8 Things Professional Organizers Wish You Knew

Staying organized is easier said than done. Of course, you can try adopting some habits of organized people, but a cluttered space can take a real toll. (In fact, decluttering has genuine mental health benefits.) We spoke to professional organizer Marissa Hagmeyer, NEAT Method co-founder, COO, and author of "The NEAT Method Organizing Recipe Book," to gain insight on the habits and mindset shifts that make organizing stick. Read on for the eight things a professional organizer wants you to know about creating a clutter-free home.

It's easy to assume every inch should be filled, but Marissar says that's exactly the mindset to unlearn. Visual clutter breeds mental clutter, so it's worth asking how useful something really is before it earns a spot in your home. "That snow cone maker might fit in the cabinet, but if you never use it, it's just taking up space," she explains.

Just because you have empty space doesn’t mean you are wasting valuable space; consider it breathing room. A shelf with a little room to spare is easier to use, easier to maintain and, frankly, easier to look at.

Homeowners are often surprised by how many identical tools they've quietly collected over the years. "Pizza cutters, ice cream scoops and vegetable peelers somehow always seem to multiply," Marissa notes. If you're not using more than one at the same time, pick your favorite and donate the rest. Organizing your kitchen around your daily routine also makes a difference. If you're a coffee drinker, store mugs, filters and coffee beans in the cupboard closest to the coffee maker. Make a smoothie every morning? Marissa recommends keeping glasses and your go-to ingredients near the blender.

It sounds simple, but Marissa says this one swap changes how a closet functions. "The biggest impact you can make in your closet is to upgrade your hangers to a slim matching set," she says. They save space on the rod, and since everything hangs at the same level, the whole closet instantly looks more pulled together.

Color-coding is another closet trick worth trying. It can simplify the process of putting outfits together. Just don't feel obligated to color-code everywhere else in your home. For example, on a bookshelf, it can backfire by breaking up a series or an author's works you'd rather keep in order. Organize in whatever way makes sense to you.

By the time mail reaches your counter, you've already missed the easiest moment to deal with it. "Open your mail over the recycling bin," Marissa advises. Catalogs, mailers and coupons can go straight in before they find a surface to land on. For everything else, use a three-section sorter for "to file," "to shred" and "needs attention." When any section fills up, that's your cue to address it.

The same don't-wait-for-it-to-pile-up approach works elsewhere in the home. Rather than letting bins and baskets overflow, make it a habit to pull out anything broken, stained, outgrown or excess as soon as you notice it. A designated donation bin makes this easy. Once it's full, that's your sign to drop it off at a local donation center.

Organized homes aren't kept that way by big weekend overhauls but by a small daily habit. Get in the habit of doing a quick reset at the end of every day to clear anything that's collected on counters and in common areas so you're not waking up to a mess. "If you have systems in place, this should only take a few minutes," says Marissa.

"Labels are often overlooked but super effective at keeping organizing systems in check," Marissa says. They make it clear to everyone in your household where things can be found and where to put them away. Add one to every bin, basket and canister.

Another simple, high-impact tool is the expandable riser. Lining up canned goods and condiments by type gives you an instant visual of what you have on hand, so nothing gets lost at the back of the pantry shelf.

An organized closet isn't static. It should shift along with your daily needs. "Your most-used items should always be the easiest to reach," says Marissa. When the seasons shift, take a few minutes to reorganize your closet around what you're actually wearing right now. In the fall, that means boots and sneakers shift to eye level, and jackets and sweatshirts move to the front of the closet rod.