Organizational Checklists: Entryway, Home Office and Kitchen

It’s one thing to read articles about how to get organized according to your personality type in a general way. But sometimes it can be more helpful, especially for types who like to write out To Do lists, to see exactly what needs to be done with each room — all the details right down to the products that will help you (finally) get organized. Therefore, in the following paragraphs, we are going to provide you with organizational checklists that can be used by all personality types, for each room in the house. We hope they will, along with our book and website, make your organizational journey a bit smoother.

The Entryway

This is the ‘first impression’ room, so you’ll want to make sure it stays in order. It’s also a hub of sorts — how many people come in and out via this room, and how many of you (come on, be honest) have spent agonizing minutes hunting for keys in this room on your way out the door?

It’s especially important for the room to look nice, yes, but even more so that it be functional- a place where retrieval can happen easily. For those of you who don’t know, retrieval is the key to being organized, and can be defined as the ability to locate things when you need them, easily and without fuss. Here’s our ‘Entryway List’:

1. Declutter: Get rid of anything you do not use or haven’t used in at least a year. You can do this a number of ways — donate, sell, or store. If you are the type that loathes purging and really has difficulty with it, Later Boxes are a perfect solution. These are simply receptacles where you can store items that you are unsure if you want to get rid of, putting them out of sight in your garage or attic, to return to ‘later’ on when the sentimental feelings of attachment may have worn off a bit.
   
2. Donate: Winter coats that you no longer wear tend to be in high demand come Fall, so be sure to be deliberate about the way you are purging.
3. Feel free to sell items that were high in value: You can take these to a consignment shop, or try and re-sell them online. Tradesy.com is a great site to do this.
4. Measure each and every nook and cranny of the hallway closet to make sure the bins you purchase will fit into the allotted space. The use of bins will prove intensely helpful for all types. Shoe bins should line the bottom of the closet, while bins for hats, gloves and the like will be useful on the top shelf.
5. For Classics (ESTJ, ISTJ, ESFJ, ISFJ), the use of closed, opaque bins is fine as long as they are labeled (which Classics will naturally do anyway). For the rest of the types, particularly Organics (ENFJ, INFJ, ENFP, INFP) and Smarts (ENTJ, INTJ, ENTP, INTP), it is important that the bins be clear and labeled, as both of these types have visual memories and need to see things in order to remember them.
6. Buy matching hangers. This goes for all types.
7. If you are the type to leave things on a console table in the entryway (such as mail, bills, or paperwork) when you first get home, purchase a shallow entryway tray, similar to an inbox, where these items can rest until they reach a more permanent home.
8. For Classics (ESTJ, ISTJ, ESFJ, ISFJ) especially, it is important to notify the rest of the members of your household of the organizational systems you are putting into place. No one is going to use an inbox tray, for example, unless they know what it is for.
9. Unless you live alone, label everything.
10. Put yourself to the test: If you can put everything in its place in the entryway for one week, you’ve succeeded at organizing the space!

The Home Office

This is a place that needs a space of its own, no matter which type you are. Although each type needs to organize the home office in a different way in order to be efficient, there are several ‘golden rules’ when it comes to this area of the house.

1. Resist the urge to make your home office into a multi-purpose room. No one will get anything done if there is a TV or game set in the same area as the rolltop desk and filing cabinet.
   
2. If you are the type to use a filing system, mainly Classics (ESTJ, ISTJ, ESFJ, ISFJ) and Funs (ESTP, ISTP, ESFP, ISFP) make sure you spend time decluttering this regularly. If you are the type to use clear inboxes or otherwise contained piles — Organics (ENFJ, INFJ, ENFP, INFP) and Smarts (ENTJ, INTJ, ENTP, INTP) — then make sure you go through these on a regular basis as well so that they don’t get overwhelming or spill over.
3. Create a sort of ‘mailroom’ for each member of your household. The kiddos get bins for homework, permission slips, and the like, and you get a space for mail, bills, and other (less fun) stuff.
4. As soon as these things are accomplished, see if you can find everything you need when you need it for at least one month. If you can do this, you’ve achieved home office organization!

The Kitchen

For some households, this is one of the most important areas in the house, simply because it is the gathering place for everyone to meet and eat, talk, discuss, debate, etc. The main ‘golden rule’ for this room is to label everything and keep everything within reach.

1. If you are a visual type and need to see it to remember where it is, get rid of your cabinets and have a go at open shelving.
2. Purge: This includes spices (and every other non-perishable food item) that has expired.
3. Store the flatware and dishes within easy reach of the dishwasher.
4. Make use of shelf risers and pull-out drawers to make retrieval easier.
5. Use a bulletin board for invitations, announcements, etc. instead of the fridge.
6. Use a caddy for all cleaning supplies kept under the sink.
7. If you’re a Classic (ESTJ, ISTJ, ESFJ, ISFJ) install a hidden wastebasket.

If you can follow these simple yet effective tips for organizing these three areas of the house, you’ll be well on your way to full-on home organization.