Life works well when your house is organized.

It is great when you know where you keep the sharp scissors and you know where your sleeping bag is stored. Often, the comfort of a house is not its size but how much storage is available. Do not hold on to everything you have, as your life will be filled with unnecessary junk and you will be short on the joy of being PRESENT here and now.

Every item should have a space to live in. Prevail on your husband, do it yourself or pay a handy man to create shelves, rails and hooks that you need. Use old mugs, glasses, unused bowls and odd containers that fit the function of storage. Keep the items clean and make the area look interesting and neat.

Piles of junk in the garage and unused items pushed to the back of cupboards display the amount of life’s issues you have failed to deal with.

You want sensible storage, protected items and an interesting style to enhance the visuals of your daily life. Avoid clutter as you know that the hook at the back of the door will only fit one dressing gown. Not all the items you do not know where to store.

Invest and create spaces for storage. Use the top of cupboards, under staircases, old suitcases and a collection of sensible boxes or plastic containers that are worth investing and collecting. Be aware of destructive sunshine, invasive damp and create protective covers for precious and delicta items. 

This is not an instant result but perhaps an instant decision. Give yourself time and work on it continuously.

 Below are suggestions and options.

Only use the system that works for you.

SENTIMENTAL BOX.

What do you do with the plastic bangle you received at the hospital that they place on your infant’s wrist that says baby Lee …. Throw it away? I don’t think so. It is such a precious and authentic memento. Use a box or an old suitcase and call it the SENTIMENTAL BOX. You can keep the gorgeous box you placed the plait you cut off when you invested in a short haircut, school reports and your grandmother’s scarf she brought from Russia. Thank-you cards, invitations and the letters your first boyfriend sent from the army.

DOCUMENT CONTAINER

If there is a fire? What do you need the most? Passport, records of assets, university degrees and insurance policies. Keep them in a specific container that always lives in the same place. Everyone knows to grab it in an emergency. The next precious items would be the photo albums. Keep them near-by with a hidden folded bag at the back for urgent situations.

COLLECTIONS

If you have a “collection” find a way to display it. If you need to store it decide on a size, volume or the space of a relevant container. That would be the limit for the collection. This rule is appropriate for Tupperware with lids, books, blue bottles, clothes and the dinky cars your husband loves.

THE BOXES …

You need to keep a medical kit, sowing items, shoeshine box, toolbox and a stationary department. Relevant storage for items needed occasionally.

COSMETICS

Only keep the best and use it! 

Use masks and pick “me ups”. Skin lasts until you die. Keep your cosmetic area out of the sun, clean, tidy and well utilized.

In the front of your make up draw/shelf/box keep the make-up you use every day and at the back store odd brushes, make-up samples, masks and lipsticks that you only use sometimes.

WASHING CLOTHS

Have a suitable size dirty cloths basket and enough pegs, washing powder and a sunny spot to dry cloths outside and a sensible cloths rack for cold rainy days inside. Keep a good quality iron, ironing board or invest in a steamer. When you do the laundry, you will enjoy the quality of your work area. It always helps to have a sensible workstation when you are in a hurry or under pressure.

WASHING DISHES

The kitchen washing area needs dishwashing soap, brushes, scours and dishcloths. A unit to dry cutlery and crockery.  Storage area for dry dishcloths and spare soaps and other items. Keep hand soap and cream close by for convince. If you have a dishwasher, have the accruements nearby.

THE BATHROOM

The bathroom needs shelves, rails and neat storage.

Have specific and clear space for everyday items.

toothbrushes toothpastes, cosmetics for faces and body, soap and exfoliators. Towles for hands and big towels for bodies.

The rails for towels should not be crowded by a squashed conglomerate of toweling used by the whole family. One rail for each towel where it can get aired and dried. Storage space for spare towels and linen would work well. Keep the area neat, clean and easy to use.

JEWELRY

Jewelry to be stored in a safe space. Have the cute bowl you use for your earrings easily available. In the front items used often and at the back hardly used items. Store in boxes or attractive bags. Invest in a jewelry cleaner and store to keep for whenever needed. Brocken items to be repaired. Give away unused items. Neat and safe. 

CLOTHS AND ACCESSORIES

Clothes, shoes, bags and accessories, need to be clean, in allocated space and well stored. The contents of your wardrobe needs to be well loved. Only keep items that fit. If you take care of your attire, you will shine with a confident glow.

Wearable goods fall into three categories.

1. Wear now
2. Keep for celebrations and parties.
3. Dump whatever you do not use.

Have appropriate space for shelves, good hangers and place for shoes, bags and accessories like gloves, scarves, hats and dressing gowns. This is the hardest part to keep glowing. So much of our lives, image and money depend on these items. Be alert that it will include your weight, your finances, your secret desires and how the world sees you.

CAMPING STORAGE

Expensive equipment that is used occasionally.

Camping chairs that are useful, sleeping bags that need extra protection and backpacks that are costly but needed so badly on the right occasion. Look after camping cutlery and eating containers, pots, holders for eggs, sharp knife and a board, fire lighting equipment, compass, maps and medical aid box.

You need very large containers that seal out the damp and hold every item in the right space. 

FREQUENT and INFREQUENT

Hooks for keys and spare keys. Cake tins. Spare toilet rolls. The Mixmaster. The hand painted huge platter that is great when guests arrive for dinner but useless for every day. Ensure that your items are protected from dust, bumps and sunlight. Your wedding-dress. The moth-eaten Mink stole Auntie Anne left you. The sentimental collection of your children’s school drawings and your daughter’s first tutu. Low down. Out of the way, in containers that deter aging. Wrapped and protected.

Unwanted, unused and broken items to be thrown out.

Have items repaired.

If the item is so important emotionally, take a photo and store it forever.

AN ORGANIZED HOME IS THE START OF A RICH LIFE.