Organizing the Home + Family
2020 led us to some unexpected turns which forced many to convert their whole home into the equivalent of the catch-all drawer; a work from home office, classroom, cooking space, and gym. With all our different aspects of life compiled into one space, it is certainly a challenge to stay organized. We are hopefully on an upward path to normalcy, but in the meantime let’s focus on starting off January by organizing the home and family to feel a little more structured and prepared for whatever may be next.
1. GET GOING. Sometimes its such a daunting task and overwhelming of knowing where to begin, but the thing is you just need to start. If you’re a list-maker like I am it may be helpful to write it down and make an actionable checklist of items, so it is visually in front of you and even more rewarding when you get to cross it off. Sometimes it helps to start small, even with a single drawer. It’s such a quick win and you will be amazed how good it feels to have even such a small area in order.
2. CREATE ZONES. In a world where spaces serve as dual or even multiple functions this can be hard, but try to allocate a space, corner, or even drawer for different categories. For example, if you have young kids, making a play zone tucked away will help free the feeling that you are living in a Chuck-E-Cheese. Likewise, finding a central location for important items such as incoming mail, bills, and keys will cut down on frustration of trying to remember where things were put last. To make it worse I know this only happens when you are in a rush and had to already leave 5 minutes earlier!
3. FIND FUNCTIONAL STORAGE. Sometimes you need somewhere to put your things. If you don’t have enough built-ins or cabinetry there are still ways! If you have space to add furniture you can consider a credenza, end table with a drawer, or an ottoman with secret storage. Adding baskets on a shelf or under a table is a great way to conceal smaller items as well. I understand you don’t always have this luxury and going up may be the best option. Really try to maximize vertical space by installing hooks, floating shelves, or closet organizers. Start with finding a home for the items that are commonly left on surfaces. Keeping flat surfaces clutter-free is a game changer and makes the space feel so much more renewed!
4. PANTRY. Since this is a big item to target for organization and often asked about, I’m giving it its own section.
a. Remove everything – This is the classic “things have to get worse before they get better” scenario, but to see it all and sort it is an essential step.
b. Toss anything not used, expired, or hardly left (if you have a husband like mine and leaves 2 almonds in the bag so I can’t say that he took them all ha!)
c. Categorize - While everything is out this is a good opportunity to group like items. The categories I use are: Breakfast, Baking, Coffee, Tea, Can Goods, Snacks, Kid Snacks, Supplements, Treats, and Bulk.
d. Bins – Adding these groups to containers or bins makes things visually easy to find and separate once stored. Clear bins are great to see what is inside, but I personally like to add a mix of clear and opaque ones so that it doesn’t feel too cluttered. Then I add bulk items like rice, noodles, or dry beans in larger canisters. This can also be a good source for baking items. Some of my favorite bins:
e. Label – This is so helpful and I promise cuts back on the “Mom, where is the..”. You can use a label maker or purchase pre-made or custom labels in different styles from Etsy.
f. Placement – This is where it comes to life! Let’s get all of the bins back in. Try to be mindful of where these are going. For example, if the kid’s snacks are to always be available to them then put them low. I like to keep treats up a little higher so littles can’t reach, but also, it’s not the first thing I see when I enter during those weak moments! Mid-level is good for the commonly used items so you can effortlessly find and grab. Up high where you may need a step stool is great for bulk – unopened condiments, duplicates, or things used sparingly. Last, I like to keep similar items in multiple bins grouped together such as different drink bins or breakfast supplies.
What is great is that these steps can really be applied to any closet or cabinet. Think hallway closets, jewelry/ clothing bins, or medicine cabinets!
5. CONSISTENCY. Anything good will only stay if you stick with it. Allocating a home for items and making it a habit to return them to that place is really the best way to keep things organized. Likewise, if you open it close it, you turn it on then turn it off – you get it. It seems simple, but certainly takes time and intention. My last note is more-so to stay organized mentally. I rely heavily on calendars and planners regularly and I highly recommend keeping something like this to lay out plans, goals, and to-do lists. There is something calming about knowing that it is not only kept in your head!
I hope you’re able to put a couple of these tips into action to kick 2021 off to an organized and easygoing start!
