A 2014 study found that the average American home holds 300,000 items. Isn’t that incredible? People tend to accumulate more and more stuff as they age, so by your senior years, you may find that your closets are overflowing and your drawers are crammed full. This can make it tricky to move into a senior living community. Although senior living communities offer cozy, comfortable, and spacious accommodations, they can’t hold as many belongings as enormous houses. If you want to make the most of your cozy new residence, you’ll need to learn how to organize your home.
How to Organize Your Home
Declutter Before Moving
After moving into a senior living community, residents rarely conclude that they didn’t bring enough stuff. To create more space in your new home, start by decluttering your old home. Evaluate what you need and what seems unnecessary. Has a certain item been in a box for a year or more? Maybe it’s time to get rid of it. Can’t find room to store a particular item? It may need to go. Everything should have its place.
Although it’s never easy to give away items you’ve owned for a long time, it can be helpful to think of them going to better homes, where they’ll be used and cherished once more.
Make Your Most Important Items Accessible
If you use something daily or even weekly, you shouldn’t struggle to access it within your home. Place these items in your most accessible storage spaces: easy-to-reach cabinets, mid-level drawers, sturdy hooks, etc. Make room for the things that are important to you so that you don’t even have to think about retrieving them when it’s time to do so.
Store Seasonal Clothing Under Your Bed
Do you often wear flip-flops in January? What about cable-knit sweaters in July? Probably not. Create a bin for all your seasonal clothing that can be easily tucked under your bed. Then, when the weather starts to change, swap out your tank tops and sun hats for wool coats and knitted scarves. If the weather happens to change unexpectedly, you can always slide out your seasonal clothing bin from under your bed and grab the appropriate garments.
Use Every Nook and Cranny
When moving into a new home, many people overlook prime storage spaces. So place a shelf in that unused corner, store seasonal clothes under the bed, hang hooks on the back of your door for robes or hats. Don’t let any nook or cranny go to waste, especially in spaces already designated for storage, like closets and cabinets.
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If you want to learn how to organize your home, remember to think outside the box, and don’t underestimate relatively minor adjustments. Small changes can make a world of a difference in your day-to-day life.
Are you planning to retire in Greenville, South Carolina? Be sure to check out The Gables on Pelham, a continuing care retirement community that welcomes seniors from all walks of life. We offer flexible and personalized care, including assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation. You’ll love our cozy accommodations, fun-filled events calendar, and welcoming community atmosphere. To learn more, please schedule a tour or give us a call at 864-286-6600.