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Have you ever told yourself, "This weekend I'm getting the house organized" but never got around to it? You had every good intention. You bought containers and had a donate-box ready; but when it came to starting, the task seemed overwhelming and you didn't know where to begin. So, you put it off yet again.

You aren't alone. According to Vicki Norris, founder and president of 'Restoring Order', people want to believe there are only three steps to de-cluttering and organizing their houses, but in reality it takes a good deal of effort.

"Perfection is unattainable and should never be the goal," she says. "The goal is to feel good in your surroundings and when it comes to organizing, one size does not fit all. By clearing out the clutter and reclaiming your space, you create more time for the things that are truly important in your life."

It does take time to accomplish this organization goal, though. While it may be impossible to organize your whole house in one day, you can start small. A few experts share their tips on how to de-clutter and organize the most lived-in areas of your house.

Kitchen

1. Search and Sort

According to Norris, the kitchen naturally has a way of accumulating papers, mail and various misplaced possessions. Reduce kitchen clutter by first dedicating space for daily drop-offs such as mail and newspapers to be sorted into manageable categories.

Create a permanent home for take-out menus, coupons, gift certificates, and commonly reached-for phone numbers such as the dry cleaner, your florist and hairstylist; they'll be easy to find organized in one or two binders.
Strategically place a trash, recycle and shred receptacle; essential tools for eliminating junk and keeping the paper from piling up.

2. Do the Dishes

"A great habit that would significantly reduce clutter in the kitchen is to load the dishwasher at night just before you go to bed and start it no matter how full it is," says Christi Youd, president of Organize Enterprise, LLC. "Then in the morning get up and unload the dishwasher so it is empty and can store individual dishes as they get dirtied throughout the day."

3. Label and Reuse

A common challenge in the kitchen is the number of used cups or glasses that litter the counter. You can minimize this problem if you will make it more convenient to use a used cup than to dirty a new cup.

"If you get a drink of water out of the fridge door store your new cups far away from the fridge. Put a label on the side of the fridge with each

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