So you’ve noticed lately how you tend to bump into ‘stuff’ everywhere you go. The books and magazines have spilled onto the floor. The children’s toy bins seem to have magically disappeared. There’s clutter everywhere and you can no longer hide from the reality that you need to start cleaning up fast.

Have you made a decision to restore order amidst the chaos in your home? It does not matter if there's an actual reason to make a change or not, decluttering and getting organized at home is a cathartic process in itself. 

There's nothing like undergoing a purging and tidying session and rediscovering possessions that have real personal value. At the same time, you can't help but feel creative and inspired about home living once beauty and order are restored.

So, if you want to experience joy in your household, a thorough organization and tidying up are truly worthwhile efforts that you should launch into as soon as practicable. To help you with this endeavor, here are six ways to get started.

1. Throw out all useless items.
Go through all the rooms of your house and scan them for things that hold no value. Collect plastic wrappers, empty boxes, scraps, receipts, stacks of newspapers, and all broken items. 

Place all of those in the trash bin and come up with a strategy (such as a basketball hoop over a rubbish bin in the boys' bedroom) that will make it easier for you and the rest of your family to throw out the things that you do not need.

2. Use the ‘box method.’
Place a sturdy box in closets and storage rooms to hold items that you want to donate. This is a much more effective strategy for purging than keeping a mental note of items to declutter, and then give it all away to a charity or thrift store. 

You will find yourself actively putting things in a box whenever you see it. Once each box becomes full, all you have to do is swing by the recipient to drop the items off, and then rinse and repeat. By doing this, you will keep clutter in your home to a minimum.

3. Take seasonal items to a storage facility.
Packing up and putting away seasonal items in a storage facility can free up so much space at home. You may think that you do not have too many seasonal items to merit a rental of an onsite storage solution, but there are moving and storage companies that offer mini storage pods as well.

These mini storage pods are affordable storage solutions that are delivered to your home for packing, and then picked up for safekeeping at a secure facility. They are just the right size for a small collection of seasonal items that you want to put away for some time.

4. Create a ‘drop zone.’
Hardcore minimalists have what is called the ‘drop zone’ in their home. Basically, the drop zone is a place in the house, usually a little spot by the entrance or exit door that is hard to miss, where all items that need to be returned to somebody else or taken somewhere are placed. 

The drop zone makes sure that you are not accumulating items at home that do not belong to you or forgetting important responsibilities such as bringing your spouse's suit to the dry cleaners.

5. Invest in home storage solutions that are decorative as well.
Visit your local hobby store to purchase sturdy boxes that come in attractive designs. You can use these to store odds and ends or as instant drawers for the cubbies you have at home. 

Another option would be canvas-lined wicker baskets that can store everything — from rolls of toilet paper to bottles of condiments. Although these baskets will be primarily used as containers, they function as ornaments at the same time.

6. Make tidying up a habit.
Tidying up does not need to be a big production every time. Just making sure that you do not leave a room with an empty hand is helpful enough. 

Anytime, you are leaving a room, scan it for items that you have to throw away or bring to the sink to wash, and bring them with you. This simple cleaning strategy will keep the mess at home under control.

People's hectic lifestyles are a primary cause of cluttered households. However, with these practical tidying and organization strategies, you can keep your home pretty and orderly without breaking a sweat and taking too much time. 

Best of all, you can enjoy an elevated way of life because, with a bit of cleaning and decluttering, your home can be a true sanctuary for your body and soul.

AUTHOR BIO
Chris Humphrey is the General Manager of Easytruck Moving & Storage. In 2013, the company combined their expertise in professional moving services and storage to create an entirely new approach to the business – and mobile storage was born! Easytruck now operates over 30,000 sq.ft. of air-conditioned facilities in three convenient locations in Dubai and is the only Mobile Storage operator in the UAE.