By Beth Kern

When you can’t see the coffee table holding up the pile of magazines and newspapers in the family room it might be time to do some serious cleaning. With everyone’s lives in the fast lane it’s hard to find the time to clean up after yourself and the family. However, enough is enough, it’s a new year and that means a fresh start to keeping your house clutter free. Worried that getting organized might cost you? The reality is organizing can fit into any budget. Design Manager, Linda Audenried of Stofanak Custom Cabinetry say, “You can re-outfit things you already have.” She recommends using shelves and baskets to help add organization to any room.

Family Room

The family room is the central room in the house. It’s where everyone gets together to watch TV, movies, play games or even read so of course it’s going to have more clutter then any other room.

Help tone down clutter by dividing the room into sections. For the reader in the family, have a corner where there is a chair and a floor lamp for lighting and a small basket where magazines and newspapers can be stashed. To maintain the basket, keep only two issues of a magazine and/or paper. (Editor’s note: You may keep all your issues of Lehigh Valley Style.)

Give the kids a corner as well. A kid’s play table easy fits into a corner and also allows store crates and bins for toys to disappear into the corner instead of in the middle of the floor.

Rita Sullivan, Design Coordinator at Metro Design Center, mentions dividing the room with a decorative screen. “If grandparents who don’t have children over everyday want to hide the children’s toys they can simply add a folding screen or curtain drapery.” Doing this will allow anyone to have a clean space and then when the children want to play simple move aside the screen so you can still see them at play.”

Decorating doesn’t have to be expensive.If you’re handy you can build a wood frame for a screen yourself and then cover it in fabric. It can be as elaborate as you want it to be,” says Sullivan.

If you don’t already have shelving in the room add a bookshelf behind the couch to store video games, movies, books, and more. While those items will be hidden to anyone standing in front of the couch, family photos on the top shelf can be proudly displayed. Laura Weeks of Stonewood Interiors in Emmaus adds, “Don’t forget that often times less is more. Rotate your accessories and cherished objects by boxing some up. Then pull them back out at a later time for a refreshed look for your home at no added cost.” For more hidden space try a lift top ottoman to store extra pillows and blankets when not in use.

Kitchen

The kitchen is another area where the whole family is guilty of cluttering. That big inviting table is where problems occur. Homework gets left behind and so do bills that will be paid later. Establish a rule, 15 minutes before dinner the table must be clear of everyone’s belongings.

Kitchens were meant to have cabinets but cabinets aren’t made for clutter. Organize your space by using caddies or dividers to keep utensils, dishes, and baking supplies neat.

If you would like more room in your cabinets, consider purchasing a rack that hangs from the ceiling that you can hang your pots and pans from. If you have nice pans and high enough ceilings this can be a very appealing look for your kitchen. Meanwhile it clears about a bunch of cabinet space for less attractive things like Tupperware containers.

As for the refrigerator, take down all the magnets. There is no need to clutter your fridge so that you can’t even see what color it is. Have only the essentials on there such as, emergency contact numbers (neatly printed or typed on one index card) and a grocery list for convenience. Everything else should find a new home.

Home Office

Having your own office at home is supposed to be less hectic then your one at work but with all that clutter to feels about the same. A clean office starts with having optimal space. Make sure you have a large enough desk that will be able to accommodate your computer and a space for writing at your desk.

If your home office used to be a bedroom take full advantage of the closet space. Use the closet as your own personal storage room. If there isn’t already shelving in there put some in and divide the space to stock paper and other office supplies.

Have another smaller desk or side table and put a small filing cabinet underneath to keep it out of the way and use it to file loose papers. On the top of the desk have different baskets and label them, “ongoing projects,” “bring to work,” “needs to be filed.” To save money consider using cardboard boxes. Sullivan mentions, “What’s great about cardboard boxes is they come in a variety of sizes.” Sullivan mentions that you can cover the boxes with decorative paper or fabric to match any décor in your home.

Garage

You know it’s time to clean the garage when you can no longer fit a car in its space. Garage organization is really quite simple with the help of Rubbermaid’s track system. You can custom-make your own setup that works for you. You align the track on the wall and buy other hooks and shelves for various tools, brooms, and utility cords from. It’s an updated version of the pegboard you may be more familiar with.

Organizing your children’s sports and recreation equipment can be easy with plastic bins pushed off to the side or even a sturdy yet durable plastic chest where everything is hidden out of sight.

If your lawn equipment is taking up most of your floor plan consider building a shed in the backyard that can house all of these tools. It also works nice for storing seasonal appliances such as a snow blower. If you’re a family who likes to ride bikes but doesn’t like all the space they can eat up, try installing hooks on ceiling beams. Doing so will give you back your garage floor and also have nice storage during those off-season biking months. Just make sure you’ll still have enough clearance to get your car in safely.

Bedroom

If your bedroom is so cluttered it’s keeping you up at night, you have a problem. Tackle it by instantly adding a hamper. It sounds simple but it really will help relieve the piles of dirty clothes on the floor. Also, when you do laundry, put it away as soon as you take it out. Leaving it in a laundry basket and pulling things out only when you need them is not ideal.

Storage space can sometimes be an issue. Maybe you have a rather large jewelry collection or a passion for shoes. Adding extra shelving in a closet for these items is always a great idea that can also be used for other knick-knacks. Invest in a jewelry armoire, if your jewelry box is bursting at the seams.

In kid’s rooms don’t let monsters be the only things under their bed. Get clear plastic tubs for either seasonal apparel, toys and games, or craft supplies. The clear containers are nice because you’re still able to see what’s in them without having to label.

Also, when it comes to getting your children organized make sure you place all hooks and shelves at their level. They should be able to do clean up on their own and not have to ask for an adult’s help.

When all else fails and you are still strapped for storage, it may just be time to clean out your closet. Anything that you haven’t worn over the last year it’s probably safe to donate, if it’s in good condition, or just toss. Here’s a radical thought: How about just having less? This is the trend, as we are moving away from the “bigger is better” first decade of the 21st century.  Access what it is you truly need before acquiring new things.

Bathroom

The most common place to hid stuff in our bathroom is under the sink cabinetry. So if that’s the only place to put stuff you can imagine what a disaster it must be. To get organized get a bunch of baskets for your hair, makeup, and other beauty supplies to be separated into. With the cabinets you want things you don’t want people to see in there.

Use the counter space for things like cotton balls, cotton swabs, and soap. Having these items out in glass decorative jars adds a clean, appealing look. If you have a medicine cabinet in your bathroom, remember to clean it out on a regular basis. Throw out any expired medicines or ones you no longer have a need for.

If the mess is in the shower, invest in the ever-simple shower caddie. Most hang right over the showerhead and leave the edges of your tub free so you don’t knock anything over. Be careful though, don’t put too much in there and put too much weight on the showerhead. Make sure you go through and clean out any products that you really aren’t using.

If you frequently have guests over make it easy on yourself and them and add a simple towel pantry to store extra towels and washcloths in. Most of the time you can find one to match the décor of your bathroom already. Also, don’t hide the toilet paper under the sink where you don’t want people snooping. Invest in a toilet paper tower, usually woven like a basket, and place it next to the toilet for easy of use.