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How to Organize Every Space in Your House

Home organization- How to Organize Every Space in Your House, declutter, organizing, small space organization

It is a pretty big day around here!!! I am so excited to be sharing our first official organizing video from the Abby Organizes YouTube channel! If you missed our announcement last week, we are planning to share one organizing video each week, and what better way to kick it off than with my tried and true organizing system– how I organize any and every space in our house!

You can catch the video below or read the info in blog post form. But whichever way you choose, be sure to stick around until the end of the post because I’m giving away some of my most favorite organizing tools to one lucky reader/viewer!

And now, on to the video!

Click here to subscribe to the Abby Organizes YouTube channel!

How to Organize Every Space In Your House

Oh, the battle for organization. It is a constant struggle around here. With two crazy boys running around, this place can feel a little like a madhouse when it doesn’t have some semblance of organization, so I’m always working to improve and tweak systems, get rid of clutter, and keep away as much chaos as possible!

As I’ve spent years learning about organization and trying different methods in my home, I’ve created a simple system that I can use when I go about organizing just about any area in our house.

When I get emails from readers that say “I feel so unorganized and don’t know where to start!” I tell them to pick one space in their home (It doesn’t have to be a whole room; it can be something as small as one drawer!) and use the following steps to declutter and organize it. Then they can move on to the next area and the next. It won’t happen overnight, but if you chip away at the clutter little by little, before you know it you’ll start feeling organized! Who knew?!

So what is this magical system? 😉 It’s simple really…

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.

1. Take everything out of the space.

You know what they say: sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better! That is often the case with organizing. I find that it helps to start with a blank slate. Clearing out the whole space always helps me to see what I have, assess my storage needs, and really make the most of the space.

Love her simple system for organizing any space in the house! This makes so much sense! Click through to get all of her organization tips and tricks!

(When I cleaned out my craft closet to organize it, this scene happened before the pretty, organized “after” pictures! Scary!)

2. Purge like crazy!

Be ruthless. Seriously. If you haven’t used it recently, throw it away or donate it. If it’s broken, you don’t need it anymore. If it’s stained or worn out, get rid of it. The more you can get rid of, the less cluttered your space will feel. You have this beautiful blank slate in front of you; you only want to put back what is absolutely necessary!

Love her simple system for organizing any space in the house! This makes so much sense! Click through to get all of her organization tips and tricks!

Once I even cleaned out our master closet twice in two months! When I went to do it the second time, I didn’t think I would get rid of much since I had just organized everything, but I surprisingly ended up with a few more bags of stuff to get rid of! I have a tendency to hold on to things because I think I might need them “someday,” but in reality I use a lot less of my stuff than I realize. And if I’m not using it, it needs to go!

3. Put like items together.

After your big purge, separate like items into groups. When I was organizing my pantry, for example, I put all of my spices together, all of the canned goods together, all of the baking items together, etc. When everything is divided out, it makes it easier for me to see what kind of organization systems I’ll need.

Home organization- How to Organize Every Space in Your House, declutter, organizing, small space organization

4. Corral like items.

Take your categorized items and find a way to store each category neatly and in a way that is easily accessible. This doesn’t mean you have to go out and buy a bunch of fancy bins. I always start with what I have in my house. Get creative. I’ve used shoe boxes and diaper boxes wrapped in pretty paper to store things in some spaces. Add pretty tape to otherwise boring bins. Getting organized (in a pretty way!) definitely does not have to be expensive!

Love her simple system for organizing any space in the house! This makes so much sense! Click through to get all of her organization tips and tricks!

(In the townhouse I reorganized my bathroom cabinet using only items I already had on hand, for a final cost of $0!)

To take it one step further, I often put bins inside of bins. This helps control the clutter even more because each item has a specific spot. I know when I take it out and use it, it has its own space to go back to and I’m more likely to put it there.

Love her simple system for organizing any space in the house! This makes so much sense! Click through to get all of her organization tips and tricks!

(Within the boxes in my craft closet, I used a bunch of smaller vessels to corral items like glue, paper clips, rubber bands, and dry erase markers.)

Get organized in just 7 days! Take the challenge here!

5. Label!

Oooh my favorite part! I love labeling! Not only does labeling help me quickly determine what is where, but it is also pretty too! There are several ways I like to label. Sometimes I’ll print a simple tag from the computer. Sometimes I’ll use my Silhouette machine to cut adhesive vinyl labels I’ve designed. Sometimes I’ll use my label maker to create a label. You could handwrite a chalkboard label. So many possibilities!

Home organization- How to Organize Every Space in Your House, declutter, organizing, small space organization

Along with labeling the outside of my bins, I will sometimes create a list of the contents and attach it. I did this for the bins in my craft closet, and it makes it so much easier to find what I need!

Love her simple system for organizing any space in the house! This makes so much sense! Click through to get all of her organization tips and tricks!

(Contents list on the inside lid of the boxes in my craft closet.)

6. Refill your space.

My space has been sitting blank up to this point, but once I have everything separated, corralled in bins (when appropriate), and labeled, it’s finally time to start putting things back. I always start with the items that I use most often and put them in the most accessible spot. Then from there, I fill in the gaps until everything has a place.

Love her simple system for organizing any space in the house! This makes so much sense! Click through to get all of her organization tips and tricks!

7. Train yourself to put things back in their spot.

In step 5 I talked about making sure everything has a specific spot. Once everything is organized and back in place, the only way that it will stay that way is if I get in the habit of putting things back where they go as soon as I am finished with them. Honestly, this is a challenge for me. My scatterbrained side tends to leave materials and half-finished projects lying around everywhere! I work hard to create solid organizational systems, though, so if I want to maintain them, I have to commit to returning items to their place when I’m done.

8. Don’t be afraid to tweak it.

Finally, don’t be afraid to change systems that aren’t working. There have been instances where I have spent a lot of time setting up a system and making it look pretty, but when it came to day to day use, it just wasn’t practical or workable.

One time I was organizing under our sink, for example, and I stacked boxes on top of one another. It looked like a neat pile, but it was a pain to get to the ones on the bottom, so I just wouldn’t use those items or I would make a big mess trying to get to them. When I realized that my system wasn’t working, I was able to replace the boxes with drawers that I could easily pull out to retrieve what I needed, and it worked much better. Don’t be afraid to reassess and fix those broken or annoying systems.

Home organization- How to Organize Every Space in Your House, declutter, organizing, small space organization

So that’s my method. Sure, different areas of the house may call for different types of bins or dividers or shelving, but as far as the actual organizing goes, this is the system I follow for just about every project I do, and it has seemed to work well so far!

When you feel like everything is unorganized, I know it can be totally overwhelming to try and bring it all back to order. But if you attack one small area at a time and follow these simple steps, you really will start to see progress more quickly than you think! (Plus there is no better feeling than the satisfaction of having a freshly organized space!)

A Giveaway!!!

To celebrate the launch of our brand new YouTube channel, Abby Organizes, and say THANK YOU to our subscribers, I wanted to give away some of my most favorite organizing items!!

Home organization- How to Organize Every Space in Your House, declutter, organizing, small space organization

folders | hexagon cork boards | drawer organization set | washi tape | push pins | label maker | binder clips | marble print post-it notes

Along with the fun items listed above, the winner will also get a $150 gift card to The Container Store so they can go on a little organization shopping spree! Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to residents of the 50 US states who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is in no way sponsored by The Container Store or YouTube.

Thank you so much for following along! Have a wonderful week!

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Comments

  3. I feel like I´m always organizing. This Christmas Holiday I hosted a big lunch and cleaned out my closets in the kitchen and dining room. A few weeks later and everything seems back to where it was! I seriously need help with this…. :-/

    Reply

    • If you have kids, this will probably be the story of your life until the move. Ha. Sorry. #fourteens #houseneverstaysclean

      Reply

  5. These are great things to implement when I move into my house. After a year and a half living with my future mother in law, everything is everywhere and I am so ready to have a great system!

    Reply

  7. Abby, it’s so true! I just re-organized my little craft corner cum storage space. I did almost the exact steps like you mentioned above especially #1 – #4. I just took out everything and the whole area was messy and scary. I can’t believe that I’ve so many things. Finally I realized that if I haven’t been using it for the past years, I don’t think I’ll use it anymore.

    Reply

  9. Love your organization methods! Everything looks so nice and organized. I love the kids toys organization the most. How do you get them to work with you cleaning up? Mine do it one day and then are back to where we started the next!

    Reply

    • Thank you, Anika! I hear you– organization with kids is a challenge! I actually have a post coming on that exact topic this Thursday, so stay tuned. (Hint: It is a struggle for me too, lol!) Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  13. I love all of you organized spaces! I am always fighting the war on clutter and chaos around here! My sons closet needs a major clean-out and is desperate need of some organization. Love your ideas for boys rooms – I need to get motivated!

    Reply

    • Thank you, Megan! I hear you– how do the littlest people always seem to accumulate the most clutter?! It baffles me! 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  14. Thank you for inspiration to be organized! I think the containers inside containers is awesome idea. It keeps things organized for much longer time. 😉
    Madara
    lookforsmile.com

    Reply

    • Hi, Kristin! I use adhesive vinyl labels on a lot of my kitchen stuff (cut with my Silhouette machine), and they can go through the dishwasher without coming off. Before I had my Silhouette, I would laminate labels that I had printed on card stock, and since they were laminated, it was easy to pull them off, wash the item, and put them back on with a new piece of tape. I hope this helps! Have a wonderful week!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  16. I love this! I love to organize, but Kam (my sweet husband) seems to struggle to put things back where I had them. How do you get Donnie to help you maintain your new organizational systems?

    Reply

    • Believe it or not, I am only the second most organized person in our home. Donnie is actually WAY more organized than I am and has better follow through about putting things back! So while it’s not a struggle to get him to cooperate, our two boys are a different story! With them it takes a lot of reminders and working it into their routine, which can be a challenge. I think sometimes it also helps to explain the reason behind the system so that it’s not just “Do this because I say so” but “This will make our lives easier because of XYZ…” Sorry I couldn’t be more help with this one!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

    • I know it can be overwhelming! I feel like I am pretty organized in general and still I feel overwhelmed daily by systems that could be improved and messes that seem to make themselves! It truly is a process, though, and I just try to take it one small space at a time. Hope you’re having a wonderful week, Kelia!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  18. Thanks for this! I am in constant re-tweak mode it seems, all around the house. But it’s taken 4 years of living with the Mr. in his childhood home, where his family weren’t big on throwing out anything. This is foreign to me, being an army brat and moving a lot I’m programmed to pack light! Thankfully however he lets me do whatever I think is right, though I have promised if he doesn’t like it I’ll put it back the way it was….Which thankfully hasn’t happened yet 🙂 Your blog helps inspire me every time I feel lost in the process. Thanks again!

    Reply

  19. Where did/do you buy containers for your pantry? I currently store everything in the box it came in. Are the containers a large investment?

    Reply

  21. Loving these tips Abby! I’m still working through my house slowly but surely! Can’t wait until every spot is FINALLY organized!

    Reply

  22. Please tell me where you got the spice jars and clear storage containers for flour, etc. I love how you labeled them!!!

    Reply

    • Hi, Serena! The spice jars are from World Market, the storage containers are IKEA, and I cut the labels out of adhesive vinyl with my Silhouette machine. I hope this helps! Have a wonderful week!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  23. Fantastic method Abby – that is pretty much exactly what I do but I often get caught on the “getting stuff out of the house once it’s purged” part due to time! It can wait in our garage for a while before it gets dropped at the thrift store:) That part is frustrating!!

    Reply

  24. This post has inspired me, as always. Organized spaces are the best! Can you tell me if you use your silhouette primarily for your labels or do you primarily use your home printer? It’s a purchase I’m considering as I LOVE labels! Your blog redesign is beautiful.

    Reply

  27. What are the dimensions of your pantry, if you don’t mind me asking? It looks close to the same size as mine but just want to be sure. I’m thinking about ordering the shelving system from IKEA. Thanks in advance!

    Reply

  28. This is a very inspiring post! I have to ask the silliest question: where did you get your striped flats in your closet? I’m sorry I am a lover of all things striped ?

    Reply

    • haha! Me too, Gina! My flats are from Target. They are at least 2 years old, but I bet they have something similar now! Hope you’re having a great week!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  29. Seeing those pictures I really want to tackle my laundry area. It is tiny and gets cluttered. I also have a tendency to buy a ton of cleaners of all kinds and brands so that takes up so much room. The only picture I did not quite get was the one where the vacuum cleaner was stored next to food items. I know it is a vacuum CLEANER but to me they are unsanitary with all that dust inside and the brushes and hoses filled with all kinds of dirt.

    Reply

  30. Over the last four months, I have purged and organized every space in this 2,800 square foot home. Oh wait. Every space except where my husband keeps his clothes (The Museum of Ancient Apparel) and the garage (No Woman’s Land.)

    You gotta pick your battles. He laughed when I showed him my copy of “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.”

    Reply

  32. Hi! This post is fantastic. I live in a one-bedroom apartment with a husband and young dog. We’ve barely been here a year, but it’s crazy how much stuff we’ve accumulated in that time. I’m taking some of these tips with me next time I head to the Container Store!

    Reply

  33. Thank you for this article! Loved the idea to take everything out of the room and reorganize as you put things back. This was a huge help!

    Reply

  34. Where did you put your coats? Do you live in a 4 season climate where you have boots, scarves, and gloves? I like the idea of using the coat closet for pantry but my coat closet is full of coats?

    Reply

    • We are in Pittsburgh, PA, so we definitely have all of the seasons! We turned our old pantry into a mini-mudroom where we each keep one coat and bag, and then the rest of our coats are in a nook in the basement, right next to the door we enter and exit most often. Boots, gloves, scarves, etc. are in that nook too. You can see photos in this post: https://justagirlandherblog.com/creative-coat-storage/ . I hope this helps! Have a great day!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  35. Where did you get those linen type containers in the top of your bedroom closet? I always find containers that are too tall for up there. Love all the pictures!! Xo

    Reply

  36. I am so envious! Seriously ladies my husband is a great person which is why I can’t kick him out, but he is a slob and I find myself feeling resentful when I go to such length to keep the house tidy. Is there any real advice to get the other people in the house on board with being organized? Thanks jo

    Reply

    • That is such hard question without knowing your hubby but I can imagine that would be super tough. Maybe try sitting down and talking to him about how important it is to you and come up with possible solutions on how things can improve? Even start with baby steps… single tasks that you would like to see get better or an area he could be more helpful? All done with love, of course! 🙂 Hope this helps. Good luck!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  37. I not only label everything but for some boxes that hold Misc items, I put a list of contents on the outside of the box. I use a clear plastic sheet holder (like for 3 ring binders) taped on the outside to hold the list.

    Much like your #6 but on the outside, I don’t even have to open the box!

    Great ideas!

    Reply

  38. I am surprised because I hardly ever find myself visiting or reading a blog and yet I keep stumbling on to yours. Very high quality well written useful content. Believe me I run a construction company I don’t read blogs… Until now. Great job😉

    Reply

  43. I love organizing but I get too detail oriented and find myself bouncing around and not staying focused. Thanks for the pointers!

    Reply

  44. I am starting on my gift room. The room may sound silly to some but I shop year round so I am coming up with ways to get it organized so I have what I need when I need it. I look forward to the ongoing tips!

    Reply

    • I think that sounds like a great idea and I’m sure tricky to keep organized year round! Glad the tips were helpful for you! Have a great week, Jeanette! <3

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  47. The first project I organized was my desk drawer too! what an improvement!! Thanks for taking something that can feel overwhelming and breaking it down to small bite sizes! I’ve followed your blog for years, and still use your free printables (please don’t ever do away with them!)

    Reply

    • I hear ya, Kathy! It can feel that way trying to always keep things organized! I find the more I purge, the less I feel that way! 🙂 We still have a LONG way to go in this new house tho… should be fun! 🙂 Hope you’re having a wonderful week! <3

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  49. Great tips! Especially the labeling. I had a habit of putting things somewhere they don’t belong to but when I started labeling and putting up organizers it’s all nice and neat. Love the post, Abby!

    Reply

  50. Hi Abby, I just want to say THANK YOU!! You have
    changed my ways of organizing. I watched your video
    which was very informative and learned new way to
    organize. I was so excited after watching the video, I ran to my kitchen junk drawer and cleaned, orgnanized right away. I’m amazed how at how I feel.
    I felt accomplished and it’s all thanks to you!!
    Thank you, Katy
    I’m ready to tackle my closet… fingers crossed!

    Reply

  52. I love the way you organized under the sink, that is always a disaster zone for me and I’m going to use those ideas.

    Reply

  53. What a great subject and so good to simplify the process into steps. I love your colors! Makes me want to redo our wall colors besides organizing. 😉

    Reply

  54. Faboulous post Abby I love learning about organization on your blog. I hope in the future to have my blog as organized as yours. I love your suggestion on organizing a small part of your house and go on from there.

    Reply

  56. Being organized, especially in the house is a big challenge to many. For a man, for example, organization takes a toll order. Thanks for offering tips on the organizing space in the house

    Reply

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