It’s easy to dive into organizing projects only to slip back into old habits. The secret: a few intentional shifts that make tidying feel doable (and even enjoyable) day after day. We asked professional organizer Kimberly Stewart, founder of The Realm, to share her go-to strategies for creating a system you’ll love—and actually keep up with.
“Staying consistent isn’t easy. It’s a choice,” she tells us. “But wanting to and trying is a mindset that we always like to instill and remind ourselves and our clients of. It starts with wanting to make a change and making small changes that set you up for success!”
Here are five of Kimberly’s proven strategies.
“When it comes to your home, we always love to start with a good purge, followed by a deep clean,” Kimberly shares. “It allows you to take a mental inventory of everything you own, what you use, and anything special that you want to keep. It’s also the time to let go of anything you have outgrown or that no longer serves its purpose.”
Letting go of the unnecessary not only frees up physical space but also creates a sense of mental clarity.
2. Give everything a home.
“Once we categorize everything we want to keep, we find a home for those pieces, whether it’s designated drawers, closet space, etc.,” she says. “We find bins extremely helpful as they create a home for objects to live in, reminding you that it has a place to be returned to. Having a place for objects keeps you consistent.”
3. Stay true to your style.
“We’re minimalists at The Realm, so less is always better for us. Keeping things aesthetic is a huge incentive to keep things tidy. Stick with organizing materials that speak to your personal style and make you feel proud if they’re displayed or put away,” Kimberly recommends. “Glass, wood, black and white, natural fibers, or whatever you’re drawn to.
We find that our clients keep up with their organization because it simplifies their life, makes things easy to find, looks beautiful, and they’re proud of it. If you’re proud of something, you naturally put in the effort to keep it that way, and this helps you stay consistent with your routine.”
“Eliminating clutter and purging makes you mindful of what you bring back or allow in your personal space. I think seeing the items that are not being used or are expired is a huge wake-up call,” she shares. “It is truly eye-opening because people want to leave a minimal footprint and not view themselves as being wasteful. You let go of something. Maybe you’ll replace it when needed, or you’ll see you’re OK without it. Instilling mindfulness certainly helps keep you consistent.”
This is where labels, dividers, and color coding come in handy. These little systems not only keep everything streamlined but also make it easy for anyone in your household to follow the plan. For example: “When it comes to closets, we find color coding from light to dark and short to long lengths visually allows you to take inventory of everything you own. And it helps you put pieces back once worn,” she says. “Setting up systems that make items easy to put away while being used consistently is the goal.”
These changes don’t have to happen all at once. Start with one drawer, one closet, or one zone, and build from there. Small shifts create lasting impact, and the more you practice these habits, the more effortless they’ll feel.
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