Essential Home Organization Tips to Follow When You Move Into a New House

In a perfect world, you would have purged and decluttered before the movers arrived. But who are you kidding? Even the most together folks tend to throw anything and everything into boxes and garbage bags at the 11th hour. That’s why unpacking in your new house can be be daunting, to say the least. On the flip side, it’s an opportunity to start fresh when it comes to home organization and figuring out what you really need. “Moving really makes you realize how much stuff you actually have,” says Yasmine El Sanyoura, a home designer for Opendoor, a site that buys and sells residential real estate. In fact, according to Opendoor’s data, 49% of people feel that they have less room since the pandemic began. “With new hobbies, pandemic puppies, and home offices, organization and extra space are lacking,” El Sanyoura says.

Before you tackle each room, consider the big picture. Instead of taking things out of boxes and sticking them wherever, do another purge. As you’re opening boxes and bins, El Sanyoura suggests making a donation pile for items that you don’t use or feel are obsolete. Ask yourself: Why did I pack this? When was the last time I used this? Why am I keeping it? Would this be of better use to someone else? Think of your new house as blank canvas that lends itself to a place for everything.

To keep from feeling overwhelmed, Leanne Stapf, COO of the at-home cleaning service company the Cleaning Authority, advises unpacking one room at a time. “Do not worry about decorating your home as you unpack,” says Stapf. “Unpack, then play around with staging your furniture and decor.”

Here is a room-by-room guide to the smartest home organization tips, which will set you up for success with clutter-free quarters. 

1. Kitchen

Too many items on the counters or hanging up in the kitchen can give the illusion of messiness, making your cooking space appear smaller. The key to kitchen organization, says Sanyoura, is finding creative and functional storage solutions. Start by taking an inventory of all your items. Next, store by type-grouping: Spices, oils, grains, cans, and even cleaning supplies should have their own designated areas. Take this opportunity to invest in spice jars and airtight food storage containers that you can decant things into to help avoid clutter inside cabinets. “My favorite organizing tip is to use adhesive hooks inside your cabinetry or on the door to maximize storage and functionality,” Sanyoura says. “I personally use these to hang my dishwashing gloves and keep them out of sight until I need them.”

Silverware and knife organizers are an obvious must, she says, but go a step further with cutting board and cookie sheet dividers for long vertical cabinets. Keep colorful and chic appliances you use most often—such as a Keurig coffee maker and a toaster—on the counter for a pop of color. Organizing your pantry with risers, bins, and baskets will go a long way in maximizing space.

2. Bathroom

Since bathrooms are typically smaller spaces—and toiletry items are easy to collect—they can be the most cluttered room in your house. The first thing to do, says Stapf, is to throw away expired products, and place a Lazy Susan on the bottom portion of your vanity cabinet to store face creams, sunscreens, and other daily maintenance go-tos. The rotating platform will help you find them more easily without knocking everything around. To optimize efficiency, keep the items you use the most often in accessible areas, and store away the products that you only turn to occasionally. For the latter, Stapf recommends dividing up products by type with stacking bin organizers and labels. Instead, adorn counters with decorative baskets for towels and paper goods.

3. Bedroom and closet

According to Opendoor data, 23% of people wish that they could increase the size of their bedroom more so than any other room at home. Creating storage zones can alleviate some of the clutter. Start with a storage ottoman, or better yet, upgrade to a bed with built-in storage. This will keep all the pillows and blankets from spilling around the room. To prevent dumping clothes on an accent chair, place a pretty laundry hamper nearby for easy access.