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Like a lot of people, you are probably spending a significant amount of time in your home right now. You may be wishing that it was a little more organized and less cluttered, and you’re definitely not alone in that sentiment. The Mayo Clinic even recognizes the link between getting organized and your mental health. Here are some practical tips to help whip your home into an organized space and make it feel a little less chaotic for improved wellbeing.

How Can Effective Organization Strategies Save You Valuable Time?

A huge time waster in daily life can be when you can’t find the specific items you are looking for. For instance, if you have kids, it can be especially helpful to label where things belong and encourage them to place them back in the same designated spot every time to prevent searching for misplaced or lost items. In your kitchen, bathroom, garage, and office, this consistent organization system can be a good rule for adults too. Knowing where things go prevents spending mental energy on remembering where you put them. It can even save you significant time when you’re cleaning and organizing your living spaces.

Secure Storage Solutions: Evaluating What You Really Need in Your Home

It might be tempting to hold onto clothing or kitchenware that you might use “someday,” but all these items contribute to household clutter. Have you ever heard of the 80/20 rule? 80% of the time we probably use only 20% of the clothing, kitchen items, etc. in our homes.

  • Look through your kitchen: Do you have duplicate cooking items? Dishes that you use once a year for special occasions? Way more pots and pans than you really need for everyday cooking?
  • Look through your bathroom: Do you have personal care products that are outdated, expired, or that you have been hanging onto, but will probably never incorporate into your routine?
  • Look through your closet: Can you donate anything right now? Turn your hangers in a single direction, and as you wear items, turn the hook in the opposite direction. The items you haven’t worn after three months (maybe with the exception of evening wear or special occasion clothing) is probably a candidate to donate to someone who will use it.

How to Implement the One-In-One-Out Decluttering Guideline for Your Home

When you shop, think about if you truly need or want an item enough to donate one already in your home. If you don’t then it will probably only contribute to clutter and more stuff accumulating in your living space. Read our 10 tips for creative decluttering and maximizing storage to learn more about deciding what to keep, what to store, and what to get rid of in your home.

Professional Storage Options: Investing in Organization Tools for Every Room

Bins, shelving units, hooks; these organizational items will all help you get organized systematically. Stock up on these organizational tools at the store and use them to bring some order to a room that may need it. Bins and hooks can organize items in the kitchen and bathroom, shelving units can bring a touch of sophistication to a living room or bedroom. Use these organizational tools generously throughout your home!

Go Digital for Reducing Physical Clutter in Your Entertainment Collection

If you’re a music, movie, or book lover (or perhaps all three) consider going digital for new purchases. There are many subscription options to stream music and movies, and also read books on your phone, tablet, or desktop computer. Check them out to see if one of these digital options is right for you and your family.

  • For music: Apple Music, Google Music, and Spotify
  • For movies: Netflix, Crave, Amazon, Disney+
  • For books: Audible, Kobo, and Google Books

While you’re decluttering, you might notice that you need some extra storage space beyond what your home can accommodate. We have residential storage units of varying sizes to accommodate your decluttering needs and removing the chaos of disorganization. We have self-storage facilities located in North Edmonton, West Edmonton, South Edmonton, St. Albert, and Red Deer.

Key Takeaways about Decluttering and Organization for Mental Health

  • Organization directly impacts mental health, as recognized by the Mayo Clinic, which establishes a clear link between decluttering your space and improving your overall wellbeing and happiness.
  • Proper organization saves valuable time by eliminating the need to search for misplaced items, especially when you establish consistent storage locations for household items and implement labeling systems for family members.
  • The 80/20 rule applies to household possessions, revealing that most people regularly use only 20% of their belongings, while the remaining 80% contribute to unnecessary clutter in living spaces.
  • Decluttering requires honest assessment of your possessions, particularly in kitchens, bathrooms, and closets, where identifying duplicate items and unused products creates opportunities for significant space optimization.
  • The One-In-One-Out Guideline prevents accumulation of clutter by ensuring that for each new item purchased, one existing item is removed from your home and donated or placed in residential storage.
  • Organizational tools like bins, shelving units, and hooks bring order to chaotic spaces, with each serving specific functions in different rooms throughout your home.
  • Digital alternatives for music, movies, and books offer clutter-free entertainment options through streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, and Audible, eliminating the need for physical media storage.
  • U•STORE•IT provides storage facilities across Alberta including locations in North Edmonton, West Edmonton, South Edmonton, St. Albert, and Red Deer to support your decluttering efforts.

The garage is one of the worst areas for organizational challenges in a home. It frequently becomes a catchall space for storing unused furniture, seasonal tools, and recreational equipment. Without proper organization, it can transform into a cluttered, unmanageable mess. U•STORE•IT has compiled several practical tips to help homeowners efficiently organize their garage space and transform it into a functional area.

1. Effective Garage Item Categorization System for Maximum Organization

You may have heard of the three pile system when moving or organizing the interior of your home. You designate one pile to keep, one to sell, and one to donate. We recommend adding two more categories: one pile for items to repair and another for items to go into a storage unit if required. Put all the items in your garage into these five piles and then act on it.

2. Establish Dedicated Storage Zones for Better Accessibility

Assign specific areas of the garage for certain items. Have a boat? Have a motorcycle? Have a snowmobile? Have sports equipment? Put all of the items with a similar use close together and create designated zones to make everything easier to find and bring a more strategic approach to where things live in your garage. This zoning system increases efficiency when retrieving or storing items.

3. Maximize Vertical Storage Space with Wall-Mounted Solutions

Have no shelving on the walls? This can mean that all of your belongings are on the concrete floor. Installing wire shelving is easy and cost-effective and can create more storage space in space in your garage to work with. Even plastic and metal shelving can work as well if you want the option to move your shelving around to maximize your storage space to find the configuration that works for you.

4. Protective Storage Containers Solution for Environmental Protection

The garage is not one of the most sealed-off areas of your home. The cold of the winter months and rodents and/or bugs might get into your garage and wreak havoc on your stored items. Consider plastic bins or totes for any items that might be vulnerable to changes in temperature, humidity, or vermin such as extra clothing, linens, and winter items that need proper storage solutions. Make sure these items are stored in bins with a lid to minimize the possibility of damage. You could even consider installing ceiling track storage for your bins to create more space!

5. Implement Tool Organization Systems for Easy Access and Maintenance

Purchase or build racks for your garden tools such as shovel, rake, broom, hose, etc. Ensure that you size for the tallest item to avoid any installation errors. You can even put up a pegboard to store smaller tools such as hammers, saws, screwdrivers, and wrenches. This systematic organization keeps tools visible, accessible, and protected from damage.

6. Develop Comprehensive Storage Labelling Strategy for Long-Term Organization

The first step to keeping a space organized is to know where everything is and where it should be returned to after it’s used. A labelling system for bins, tools, and small items can go a long way in keeping you in line with your own organization system and allow other people in your household to quickly see where items belong. Clear labelling eliminates confusion and maintains organizational integrity over time.
If you’re cleaning out your garage for spring cleaning and find that you need a storage unit, U•STORE•IT has a variety of sizes available. We have self-storage facilities located in North Edmonton, West Edmonton, South Edmonton, St. Albert, and Red Deer.

Key Takeaways about Garage Organization Tips

  • The garage often becomes a catchall area for unused furniture and equipment, requiring proper organization strategies to prevent clutter and maximize usable space.
  • U•STORE•IT recommends using a five-pile system when organizing your garage, which includes categories for items to keep, sell, donate, repair, and items to move to a residential storage unit.
  • Creating designated zones in your garage helps group similar items together, such as boat equipment, motorcycles, or sports gear, making everything easier to find and access.
  • Installing wire, plastic, or metal shelving on garage walls creates additional storage space and prevents items from cluttering the concrete floor, offering a cost-effective organization solution.
  • Plastic storage bins with secure lids protect vulnerable items from temperature changes, humidity, and pests that commonly affect garage environments during seasonal changes.
  • Tool organization improves with dedicated racks for garden equipment and pegboards for smaller tools like hammers and screwdrivers, keeping everything visible and accessible.
  • A consistent labeling system for bins, tools, and small items ensures everyone in the household knows where things belong and where to return them after use.
  • When spring cleaning your garage leads to overflow items, U•STORE•IT offers various sized storage units at their facilities in North Edmonton, West Edmonton, and other locations.
  • Ceiling track storage systems for plastic bins create additional organization options when floor and wall space in your garage becomes limited.
  • Regular garage organization prevents damage to stored items and makes seasonal equipment like winter toys and equipment easier to locate and access when needed.