Focused on every room of the house, this issue delivers the Real Simple approach to creating a less cluttered home.
fragrant PEONY TRIO
Editor’s Note
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REALSIMPLE® ORGANIZE YOUR HOMETM
How Do You Get Your Family to Help with Organizing? • AN ORGANIZED HOME IS EVERYONE’S TO ENJOY—AND EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY. HERE’S HOW SOME OF OUR READERS SHARE THE LOAD.
More Calm, Less Clutter • Think of decluttering as the opening move that makes all other organizing goals more achievable. Our whole-house, whole-family plan featured here is designed to save time (fewer closet excavations) and aggravation (no more pantry landslides). It might also erase guilt, since clutter reminds us of the decisions, big and little, that we’ve dodged. More shelf space is lovely, but more mental space is the real game changer. What will you do with yours?
Eight Greats • TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF OUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE PRODUCTS THAT PROMISE TO HELP MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER.
Shoes • SURE, YOU COULD JUST BUY FEWER PAIRS. BUT WHY NOT IMPLEMENT ONE OF THESE ORGANIZER-APPROVED SOLUTIONS INSTEAD?
Odds & Ends • PRESS PAUSE BEFORE YOU SHOP. THE PERFECT ASSISTANT MAY ALREADY BE IN YOUR JUNK DRAWER—OR EVEN THE TRASH CAN.
The Book Fairy • HER BOOKCASES WERE OUT OF CONTROL. PARING DOWN WOULD CHANGE HOW SHE THOUGHT OF HER SHELVES (AND HERSELF).
Off-the-Rack Organizers • FOUR PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZERS SHARE THEIR MUST-HAVE PRODUCTS. FOLLOW THEIR TIPS TO TRANSFORM YOUR MOST CLUTTER-PRONE SPOTS.
Shared Spaces • Entry, Kitchen, and Family Room
Welcome Home • A BUSY FAMILY UPDATES THEIR FRONT ENTRY CLOSET AND REDISCOVERS VALUABLE STORAGE SPACE.
Clutter Rx • GIVE YOUR ENTRY A TUNE-UP WITH QUESTIONS THAT HELP YOU DECLUTTER AND STREAMLINE.
A Kitchen That Does It All • WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN A DESIGNER TEAMS UP WITH AN ORGANIZER TO REDO A KITCHEN? A SPACE AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT IS ULTRAFUNCTIONAL.
Pots and Pans • NEAT METHOD’S BROOKE NIEMAN AND LISA RUFF SHOW HOW TO TURN A JUMBLE OF POTS AND PANS INTO AN ACCESSIBLE STOCKPILE.
Clutter Rx • AN EFFICIENT KITCHEN BEGINS WITH CLEAR COUNTERTOPS. REDISCOVER YOUR WORK SPACE BY ASKING THESE QUESTIONS.
Power-Packed Pantry • LITTLE TWEAKS OFTEN MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE. SEE HOW EASY SWAPS REVIVED THIS JUMBLED KITCHEN CLOSET.
The Real Simple Method Checklist • REDEDICATE YOUR DINING ROOM TO, WELL, DINING WITH QUICK FIXES THAT ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SLOW DOWN, SIT, AND ENJOY A MEAL IN A RELAXED WAY.
Get Your Family on the Same Page • DOES YOUR FAMILY SCHEDULE LOOK A LITTLE TOO MUCH LIKE A BATTLE PLAN? YOU’RE NOT ALONE. USE THESE STRATEGIES TO FIND SPACE.
Clutter Rx • ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO TIDY UP YOUR FAMILY ROOM—AND MAKE IT COUNT.
Making Room for Good, Clean Fun • WRESTLING WITH THE TYRANNY OF TOYS? HERE’S HOW ONE FAMILY BROUGHT ORDER TO THEIR PLAYROOM.
Personal Spaces • Bedroom, Closet, and Bath
Sweet Dreams Makeover • WHEN REAL SIMPLE LEARNED OF A DESERVING COUPLE WHO NEEDED A BEDROOM OVERHAUL, WE JUMPED TO ACTION. CHECK OUT OUR TRANSFORMATION, PACKED WITH EASY DIYS AND SMART ORGANIZING UPDATES.
The Closet Audit • CHANCES ARE YOU ALREADY OWN A FABULOUS, FUNCTIONAL WARDROBE. YOU JUST HAVE TO FIND IT AMONG ALL THE STUFF YOU KINDA, SORTA LIKE. ENTER OUR CLOSET-PURGING PROCESS, WHICH WILL LEAVE YOU WITH ONLY THINGS YOU TRULY LOVE. AS FOR THE REJECTS, WE’VE INCLUDED THE BEST WAYS TO DONATE AND SELL THEM.
The Great Closet Clean-Out • SMART TIPS HELP A FAMILY OF FIVE BRING ORDER AND CALM TO THEIR HOME—FROM TOP (SHELF) TO BOTTOM.
5 Tools to Help Kids Cut Clutter • FOR LESS THAN $100, YOU CAN...