Tips to clip

The following decluttering tips come from local professional organizers Helen Montfort and Esther Berg, as well as author Marla Cilley:

• Stand next to a wastebasket when opening mail. That way junk mail won’t end up in a pile.

• Make it a habit to put away projects. For example, put away work on photo albums or thank-you notes right when you’re done.

• Every item in the house needs a home or items will end up in piles.

• Organize like items with like items — exercise equipment with exercise equipment — to avoid having to look for things in several different places.

• Get rid of things you don’t love or use. There are plenty of ways to give things a second life, including donating them, selling them and auctioning them off on the Internet.

• Holiday decorations and other things that are seldom used should be stored in boxes, labeled and put away in places, such as attics or basements, where they don’t take up valuable real estate, such as closets.

• If you have a shortage of storage space, consider adding shelving to the tops and bottoms of closets, where there is often unused vertical space.

• It’s important to involve other family members in any organization effort. Children can help put things away, but make sure to show them how things are done.

• Don’t overdo your organizing efforts. For children, 15 to 30 minutes is a recommended time limit. For adults, it’s between one and two hours.

• When organizing a room, place things that don’t immediately have a home or you’re uncertain about keeping in bags to go through later. Then make a commitment to go through a bag or two a day.

• Remember, while it may be tough in the beginning, decluttering and getting rid of stuff is contagious. The more you do, the easier it gets.

— Gabriella Boston