According to a study by the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), clutter at home is associated with significantly higher levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), especially in women. Organizing your home is therefore not just a matter of aesthetics — it’s a genuine act of mental health. Here’s a complete guide to transforming every room in your home, whether you’re in Laval, Montreal, or the Laurentians.
The Fundamental Principle: Declutter Before Organizing
The most common mistake is buying bins and shelves to store an excess of items that shouldn’t be there. Before organizing, you must declutter. For each item, ask yourself: have I used it in the last 12 months? If the answer is no and it’s not a seasonal or sentimental item, it’s time to donate, sell, or recycle it.
In Quebec, many organizations accept donations of household items in good condition: Salvation Army, Renaissance, Village des Valeurs. It’s a way to declutter while also performing an act of solidarity.
The Kitchen: Functional Organization
The kitchen is often the most cluttered room because it accumulates gadgets, utensils, and containers over the years. Start by completely emptying every cabinet and drawer. Group similar items and evaluate what you actually use. Three identical spatulas? Keep one. A fondue pot never used since 2019? Time to donate it.
Organize your cabinets by logical zones: cooking zone (pots, pans, oils) near the stove, prep zone (cutting boards, knives, bowls) on the main counter, dishware zone (plates, glasses) near the dishwasher. This zone system reduces unnecessary back-and-forth and makes cooking more enjoyable every day.
A well-organized kitchen environment is also much easier to clean. Fewer items on the counters mean less time spent moving things and more time cleaning surfaces. This is one of the advantages our housekeepers immediately notice in organized clients.
The Bathroom: Efficient Minimalism
The limited space in the bathroom doesn’t forgive clutter. Ruthlessly sort beauty and hygiene products — most have a limited shelf life and lose effectiveness after opening. Use vertical space with wall shelves or over-the-door storage. Group products into baskets according to their use: daily care, shower products, medicine cabinet.
A basket or tray on the sink counter allows you to group daily-use items while keeping the surface easy to wipe — a detail that greatly facilitates regular residential cleaning.
The Bedrooms: An Ordered Sanctuary
The bedroom should be a refuge of calm and rest. Limit furniture to the strict necessities: bed, nightstands, dresser or wardrobe. Avoid storing pending ironing, papers, or sports equipment there — every item unrelated to sleep creates visual noise that disturbs rest.
For the wardrobe, adopt a seasonal rotation system: store off-season clothes in labeled boxes under the bed or in separate storage. Hang clothes of the same category together (shirts, pants, dresses) and in the same direction for a visually soothing closet.
The Living Room: Living Space, Not Storage
The living room tends to become a family catch-all — children’s toys, mail, remote controls, magazines. Assign a specific place to each category of items and insist that they return there after use. Decorative baskets under the coffee table or on a shelf offer accessible but tidy storage for everyday items.
Table: Room-by-Room Storage Solutions
| Room | Common Problem | Recommended Solution | Estimated Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Cluttered counters | Wall hooks, drawer organizers | $30 – $80 |
| Bathroom | Products lying around | Wall shelves, grouping baskets | $20 – $60 |
| Bedroom | Overflowing wardrobe | Seasonal rotation, under-bed boxes | $25 – $70 |
| Living Room | Scattered items | Decorative baskets, storage furniture | $40 – $150 |
| Entryway | Shoes and coats | Bench with storage, wall hooks | $50 – $200 |
| Office | Papers and cables | Filing cabinet, cable ties, mail tray | $30 – $80 |
| Basement/Garage | General accumulation | Sturdy shelves, labeled bins | $80 – $300 |
Maintaining Organization Daily
Organization is not a one-time project — it’s a daily habit. Adopt the 2-minute rule: if putting an item away takes less than 2 minutes, do it immediately rather than putting it off. Establish a 10-minute “tidy-up tour” each evening before bed. As a family, assign each person a zone of responsibility.
An organized home significantly simplifies cleaning work. Whether you clean yourself or use a professional cleaning service, a decluttered space means faster, more efficient, and more economical cleaning — your housekeepers spend their time cleaning rather than working around objects.
Organization During a Move
Moving is the ideal time for a major declutter. Before packing a single box, rigorously sort your possessions. Every item you choose not to move is one less box to transport, unpack, and put away. The result: a faster move into a new, organized space from the start.
If you are an Airbnb host, organization is even more crucial. A well-organized accommodation cleans faster between stays and leaves a superior impression of cleanliness on travelers.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions About Organization
Which room should I start with to organize my home?
Start with the room that causes you the most stress or the one you use the most. For most people, that’s the kitchen or the entryway. The sense of accomplishment will motivate you for the subsequent rooms.
How long does it take to organize an entire house?
For an average-sized house, allow 2 to 4 weekends, working room by room. Don’t try to do everything in one marathon session — it’s exhausting and counterproductive. A steady pace of one room per weekend is much more sustainable.
How to involve children in tidying up?
Use labeled bins with pictures (for small children) or words (for older children). Turn tidying into a game: “who can put away the most items in 5 minutes?”. Lead by example and be consistent — children learn by observing.
Should I invest in storage solutions before I start?
No, always start by decluttering. You’ll often find that you need much less storage than you anticipated. Wait until you know exactly what you need to store before buying storage solutions — otherwise, you risk buying bins to store clutter.
How to stay organized long-term?
Adopt the “one in, one out” rule: for every new item that enters the house, a similar item must leave. Do a quick decluttering sweep with each change of season. And consider a regular residential cleaning service that maintains order in addition to cleanliness.
Need help keeping your home organized and clean? Contact Ménage Laurentides at 450-489-8995 for a free quote. We serve Rosemère, Blainville, Saint-Eustache, and the entire region.
