Princeton Happenings

5 Ways to Stay Organized in an Apartment

Sometimes our homes can get cluttered and the mess can give us added stress that we don’t need! When living in a smaller space like an apartment, it’s important to keep things well-organized so you don’t feel over-crowded. Here are 5 tips for staying clutter-free in your apartment.

<strong>1. Invest in a file cabinet and shredder</strong>- Have lots of bills, old insurance documents and junk mail laying around? Instead of letting a pile accumulate on the kitchen table, shred what you don’t need and file the important documents in a well-organized file cabinet!

<strong>2. Keep your sink dish-free</strong> – Sometimes dishes can get the best of us (especially after cooking a large meal) but to keep food odors away, spend five minutes after eating cleaning the dishes and filling up the dishwasher.

<strong>3. Have specified laundry days</strong> – Dirty laundry can really pile up making your bedroom feel smaller and smaller! Invest in a good size hamper to hide the dirty clothes and schedule designated days to get the laundry done. When the laundry is finished drying, fold it and put it away before it sits around and becomes wrinkled.

<strong>4. Make use of the space under your bed</strong> – Our beds take up a lot of room in our bedrooms. If your bed frame allows, start using that space for storage! Purchase air-tight plastic bags to store winter clothes during the summer or full a large plastic container with your blankets and shoes. Don’t waste the space just because you can’t see it!

<strong>5. Purchase baskets or bins for closet storage</strong> – Rather than throwing all of your toiletries and towels on shelves, try organizing your items by putting them in baskets! Hats and gloves can go in a basket in your coat closet and purses and accessories can go in baskets in your bedroom closet. Having designated spaces for items makes your home look and feel more organized.