How to tackle even the most daunting of organizing projects

Many of my customers mention areas that are used for storage in their homes, like garages, basements and closets, as the main contributors of stress and clutter to their lives. These areas are usually the places where we drop bins or items that we don’t know what to do with in the moment, and often have the good intention of getting back to them later “when we have the time.” Then life happens! As a result, a few temporarily stored items can turn into a mountain of stuff, ripe for avalanches and a lot of stress at the thought of getting them organized.

These areas usually require some grit and elbow grease to organize, regardless of whether I sort through them or the customer decides to tackle them solo. Physical exertion aside, the process itself can be quite simple of you follow these 7 basic steps:

1. PLAN & PREPARE – Regardless of the size or complexity of the project, you will want to ensure that you plan ahead of time with the right supplies, tools and resources. Set aside uninterrupted time to perform the organizing activities, purchase or pull together needed supplies (like garbage bags, plastic bins or tarps) and tools (like more shelving, customized containers or rack systems), and ask your family or friends for help in advance.
2. START SOMEWHERE – Even in the messiest of situations, the key is to start somewhere. There usually is no right or wrong place to start, so jump in with both feet and get to work! Don’t overthink it at this point.
3. CLEAR IT ALL OUT – Once you get started, the goal is to clear out the space entirely, so you have a blank slate for re-organizing. In a garage, on a nice day when outdoor space is at a premium, we might just empty everything from the garage at once and move it outside onto tarps for easier visibility and sorting. In other circumstances, we can stage items temporarily in other rooms or spaces of the house. Don’t stress as you work through this process. Things will get messy, but only for the short term. Remember that the result of your efforts will be better organization and peace of mind.
4. SORT & GROUP – Once cleared out, start sorting through everything and put each item into a pile based on what it is. Think in terms of categories or what the items are used for. An example in a garage would be to pile the lawn and garden tools in one area, bins of memorabilia in another, automotive care supplies in another, and so on.
5. DOWNSIZE – Go through each group and identify the items that can be donated, recycled or thrown away. Remove them from the rest as quickly as possible. The longer they stick around, the more the likelihood that you will reevaluate your decision and keep them instead.
6. FIND HOMES FOR THE REST – Look at the remaining groups and quantities of items and determine where they will “live” going forward. For example, in a garage, garden and landscaping tools might be better suited for a rack system on the wall and Christmas decorations might end up in plastic bins on shelves.
7. ARRANGE – Install or set up needed storage systems and tools, arranging the remaining items back into the space where they will live going forward. Step back and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

 
If these steps are followed, anyone can tackle any space with enough determination and time. If the project feels too immense, break it into manageable chunks over several days or weeks, or buy a keg, invite your friends, and make a party of it!