Blank Slate: Keeping your new home clutter free

Moving into a brand new home is an exciting opportunity to start fresh and get organized. By taking a few simple actions now, you can create the relaxing retreat you've always dreamed of.

Step One: Purge ruthlessly

Just because you're moving into a larger space does not mean you need to bring the posters that adorned your college dorm room or the thigh master you never use. Take this opportunity to take stock of your possessions and strip down to the bare minimum. Whether you manage to make a few bucks through a garage sale or simply donate your used duds to those less fortunate, you will be better off without all that stuff cluttering up your life.

Step Two:  Think Ahead

Pull out those floor plans and give some serious thought to how you want your new space to work. If you want your family to enter through the side door or keep their toys in the basement start putting those rituals into place right from the beginning. That means making sure everyone has a place to hang their coats and toss their mittens when they come in the door and ensuring that boxes full of action figures keep right on moving downstairs as soon as they come off the van.

Step Three: Attack Trouble Zones

The garage, the laundry room, the kitchen cupboards: these are the areas that can get out of control quickly following a move unless you show them whose boss right from day one.

Decide whether or not you want to keep your vehicles in the garage, and plan the space accordingly. Install shelves and peg boards in order to keep everything off the floor. Keep in mind that big Tupperware bins are a great way to keep items clean and dry, but clear and accurate labels are essential if you don't want to have to root through twenty of them in order to find the holiday decorations.

A few simple fixes in the laundry room will go a long way. Make sure you have a jar for pocket change and a garbage bin for lint and forgotten receipts. While you're at it, why not invest in a drying rack that folds up and will help trim your hydro bill?

The best way to tackle the kitchen cupboards is to review Step One. Hint: You don't really need seven rusty pie plates. A pot lid holder that screws into the door allows you to store pots inside one another and saves you the clattering mess every time you need to boil water.

You've been looking forward to this move for months, so make sure you get off on the right foot in your new space. With some pre-planning and a little elbow grease, you can keep your beautiful new home streamlined and tidy.