An organized home transmits an air of serenity, appears larger and makes day-to-day housekeeping easier. Selecting one location to gather and organize the items in each room is the goal. I recommend that each room contain some dedicated piece of organizational furniture such as shelves, an armoire or vitrine. The piece of furniture you choose can make your chores easy — or a nightmare.

Over time, most everyone amasses many items, some that are useful and some that are not. Part of organization is editing. Ditch anything useless. This will enable you to make the useful items you already own fit within the space you have and allow some room for expansion.

While you are organizing and editing, take the time to create an inventory of what you own. Writing down each item makes it easier to find later, and if they are items of value, take photographs. This will make life easier for insurance purposes in case of loss or damage. The added bonus is that you will know the value of what you own and where it is located.

Depending on your needs, some homes require more shelving space for books; other homes require space to store toys. Each household is different, and the requirements are different. There are many solutions for storage. The best and most efficient, of course, are custom-built units designed for specific needs. However, most existing or store-bought pieces of furniture can be semi-customized with a little effort.

Stacking or aligning items on the shelves is the straightforward way to organizing them. To accomplish this in a visually appealing way, there should be a mix of books, objet d'art and other items such as framed photographs and vases. Whatever you have the most of will be the main focus, and the rest will be secondary. For example, if books are what you are organizing, I would recommend they be mixed with other items or empty space to the tune of 2/3 books, 1/3 everything else.

Most people think armoires are easier to arrange because the items stored are behind doors. But what happens when the doors are open? There is no reason why this area should be unsightly. Shelves, pegs and hanging bars can be added to any armoire. In addition, loose items can be stored in color-coordinated boxes and bins giving your wares the same appeal as when you bought them in the store. For linens and intimate apparel, some boxes are available with a "peek-a-boo" window to facilitate locating them.

Vitrines and china cabinets are special if only because they have glass doors that make their contents visible. Organized stacks of dishes and any other items should be arranged for accessibility, but they should also be placed for visual impact. If displaying china, perhaps stack dishes in front of a vertical plate on a stand. Other items can be moved around to create visual interest. Because they are behind doors and less susceptible to dust, stemware and glasses can be placed on their bases. Figurines can be displayed in the spaces between for interest.

Whatever you are storing, the name of this game is to do it with style. A small investment in boxes, bins and other organizers will make life easier and tidier.

Joseph Pubillones is the owner of Joseph Pubillones Interiors, an award-winning interior design firm based in Palm Beach, Florida. To find out more about Joseph Pubillones, or to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: at Unsplash