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Spring has sprung and everyone seems to have been bitten by the organization bug. What a great time of year to sort through your belongings, donate your unused items and throw out some useless items. Even if you are staying in a small apartment-like suite, like Uptown Suites offers, you can create an organized and calm living space.

If this process feels like a feat that can’t be tackled and you’re becoming overwhelmed just thinking about it, we’re here to help! Uptown Suites specializes in small space organization and decluttering. Using the connected, convenient and comfortable amenities featured in each of our suites, we’ve honed our skills and perfected our methods. And we’d love to share them with you!

Check out these small space organization tips that are sure to help you turn your cluttered chaos into a neat and tidy living space:

Schedule Organizing Your Small Space

First thing’s first, don’t try to tackle everything all at once. Go ahead and plan out several days to tackle each area of your space. If you work during the week, maybe you will schedule to organize your bedroom and closet one Saturday, your bathroom and kitchen the next Saturday and the living room the following Saturday.

However the schedule best works for you, creating a plan will not only set you up for success but also prevent you from becoming overwhelmed and distracted. An extra step you can take to further your success in organizing your small space is to start with some light decluttering before the in-depth work begins.

Light Decluttering

Light decluttering is putting any objects in your small space away that have a designated “home.” Again, this is not the time to go through your closet or drawers. This is simply putting the kids’ toys away, hanging up coats in the closet, putting shoes by the door or back in the closet, etc. Taking the time to do some light decluttering and tidying will make the next steps much easier.

Tips To Organize & Declutter Your Home

a person organizing and sorting their clothes into containers

Before beginning the nitty-gritty process of organizing your belongings and decluttering your space, we have a few general tips that will help you along the way. Keeps these in mind as you begin the organization process. (And it truly is a process.)

1| Start With Surface Cleaning

While the focus of this article is small space organization tips, it can be helpful to give your space a surface cleaning at the start. Just like the light decluttering we mentioned, this step will help to make the extensive organizing less stressful and set you up for true success.

Surface cleaning is anything you need to wipe down with soap and water, sweep or vacuum. Go through each area within your living space and check off these surface cleaning tasks:

  • Wipe down baseboards
  • Wipe down ceiling fans
  • Dust shelves
  • Wipe down and sanitize all flat surfaces
  • Shelves
  • Counters
  • Mirrors
  • Windows
  • Vacuum and mop floors

Did you know Uptown Suites offers weekly housekeeping?

Uptown Suites makes organizing even simpler by offering weekly housekeeping to all of our guests. Even though we can’t organize your small space for you, our Triple Checked Clean process will ensure your suite is cleaned, sanitized and inspected, setting you up for organization success!

2| Remember, Organization Takes Time

As we mentioned at the start, don’t expect to accomplish everything in one day – especially if you haven’t done a living space purge in a while! It’s going to take time to unclutter the chaos that has formed. Layout your calendar with realistic organization goals and proudly check off each area of your space as it is accomplished.

3| Sort By The “One-Year Rule”

When you start organizing, you’ll have to take time to think about each item you own. If you haven’t worn or used an item in a year, it’s time to get rid of it or donate it. We realize there are some items that only get used once a year, like holiday decorations or Christmas sweaters – and that’s okay! These items can be stored in a special container that’s clearly labeled and keeps them out of the way of your everyday items. But even these items will need to be sorted through and purged during this process.

If you have a hard time deciding on whether you want to keep or get rid of something (like that blouse in your closet that still has the tags on it), try to stick to the “One-Year Rule.” Allow yourself a full year to use or wear an item. You can easily keep track of new clothes by marking the date you purchased them on the tag. If the tag isn’t removed in a year that means you haven’t worn it and it’s time to donate!

4| Follow The “Organizing Golden Rule”

The one golden rule to organizing any space – big or small – is that EVERYTHING you keep has to have a designated place to “live.” If you can’t find a space for it, it probably needs to go.

5| Categories To Organize By

While it’s helpful to set aside a specific day to tackle each different room or space in your house, you may need to break your organizing down even further. Using categories to organize your living space can reduce the risk of becoming overwhelmed as well as keep you on track during the process. Here are the categories we recommend using:

  • Clothes and Shoes
  • Paperwork (bills, bank statements, vehicle records, etc.)
  • Sentimental (photographs, cards, keepsakes, etc.)
  • Miscellaneous

As you go through each of these categories, utilize the “One-Year Rule” to sort your belongings into a keep pile and a donate pile. Once you’ve made your keep pile, use the “Organizing Golden Rule” to put everything in its proper place.

Storage Ideas For Small Spaces On A Budget

a variety of small space organization containers

As you’re working through the process of organizing you small space, it’s helpful to have a variety of storage options available. Despite what you might think, you don’t need to spend a fortune purchasing storage containers. Check out these storage ideas for small spaces that are sure to help you stay on budget:

1| Recycled Boxes & Lids

One of the best ways to create affordable storage containers is by recycling. Shoebox lids make for great drawer organizers in the kitchen and bathroom. The variety of sizes can be arranged to perfectly fit your drawers and will keep your items from rolling around. Also, smaller lids are great for organizing jewelry and knick-knacks.

You can also utilize cardboard boxes and other shipping containers. Simply cut their height down to fit the space or create a completely custom container. Beautify your recycled boxes with paint, washi tape or stylish duct tape. Check out more recycled storage containers you can create!

2| Bargain Stores

The savvy organizer can find a plethora of storage containers at these bargain stores. From small plastic tubs to fabric storage buckets, the possibilities are endless. Remember, don’t just look in the storage section. Think outside the box, and browse each isle looking for any type of bucket, tub, basket, cup or tray that could be transformed into the perfect storage container for your small space.

We know that organizing your small space will be a process. Be patient with yourself, remembering it will take time to eliminate and remove the clutter. As you sort through your belongings, enjoy the memories that resurface. We are sure you will exude a sense of accomplishment after following these small space organization tips.

The Uptown Experience

Find out more about the Uptown Experience. Each suite is connected, convenient and comfortable featuring cutting-edge technology and tons of in-room storage abilities. You’ll discover that our modern, apartment-style suites provide a stylish solution to your organizing and storage needs with ample nooks, shelves and cabinetry.