Are you fed up with the constant mess and the inability to find the things you need in your home? Sometimes life comes at us so quickly, we let certain things slide. Unfortunately, cleaning and organizing our homes usually get pushed to the bottom of the list. If you'd like a change, and are serious about organizing the mess that is your house, here are key tips that will take you from start to finish in any room.

Steps for Organization

Straightening out the rooms in your home will a bit of work, determination, and time. However, if you really want to make the most of your storage areas and living spaces, organization is your best option.

Determine What the Room will be Used for- There is a good chance you have already decided what you want to do with the room you will be organizing. The main rooms in your home are never a problem. It's generally those "obscure areas," such as the guest room, the garage, and the basement that become catch-all areas. Those rooms can be dangerous. Without a clear plan of what they will be used for, they can quickly turn into storage pits for random junk that builds up pretty quickly. With that in mind, your first step is to clearly define rooms and storage areas. Make a list of what is allowed in each. This will streamline your organization efforts. For instance, if your guest room will also have a side area for sewing or craft items, mark that on your list. Any other items should not be allowed in the room.

Understand the Limitations of the Room- No matter what room you are organizing, make sure you understand its limitations. Determine if the goals you have set for the room are realistic. To help with this situation, consider the following questions:

• What is the size of the room?
• What is the layout of the room?

Purchase Storage Equipment- Prepare the room for storage. For garages, this can include shelving, hooks, pegs, or racks. You will also need to purchase bins or boxes for the shelves. Be sure to measure the width and height of the shelves to determine if the boxes or bins will fit properly.

Organizing the Room- The next step, and perhaps the most time consuming, is sorting all of the items in the room. With this step, you will determine what items you need to discard, which items you will keep, and which will be placed in storage. Separate each section into boxes or bins. Getting the family involved can help with the organization.

Install Your Shelving and Revamp the Room- Now that all of the mess is out of the way and you have everything organized, you can prepare the rooms. This may include painting, cleaning, and installing your storage systems.

Store the Items and Set up Your Room- The final step to organizing any room is to store your items. Finish your process by labeling bins when necessary, placing items on shelves, pegs, and hooks.

Of course, the very last part of organizing any room is probably the most difficult; getting everyone to cooperate. It will take a new mindset to keep the rooms in your home tidy. If you have a large family, this may take a bit of retraining. It may take several weeks for everyone to get used to the new, organized lifestyle, but the effort will be well worth it in the end!