I store things in the room where they are used, or as close to it as I can. Bathroom cleansers in the bathroom, kitchen cleansers in the kitchen etc. Towels in the bathroom, sheets in the bedroom closet, storage bench or bottom drawer. Sewing supplies where I sew. that means getting multiples so you don’t have to search and tote. I have a half dozen pair of scissors, in the desk, in my dresser drawer, in my sewing basket, in the kitchen drawer etc.
Kitchen is organized to dishes, pans and utensils are closest to where they are used, glasses by the fridge (where water, ice and drinks are), pans next to or under the stove etc. For the kitchen it is important not to have more than you use. For 2 people and 8 piece silverware and dinnerware set is fine. I cook with the same 3 pans most of the time, so kept the best, got rid of duplicates, and store infrequently used things in the back of the cupboard, or in those high shelves I can’t reach.
i don’t do holiday entertaining anymore so I gave that stuff to my daughters–the big turkey platter, the divided relish dishes etc, the Christmas design mugs etc.
De-clutter. If it is not used, get rid of it. If you have doubts, box it up, open the box a year later, if you never missed it, get rid of it. That goes for household items as well as clothing and linens.
I have to sort mail once a week, pay bills, file, enter info onto spreadsheets etc. Takes about an hour but if I miss it quickly grows into a mountain of junk. Handle each piece of mail once. Toss it, scan and toss, take action appropriate (write and mail a check, make a phone call etc) and file.
I rely both at home and in the office on color coding–my calendar, my storage and filing, my linens, and my clothes. Each bedroom and bathroom has its own color so you don’t have to guess what fits what bed or where it belongs. Filing is color coded–green for financial data, red for medical and so forth.
My calendar is color coded according to what type of activity it is. I have only one planner, school year, July 2007 through December 2008, and I start a new one each July, transferring dates I need. It has a full month grid, and full page for each week with plenty of room to write, but fits in my purse, so I always have it with me. I buy my purses to fit my planner and other things I need to carry.
I use colored pencils or highliters for a tick mark on the monthly page, and put the details on the daily entry. Whenever I get a new contact I write it in the planner, or put business cards in a pocket folder stapled on the back cover. Receipts go in a pocket stapled in the front cover and filed as soon as I get to work or home office.
I have an index card file in one of those photo albums that holds one 4x6 print in each plastic sleeve. I have 4 sets of weekly menues and shopping list, also color coded, so I just repeat these menues each month. I have cards with daily chores, weekly chores, monthly or quarterly chores and annual chores. They are also color coded. i keep my place with a big paper clip, and I try to do the chores on time (keep it under an hour a day). That way I don’t forget to clean the fan blades or wash the curtains.
my wardrobe is color coded, based on the same 4-5 color families, (black, khaki, sage green, dutch blue, with some white and navy) so each piece usually goes with at least 6 other pieces, and with my shoes. I hang clothes by color to make picking outfits easier. When something needs mending I wash it and hang it in one particular spot, and tackle these once a month or so.
It used to be the “office” when we were a family of 3. Now it’s going to be one of the kids’ rooms, so basically everything in there is homeless (since all that office stuff doesn’t belong in a kid’s room!).