Make the Most of Your Space

Step 1: Create a Room Function Chart
Start by getting an agreement on the function of each room—you may be surprised to find that everyone in your household doesn't share your vision for how each room functions.

Create a Room Function Chart and give a copy to each member of your family. Fill them out individually, then meet to compare your results. At this stage, it is best to simply hear what everyone has to say without dismissing any idea. The more comments, feedback, insight, and discussion, the better! Welcome surprises and be prepared for some interesting points of view.

Download a Room Function Chart.

When you're all coming to agreement on common goals, start filling out a Room Function Chart that best combines everyone's ideas and comments.

If you run into conflicting visions, let each family member make his or her case, and talk about what the family needs most. Sometimes, a compromise is necessary, so don't be afraid to give a room more than one purpose. Consider whether multiple uses of a space are reasonable or just an excuse. For example, an office can double as a guest room with the right plan.

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Step 2: Identify Specific Zones Within Rooms
Rooms are used for different purposes—often at the same time. In order to decide what should stay and where, you need to identify the different activities that take place within each room and divide them into zones. Once you begin organizing, these zones become the center for specific items related to the designated activity. Then, it becomes immediately clear where things belong, where to find things, and where to return them.

Sample Zones

Master Bedroom Sleeping Relaxation Clothes Shoes Off-season clothes and shoes Reading Kid's Bedroom Sleeping Clothes Shoes Homework Toys Reading Crafts Music Family Room Media—music and TV/video/DVD Reading Games Collectibles Photos Home Office Bill paying Reading Studying Computer work MailFiles Scrapbooking Crafting

Kitchen Prepartiaon Cooking Cleanup Eating Storage Garage, Basement and Other Store Rooms Garden supplies Laundry Tools Paint and chemicals Sporting gear Seasonal decorations Workbench Bathroom Cleaning supplies Personal products Extra products Shared products Medicine Living Room Relaxation Reading Storage Dining Room Eating Storage Collectibles Formal china Entertaining supplies

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Step 3: Do the Math
You don't need a sixth sense of how much stuff will fit in one space. A lot of it is simple mathematics. It's simple—you just need to calculate how many items will fit into a given space.

Here's how you do the math for any space. First, measure your shelving space or hanging space figure out how many items can fit in that space without being crammed.

Then, sort your belongings until you get to a number you know will comfortably fit into the space you have. If you're feeling ambitious, get rid of even more so you'll have room to grow.

As you draw up your plan for the rooms, let math be your guide. What's physically possible for the space? Measure the total length of your bookshelves. How much linear footage for books do you actually have? How many books will fit there? What is the hanging space you have available? Assess how many items will hang in that space so you know what to discard. You need to assess your space limitations and design accordingly. This will also help take some of the emotion out of the disccusion—you only have the space you have!