Tools
Clarke Delp, professional organizer and owner of central Arkansas’ Clutter Bug, knows a thing or two about getting your, well, stuff together. Local interior design wonder Tobi Fairley is in on the tricks of this trade too — because as you know, you can’t have a beautifully designed home if it’s in disarray. That’s why we asked them to reveal their secrets to satisfying one the most common New Year’s resolutions each year: getting organized. Here’s how they say you can get your home in order in 2012:

1. Re-evaluate closet space. To make room for the things you really need to stow away, you need to get rid of unused items. For closets, “try turning all the hangers around in the opposite direction. When the season is over, see what clothes are left hanging in the opposite direction and make the decision to keep, donate or dump unworn items," says Delp. "Remember, your closet should be bright and inviting, and you should be able to see all of what you have.”  

2. Categorize your collectibles. A collection of anything has more impact if it is displayed all together instead of spread out around the house, says Fairley. “To keep the clutter down and the impact up, separate your collections into categories of like items. Use shadow boxes or shelving to display a collection that you and your guests can enjoy.”

3. Let it marinate. Getting rid of unused items in your home is easier said than done. Oftentimes, efforts to throw things out are diverted when hard-to-part-with belongings surface. But it’s important to be realistic. Will you really ever use the item? “For things you have a hard time giving up, create a ‘marinating’ box,” Delp says. “After six months, if you have not used it, toss it.”

4. Store your storage bins. Keep the giant plastic storage tubs in the attic or garage, Fairley says. “They may be functional but they are no fun to look at, so try to keep them out of exposed storage areas in your home. Instead, opt for large baskets, decorative bins and colorful boxes to store items without disturbing the decorative scheme of your home.” 

5. Work left to right. This is a great plan of attack for when you’re re-organizing an entire room. “When you’re ready to begin the process, always work left to right, top to bottom,” Delp says. “Have your trash bag for dumping, a box for donating and a box for keeping only the stray items that don’t belong in that particular room, such as a pair of socks found in the kitchen cabinet.

6. Accessorize to disguise. Regardless of the amount of storage space in your home, this tip applies. “Stylish, decorative boxes are the perfect way to hide small odds and ends,” says Fairley. “Stage them on a side table, coffee table or console as an accessory. These are perfect for storing TV remotes, keys and other things you need but don’t need to see. In your bathroom, you can fill glass apothecary jars with cotton balls or bath salts. It keeps things organized and looks nice as well.”

7. Select multi-functional furniture. 
If you’re out of space, but can’t afford to move to a bigger place, try this tip from Fairley. “I love using storage ottomans or benches to hold extra blankets in living spaces or bedrooms. That way, you’re using a piece of furniture you already have and utilizing space that would otherwise 
be wasted.” 

8. De-clutter electronically too. 
For the office, create a filing system for your electronic documents that mirrors the ones you have for paper. “Sort, file and purge electronic information regularly,” Delp says. “Keep the most recent papers in the front of the file. Whenever you open it, the current information will be on top.”

9. Use common sense. “In the kitchen, things that work together should be stored together, such as baking pans, electrical appliances, plastic containers (with lids), pots and pans, and large platters and bowls,” Delp says. “Also, be sure to observe the flow of activity in your kitchen and organize around it. Place glasses near the sink or the refrigerator, for example, and put snacks in a convenient drawer or cupboard.

10. Get the family involved. Keep the whole family organized and on task in the New Year with a chalkboard message station. “You can even get creative and make your own on a wall near the kitchen with chalkboard paint,” says Fairley. “You can customize this area to work with your space; it will look much more stylish than a store-bought chalkboard too.”