Throw Out the Junk

• The first step towards conquering clutter is to get rid of everything you don't need. Go through your closets, pull out any clothing you haven't worn in the last few years, and take it to a clothing donation box. Kitchen cabinets are notorious hiding places for clutter -- throw out those old spices, and donate the canned food you never eat to a food bank. Bathrooms usually hold a ton of old, expired beauty or health products -- toss them, along with any empty prescription bottles and other items you do not need. You will be amazed at how much stuff you simply don't use when you take a look in all of your drawers and closets. This step is mandatory -- failing to weed out the junk in your home will undermine your organizational efforts down the line.
  
  

Get Organized!

• Once you have banished all of the stuff you do not use or need, it is time to organize what's left. There is an amazing array of home organization products on the market -- go get some! Store out-of-season clothes in plastic boxes you can put under your bed, or buy some of the vacuum-pack "space bags." Purchase organizers for CDs, DVDs, video games, and other items that tend to clutter. A Lazy Susan can work wonders in the kitchen, allowing you to rotate the contents of a cabinet so nothing is ever out of reach. Try to resist the temptation to over-organize. It is too easy to run out and purchase a tiny container for every item you have in your home, but you need to make sure your organizational scheme is realistic and fits your lifestyle.
  
  

Stay Clutter Free

• Once you have everything organized, make sure it stays that way. Put things away when you take them out, and throw out items which are no longer useful. Don't save items you never use because "you might need them one day" -- if it doesn't have a use in your life, toss it or give it to someone who can use it. Spend some time every now and then to tidy up your organizers, and make sure things are where they are supposed to be. Once a year, go through the whole process again, cleaning out what you do not need and modifying your organizational plan to fit changes in your lifestyle. The key is to put a little bit of effort into keeping everything neat so you don't build up a huge amount of clutter again.