Have you given up on your storage rooms? Like most, storage and utility rooms become a dumping ground for your belongings when clearing other areas in your home. Often, you place items in your storage rooms that you promise to sort through later or items that you can’t bear to throw away. If your storage space appears to be cluttered and you can’t find anything, it is a good sign that you do not know what you are storing.

Your best plan of attack is to go through everything (yes, everything!) and weed through items that you no longer need or use. Ask yourself why you are holding items that are broken (tool, gadgets, furniture); items that do not belong to you; or items that were meant to be recycled.

Once these items are disposed of, the items remaining can be sorted into categories. Only then, can you make decisions on the quantity, size, and type of containers to use.

The following guidelines will help you to control the accumulation of clutter in your storage rooms.

1. EASE OF ACCESSIBILITY
Place your most frequently used items on the middle shelves, from front to back. These are the easiest to reach. The lightest items on the top shelves and the heaviest items on the bottom shelves. Ensure that you leave a clear pathway to access your stored items by leaving a clear walkway. Do not create a safety hazard by over stacking boxes.

2. CONTAINERIZING
Use storage containers with lids so that they are stackable. Clear containers give you the advantage of being able to see the contents. Plastic containers help to protect fragile items like dishes and holiday decorations. Cloth garment bags will allow your seasonal clothing to breathe.

3. GROUP LIKE ITEMS
Rather than have similar items scattered throughout your storage room, group and store them in one container and in one area. By grouping items into categories, you will save time when searching for them at a later stage. For example, keep all your camping equipment in the same area (tents, sleeping bags, hiking boots, camp stoves). When your items are stored in the same container, loading them into the car is easier and faster.

4. CLEAR LABELING
Each container should be clearly labeled with a description of its contents. Items with a limited shelf life should be labeled with a date. If you are keeping items that need to be revisited at a later date, place the date of storage on your label, so you know how much time has passed since you last looked at this item (if you have not touched it in over a year, chances are you don’t need it).

5. USE OF VERTICAL SPACE
Underutilized space is one of the main problems facing a cluttered storage room. Look at your walls and create more effective storage space by making use of vertical space. Install shelving against walls. Use hooks and racks to store items off the floor (broom and bicycle racks). Pegboards are a great way to mount hooks, racks and caddies for holding tools and other hardware.