Tip

If you get overwhelmed by the thought of cleaning/organizing an area, get someone to help you. It's good to have someone there with you to help you make decisions on what to do with an item and help keep you  accountable. Ask a friend to come help and then reciprocate. You'll also get it organized a lot faster with someone to help.

Tip

Organizing isn't a one size fits all. You have to organize for the way you live and your situation and home. For example, coat closets. They may work for most people but for us it just didn't work for me to go to the closet and hang up my coat everytime I used it. So I have several hooks by the front door and that's where all the coats, scarves and bags get hung up. This keeps everything close to where it's used, easy to use and it works for us. So just because you have a coat closet and you need a place to put your coats it doesn't mean that it's the best solution for you and your family. Figure out what works best for you.

Tip

Don't know if you should keep an item or not? Do you use it? Do you love it? Is it sentimental? If it's a no to all the questions: get rid of it. Either trash it or if it is in good condition give it away. If it's sentimental it's ok to keep. Just get a box (preferably a plastic tub with snap lid) and label it keepsakes, then store them all together.

Tip

Don't know where to start? Baby steps. Start with a small area, a closet, or cabinet. Just pull out one thing at a time and decide: keep, trash, or give away. If it's a keeper, does it stay there or belong somewhere else? If it belongs somewhere else, don't get up to go put it away. Just start a pile and when you are finished cleaning out the area then return the items where they belong. Once you have one area cleaned out and organized you will be more inspired to tackle those larger areas.