What do you think when you hear the term “home organization?” Homes like you see on magazine covers? Mari Kondo-style folded shirts? Maybe it’s just “a place for everything, and everything in its place”?

I fall into the latter category, though I do fold my tops like Mari Kondo. I enjoy being organized, but I admit it took me a while to figure out what works best for me. Through hiccups, I finally have a good home organization system down, and thought I’d share some tips and tricks I’ve learned to keep the house organized without getting overwhelmed.

Quick, Non-Overwhelming Home Organization Tips

1. Do what works for you, NOT what works for others. This could mean spending a week observing how you actually use a space before setting out to organize it and making a list of needs. This could include a basket for throw blankets in the living room, a designated shelf for shoes by the front door, or a key rack in the kitchen. My observations led me to realize I needed to sort the mail as soon as it came in, that I needed to sort my sports bras into a small cloth box in the drawer with my athletic apparel, and that I really needed to move flours and sugars into clear, wide-mouth containers for ease of access for baking. 
2. If you don’t need it or use it, let it go. But realize you don’t have to if you don’t want to. It’s a lot easier to organize when you truly have a use for everything, even if it’s once a year or so. I’m not saying to get rid of everything, or anything, but if you have some things you need to let go, do it! Maybe for you it’s the sheets you bought and though you’d love and actually hated. Or the jeans that fit funny. For me, this meant seriously culling my clothes and books down to what I know I wear and love, and what I know I’ll read. I had books in my shelves that had gone untouched since 2007. Now, I can see all the books I own, and have room for more! 
3. It’s not all or nothing. I promise. You don’t have to get organized all at once. Or all at any time. If you have one area you want to organize, do that! Start small: with one drawer, or the area that you pass by every day and wish was different. Branch out slowly. In my home organization journey, I’ve tackled what I have time for. For you, that may be your whole master closet or it may be one drawer. You don’t have to do it all in one day, week, or even month. Small steps lead to big changes.

As I work through my late winter cleaning and try to get reorganized for life with a four-year-old, keeping these three things for simple home organization in mind making cleaning, organizing, and getting things together much easier, quicker, and, well, even a little fun. I promise you, it may not be perfect (what home is?), but it’s yours!