Organize Everything

TIRED OF DIGGING through that overstuffed T-shirt drawer? Annoyed by those mountains of papers?

- Erica Leigh Finamore

Even the tidiest house can have too much of this or that. The issue: We tend to put off decluttering because it can feel overwhelming. But the process is really quite simple, and every project can (and should) start the exact same way, says Tyler Moore, a New York City—based blogger known as Tidy Dad. Whether you're tackling your dresser, pantry, linen closet, or whatever, first empty everything out and look at what you're dealing with. “Until you sort through your stuff, you won't be able to figure out how to organize it,” he says. Set aside anything that should be tossed or donated, then go through what's left, grouping like with like. Finally, put things back in a way that makes sense. If you're ready, pick one of these common clutter spots and have at it, using our advice. Then enjoy how it looks and relish that sense of control.

THE PROBLEM

Crowded Dresser Drawers

THE SOLUTION

Vertical Folding

Dollars to doughnuts you've got a few stacks of T-shirts in your dresser and have no idea what's at the bottom (or even in the middle!) of each one. Embrace the vertical folding method: Fold shirts in thirds to create compact little “packages” that stand up on their sides (see left). This way, you can slide shirts in and out and view your options. So that’s where the blue stripy guy went!

THE PROBLEM

Shoes Cluttering the Entryway

THE SOLUTION

A Narrow Cabinet

Step up your shoe storage game. While there are lots of cabinet options out there now, we’re partial to the ventilated ones at Ikea. They're the OGs and still the best. Ställ Shoe Cabinet, $150; ikea.com

THE PROBLEM