Household Organization Tips

As embarrassed as I am to admit this, my home sometimes truly does look like the picture above. And no matter how many times I tell myself I'll never let it get so bad again, it always does. My new motto: Organization. Organization. Organization.


I recently moved to a new place and boy oh boy, wait til you see the before and afters I'll be posting soon of basically every room in my home. It's awful. I'm still working on it. Two months after my move. Told you: awful.


It started with "oh, I'll just put this box of clothes and basket of crap here in the corner, I'll go through it soon." Or "ehh, I can pile this in the guest bedroom, I don't need it right away". Did you catch the key word in that statement? PILE.


I'm a piler. And a shover. And a procrastinator.


It is not a good combination.


Seriously, my guest bedroom looked like it could be featured on an episode of hoarders. Bathroom stuff, books, crafts supplies, holiday decor...in a huge jumbled PILE. (I dislike that word!)


As I've been going through all of my stuff and organizing, discarding, storing my belonging, I've found it helps to stay positive about it all. Instead of thinking "ugh, I can do this later" my new mindset is "wow, it'll be so nice when this is finished."


Maybe I'm beating the procrastination. Or maybe not.


Plus, there are tons of super cute storage options on the market today, so organizing adds fun and functionality to my decor. It's a win-win. If When I get it accomplished.


These household organization rules, adapted from Moving Today have also been very motivating. I hope this will motivate you too!

Home Organization Rules

Pick a Place for Everything

It's an old saw, but it still cuts: "A place for everything, and everything in its place" is a watchword for true home organization. Possessions, like people, need homes. Find them that home, defend their turf with labels, dividers and organizers, and you've won most of the battle for an organized home.

Be creative when it comes to finding homes for household stuff and rearrange your thinking. So what if stores sell towels in matched sets of three? Break up the trio and store them where they're needed: hand towels stacked in washrooms near living areas; bath towels and washcloths in the bathroom where they're most used. Don't hide pizza coupons and take-out menus away in a kitchen (junk) drawer where they'll be forgotten: store them in a folder near the phone where they'll be most useful.

Bring the Family on Board

Getting organized is not simply a matter of domestic real estate; it's an integrated process involving all members of the household. Any organizing scheme or system will fail unless all family members understand it and can follow it. Bring the family on board as you organize your stuff and your surroundings. For example, when organizing where to put items in the kitchen, store plates, bowls, and unbreakable glasses in low cabinets. Younger family members can set the table only if they can reach the dishware; by storing tableware in an accessible place for them, you'll be helping all of the family to help you.

Create Centers for Household Activities

Looking for a model of a well-organized home? Head back to preschool! Preschool teachers are model organizers because they have to be. Without a plan for classroom structure, 18 or 20 energetic little people could create plaything havoc in mere moments.

To keep their schoolroom running smoothly, preschool teachers apply the concept of centers: dedicated areas for a single activity, like blocks, dress-up or sand play, with storage for all the playthings required by that activity. In the playhouse, kitchen toys, pots, and pans encourage role-playing; at the art table, paper, paints and brushes are within easy reach. At pick-up time, children know to return costumes to the dress-up chest and park trucks in the "parking lot" storage area.

On the domestic front, you can set up centers that work the same way, to focus and support the everyday activities that are carried on in the home. To create them, you'll designate:

• A Focus: Allocate one focused activity to each center
• A Specified Area: Set aside a single place to perform the activity
• Storage for Tools and Supplies: Ensure that all the items needed are present and available in the center

Establish the Centers

Consider establishing these activity centers for your home. Tailor them and their contents to your family's needs.

1. Telephone - phone directory, family address book, family calendar, message pad, pens, folder containing pizza coupons and take-out menus
2. Grooming - skin care products, shaving tools, cosmetics, and hair care implements near a bathroom sink and mirror
3. Outdoor Clothing - coats, hats, gloves, scarves, umbrellas, and galoshes in a closet near the door
4. Cleaning & Caretaking - mops, broom and vacuum, cleaning tote with tools, cleaning products for refills, replacement light bulbs, cleaning cloths and sponges, specialty cleaners
5. Paper Handling - file box or file drawer, pens, paper, checkbook
6. Correspondence Basket - stationery, selection of greeting cards, pens, envelopes, stamps
7. Recycling Center - bins for recycled materials, bags and twine for packaging, scissors
8. Reading - comfortable chair, reading light, small table for beverage, reading glasses, pillow, highlighters, page markers or bookmarks
9. Homework - pens, pencils and markers, erasers, calculator,  paper, reference books
10. Entertainment - gaming centers, remote controls, tv schedule, seating, blankets, snack trays, placemats, dvds
11. Fix-It Desk - toolboxes, organizers for hardware such as nails
12. Laundry - stain pre-treatment, bleach, detergent, fabric softener, laundry hampers
13. Arts & Crafts - storage and labels for paints, paper, glue, embellishments etc...
14. Mending - sewing machine, iron and ironing board, sewing tools, fabrics, and supplies
15. Planning & Scheduling - computer, planner or electronic organizer, office supplies, coupon organizer
16. Wrap & Mail Center - mailing boxes, postal scale, gift wrap, ribbon and gift cards, scissors, tape, pens and marking pen

This post is linked to Serenity Now - A Mommy's Solution to Staying Sane & Fingerprints on the Fridge