The thought of organizing the house can feel overwhelming, like it might take a lifetime to finish. Between the clutter, the closets, and all the “stuff” we accumulate, it’s easy to feel discouraged before even starting. But here’s the good news: to organize the house – it is possible, and it can be done in manageable steps that truly make a difference.
Step One: Make a Master List Before you Organize the House
Start with a notebook and pen. Go room by room, front hall, living room, kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, basement, garage, attic, even the porch and shed. Write down every problem area you see. For example:
Shoes, coats, and backpacks piling up in the entryway
Mail and keys dumped on the hall table
Closets stuffed with outgrown clothes or seasonal items
Old paint cans, broken tools, and empty boxes cluttering the garage
Use one page per room so you can keep track of ideas, storage needs, and solutions. Don’t forget closets and storage areas within each room, they’re often where the hidden chaos lives.
Step Two: Clear the Clutter
The heart of organizing the house is decluttering. Apply the “stranger’s eye” test: if you walked into this space for the first time, what looks messy or unnecessary? Sort everything into categories:
Trash – Broken or unusable items
Donate – Things in good condition but no longer needed
Fix/Clean – Items worth repairing or laundering
Keep – But only if you’ve used it in the last 2 years
Anything that doesn’t make the cut should either be donated, sold, or discarded. Valuable but unused items can go into a “holding area” to revisit later.
Step Three: Create Storage Solutions
Clutter usually piles up because there’s no proper home for it. Look at each room and ask: why is this mess here? Then solve the problem.
No space for coats and shoes? Add hooks, a bench with storage, or shoe racks.
Mail piling up? Use baskets, trays, or wall organizers.
Toys everywhere? Store them in labeled bins or crates.
Overflowing closets? Install shelving, use under-bed storage, or invest in closet organizers.
Some basic tools that make a big impact include hangers, plastic bins, shelves, baskets, file boxes, and labels. You don’t need to buy everything at once—start small and build as you go.
Step Four: Include Every Area Inside and Out
Don’t stop with just the main rooms. The garage, attic, basement, shed, and porch need attention too. These often become dumping grounds for broken toys, unused tools, and seasonal clutter. Use hooks, shelving, and bins to get items off the floor and properly stored.
Step Five: Get the Whole Household Involved
If others in your home are part of the clutter problem, they should also be part of the solution. Assign kids the responsibility of putting away toys and clothes. Teach teens to maintain their own rooms. Ask everyone to help with shared spaces. People take better care of areas they helped organize.
Step Six: Make a Realistic Plan
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and organizing the house won’t happen overnight either. Create a schedule and stick to it. Block out short sessions to tackle one area at a time. Keep a day planner or calendar to:
Track progress in each room
Plan time for cleaning and decluttering
Schedule family help sessions
Note deadlines, like when guests are coming over
By keeping track of how long tasks take, you’ll know how much time to set aside for future cleanups.
Step Seven: Maintain Good Habits
Once you’ve decluttered and organized, the key is to keep it that way. A few habits that help:
Set a weekly time for cleaning and tidying
Put things back in their designated spots immediately
Teach children consistent routines for their belongings
Schedule seasonal purges to prevent clutter build-up
Yard Sales and Decluttering Wins
If you’ve got enough items to clear out, consider a yard sale. It’s a way to recycle what you no longer need, earn some extra money, and make organizing feel even more rewarding. Whatever doesn’t sell can be donated to local charities.
Organize the House
The first pass through your home will be the hardest, but each round gets easier. As clutter disappears, stress levels drop and daily life becomes more enjoyable. With storage systems in place, household cooperation, and regular maintenance, you’ll not only achieve a cleaner home, you’ll keep it that way. Good luck when you organize the house, step by step, room by room, you’ll get there!
