Clean Up and Start Fresh. The first step to organizing any space is to empty it out so you can see just how much space is available to create a home storage solution that finally meets your needs and wants. The key is not skipping the step where you give that empty space a good old-fashioned deep clean. And when you do, you have the perfect opportunity to give yourself a clean slate by reimagining the room from top to bottom. Think about making cosmetic adjustments like a fresh coat of paint, a just-right light fixture, or new flooring so that when you install your new custom primary closet, you’ll have a beautiful and functional space that’s as stylish as the rest of your home.

Keep, Donate, or Discard. Take some time to sort through your things with the goal of keeping only what you love and use. Why? Because no matter what area of the home, there’s a good chance you only use a small number of the items that you have stored in that space. This is especially true for closets. So, after you identify what you use and love, then donate the things you don’t need or use and discard the things that are in disrepair. And if your small closet has you stumped, check out our article on How to organize your small closet.

One for One. Speaking of small closets, a reach-in closet is often the smallest closet in the home and it also just happens to be the closet you’ll find in your kids’ rooms too, which means there’s a very real challenge to keep these small spaces organized and clutter-free. So, teach your family that for every item you bring into the house, another item needs to leave. While it might take some getting used to, it’s the surest way to make sure that every newly organized space remains clutter-free. And it’s your secret to winning the battle over those piles of clothes your teens are so good at creating.

Don’t Forget to Decorate. It’s easy to overlook incorporating home storage solutions or home décor into the space that is truly the hardest working room in your home. In fact, there’s a good chance that your washer and dryer are running right now. But that’s exactly why it’s important to give your laundry room a second chance to quickly become your favorite space. Just because doing laundry is mundane doesn’t mean you can’t love the room you are in while you spend time doing it. So, think about the home décor trends that you love and bring those into your laundry room, just as you would any other space in your home. And before you know, you might just find you don’t mind a daily load of laundry nearly as much as you may have in the past.

A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place. Every room has items that are necessary and unique to the space they occupy. So, it’s important to make it clear to everyone what goes where. This is especially true in a space like your pantry where you want to make getting the ingredients the easiest part of making your next family meal. That’s why it’s not enough to just organize your space but to also share with everyone how they can find what they need and how they can help keep things clean by returning them to the same space when they are done. Intuitive home storage solutions with features like open baskets and shelves go a long way to helping everyone follow the plan.

Hang it up. No matter what doorway into your home you use most, it probably feels like an obstacle course to find you your way out or come back in. Between the mountain of shoes and anything else that might have been dropped on arrival, finding anything you need is more like looking for a needle in a haystack. That’s why a well-placed hook can be a lifesaver. The perfect home storage solution for keeping coats, backpacks, and keys in check, they can also be the ultimate peacemaker keeping everyone’s items in their own special place. So, take a fresh look at your entryway with hooks in mind and you’ll find yourself getting out the door in no time at all.

Work Smart. If you find yourself working from home occasionally or full-time and managing your family more than full-time, giving yourself a home base is the key to getting it all done. And we don’t mean working from the kitchen counter while you cook dinner at the same time, although we know you can do that without missing a beat. A home office and family command center are the kind of organized living resources that help you make the most of the time you need to spend doing what you need to do. With handy file drawers, a dedicated space for the technology you depend on, and just the right dose of personal style, you’ll have everything you need to work smart so you don’t have to work hard. And that helps you get one step closer to doing what you love.

Maximize your Space. If maximizing every space in your home is on your to-do list, then it’s easy to understand how hard it is to give up an entire room for guests if you only host them a few times a year. And even if they do come more often, you’ve got plenty of reasons to use that space in a dozen other ways that bring a sense of organized living into full focus for you and your family. So, consider installing a space-saving Murphy bed. There when you need it, gone when you don’t, it makes it easy for everyone to get a sound night’s sleep. And just as easy to enjoy the room in the way you want all the other days of the year that you don’t have guests.

Rethink the Obvious. How many times have you found yourself thinking “If only I had more room!” You’ve figured out how to organize your home and maximize your space but it still not enough. Maybe you are dealing with how to keep the dog clean and your doorway clutter-free. Or maybe you want a place for your kids to hangout that gives them some freedom while keeping them close by. If you have a garage, then you have all the extra space you need. The key is changing the way you think about it. So, take some time to evaluate what makes sense for the obvious home storage solution needs in your garage. And then ask yourself how you can streamline those to make room for something more. You’ll be amazed at how fun and exciting it is to discover you had the answer waiting in your garage all along.