Putting like things together just makes sense. Dresses with dresses, jeans with jeans, tank tops with tank tops and so on and so forth. For the cleanest look organize tops and dresses not only by color, but by sleeve. Long sleeve first, followed by short sleeve, cap sleeve and sleeveless. 

Children's closets are best for this approach. Not only will it save a ton of time, it will save fussing and fighting. Planning ahead during the school week and placing outfits in a hanging divider works like a charm, however I recommend dividing the rest of the closet by outfit/occasion. For example you can divide the closet into playtime clothes, church clothes, comfy clothes and if space allows keep creative dress up clothes in one area. Now when you ask your child to get dressed for church, you know everything in that category is appropriate while at the same time allowing independence and personal style to show through in your child's choice.

Where do you begin? If you have the means I suggest hiring a professional to inventory your possessions. I have done several for clients and they are extremely involved and time consuming. The end result is definitely worth the investment, however it is so easy to get overwhelmed and quit.  Typically a professional will charge by square footage, however this cost may vary depending on the detail of inventory and quantity of possessions. 
If you choose to do it yourself, give yourself a realistic timeframe to complete your inventory. Three weeks is reasonable depending on the detail and size of your home. Here are some tips to help you along.
There are many apps and computer programs available to help with home inventories. Majority of them are helpful and will streamline the process. Regardless of what method you choose to inventory your home, you will need the following six items to begin.

1. A notebook designated to your home inventory.
2. A folder for warranties, receipts and other paperwork.
3. A camera.
4. A video camera.
5. Coffee, coffee, coffee, or in my case Pepsi, Pepsi, Pepsi.
6. Tons of patience. Home inventories are tedious, thus the reason not everyone has one. 

The best part of taking the time to do an inventory is you realize just how much you have accumulated over the years. It becomes a perfect time to organize and declutter. Start in a simple place with not much to catalog, such as the laundry room. 

Now it's time to begin

1. Declutter and organize
2. Take a video of  the space
3. Take pictures of everything. All furniture, appliances and electronics. Do not forget to look inside drawers and cabinets.
4. Write down serial numbers, make & model of electronics, appliances and furniture.
5. Do not forget to include the garage as well as outdoor spaces. This includes vehicles, lawn equipment, pool accessories and other entertaining furniture you may have outdoors. 
6. Choose what app or computer program you want to use for your inventory, and enter your information.
7. Finally, gather all important documents, life insurance, home insurance, username and passwords to all financial information and place them in a file for easy and quick access in case of an emergency.​

Once you have inventoried every room, make three digital copies of all pictures, videos and paperwork. Why three copies? Three copies will ensure that no matter what disaster, with the exception of an Apocalypse, you will have a copy of your full inventory. Be sure to write down your username and password for your online inventory. and include with every inventory copy.
​Store your copies in the following places.

1. In your home, preferably a fireproof safe.
2. A safety deposit box.
3. ​A relatives home who lives outside the state you reside in.

Hopefully you will never be in a position to have to use your inventory, but if disaster does come your way, you will have the comfort of knowing you are prepared.