| Do you fight a constant battle against clutter? Do | | | | particular item. If you don't consider yourself a |
| you enter the homes of your friends with envy | | | | handy-person, it's always possible to pay |
| because they are always so darn neat? Do you | | | | someone from the store to install it for you, or |
| wonder why your home never looks like that? | | | | even a local handyman. If you're going to pay |
| Let's face it. Some people are naturally neat. For | | | | someone to do the installation, however, no |
| them, there is no effort in putting things away - | | | | matter how inexpensive the item is, make sure |
| they like to do it. For others, there's simply not | | | | you get a price quote, and a guarantee that the |
| enough time. They put an item down somewhere | | | | item will be put together and installed to your |
| intending to put it away later, and they put | | | | satisfaction. |
| another item down somewhere intending to put it | | | | But as long as you read the directions before you |
| away later, and eventually you've got clutter and | | | | start putting anything together, and ensure that all |
| no idea where to put anything and no time to | | | | of the screws, washers, nuts and bolts came with |
| clean up, anyway. | | | | the item, you should be fine. |
| The trick is to acquire some organizational | | | | Sources on the web |
| systems that make it easy for you to put things | | | | Go to your favorite browser and type in such |
| away immediately, rather than be so daunting | | | | keywords as "Home organization." That will get |
| that you prefer to put it off....and put it off and | | | | you help on organizing your whole entire life. |
| put it off. | | | | There'll be sites that will provide you with lists and |
| What are the problem areas in your house? | | | | sites that will advise you on how to organize. |
| If you've got children, their rooms are perhaps | | | | These can be pretty helpful, actually, and I'd |
| major problems! The cliche is that all children live in | | | | advise you to look at these seriously and sign up |
| chronically messy rooms. I can offer no advice | | | | for any mailing lists on offer. Some are free, |
| there, except for you to start teaching them to | | | | some cost money, so check a few out before |
| put their own things away when they're young | | | | committing any funds to them. |
| enough to learn, rather than after you've already | | | | Other search keywords would be "Shoe closet" or |
| established the pattern that you'll clean up after | | | | "Closet organization." (Putting your search terms in |
| them. | | | | quotation marks helps narrow down the search.) |
| Apart from your kids' rooms, though, what are | | | | Again, you'll get a list back of dozens of websites |
| the problem areas in your house? | | | | that offer the types of things you'll need. |
| Sit down and define those areas, and t hen go on | | | | The major stores like Home Depot and Office |
| the web and start searching for what you can | | | | Max are also online, but you're looking for |
| use to help you solve your problems. | | | | specialty stores. |
| As in all things, you want to buy good quality for | | | | The Container Store has items to help you |
| as little money as possible. That means you want | | | | organize your closet, your kitchen, your home |
| to do some comparison shopping, which is very | | | | office, in fact practically everything except your |
| easy thanks to the internet. | | | | bedroom! If you're a college student they even |
| What are these things made of? | | | | have a section for you, for your dorm room. |
| Depending on your lifestyle and your price range, | | | | Scope out Home Trends to see the same type |
| you'll be buying items consisting of plastic, metal, | | | | of material as The Container Store, but also |
| or wood. Most things these days are made with | | | | accessories for the bedroom, from under-the-bed |
| excellent quality regardless, but nevertheless | | | | shoe organizers to under-the-bed carts to carpet |
| make sure you do some comparison shopping so | | | | slippers! |
| that you buy what's right for you at the price | | | | Stack and Stack Housewares gives you other |
| you can afford. | | | | options on your home organizational needs, as well |
| You also have to consider your do-it-yourself skills. | | | | as home furnishings. |
| Depending on the vendor, you'll take most items | | | | There's a lot of good stuff out there. There's |
| home and put them together yourself. This can | | | | something out there that will help you. Go find it. |
| be easy or difficult, of course, depending on the | | | | |