January is the perfect time to get organized. The Christmas decorations are put away and the house is cleaned up. If cold and snowy weather keeps you inside, spend a day going through closets, drawers and cupboards. Here are 12 tips for getting organized in the New Year …

1.) Before you start, label three boxes:

     a.) Donate to Goodwill
     b.) Throw away
     c.) Keep
     d.) These will help you stay on track and focused!

2.) Assign a color to every member in the family. Then use that color for everything. For example, Joey gets green and Sarah gets pink. Purchase a set of bath towels in green for Joey and pink for Sarah. Do the same with toothbrushes, laundry baskets and hangers, etc. There will be no more excuses about whose towel is was left on the floor!

3.) Use colored markers on your calendar (one for each family member) so you know who is going where at-a-glance.

4.) Use a cutlery tray in your bathroom vanity drawer. Keep toothbrushes and paste organized and off the counter (shown above, right).  

5.) Hang a mesh lingerie bag in the tub. When bath time is over, fill it up with toys so they can drip dry.

6.) Make more room in your kitchen cupboards. Place a rack over a stack of plates to create a "second floor" (shown right).

7.) Attach a sheet of cork to the inside of cupboard doors. Use push pins to keep light weight plastic kitchen gadgets like measuring spoons and cups handy. Or, hang a cork bulletin board.

8.) Place a lazy Susan in your refrigerator and pantry for easy access to spices and condiments.

9.) I can never find the lid to a plastic container when I need one. I arranged the covers on a toast rack. It doesn’t take up much space in the cupboard and they’re always accessible (shown bottom, right).

10.) Purchase a plastic tote with compartments and fill it with your cleaning supplies. Then make room for it under your sink. No more looking for, or gathering supplies the next time you clean.

11.) Try a wine rack in the bathroom to hold blow dryers, curling irons, brushes, combs, etc.

12.) Clear plastic shoe boxes are perfect for foil, plastic wrap and lunch bags. Why waste a drawer on these supplies?

With a few hours and a little pre-planning, you can get your home organized for the New Year.