Going through and organizing our belongings can be mentally, emotionally and physically draining. While a neat home brings peace of mind, cutting through the clutter can be tough. Here are some things to consider when creating a space that actually stays tidy.

*Figure Out Your Storage Spaces

Think about what spaces can double as storage areas. Are you utilizing the area under your bed? How about an empty corner of a room or the back of a closet door? Think about where you will want your stuff to go before you start organizing. This will focus your process and ensure that everything isn't all over the place. Minimalist author Francine Jay notes that "your home is living space, not storage space." You don't need to be a minimalist to utilize this advice; simply keep in mind that your home is your living space before all else, and craft your storage solutions around that notion.

*Make Your Storage Solutions Fit the Space

It's easy to throw stuff into extra cardboard boxes that you have lying around. But do you want to be looking at those boxes every day? Investing in storage containers that fit the environment will not only keep your space looking cohesive, but also they will last longer than flimsy cardboard boxes . Additionally, having your storage solutions fit your space will encourage you to keep using them.

*Keep It Simple

Storage solutions can be as regimented as you want them to be. While being as strict as possible can be a great idea in theory, sometimes it's not practical. For example, maybe it makes sense to keep all your bags in one spot, but you only actually use one on a daily basis. In that case, keep it by the door for easy access. An important part of maintaining your organizational system is making sure that you will stick with it. If that involves having a few things out of where you think their places should be, that's OK!

*Go Digital

Do you find yourself surrounded by papers? Receipts, bills and old to-do lists pile up easily, but it's also easy to transfer those documents online. Opt-in to paper-free billing and receipts and watch your piles of paper drastically reduce. Additionally, the standard Apple Notes app now has a scanning feature perfect for easily transferring files to a digital system (other free apps include Adobe Scan or CamScanner). You can also take the extra step to see what other stuff you can transfer to a digital storage system. Do you have boxes of old film or cassettes lying around? Why not digitize them? Yes, this process will take time, but the investment will save you both time in the future (as you'll be able to access files much more easily on a computer) and precious space in your home. If you don't want to do it on your own, services such as ScanDigital and EverPresent can do the conversion work for you.

*Be Honest with Yourself

It's much easier to create effective storage solutions when all the stuff you're organizing is meaningful to you. It's easy to tell yourself that you need to keep old T-shirts you haven't worn in years because they're sentimental, or that you may one day need that expired, unused face cream . However, keep it real with yourself when decluttering your space. Consider the KonMari Method, which requires you go through each belonging and ask if it sparks joy. In the words of Marie Kondo, creator of the method and host of her own Netflix show, "Discard everything that does not spark joy." Check out "Tidying Up with Marie Kondo" for more organizational inspiration.

*Give Yourself Grace

A large part of getting organized that often goes unsaid is that we develop emotional connections to our belongings. Going through stuff can be emotionally taxing and getting rid of some of that stuff can be even harder. As you work to organize your home, give yourself grace and keep in mind why you started the process in the first place. You got this!