Gather all the items of one category in one spot. You can only decide what to keep and what to discard if you know what you have and how much you have.

Categorization is important in the process of decluttering. The five main categories are clothes, books, paper, miscellaneous, mementos. Gather and assess all like items at the same time. If you have two junk drawers, tackle the objects in both spaces at the same time.

You can have as many subcategories as you need for your home. When it comes to organizing, is easier to start with larger items.

Approach the items according to categories. For example, get all your safety pins in one area and all your paper things in one spot. Then ask how many safety pins do you really need?

Everything in a junk drawer should be uniform and seen.

Ideally, put the items in small boxes and dividers. Then make them visible by storing things vertically. You want to see what you have.

Paper piles include mail, bills, receipts, and magazines. When you can't throw anything away, follow a three-folder filing system:

• Pending papers: Anything that requires action, like a bill you have to pay.
• Forever papers: Birth certificates and mortgage documents that you don't handle often.
• Temporary papers: This folder is for papers you know you'll let go of in the future, like warranties, lease agreements, or study materials.