Put like things together.

You can get organized or just less messy one simple step at a time. All those things scattered all over your house? Put like things together and the stuff of your life will be much easier to sort, store, and use.

Groups of things are easier to find, easier to corral. It is easier to get rid of excess if you know what you really own. 

I can get overwhelmed when I think of all the clutter and projects. Admittedly, with health issues forcing me to rest more often, I can’t seem to do the big projects quickly anymore. Just a few years ago, I could empty a room, clean it, paint it, and replace everything in one day, sometimes by myself. Where is that girl? She left when fibromyalgia showed up. Or maybe, she regained her sanity.

We moved into our house a couple of years ago, and we are still trying to unpack and organize, but I learned to put like things together.

When we moved, we started with the big things. First we cleaned, repaired, painted, and addressed the flooring and lighting. As we worked on our new place, we considered storage. Before placing rugs or large furniture, I labeled closets and storage so I could find things later. After moving a couple dozen times as a military wife, I had the method down.

On this last move, just as I always do, I walked around and chose locations for the stuff of life, so we could put those like things together quickly.

I thought about out of season clothing, important paperwork and files, tools, holiday décor, lightbulbs and house stuff, and an everything drawer for the small items like tape, rubberbands, batteries, a Sharpie and a flashlight. Then, there are the the vacuum and its tools, beach towels and sunscreen, our work out gear, our music, and gardening stuff to find homes for. Coats, outdoor activities, photo albums all need a home.

Everything needs a place, so it doesn’t pile up in heaps on your floors, under the beds, by the front  door, or in corners. 

I learned a lot from this book on clutter and storage and still have it.

Cut the Clutter and Stow the Stuff: The Q. U. I. C. K. Way to Bring Lasting Order to Household Chaos

Number one best storage and organizing advice I ever read was “put like things together”. It came from this book Cut The Clutter And Stow The Stuff .

Just do it. Put like things together. You will see you don’t need another whatsit or doohickey, because you already have one. Better, you will also be able to find one whatever when you need it.

Put each thing and its related items in one spot closest to where you use it if possible. 

I want to fit what we actually use into an organized useful space. What is the point of having anything you can’t find or use? As I go, what I need to do is reduce the amount of stuff, so I can better use the closets I have. But, that is the overwhelming part, so I am doing it a little at a time.

Like things together, one step at a time.

First, the “office closet” needs attention. It is a conglomeration of related items that I have been stuffing in there since we moved.

We no longer have an office, so we stuffed all the accoutrement into a small closet and open it carefully to get out the stapler, lightbulbs, to be filed, stamps, or shredder. It has evolved into a dangerous endeavor.

Don’t open that door without supervision.

Art supplies to make thing things with my grands are scattered. I need them in one place too.

I think I need to reduce the art supplies to a cart and roll it into the office closet when I get done. 

Honey-Can-Do Rolling Storage Cart and Organizer with 12 Plastic Drawers

No one ever has enough closets, but we all have to  use what we have or build more right?. Instead, reduce your stuff, and you will have less need for more closets.

Most big jobs require the same method. Break the job into smaller parts. Divide the work, prioritize, knock it out.

I am going to empty the closets I have chosen for this project. Sort, toss, shred, donate, relocate, and then with an orderly organized method, place the useful and in good repair items that we are keeping back in the chosen location.

Think I will hang something like this on the back of the door for quick paper sorting. 

So that I can see the items in the box or bin, general storage should be clear. Otherwise, your will need to lable every box in detail as you go.

I would put envelopes, stamps, stapler, tape, pens, clips, and a hole punch in these clear acrylic bins. Also, I put some of these in my camper for coffee cups and coffee. 

I also need to corral pens, sharpies, scissors, and things that could stand up  a cup.

Today. Like things together. One step at a time, one closet at a time.

How about one shelf at a time? Ok that doesn’t sound so bad. I can start with just a shelf.

Barefoot and organizing,

Kim

how to get organized, start by putting like things together