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As busy parents, caring for your family and managing our home can often feel overwhelming. Our houses can suffer in the process and easily become untidy, but not to worry: it’s happened to all of us! This is why we all can use some organization ideas to keep our spaces tidy!
The struggle is real: you have to keep up with the never-ending cycle of cleaning, laundry, organizing, laundry, decluttering, and laundry. This can leave you feeling exhausted and stressed out.
But fear not! With a little bit of planning, some practical tips and tricks, and a whole lot of patience, you can maintain a clutter-free and organized home while staying sane. (Or, at least, try).
Let’s explore various strategies and techniques to help busy moms like you take control of their homes and find a sense of peace and order in the midst of the chaos.
Organization Ideas for The Kitchen
Let’s start our journey to a clutter-free home in the heart of every home – the kitchen.
I like an open kitchen, I love to be present while cooking, and the extra space that it brings to the living room. On the downside, leave any small mess unattended and everyone will be able to see it.
As we all prepare meals and gather around the table to eat and argue as a family, clutter can pile up quickly. Check out these simple organization tips and strategies so that you can transform your kitchen into an organized and efficient space.
1. Declutter and Reorganize Drawers and Cabinets
The first step to an organized kitchen is decluttering and reorganizing your drawers and cabinets.
Take everything out and assess each item. We tend to just accumulate small accessories, or burned frying pans. So you’ll be surprised by how much space you’ll save by simply asking yourself if you truly need it or if it’s just taking up valuable space.
Donate or discard anything that is no longer useful or necessary.
Once you have decluttered, it’s time to reorganize.
Group similar items together and find designated spaces for each category. Place frequently used items in easily accessible areas, while storing lesser-used items in higher or lower cabinets. For instance, I have the wine glasses my grandma gave me safely stored in the least accessible cabinet to use only if the Queen comes to visit. (It’s a Friends’ reference, but it’s true!)
Consider using drawer organizers or dividers to keep utensils and small items neat and tidy. We use a simple drawer organizer for our cutlery like this one from Amazon:
2. Create Zones in Your Pantry and Fridge
To tackle the pantry and fridge, let’s start by taking everything out and discarding any expired or unused items.
Categorize your remaining food items and create zones in your pantry and fridge, you can use storage bins or labeled containers to keep similar items together.
This will make it easier to find what you need and prevent food from getting lost or forgotten.
3. Keep Your Kitchen Counters Clear
One of the keys to maintaining an organized kitchen is to keep your countertops clear.
Cluttered countertops will make your kitchen feel chaotic and overwhelming.
Make it a daily habit to clear off your countertops and find designated homes for items that tend to accumulate, such as mail, keys, and small appliances.
This will not only make your kitchen look tidier but also create a more functional and efficient space for meal preparation.
Organization Ideas for The Living Room: Creating a Calm and Inviting Space
The living room is often the central hub of our home, where we gather to relax, entertain, and play board games!
Here are some organization tips to help you create an organized and inviting living room.
1. Define Zones for Different Activities
Start by defining zones within your living room for different activities.
This could include a designated seating area, a play area for children, and a workspace if you work from home (let’s face it, I have a home office, but I work all over the place, so until I didn’t do this, my work stuff was all over the place).
Clearly defining these zones will help you and your family understand how the space should be used and keep items from being scattered throughout the room.
By the way, if you’re working from home, take a look a these real job ideas for Work at Home moms for some inspiration.
2. Purge and Contain Clutter
Take some time to declutter your living room and remove any items that don’t belong or are no longer used.
Be ruthless and only keep items that serve a practical purpose.
Once you have decluttered, find proper storage solutions for the remaining items. This could include shelves, baskets, or storage ottomans to contain and organize toys, books, and other everyday items.
3. Choose Multi-functional Furniture
When selecting furniture for your living room, consider pieces that serve multiple purposes.
For example, we have a coffee table with built-in storage, but you can also use ottomans as extra seating and also provide storage space.
My best friend has a coffee table that doubles as a desk and has extra storage, I love it so much that we are switching next year to one like hers, you can even get it on Amazon here:
By choosing multi-functional furniture, you can maximize storage options and reduce visual clutter in your living room.
Organization Ideas for The Bathroom: Creating a Serene and Organized Oasis
The bathroom is often a small space that can quickly become disorganized, especially because we come and go so fast.
However, with a few simple organization tips, you can transform your bathroom into a serene and organized oasis.
1. Declutter and Purge Unused Items
As you did in the previous spaces, start by decluttering and purging any unused or expired items from your bathroom.
Dispose of old medications, beauty products, and toiletries that are no longer needed.
Only keep essential items that you use regularly to avoid unnecessary clutter.
2. Utilize Vertical Space
In a small bathroom, it’s important to make the most of vertical space.
Install shelves or a shelved cabinet to store towels, toiletries, and other essentials. Utilize the back of the bathroom door by adding hooks or over-the-door organizers to hang towels or robes.
You can free up valuable countertop and floor space by utilizing vertical space.
3. Use Decorative Storage Solutions
To maintain an organized bathroom, invest in decorative storage solutions that not only serve a practical purpose but also add to the overall aesthetic of the space.
Consider using pretty baskets or canisters to store items like hand towels, cotton balls, or makeup brushes. This will keep your bathroom looking tidy while adding a touch of style.
Organization Ideas for The Bedrooms: A Calm and Clutter-Free Sanctuary
Bedrooms should be a sanctuary: a place where you can relax and unwind after a busy day. However, it can become quite the opposite if they are messy.
Here are some organization tips and strategies to help you create a calm and clutter-free bedroom.
1. Purge and Simplify
You guessed it, start by purging your bedroom of any items that don’t belong or are no longer used.
This includes clothing, accessories, and other miscellaneous items. Give yourself as much time as you need to assess everything, and be honest with yourself.
Only keep things that you love and use regularly. Donate or discard the rest to create a more peaceful and clutter-free space.
2. Find Proper Storage Solutions
Invest in proper storage solutions for the bedrooms to keep items organized and out of sight.
This could include a dresser or wardrobe for clothing, under-bed storage bins for seasonal items, or a jewelry organizer to keep accessories tidy. Or, if you’re organizing your child’s room, make sure that you get some kid-friendly solutions.
By finding designated homes for your belongings, you can maintain an organized and serene bedroom.
3. Create a Relaxing Atmosphere
It’s not all decluttering and organizing, you’ll note a big difference once you create a relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom.
Choose calming colors, soft lighting, and comfortable bedding to create a soothing environment.
Add personal touches such as photographs or artwork that bring you peace and help you unwind. By creating a peaceful and inviting space, you can enhance your overall well-being and promote better sleep.
Organization Ideas for The Closet: Streamlining Your Wardrobe
If you’re anything like me, you’ll have more clothes than closet space! Heck, I have more clothes than all of the rest of my family combined! And somehow I never know what to wear…
Anyway, a cluttered and disorganized closet can make it difficult to find what you need and create unnecessary stress in your daily routine.
Here are some organization ideas to help you streamline your wardrobe and create an organized closet.
1. Declutter and Donate
You guessed it! Start by decluttering your closet and purging any clothing or accessories that you no longer wear or love.
This is easier said than done, so do your best to be honest with yourself and only keep items that fit well, make you feel confident, and align with your style. Donate or sell the items that you no longer need to create more space and simplify your wardrobe.
2. Utilize Storage Bins and Dividers
Invest in storage bins, dividers, and hangers to keep your clothing and accessories organized within your closet.
This, of course, also applies to your children’s closet. It’s been crucial to our son’s autonomy development that his clothes are organized and separated in his closet, that he can reach everything he wears daily, and that he has been a part of the process by deciding how to organize, and then slacking off and giving me the honor of initially organizing his things as he chose.
Use bins or baskets to store scarves, hats, or belts. Install dividers or additional shelves to maximize vertical space and create designated areas for different types of clothing.
By utilizing storage solutions, you can keep your closet neat and make it easier to find what you need on a daily basis, as well as favor your little one’s autonomy and individuality.
3. Rotate Seasonal Items
Maximizing space in your closet will help you keep it organized, so it’s always a good idea to rotate seasonal items.
Store out-of-season clothing in labeled bins or vacuum-sealed bags and swap them out as the seasons change. This will free up valuable closet space and make it easier to find and access the items you need for the current season.
We use these bags for storing our seasonal clothing, you can find them on Amazon as well!
A great space to store seasonal clothing is in bins under your bed!
Organization Ideas for The Laundry Room: Simplifying Your Laundry Routine
The laundry room is often a neglected space, but keeping it tidy has its benefits: you’ll enhance your laundry routine and create an organized and efficient space.
Let’s see some organization ideas for the laundry room!
1. Sort and Contain Laundry Supplies
I used to have my laundry supplies all over the place, right next to the dish soap and cleaning rags, but ever since I started keeping them in the laundry room things became smoother.
So, if you haven’t already, start by sorting and containing your laundry supplies. Use labeled bins or containers to store detergent, fabric softener, and other laundry essentials.
As you’ve done with the kitchen items, keep frequently used stuff within easy reach, and store less frequently used items in higher or lower cabinets.
Having a designated space for your laundry supplies will make it easier to find what you need and keep your laundry room tidy.
2. Establish Laundry Days
Establish set laundry days (ours is Friday!) or assign each family member a specific day for their laundry. This will help you stay on top of the never-ending pile of dirty clothes and prevent it from becoming overwhelming, as well as organize your wardrobe needs accordingly.
Having a routine will also make it easier to manage your time and ensure that laundry doesn’t consume your entire week, and by bringing your children into the equation, you can use this to promote responsibility and independence.
3. Keep it Clean and Tidy
Lastly, make it a habit to keep your laundry room clean and tidy.
During your laundry day, don’t forget to empty the lint trap after each use, wipe down surfaces, and dispose of empty laundry bottles or packaging.
By including the cleaning of the laundry room into your laundry day routine, you can create a more pleasant and efficient space for tackling your laundry chores, with less time and effort on your part.
Organization Ideas for The Playroom: Organizing Your Children’s Toys and Games
Ah, that chaotic space filled with toys, games, and endless clutter, how we love it!
This is the perfect space to find some organization within chaos and create that functional playroom that both you and your children will love even more.
1. Purge and Donate
As with other spaces, purging at least twice a year is a good idea!
So, let’s start by purging and donating any toys or games that your children no longer play with or have outgrown.
Take the opportunity to involve your children, you could do it together and teach the little ones about empathy and recycling. This will also create more space and make it easier for your children to find and enjoy their favorite items.
2. Use Kid-Friendly Storage Solutions
Invest in kid-friendly storage solutions to keep toys and games organized, while promoting their autonomy.
Use open bins or baskets to store larger toys and install shelves or cubbies for smaller items.
Label bins or use picture labels for younger children to help them easily identify where each toy belongs. By providing designated homes for toys, you can teach your children the importance of tidying up and make it easier for them to maintain an organized playroom.
This popular storage organizer is a good choice, it has colored bins slightly leaned forward for the little ones to see the toys inside, and it’s accessible to children. You can find it on Amazon here.
3. Establish a Cleaning Routine
Establish a cleaning routine for the playroom and involve your children in the process.
Set aside dedicated time each day or week to tidy up and put toys back in their designated storage spaces. Make it a fun and interactive activity by playing music or turning it into a game. By involving your children in the cleaning process, you can teach them valuable life skills and instill a sense of responsibility and organization.
All in all, keeping up with everything can be next to impossible, so as busy moms we learn to find peace amidst the chaos.
That’s a Wrap: Finding Peace and Order in the Chaos
Being a busy mom is no easy task, but with the right strategies and mindset, you can maintain a clutter-free and organized home, or, if you’re anything like me, you can try!
By decluttering, establishing routines, and utilizing proper storage solutions, you can create a peaceful and functional space for you and your family.
Remember to be patient with yourself and take it one room at a time.
With persistence and determination, you can find peace and order in the chaos of everyday life. So take a deep breath, put on your superhero cape, and tackle the organization of your home like the amazing parent that you are!