Go inwards

First things first, it’s important to organize what can’t be seen. Start with cleaning out your drawers, cabinets, and bookshelves. The place won’t be truly neat if your belongings are randomly stuffed inside in an effort to eliminate the visual noise. A better solution would be to categorize it by adding extra storage space.

In a perfect world, this would mean getting a closet or a pantry. But of course, it’s not very feasible, especially if you’re renting or living in a dorm. Still, you can make the most of your space by adding extra holders to your cabinets, a box under your bed, or a multi-layer hanger. Since they’re rarely on display, there’s nothing wrong with buying the ones on the cheaper end – they’ll still do the job.

Less is not always more

The tip above may sound absurd: if your storage room is limited, why would you bring even more stuff in? That used to be my way of thinking, too. However, now that I’ve tried it, I can safely say that investing in space-saving products is a life-changing hack for those struggling with organization. 

What’s important though is to consider your needs instead of buying whatever looks nice. You can make a list of areas at your place that could use some improvement and browse topical solutions available on the market.

For example, I have a huge desk, but it doesn’t have any drawers, so all the notebooks and papers used to pile up on top of it. I felt like a tabletop organizer wouldn’t make much of a difference, so I got a cheap but capacious shelving unit that fits under the desk instead.

Where to shop:

Online Shopping In Russia: Scoring the Best Deals on Everything

St. Petersburg Stores to Cozy Up Your Room

Speaking of a cozy home: remember that not only everyday objects require organization. You should avoid scattering your decorations, too. Try to find a way to unite them into a composition of sorts. Otherwise, they may not do their job and only make the place look messier. 

For example, small objects like figurines and candle-holders can be put on a tray to make them look like they belong together. Or, if you put pictures on the wall, be mindful about their placement – you can check out some wall art templates to help you here.

Decluttering inspo

Once most of your things are put away, and even ornaments are nicely combined, you can finally see what doesn’t really belong anywhere. Now it’s time to declutter!

I wouldn’t recommend starting your organization process with it: when everything is scattered, it might feel more overwhelming. Decluttering might be tricky either way, though, so take a look at our stories that will provide you with some guidance:

Useful tips on the topic in general:

Start Your Year With Decluttering;

How to clean out your wardrobe:

Summer Decluttering: Clothes Edition;

Personal experience of our author:

Friday Experiment: Decluttering;

Advice on how to use the most popular Russian classified ads website:

Navigate Avito Like a Pro: Declutter & Find Vintage Treasures Online.