Write down the compelling reasons for wanting to get organized and include the view point’s of anyone sharing the space. Also create a list of the essential items that you would like better access to. Post both lists on the wall for guidance and motivation.
Attack the piles methodically, keeping only what you use and love, using the SPACE acronym: Sort (group similar items), Purge (discard the excess), Assign (give things a home), Containerize (use containers to group items attractively), Equalize (maintain your system).
Select an organization, a friend or family member to give items to that shouldn’t be recycled or thrown away.
Once you’ve sorted and purged and know what you’re keeping, it’s time to start putting items into their zones in your available storage. Consider the frequency of access in determining which specific shelf, drawer or area to place items into and tips #7 and #8 for solving additional storage needs.
Install shelves and hooks on the walls to fully utilize the space. Consider talking with your neighborhood home improvement store for unique storage solutions for items like bikes, etc.
Before shopping for containers, take measurements of the space and the objects to make sure you buy the appropriate size and consider what you need to protect your belongings.
Make it a rule to clean-up the space each time you use it, investing 3-5 minutes to put everything where it belongs before leaving the room. And since possessions seem to grow like weeds, schedule yearly “Tune-Up’s” to weed out and update your system.
