Let’s get real:
My house is not perfectly organized.
I have three young kids at home with me all day long, and- like so many of you- I am just doing the best that I can.
That’s the truth.
Which means that my house is sometimes really messy. My husband and I are both currently recovering from mono. Trust me, right now there are toys and laundry everywhere.
But I still make an effort to work towards organization in my home every day.
Why?
Because when every item has a home, and when I have great routines and systems in place that work, then I can spend less time cleaning and searching for things, and more time enjoying my family.
So when I notice that a certain area of our home has gotten a little bit out of control (I’m looking at you, pantry!) I know that I need to dedicate some time to getting it organized so that it won’t steal my time, little by little, in the future.
Here’s how to do it, step by step:
1. Pick a space to organize.
Start small. Think the pantry cabinet instead of the entire middle floor of my house.
2. Take out every single item. Purge like crazy.
This is the most important step. Nothing will make you more organized than having less stuff.
I like to have 3 labeled boxes or bags nearby when I’m organizing, for items that I no longer need:
- Trash
- Donate/Give away
- Sell
3. Group similar items before putting them back.
When you’re left with what you actually want to store in this area, group similar things together before you put them back.
Try to use boxes or baskets that you already have in order to store like items together. (You can always splurge on adorable storage containers later, after you’re sure that you have a system that works.)
Put the things that you use the most in the places that are the easiest to access.
4. Leave empty space
Don’t be afraid to leave extra space in bins, on shelves, and in drawers.
Trying to fit too much into a space will cause it to feel cluttered.
Plus, you’ll inevitably find a few more things to add to this space after you’ve finished organizing.
Give yourself a little wiggle room.
5. Label, as needed.
Labels can be very helpful, but you don’t have to go crazy here.
Don’t spend all your money on fancy labels.
Instead, live with your newly organized space for a few weeks first, and see what works and what doesn’t.
Don’t be afraid to make changes as you go.
6. Teach your family how the new space works
For kids’ spaces, I’ve found that the best way to do this is to clean the area with your kids.
When it gets messy again (which it will!) explain to your kids that you are going to clean up together.
Pick up an item and say, “Do you know where this belongs?” If they don’t know, show them, and have them return the item to its home.
As long as every item really does have a home, they will (eventually!) be able to do this on their own.
I promise.
Really. 😉
So that’s it!
That’s how I reclaim an area once I realize that it’s gotten hopelessly disorganized. I try to go through this process with at least one small area every week. Even if it’s just one drawer or cabinet. Because organizing is always a process.
And it’s worth it. 😉
Happy organizing!
-Laura
Pin it:
More from The Organized Mom Life:
How do you get your kids to pack their own lunches?Â
This is a question I’ve been getting a lot over on Instagram. “How on earth do you get your kids to pack their own lunches??” So I decided to take the time to write down all my best tips, tricks and resources if your goal is to get your kids to start packing their own…
Continue Reading How do you get your kids to pack their own lunches?Â
Printable workout calendar for beginners
This printable workout calendar is perfect for beginners. It includes links to a huge variety of YouTube workouts, including cardio, zumba, HIIT, barre, dance, and more. You can save this free download to your device, or print and scan the daily QR code when you’re ready to exercise! Download the printable workout calendar for beginners…
Christmas planner: Free printable
This 36 page Christmas planner for moms (free printable PDF download) includes a Christmas bucket list, to-do checklists, book and movie lists, gift ideas for kids, non-toy gift ideas, a Christmas party planner, Christmas activity ideas for kids, thank you card checklist, a holiday meal planner, and more! It’s absolutely everything you need to keep…
How to organize legos for kids
As a mom of 4 kids, I’m here to share the secret about how to organize legos for kids. The secret? It all depends on how your kids play with their legos. Let me explain: Our kids used to love doing lego sets. They would build a set, take it apart, and build the same…
Easy sports night dinners: 100 ideas
When I signed my kids up for sports, I didn’t realize that it meant we would either be eating dinner at 4:00, or at 9:00 pm! Evenings with sports practices and games can make eating dinner as a family tough. Which is why I decided to make a list of over 100 easy sports night…
How to organize your iPhone photos (the fun and easy way!)
Here’s how to organize your iPhone photos without losing your mind: My phone was out of storage. I had WAY too many photos and videos that I never sort through, but the thought of going through them all was wildly overwhelming. Which is how I came up with the photo cleanup challenge. It’s a fun…
Continue Reading How to organize your iPhone photos (the fun and easy way!)
Leave a Reply