Home Organization

Getting Organized! A 12 Month Home Organization Plan

This year I am focusing on re-organizing my whole home. Yes, I am starting from the top, working my way downstairs, and then out into the garage. Over the next 12 months I will be visiting every room in our home with the intent of purging, sorting, and re-organizing everything. Everything! 

Organizing closet

True story. About six weeks ago my husband looked at me and said that we need to set a New Year’s resolution. This was coming from the man that does not believe in resolutions. His resolution for us? To organize our home. Needless to say, this went over like a lead balloon. I kinda got mad. Ok, really mad. Why? Well, one – when he says we, it most often ends up being me. And two – I didn’t think that it was that bad. Really. Our home for the most part is pretty neat and together. Plus to be perfectly honest, I took it as criticism.

Our home is mostly put together. Of course there are corners that if you look closely have become home to odds and ends. If you are looking for a plastic food container, you might be hunting for a while to find the a lid that fits the bottom. The laundry room counter is often filled with platters and oversized kitchen articles. The garage holds plenty of “Please save this – don’t ever get rid of it” belongings of the older children. And finally our office/den/guestroom. Hmmm… The room that becomes the hold all for “homeless” trappings.

Both my husband and I were in 20+year first marriages. When we combined our households, we not only combined the six kids, dog, and cat – we also brought two sets of many items (from furniture to photos to kitchen gear, to tools) and two different approaches to maintaining our office files, paperwork, and stored belongings. We have done OK, but we really could and really should get a better handle on all of the “stuff” that fills our home.

Once I looked around and sat with my husband’s resolution for us for a bit, I realized that this should be our goal for 2016. Yes, our goal. My hubby will be purging, sorting, and re-organizing much of our home right alongside of me.

We are busy. Really busy. Which is what most often leads to things getting out of sorts. But we are both committing to getting this done. We agreed to start in our master bedroom and closet and work our way through the home and ending with the garage. I am giving us 12 months to really complete everything. That really is a long time. Consisitencey and persistence will be key to seeing this goal through.

I have created a calendar that I am sharing with you. If you are wanting to tackle reorganizing your home, check it out. While I have created this calendar for our own personal use – it is easily adaptable by anyone.  I anticipate spending 15 minutes each weekday, maybe 30 minutes – tops. I have tried to break it down into small chunks. I plan on doing a lot of purging! I am leaving the weekends free. It might work better for some to do each week’s activities on the weekend. Like I said, this plan is completely adaptable.

Getting Organized! A 12 Month Home Organization Plan

January 2016 Organization Calendar copy

Less stuff means… less to clean, less to organize, less to store, and less mess.

I will be sharing how this process is progressing each Monday. If anyone else wants to join me – we can help hold each other accountable, and share any tips and tricks that we discover along the way. The 12 month plan will include all the rooms in our home. I imagine the kitchen, office, photos, and garage will take most of the time. Which is exactly why I am not starting in one of the bigger/tougher areas. I need to feel success in small bits in order to feel like I am making a difference.

Click here for a printable version: January 2016 Organization Calendar. I have printed out two calendars. One is going into a home binder (more about this next week) and one is getting posted where my hubby will see it each day. I like to mark off each completed item with a highlighter. This way it is marked as done, but I can still see what task was completed. Wish us luck!

Let me know if you are going to be joining in the fun!

 

(31) Comments

  1. I look forward to reading about and seeing your results. I don’t think I will have the energy to organize my whole house, but I do know that I will be working to clear out our basement. We have so much clutter down there! We move often and there are boxes that have never even been opened. I really need to get rid of that stuff.

  2. Printing this out! I need to do a whole home redo with everything we have.

  3. This is perfect, thank you so much for sharing. I saved in my files for later.

  4. All of my calendar entries would center on cleaning all of my closets out. I cannot wait to enjoy all of the space that it frees up after I purge.

  5. I pinned this for later. Thank you for this post! I actually may start with our garage!

  6. CourtneyLynne says:

    Love this! I’ve been in total organization mode ever since Christmas ended! Glad I stumbled upon this post!

  7. Great post! I am on an organizing binge! I love that you break it down into smaller manageable segments!

  8. Meagan says:

    Great post! I can’t wait to start getting things into order this month. Little steps can make such a huge difference.

  9. This is a great list and be so glad your husband is on board. I just did a Kon Mari clean out of my closet and got rid of 12 bags of clothing, yes just my clothing, so I’m on the move to get cleaning out the rest of my house soon. I like how you’ve broken your things up into little pieces.

  10. This makes a huge task so much more doable. Great idea.

  11. Wow! This just happened to me and my husband. He never cleans. He’s been so obsessed that I have to sit down and rest because he is on a roll. Great guide.

  12. I love your organization tips. I really wish I could stay on top of things, but I am so overwhelmed as it is, I can barely make time to feed my kids! : )

  13. Oh goodness, this is exactly what I need in my life right now! I had no idea where to start and this makes it so much easier!

  14. I actually printed out that calendar yesterday! I can’t wait to try to get my house organized, I mean, I don’t have much faith for the year, but it’s going to be a really good 2 days.

  15. I absolutely love that you’ve spread everything out! I have a tendency to try and tackle everything at once, and it leaves me with unfinished projects!

  16. Im just about to move but I downloaded it anyway cause one can never be organized. Thanks for the tips!

  17. This is something I am not really good at. I need to have that calendar and follow everything.

  18. This is a great idea to keep track of organization projects! Sadly, I wish I had more time daily for things like this, it usually ends up where I purge, clean & organize on the occasional weekend!

  19. I am so unorganized especially when it comes to my clothes and my closet. I just throw everything in there with no order. Top that with a man who does the same thing its bad.

  20. I like that you have looked ahead instead of creating a temporary plan. I think it would make your plans easier to achieve when they are spread over 12 months!

  21. Debra says:

    I LOVE this! I have already started purging and cleaning and I need to keep going! It feels so good to have everything organized!

  22. I’m so happy I saw this post, I was just looking for a printable like this! Although I live in an apartment and don’t have as many things as a house would hold, it’s an organizational mess and way too cluttered. I am saving this post so I can print it out tomorrow, thanks for creating this and sharing with us! Good luck on your organizational journey 🙂

  23. Very thorough list. You’ve thought of every nick and cranny of the master bedroom!

  24. karen says:

    just what i needed! can’t wait to get started. thanks!

  25. Molly says:

    Cool !! I’m pondering jumping on board!

  26. Oh, one of my favorite subjects: stuff (or the excess of it).

    I get emotionally triggered/overwhelmed by stuff and clutter. So what did I do? I married a man with mild hoarder tendencies (“Don’t get rid of that. We might need it in the event of ______.”).

    I am constantly going through our excess, and he knows to go play golf when I’m in a cleaning mood. Haha!

  27. I love your bright, cheery page! This is a great plan for organization, especially when you want to declutter. That’s our problem..we have so many little random things and not everything has a place.

  28. Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says:

    I would literally pay someone to come to my house and do all that for me. That’s how lazy I am LOL.

  29. This is a fabulous goal! I like that you’re taking it slow and steady, that’ll win the race for ya’!

  30. The calendar is awesome. Lists get so long & intimidating. This is a wonderful way to organize for the new year!

  31. Sometimes it’s so hard to get started. This helps. Thanks for sharing.

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