Clutter is the bane of many people's existence. In spite of our best intentions, clutter seems to show up in our closets, on our desk and even in "hidden" drawers. There are some simple steps that you can take to de-clutter your home and prevent it from getting out of hand and taking over areas of your home.

Tools you'll need

There are some basic things that you will need to get your home more organized including:

• Bins - Storage bins are cost effective and can provide safe storage in an attic or basement. These can be used for tax records, clothing or other collectible items that you do not want to part with.
• File folders - Buy some file folders to sort out paperwork. These folders should be clearly marked with what they contain for easy access and identification.

Reducing mail clutter

Junk mail seems to show up everywhere. If you buy something online, through a catalog or you have a credit card, your name may be being sold. Reduce mail clutter by sending junk mail companies, prepaid credit card offers, etc. by opting out of these mailings.

When dealing with "regular" mail, sort it out immediately. Place bills in an file folder that has tabs sorted by payment date and you can easily eliminate the clutter caused by mail. Cards, personal letters, etc. should be reviewed and disposed of or filed as quickly as possible after they are received.

Organize closets

Most people have closets that have clothes in them that have not been worn for several seasons. If this describes your closet, consider sorting through the clothing and deciding what to do with them. Clothing may be passed down to other family members, donated to charities, sold on EBay or passed on through your local freecycle list.

Organize drawers

Almost all of us have what we call our "junk" drawer and in reality, this drawer is likely full of junk. Sort out everything in any drawers and make decisions about whether these items should be kept or thrown away. Batteries don't live forever even if they are not used. Extension cords, flashlights where batteries have not been removed and a host of other items may be able to be thrown away.

Organize desks

Take a look around your home-office desk and determine how it may be better organized. Place pens and pencils in a cup, file those papers that have been piling up in a corner and make your workspace more efficient. This will not only help you get more work done, but it will look much neater.

De-cluttering your home may require an entire weekend. Pack seasonal clothing and remove it from much-needed closet and drawer space, get rid of papers that are no longer relevant and remove any items from your home that are no longer used.

Author Byline:
Jon Engle is currently editor of CaliforniaApartmentsBlog.com providing tips on home loans, apartment living and real estate reviews such as these Florida new home builders and these Sacramento Homes for sale.