New Year Organizing: It’s Not as Difficult as You Might Think

Now that New Year’s celebrations are over, many of us have shifted our focus to the future. After all, January is a fresh start— a chance to set new habits, make changes, and set our sights on the goals we’d like to achieve.

For many homeowners, it’s also when New Year decluttering, organizing and cleaning resolutions are made.

It could be getting rid of the clutter in the basement once and for all, implementing storage solutions in your garage, or transforming your pantry from muddled to meticulous. Whatever your New Year organizing aspirations might be, it’s all about one thing— reclaiming your space so you can enjoy it to the fullest.

Long story short? You know what you want and you’re committed to making it happen. But if you’re like many of my clients, it’s getting started that leaves you feeling befuddled.

You’ve probably stared at the problem area in your home and wondered:

• How do I know what storage solutions I need?
• How do I decide what to throw away and what to keep?
• What can I do to make this space more functional?

Well, don’t fret. I’ve got great news! Organizing in 2023 doesn’t have to be a source of stress.

Here are some?New Year organization tips?to simplify your experience:

How to Make New Year Organizing Easier Than Ever

1. Systemize the Way You Store Holiday Decorations

Have you ever opened up boxes of Christmas decorations only to find tangled lights, broken ornaments, and crumpled wrapping paper? You can save yourself from these hassles in 2023 by properly storing your holiday decorations now.

Here are a few ideas for systemizing holiday storage:?

• Invest in a?cylinder storage bag?for tubes of wrapping paper?
• Place small ornaments in empty egg cartons to keep them safe
• Use bucket-style coffee filters as protective padding for larger ornaments
• Stop Christmas lights from getting tangled by storing them in?this transparent box with plastic reel inserts
• Store holiday linens (table runners, placemats, cloth napkins, tablecloths, etc) in vacuum seal bags

It may seem time-consuming now, but trust me— you’ll be so glad you did it when December rolls around!

2. Break Out the Plastic Bins (And Your Label Maker)

Few things are as life changing as plastic bins when it comes to organization. You can use them for just about anything! Plus, they’re stackable, come in a wide variety of sizes, and can even be?hung from the roof of your garage?for extra space.

All you need are a handful of bins (I recommend transparent ones if you want to be able to see what’s inside and opaque if you prefer to keep your clutter hidden). Then use a label maker to print the names of different decorations.?

For example:

• Wall Decorations
• Stockings, Tree Skirts, and Other Fabric Items
• Figurines, Candles, and Centerpieces

Now all that’s left to do is place your items in the appropriate containers, seal them, and pack them away.

3. Get Your (Paper) Affairs in Order

Holiday shopping means a ton of receipts. Also, April is just around the corner and we all know what that means— tax season!?

I highly encourage making paperwork one of the first steps you take when organizing in the New Year.?

Here are a few of my favorite tips for organizing an documents and records:

• Categorize your files based on type (receipts, invoices, bank statements, bills, etc)
• Sort individual files in chronological order for each category
• Assign a color to each category (i.e. red for bills, green for bank statements, etc)
• Place all records for each category in a hanging file folder with a color-coded label or sticker
• Store folders in a?hanging file organizer

4. Encourage Family Members to Declutter Their Spaces

We’ve all heard the saying “Many hands make light work”, and it definitely applies to New Year organizing. You’ll quickly become drained if you attempt to tackle your entire home all at once. So why not enlist the help of others?

Whether it’s asking your husband to clear out the garage, getting your kids to fill a bin with toys that can be donated, or encouraging your teen to let go of items for hobbies or activities they no longer partake in— a little teamwork goes a long way.

You can even make it a competition by giving each family member their own plastic bin to fill with items to be donated. Whoever fills theirs first gets to choose where you order dinner from!

5. Create a Weekly Decluttering Schedule

Prevention is the key to a pressure-free, organized New Year. Instead of waiting until a particular area of your home is in complete disarray, dedicate a predetermined amount of time each week to eliminating clutter.?

You’ll be amazed how big of a difference just 30 minutes a week can make!

Be sure to rotate areas of your home each week so each space is maintained throughout the year. For example:

• WEEK 1 – Bathroom (Drawers, Cabinets, Makeup & Toiletries, etc)
• WEEK 2 – Entryway (Closet, Shoe Racks, Seasonal Clothing, etc)
• WEEK 3 – Home Office (Desk, Bookshelves, Closet, Cords & Cables, etc)

And so on.

Trust Your New Year Organizing to the Pros

If you’re heading into 2023 with a ton of to-dos, Rose City Professional Organizing can shorten your list! Our experienced and highly-efficient specialists can provide you with peace, pride and enjoyment in your spaces.

Click here to learn more about our home organizing and decluttering services.

And remember, we’ll provide you with a FREE 30-minute virtual assessment. This is our opportunity to better understand your individual needs, identify the greatest challenges in your home, and provide our expert recommendations based on your desired outcomes. Plus, we’ll even provide some tips and tricks you can implement on your own. There’s no obligation to commit, so don’t wait.

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