Organize Clutter Creatively In Your Home
prnmedia.com

The key to creatively streamlining a clutter-filled home is to be organized so that needed things can be found quickly, says Pete Graves of Home Products International (HPI), one of the fastest growing housewares company in the world. Effective organizers devise creative systems that work for them, he adds.

"Realize that organizing clutter is an ongoing process," says Graves. "It doesn't happen overnight. Make special places for important items used regularly like keys -- and get in the habit of keeping each thing in its place." Here are his tips:

• Maximize space by looking for better ways to store things. Use all types of basic storage -- shelves, hooks and containers. Look for new types of storage products designed for specific needs. One such product is the Tamor T Hanger that stores tee shirts and knit tops easily, allowing them to be hung without stretching the necks.

• Categorize how often items are used, storing frequently used things in a convenient place and seldom used possessions in out of the way spaces.

• Store items where they will be used: kitchen towels in the kitchen, bath linens in the bathroom, etc.

• In the bathroom, remove everything not related to hygiene and grooming. For additional storage space, install tension-mounted shelving like Spaceworks For Bath Etageres from Selfix featuring cabinets and drawers.

• Seek out creative storage spaces: add shelves overhead, use boxes under the bed or a table, hang hooks inside a closet door, install a decorative screen in a corner to hide stowed items.

• Use objects in unexpected ways -- store rolled-up kitchen towels or candlesticks in a vase; pour dishwashing liquid, vinegar or salad dressing into a decorative glass bottle; put out of season clothing in suitcases stored in closets.

• Categorize closets to make the most use of space. Make selecting an outfit easy by hanging clothing in groups for work, casual and formalwear on color coded hangers. Place empty boxes or shopping bags on the closet floor for clothing to be donated and for dry cleaning. Save time doing dirty laundry by pre-sorting it in multiple compartment sorters from Seymour Housewares.

• Use hooks for easy access to hats, caps, umbrellas, bags and purses.

• Reduce paperwork and junk mail by acting immediately, either throw it away, respond to it or file it. Store important papers and more in Tamor's Rolling Storage Filing Cart, with an open-top hanging file and two drawers. On wheels, the entire unit can easily be rolled into a corner or closet when not in use.