneous items piled up like small mountains around me, I felt completely overwhelmed. It felt like facing an extremely difficult math problem, not knowing where to start. Later, I understood a principle: even the longest journey begins with a single step. So I changed my strategy and started organizing from the simplest things.
For example, on the first day, I only organized the top layer of my bedside table. Threw away the empty hand cream, put the glasses case in a fixed position, organized the charging cables. Just these simple actions, but when I saw the renewed bedside table, that sense of achievement was indescribable! In the following days, I maintained this pace, gradually expanding the range. A week later, I was surprised to find that my originally messy room had actually become neat and tidy!
Shopping Strategy
When it comes to maintaining a tidy space, shopping habits are definitely an important factor. To be honest, I used to be a shopaholic, often couldn't resist buying things, resulting in more and more stuff piling up at home. Later, I came up with a super practical "one in, one out" principle: before buying something new, always think about which old item at home to dispose of.
This principle really changed my life. For example, the other day I saw a super nice hoodie, but I knew if I just bought it like that, my wardrobe would definitely get messier. So I checked my wardrobe first and found a hoodie I bought last year, which I thought looked good at the time but only wore a few times before setting it aside. I thought, rather than letting it take up space, I might as well donate it to people in need. So I washed the old hoodie and sent it to a nearby charity organization. Only then did I buy the new hoodie with a clear conscience.
This not only helps control the total amount of items at home but also cultivates good rational consumption habits. Now every time I want to buy something new, I first ask myself: Is this item really necessary? Is there anything at home that can substitute for it? If I buy a new one, how will I handle the old one? These questions have saved me from a lot of impulse purchases, and my home space has become tidier.
I also often exchange items with friends. For example, I have some barely used kitchen utensils that my best friend happens to need; she has some books she's finished reading that I'm interested in. We would just exchange directly, which is not only environmentally friendly but also maximizes the value of items.
Space Utilization
Speaking of space utilization, it's really fascinating! Many people always feel their houses are too small, with insufficient storage space. But what I want to say is, no matter how small the space is, there are always storage tricks. The key is to learn how to discover and utilize the potential of every inch of space.
My home is a typical small apartment, but through years of exploration, I've discovered many amazing space utilization methods. First is to fully utilize vertical space. Many people's storage thinking stays on the horizontal plane, but the potential of developing upward space is beyond imagination!
Take my kitchen for example, seasonings used to be placed horizontally in the cabinet, taking up space and hard to find. Later, I installed a multi-layer rack behind the cabinet door, putting all seasonings vertically, not only saving a lot of space but also making everything visible at a glance, incredibly convenient!
And my bathroom, which originally felt too cramped to turn around in, later I installed three layers of shelving above the toilet, storing towels, toilet paper, and other daily necessities, instantly making the space feel much more spacious. I chose a foldable shelf that can be collapsed when not in use and expanded when needed, very flexible.
The clothes drying rack on my balcony is also a good example. I used to use a traditional fixed drying rack, which not only took up space but also got in the way when empty after drying clothes. Later I switched to a retractable folding drying rack, which stays unnoticeable against the wall when folded and can be pulled out when needed to dry clothes, a perfect example of space utilization!
The space under the bed is also a treasure trove for storage. I bought several flat storage boxes with wheels, specifically for storing seasonal clothes and bedding. They can be easily pulled out when needed and pushed back completely out of sight when stored, both tidy and practical.
Don't waste the space behind doors either! I hung a multi-layer hook behind my bedroom door, specifically for hanging bags and hats. This not only fully utilizes this "dead corner" space but also makes items very accessible.
Storage Tips
Speaking of storage, it's really my favorite topic to share! Because good storage methods can really improve your quality of life so much. The method I recommend most is drawer partitioning, which is absolutely a game-changer in the storage world!
Remember how messy my drawers used to be? Cosmetics, stationery, chargers, data cables all mixed together, having to turn everything upside down every time I needed to find something. Later, I had a bright idea to divide the drawer into different areas using storage boxes, and the problem was instantly solved.
My makeup drawer is now divided into several areas: base makeup, eye makeup, lip products, and skincare. Each area is separated by different small storage boxes, everything placed according to category, no need to search when doing makeup, efficiency improved so much!
The desk drawer uses the same method, I used some cute paper storage boxes to divide it into different areas. The stationery area holds various pens and sticky notes, the digital area holds chargers and data cables, and the tool area holds scissors and tape. Everything has its own dedicated spot, and I never lose things anymore.
The kitchen drawer storage amazed me even more. I used some bamboo dividers to partition the drawer, different utensils all have their own dedicated space. For example, chopsticks, spoons, and forks each have their own compartment, making everything clear at a glance. Seasonings are also arranged according to frequency of use, with commonly used ones placed in the most accessible positions, couldn't be more thoughtful!
Wardrobe storage is also important. I now arrange all clothes by type and color. T-shirts, shirts, sweaters each have their own area, and dark and light colors are stored separately. This makes choosing clothes much faster every day, no more worrying about not finding what I want to wear.
Daily Maintenance
Speaking of maintaining tidiness, this might be the hardest part. Because getting organized is easy, keeping organized is the real challenge. But once you develop good habits, it's not that difficult!
Now I spend 10 minutes every night doing a simple cleanup. Fold used clothes and put them back in the wardrobe, return read books to the bookshelf, clean up garbage, put water cups in their designated spots. These small tasks seem simple, but the effect is amazing when you stick to them. Waking up to a tidy room the next day instantly puts you in a great mood!
On weekends, I do a relatively deeper cleaning, like wiping tables, organizing drawers, checking if any items need washing. This regular maintenance prevents clutter accumulation, keeping the home consistently tidy.
I also have a small habit of tidying up as I go. For example, picking up paper scraps when I see them on the floor, immediately adjusting clothes if I notice they're not hung properly. These small efforts add up, helping maintain a relatively tidy state at home.
Returning items to their original places immediately after use is also a good habit. For example, putting makeup back in place after using it, returning scissors to the tool area right after use. This not only maintains tidiness but also makes things easy to find next time.
Final Words
After saying so much, the ultimate purpose of organizing is to make life easier and more comfortable. Through these methods, I believe you can also create a well-organized living space.
Remember, organizing isn't something that happens overnight, it needs gradual habit formation. Start with small things, progress gradually, and you will definitely succeed! Hope these experiences can help you, and welcome to share your organizing insights in the comments. Let's create a clean and comfortable living space together!
