Color Coding and Organization

Color Coding and Organization

As we enter the New Year, our thoughts often turn towards organization of home and office. The key to developing an organized home is to develop a series of systems that work within your home, making it easier to find the things you need. Color coding is one great way to streamline your home and make it easier to access items quickly.

There are many areas of your home that can be color coded. Adding a touch of color can help you organize papers, laundry, clothing, and so much more. Here are a few simple tips to get you started on the right track to organization.

Papers
Paper clutter is one of the worst offenders – it seems to breed when you look away. Mail, bills, letters, and papers to be filed pile up in the office, on the front table, and beside the reading chair. Corral the paper clutter once and for all by developing an organized, color coded filing system.

Pick a basket that will hold file folders, and place it near where you open your mail. Now, add colored folders for each type of mail you receive – To Read, To Pay, To Do, and To File. Keep a small trash can in this area, as well. As you open the mail, place each item in the appropriate folder, or throw it away if its junk. Your mail is organized, ready for the next time you file or pay bills – all you have to do is grab the appropriate folder!

Laundry
Whether you live in a home with children, or an empty nest, laundry is a major obstacle to overcome. Color coded bins can be a huge help, as even the smallest child (or the most housework impaired spouse) can recognize a bin by color.

Pick a color for each member of the family, and place it in the area where they change clothes. On laundry day, have them bring their bins to the laundry room. As clothes are washed, dried, and folded, place them in the bin of the owner, to be returned to their room and put away. This system allows you to sort clothing as you fold, eliminating an extra step in the laundry process.

Clothing
In homes with children or adults of similar sizes, color coding can help keep clothing sorted by owner. Use the same colors that you've put into place for the laundry system, and simply mark a colored dot on the tag of each item of clothing. Use the dots to determine whose pants are whose, saving time and energy tracking down each person individually.

Holiday Decorations
Tired of spending time before each holiday sorting through a sea of poorly labeled boxes? Color coding to the rescue, again! After each holiday this year, take time to purchase brightly colored plastic totes. These totes are often available in seasonal colors – red and green for Christmas, orange for Fall holidays. Store your decorations accordingly, and you'll never again have to sort through the Easter decorations looking for your Christmas angel.

Color coding is a quick and easy way to add organization to your daily life. By making small changes, you can be well on your way to a simpler, less stressful life. Take the time to add some color coded organizational tools to your home today – you'll be amazed at the difference that they make.

Marcia Chumbley lives in Minnesota. She is the owner of a Christian Work From Home Moms and Grandparents web site at http://www.faithfulgrannies.com and Work At Home Moms and Divas Online http://www.workathomedivasonline.com. Bringing generations of Christian Work From Home Moms, Grandmothers, Parents, Boomers and Families together while providing FREE Advertising Networking and Resources, while balancing the work at home experience.