My sister suggested that I lay out some steps for my tidying procedures, which I think is a great idea, but they're very loose as you have witnessed. However, I think the best advice I could give is just to start with one tiny area and work out from there. Just do a little each day. My methodology has not solidified much. At the start I had to make sure my area in the basement was safe, and the same goes for the upstairs rooms. It gets like a war zone. Don't forget stuff that falls on the floor. I have brown carpets and I've found a myriad of tiny sharp objects: hairpins, screws, earrings, thumbtacks. It helps to have a bright flashlight to shine in the corners and under furniture before you vacuum or step.
As for the basement work that I've resumed, it's getting along slowly. In fact, I'm not sure if the change is even noticeable. Here's an update photo of the room:
