Spending time in a clean and clutter-free room is a great way to relax and boost your mental health. Imagine a life where you can find the pillowcases to match the sheets  or not having to panic-clean before you host a dinner party. Hey, you could even enjoy a relaxed and nutritious family breakfast if you’re super organised. Total bliss!

If you’re feeling a little sceptical about the benefits of an organised life, you don’t have to take our word for it. According to scientific studies, domestic clutter is associated with higher cortisol levels (a stress hormone). Less cortisol means less stress. Less stress means a healthier mind, improved physical health, and a happier life in general.

Of course, we know staying organised is much easier said than done. When life gets in the way, domestic chores are often deprioritised. So, how can you keep your home as organised as possible? We’ve put together a handy guide to help you become a maestro organiser.

What are the benefits of being a good home organiser?

We’ve already mentioned the mental health benefits of home organising. However, there are plenty of other great reasons to embrace your inner Marie Kondo, including:

• Your family members will feel calmer and get along better (yep, that includes kids!).

• You’ll save time in the long term, as you’ll eliminate the need for lengthy tidying sessions.

• By saving time, you’ll be free to enjoy a more active social life or organise fun family days.

• You’re less likely to melt down when the in-laws want an impromptu visit. (we did say less likely)

• You’ll reduce your chances of losing important items like your wallet, keys, or passport.

• You’ll create a healthier environment with less dust, dirt, and dangerous bacteria.

A step-by-step guide to organising the home

So, now you know just a few of the benefits of an organised life, how can you become an expert home organiser? Here are some step-by-step tips to set you on the right path:

1. Create a plan and prepare

As the old saying goes, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Planning represents a vital step in the organising process, helping you break tasks into manageable chunks and preventing you from feeling overwhelmed. Take a look at your storage and organisational needs - diving straight into your messy drawers will quickly lead to burnout, and you may feel tempted to give up if you haven’t got what you need to organise them.

When creating your plan, start with the most cluttered and stress-inducing areas of the home. While you may not want to think about your catastrophically untidy garage or overflowing kitchen drawers, tackling the big problems first will be hugely satisfying and motivate you to tidy the rest of the house.

2. Schedule tidying sessions

Once you’ve ordered your tasks in descending order of importance, it’s time to schedule some tidying sessions and create a list of organisational products you will need. Don’t be too ambitious at this point. While you may feel ready to blitz through your tidying jobs, you’ll probably be much less enthusiastic about home organising after an hour or two of hard grind. Even ten minutes of organising per day can make a significant difference to your home and help you make sustainable progress. Remember, to be realistic about the amount of time you can spend and keep your home organising achievable so it fits your busy lifestyle.

When creating a schedule and your organisational product list, we recommend making the most of digital technology and downloading an app like Eggy. With Eggy, you can synthesise life’s many responsibilities into a beautifully ordered to-do list and shopping list and share tasks with a significant other, friend, or family member to lighten the load.

3. Create easy-to-follow organisation systems

Every organiser worth their salt knows the value of creating simple systems. Let’s say, for example, you want to organise your home office. If you’re drowning in documents, books, and files, why not invest in a set of labels to stick to your cupboard drawers?

For example, you could have designated spaces for administrative documents, confidential letters, and training materials. If you’re organising a kitchen, you could add labels to jars and separate food into categories such as rice, pasta, salt, dried fruit, and more. Alternatively, your system could involve different-coloured storage organisers or other types of codes. Just make sure your system is clear and memorable.

4. Get organising

Once you’ve decided where different types of objects should live, you can start the organising process. Don’t worry about making a mess at this stage. Taking out all the objects in your room and laying them on the floor or table will give you an overview of your storage needs and ensure everything is placed correctly.

5. Declutter as you go

We know it can be difficult to let go of old possessions (particularly if you’re a little sentimental!), but recycling, donating, and rehoming items you no longer use will make your home feel tidier and less stress-inducing. If you’re clearing out your kitchen, you should also remember to check the expiry dates on your food. Even shelf-stable foods can lose their taste and quality if they’ve been around for a long time.

6. Move onto the next room

Congratulations! You’ve finished organising your first room. What next? Well, having demonstrated your capabilities as an organiser, it’s time to move on to your next room, such as the bedroom, bathroom, lounge room, and garage. Naturally, each room will require its own special kind of system. Here are a few room-specific tips to make your job a little easier:

• Bedroom: Under-bed storage is perfect for storing items like bed sheets, throws, and gifts you don’t want family members to find before their birthdays!

• Cloakroom: Cloakrooms should include designated spaces for every family member. If you don’t have a cloakroom, why not purchase hooks from your local hardware store and place them in your laundry space or by the front door? You can hang your family’s coats and bags and teach your kids to keep their mess off the floor.

• Kitchen: A hanging rack for your pots and pans will free up plenty of cupboard space. Plus, using drawer organisers and dividers will ensure your utensils are accessible and easy to find.

• Lounge: Organise your bookshelves alphabetically to help you find your favourite classics as quickly as possible. It’s also a good idea to clear shelf space for your most treasured items and artworks to make your house feel homey.

• Bathroom: Sick of tripping over your conditioner? Find a good hanging bathroom organiser with space for your shampoo, conditioner, soap, razor etc. that will keep everything up off the floor and within easy reach.

• Garage: Garages are often the trickiest rooms to organise, particularly if you have lots of items to throw away. To make your garage as space-efficient as possible, we recommend vertical organising systems. For example, you could install slotted panels for holding shelves, cabinets, and hooks – great for utilising every inch of available wall space. A pegboard could also prove very handy for storing lightweight tools and sports equipment.

And finally…reward yourself!

We get it – home organisation can be tiring and (let’s be honest) a little repetitive. So, remembering to grab a cup of tea and a biccie every so often is important. Once you’ve finished the whole house, you can even host a party to celebrate. Just remember to tidy up at the end!