Are you constantly losing things at home? You need to create some order, but if the idea of filing, sorting and creating systems is daunting, start small and you'll soon be on your way to making bigger changes.

Start by analysing each room in your home and identify the ‘hot spots' where things seems to gather, such as a pile of shoes by the front door, children's toys in the lounge or a stack of mail and flyers.

Go room by room and clear the clutter by removing items that belong in another part of the house and throw rubbish away.

Storage solutions are key to preventing items from piling up again in each hot spot. By compartmentalising your items and giving them each a home, such as storing keys in a decorative bowl on top of the fridge, you'll always know exactly where to find them when you need them. Dedicate time to organising storage solutions for each hot spot.

Now your home is in some sort of order, you need to stay on top of it. Set aside at least an hour each week to achieve this, and enlist the help of your family to pick up items and store them away in the appropriate place.

Kitchen space-savers

The kitchen is a home's hub, often a makeshift office or homework area and somewhere to catch up with family and friends. But crowded benches, cupboard doors that won't shut and gadgets galore may make it a bit too cramped. If finding a spot to chop some vegies is near impossible, try these tips:

Some kitchen cupboards have awkward, hard to reach spots, so installing some fittings that can be pulled out on runners or rollers will give you extra space and save you a lot of backache. Inexpensive wire racks let you double-up pots, tins and cleaning supplies.

Do a cull and consider replacing old storage containers with glass ones that let you easily see the contents inside. Square or rectangle shapes are easier to organise and take up less room if you can stack them.

If your kitchen doubles as an office or is a dumping ground for mail and school notices, free up the bench by hanging a corkboard on a wall. If this looks untidy, hang it inside the pantry door, along with your calendar, emergency contact numbers and shopping list.

If bench space is at a premium but you have enough floor space or an unused corner, try a butcher's block on wheels for moveable storage. This handy ‘island' is a good place to store small appliances or baking equipment.

Make the most of nooks and crannies by hanging a graduated trio of wire baskets from a ceiling corner and filling with fruit or vegies.