Organizing Your Home

Getting your house organized will go a long way to maximizing efficiency. There is no single right way to do it: The trick lies in finding the way that works best for you. For the kitchen, a few basic organizing concepts can get you started.

Store things where you use them. Pots and pans are best kept near the range or cooktop; mixing bowls near the countertop you use for food preparation; plates, glasses, and flatware near the dishwasher.

Frequently used small appliances, such as a toaster and coffeemaker, should be stored on the counter; ones seldom needed on a lower cabinet. Install a drawer onto a deep lower shelf for appliances used occasionally, such as a rice cooker and blender.

Store all bakeware in the same cupboard, all wooden spoons in the same ceramic crock, all spices in the same drawer.

Store your most frequently used items in the most accessible places. Keep things you use most often at eye level; store heavy items below waist level; and infrequently-used items on high shelves or in another area of the house.

Keep small kitchen items in containers -- see-through bins if possible -- with neat, easy-to-read labels.

Store cups and saucers the same way they are used: saucer, cup, saucer, cup. They not only look better but also can be safely stacked higher, and when you pull out a cup and saucer, they are ready for use.

Nest bowls, pots, and pans to conserve space. Place paper plates or sheets of paper towels in between layers to prevent scratching. Use nonabsorbent coated paper plates between cast-iron pans, which tend to retain traces of oil.

Stack trays and platters by shape: round platters in one stack, oblong platters in another. Or lean platters against the back wall of a cabinet (secure them using rubber bumpers) and stack plates in front.

Stack platters with cutting boards and flat baking pans between tension curtain rods arranged vertically on a shelf.

Consider storing special-occasion glassware and dinnerware away from the kitchen, especially if it's not often used.

Use baskets and bins to contain small items that might otherwise create clutter, such as spices, dish towels, or cleaning supplies.

Divide flatware or utensils within drawers. Arrange separate components to fill a drawer, or look for expandable one-piece units.

Use lazy Susans for organizing condiments, spices, or vitamins. These multitier turntables can make the most of corner base cabinets and storage spaces.

Stacking shelves can maximize space in existing shelves. Place plastic-coated wire shelves to double storage capacity for dishes, cups, glasses, and pots and pans.

Slip an under-shelf wire rack over a shelf to take advantage of the often-unused space below.

Hanging plastic or wire baskets, or baskets on gliders placed in base cabinets, makes access to cleaning and other supplies easier.

The same principles that work in the kitchen apply to the bathroom, too. Group like things together, such as all cosmetics, in a plastic bin or washable bag, all skin-care products on the same medicine-cabinet shelf, all shampoos in one spot under the sink.

Cosmetics have a finite shelf life, as do skin-care products and medications. Every year, take an inventory, and throw out those items that are expired, you no longer use, or are damaged. Flushing expired drugs down the toilet may affect the water supply, so ask your pharmacy if they have a drug take-back program. If not, throw them out securely in the trash.

Smaller items like hair accessories, bottles of nail polish, brushes, and combs will all be easily accessible in plastic bins with neat, easy-to-read labels.

An organized clothes closet can simplify busy mornings and make every day just a little bit better. Two or even three short rods installed one above the other, rather than one high one, will maximize hanging space for short items like shirts, skirts, and folded trousers. Reserve another area for longer items such as coats and dresses.

Opt for adjustable shelves rather than fixed ones. They will allow you to change the arrangement of the closet as your storage needs evolve. Open storage cubes rein in piles of folded shirts and sweaters and keep them from toppling over.

Install shelves or cubbies at the base of a closet and you'll never have to rifle through items strewn across the floor.

If the ceiling is high, install shelves above the rods to store items you don't use every day, such as hats, gloves, and other off-season clothing. Walls and the backs of closet doors can support hooks, peg-board (to which you can secure any number of hooks), mirrors, and even bulletin boards for messages and mementos.

Keep small items in containers. Corralling like things together in bins, baskets, or boxes is a sure way to minimize chaos.

If a closet is dark, it will be difficult to locate what you need (as well as to get rid of the things you don't). Consider battery-operated lighting if your closet has no power source. Better yet, have an electrician install recessed ceiling lights that turn on automatically when the door is opened. An incandescent light can also help prevent mildew.

To keep your closets functioning optimally, re-examine them every six months. If the types of items you're storing have changed, rearrange the shelves, rods, and bins.

In the linen closet, store sheet sets together in one pillowcase to make it easier to find what you need when making a bed.

Your utility closet will be much neater and easier to navigate if you keep long-handled brooms and mops off the floor. Keep cleaning supplies in a bucket or canvas tool belt so they're easily carried from room to room.

Whether your laundry room is a tiny closet or a spacious basement, organization is key. Arrange products and supplies according to how you use them. Anything you regularly need should be within easy reach; place extras and incidentals on a high shelf or another out-of-the-way spot.

Sort whites, colors, delicates, and heavily soiled items in bins or rolling carts. Store small supplies in boxes or bins: Place stain-removal products in one, sewing materials in another, and sponges in a third. Have rags on hand for spills.

Keep a drying rack handy for drip-dry items, either one that is collapsible or one that folds away next to the wall.

Since bills need to be paid in a timely manner, they deserve their own in-box. Write the due date on the outside of the envelope as a reminder. Go through the in-box at the beginning of each week and pay what is due the week ahead.

After the bills are paid, the easiest way to keep track of them is to arrange them, by month, in a 13-pocket accordion file (use the last pocket for tax documents, such as W-2s). Each year replace the file and use the previous year's file to do your taxes. Then go through month by month to see what to scan or keep.

Keeping important documents is a necessary evil, but it doesn't have to mean a giant pile of paper. Be aware of how long you need to keep items and use a hand scanner designed specifically for receipts to help minimize paper in the home office.

Catalogs and magazines can share an in-box. Toss old catalogs into the recycling bin or rip out only the pages you want and order online. Discard old magazines as new ones arrive. If you consider them keepsakes, store them in matching magazine holders on a bookshelf.

Photographs are another item that can accumulate and overwhelm. Even though most photographs these days are digital and can be stored online, there are plenty of occasions when you'll want to make prints to give away and display.

Create photo albums for milestone events but use archival-quality albums that are photo-safe, acid-free, and PVC-free. Consider making two copies of photos that are of special sentimental value. Keep one set stored in an archival-quality box, the other in an album for more immediate access and enjoyment. Use acid- and lignin-free paper, photo corners, backings, and boxes.

Don't use photo albums with adhesive backings. Over time the adhesive yellows and hardens, making photos hard to remove. The covering can also damage your photos. As the plastic ages, it can stick to the front of the photo and affect its color.

Don't use PVC products, glassine, colored paper, or kraft paper for photographic storage or mounting; these materials generate acids, which can cause photographs to fade and become brittle over time. The inks and dyes in colored papers may also bleed and stain your photos.

Keeping the entryway organized will result in fewer lost mittens, forgotten mail, and misplaced keys. Whether you live in a house or an apartment, a systematic entryway will keep things neat and save you time.

Start by having space for outerwear. Whether it's in a front-hall closet or a series of hooks on the wall, be sure to allow sufficient space for everyone in the household, plus extra space for visitors. Place an initial above hooks, so each family member has his or her assigned place.

Create a place to set things down temporarily. A demilune (half-round) table or small console, set against a wall, can hold shopping bags and mail while you remove coats and footwear.

Have a system for incoming and outgoing mail, such as letter trays, baskets, or standing racks. Have a dedicated bin for junk mail, so it can be immediately recycled. File bills and other correspondence in separate in-boxes.

Choose a consistent spot for keys, such as a series of hooks, to store keys for the house as well as around the house. Label spares.

Get bins for things you need on your way in or out. Attach photos of each family member on his or her bin. Hang dog leashes and umbrellas on hooks. For everything else, be sure that entryway bins or baskets are sorted and emptied weekly.