Storing and organizing

Moving into a new home is the perfect time to go through belongings and get organized. By following a few easy storage and organization tips, you can make better use of the space you have while creating new storage space.

General Tips

Organizing your belongings doesn't have to be stressful. You might find it easier to get your new home organized by devising a plan on how you can organize and store items efficiently.

Decide what you really want in the room first. If the items don’t fit in, throw them away, give them away or move them to the attic or garage.
Think out of the box for additional storage areas in each room—behind a door, above a window, under a side table, under a skirted table or hung from the ceiling.
When space is limited, place frequently used items in the most convenient area. Next, organize less commonly used items in less convenient areas such as upper or bottom shelves or the back of a cabinet.
Stash shallow, rolling plastic boxes under the beds for storing linens and out-of-season clothes.
If you’ll be purchasing furniture, consider items that can double as storage containers, such as a trunk instead of a traditional coffee table. Sideboards, buffet tables and chests also provide extra storage space.
Use shelves to display attractive items such as photos, books and art objects. Place less attractive items, such as papers and CDs, in woven baskets and painted boxes.
Look around for places to add hooks, shelves or a coat tree.

Storing Items in the Attic, Garage or Basement

Use these storage areas for items you will access less frequently, such as seasonal decorations, memorabilia, hobby equipment, collections and seasonal clothing.

Use weather-tight, clear lidded storage containers so you can easily see what’s inside. Identify and label them.
Categorize your belongings so that all holiday decorations are together, all sports equipment is in one place, etc.

Packing Away Seasonal Clothes

Storing clothes that your family doesn't wear year-round can greatly improve the amount of space in your closets. Before you pack them up, consider these guidelines to ensure your clothing isn't damaged during storage.

Clean your clothes thoroughly before packing them away.
Select a place that is dark, dry, clean and cool. You want to prevent mold and mildew and color fading.
To avoid misshapen sweaters, fold them instead of placing them on hangers.
Place cedar blocks or mothballs with clothing to deter insects.
While plastic bags don’t attract insects like a cardboard box, they don’t let the clothing breathe as well. Empty and clean suitcases tend to be the best storage containers.