I really want to get my house uncluttered and organized,but really have no idea where to start.Any good ideas?

I would start by taking 1 room at a time so it's not so daunting. Thinking about doing your whole house could get you overwhelmed and unmotivated. I personally would start with the rooms you use the least, like a guest room or spare bedroom, for a couple reasons. One, you will have the time to find your groove and figure out what you're doing. Two, there wouldn't be as much pressure to get it done quickly. As you move to the more used areas of the house, you will be feeling good, feeling motivated, figuring out what you want to keep/get rid of/donate/trash and maybe even be getting more liberal with the stuff leaving the house. And since you'll be getting into it you'll be moving quicker and have figured out your system by then.

Also, the rule is if you haven't used it in 6 months get rid of it. I use this rule a little more liberally depending on what the item is...some things you don't use every 6 months, but still have a use for, but I do follow this general idea.

Just my 2-cents, but hope it helps,
Good luck getting organized.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

We started clearing out stuff this summer. Our boys are all on their own and we had SO MUCH STUFF !!! We started out on the second floor and went room to room. We moved everything to a room we never use and just piled it up in there. We also painted each room and closet and replaced all the trim and hardware because we will probably be selling in the next few years. We then went back and returned anything we wanted to keep to the rehab'd room.

We then had everything we didn't want or need in the one room and bought a bunch of big plastic storage containers. We placed things belonging to our boys that we thought they would want when they have their own family and the rest we put in the front yard with "FREE" signs on them. It was all gone in less than an hour This took us about two months to fully acomplish because we both work and the painting, etc took quite a bit of time.

We plan to go through the basement the same way next summer.

Making the plan and getting started was the hardest part, but it sure is nice to clear stuff out you don't use or need anymore. Good luck with your organization efforts.

FlyLady.net: Your personal online coach to help you gain control of your house and home

also, a good book is "Confessions of an Organized Homemaker" by Deniece Schoffield (sp?)

good luck.

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Doing the right thing isn't always the same as doing the easy thing.

I too recommend Flylady. There are many Flylady groups that you can join too, to get tips and encouragement. You can do it -- 15 minutes at a time!!

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Donna

I also recommend Flylady!

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Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle

lol If anyone saw my garage they'd call the clean sweep makeover team!!! My friends all love digging thorugh my stuff though. It makes it more fun. I'm really trying to get organized.......

I re-read your response three times

We are hoping to move from our two-story house to a ranch within the next year or two and your post was very helpful.

It may seem obvious, but stop buying! Despite my intentions to become more organized, I find that I still buy things that I really don't need. For me, the answer is to stay out of the stores.

If you are planning on updating the paint and hardware and bathroom fixtures, I would recommend what I wish we had done. If I were to do this again, I would buy everything we needed at once and get a Home Depot 10% coupon. We spent a lot more than we needed to because we would go to the store every few days for a few door nobs, a few hinges, a faucet here and there and a gallon or two of paint and a few rollers or brushes. I know we saved a lot doing it ourselves, but we could have saved a lot more if we had totally planned it out.

Our house was all 1980's brass. Last year, we switched out all the first floor lighting and hardware. There aren't as many doors, lights etc on the first as we have on the second and we didn't think that through. We would have saved a lot if we had bought them all at once along with the paint and supplies.

We selected Home Depot Ralph Lauren Natural paint and haven't regretted it. Ralph Lauren Home Paint - RalphLaurenHome.com The accent colors are Tribal Pottery and Marsh Grass. Ceilings (matte) and woodwork (semi-gloss) are Deep Cream. The halls are Stony Mountain. Rooms are Cathedral Gray and Plateau. Bathrooms and closets are accent colors.

We really like the Stony Mountain, it has a hint of green, but it looks different all the time depending on the light. Tonight I am painting the laundry room Cotswold Breeches and I really like how it is drying. We have light oak trim and doors and cupboards and it looks pretty good. Tomorrow our Christmas gift to each other arrives (LG Gray front loading washer and drier) and I hope the gray and brown go weill together.

Good luck with getting ready to move. It sure is a lot of work. We have lived in this house 15 years and raised three boys here. Besides all the clutter we have accumlated, we had to gut one bathroom and lots of the walls were dented. One room was a sea green my youngest picked out that took three coats of paint to cover up. I know we will get a good return on our efforts, but my back still hurts!

We also tore up linoleum in three bathrooms and put down tile. That was a small investment that should make "lookers" look twice : )

OH LORD...the house we bought had seafoam green walls AND ceiling. AND....a burgundy kitchen w/sea foam green trim! Good Grief, but I despise that color!!

I have second the idea of one room at a time. And if the whole room seems overwhelming take a small space--a closet, the desk, the chest of drawers, etc. and organize that particular space. Work your way through the larger spaces. Invest in some good storage containers

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Mental that one, I'm telling you. ---Ron Weasley, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

Nothing motivates me to clean and organize like inviting family to a mini reunion and weeks stay. Can't let the family see what Messy Marvins we are.
Reunion happens every February and it really gets me moving and grooving on the house. I get a break from it this year but we will be going through the house one room at a time and painting and retrimming.

And like an earlier poster said "Stop buying". When I see all the things we donate when I purge it's a little disgusting the money we spend on things that aren't appreciated.

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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass
It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Another thing is we have a system for contstantly purging. We have a designated spot that when oldest dd outgrows something she puts it. I have storage bins in the spare bedroom closet separated by size. They all go in those bins and periodically we'll go through the next one to see what youngest dd wants and doesnt' want. What she wants goes into her closet or drawers, the rest goes to charity. We have another designated spot in the basement storage area that is where anything youngest dd outgrows she puts her stuff along with any toys, shoes, or anything from the house that anyone no longer wants. Every 6-8 weeks we get a mailing from a charity that picks up and whatever is in that spot goes out for pickup. We ALWAYS put something out. It may only be 1 bag or it may be several but we are contantly getting rid of stuff.

Also, another trick is to use limits. For example, We use plastic hangers and I will not buy more hangers. When we get new clothes, something old has to go. We are replacing, not adding to. We were having trouble with a couple phones. We bought more, the old ones go. If I buy something and realize I don't need it afterall, I return it to the store. This seems so simple, so I know so many people that don't want to be bothered returning something. You don't need it, so you don't need it taking up space and no matter how little the dollar amount, you can get your money back.

Also, when you bring in the mail - sort it right then. Bills in one spot, ads & junk into the recycling. Don't set it in a pile! Get rid of everything you don't need.

HTH!
Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

Here are a few of my best tips (I love to organize)..........
- Have a place for everything. If it doesn't have a place, out it goes. You'll be less likely to leave things out if they have a specific, easy to reach place.

- Organize & store things near where you'll use them. If you brush your teeth at the kitchen sink on your way out the door, keep the toothpaste & brushes in a kitchen cabinet near the sink. It does no good to store them in the bathroom if you don't use them there.

- Get rid of things you no longer need or love. Donate to charity, pass them on to someone who can use them or if they are broken, toss them out. Don't keep things for 'someday', because there is a good chance that either 'someday' won't come or if it does, you either won't be able to find it our you'll forget you have it.

- Get your family members involved. Have them come up with organization for their own stuff. They'll be a lot more likely to use it if it truely works for them.

- Stop shopping. Don't buy things just because they are a good deal if you don't need them. Don't buy too far ahead of time (you decide how far is too far ahead). Have a 'back-up' plan for things you buy and later don't use/need. I buy kids gifts on clearance at Target after Christmas and keep them on-hand throughout the year. Whatever is left in December gets donated to Toys for Tots or another local charity.

- Every time a charity calls about making a pick-up, say 'Yes'. Then go through your house and fill up at least one bag to put out for them.

- Once you declutter, decorate. You'll be less likely to clutter up an area that is beautifully decorated.

- Take a few minutes during the day to put things away where they belong. My kids & I do this while DH is on his way home from work. He calls from the car when he leaves work and that is when we start to tidy up things. We stop when we've got everything picked up or he gets home, whichever comes first. His commute is about an hour so when we first started doing it, we weren't done in an hour. Now it usually takes 10 minutes.

Sarah.........mom to Jason & Devin