6 Tips for an Organized Home
If you view each new year as a clean slate, the early weeks of the year are the perfect time to add “home organization” to your list of resolutions—not only for the perk of having a clean house, but also for the benefit of your family and mental health. “To us, the organization of your home kind of reflects your mindset,” says Taylor Kaupa, the marketing coordinator for Bria Hammel Interiors. “An organized, decluttered home allows you to clear your mind and focus on the things you love most at home, like spending time with your loved ones.” Here, she shares six tips that will get you in the habit of keeping a tidy home.
Fashion Meets Function
If “organization” conjures images of unattractive Rubbermaids, think again. Your storage solutions can also be stylish. For example, “use glass jars in your pantry to store your dry goods so that they are easy to see but still beautiful to look at,” suggests Kaupa.
Seasonal Storage
Create more room in your closets by changing out your clothing and accessories—shoes, bags, hats—for the season. Store what you don’t wear in containers that you can easily slip under the bed or into a storage room or closet.
Focused Efforts
The thought of tidying an entire house can be overwhelming. Instead of spending hours trying to tackle every room in one fell swoop, break up the monotonous to-do list into more manageable chunks. Set a timer for you and your family—say, 20 minutes every Sunday—and clean as much as you can in that allotted time. Says Kaupa, “It’s surprising how much you can conquer in a short period of time when you’re focused.”
Simplified Schedule
Trying to keep track of after-school club meetings, dance lessons, and basketball practices is enough to send even the most organized person over the edge. Make sure your family is on the same page by hanging a large whiteboard calendar that lists all schedules and to-dos. “Keep it in a place where everyone—including the kiddos—can easily see and keep track of what’s happening around the house,” says Kaupa.
Designated Drop-Off
Spaces like the mudroom and front entryway are notorious spots for odds and ends—think: mail and keys—to accumulate. To combat the chaos, says Kaupa, “create a specific catch-all bin for each member of your household where they can drop all of their personal belongings.”
Professional Opinion
Interior designers don’t solely help you select furniture and paint colors, and there’s no shame in turning to a professional to jump-start the process of getting organized. “An interior designer can be extremely helpful in the organization of your home because they can create custom designs and layouts for what your lifestyle and home specifically need,” says Kaupa. “They can help you be strategic in hiding things you don’t want visible” through design elements such as benches with storage, cubbies with hooks, and baskets.
Cover photo: Interior Design: Bria Hammel Interiors | Builder: Sustainable 9 Design + Build | Photo: Spacecrafting Photography
Taylor Hugo (taylorhugo.com) is a freelance writer and editor who has experience creating content for regional and national magazines, small businesses and Fortune 500 companies, and everything in between. After spending most of her life in Minnesota, she recently relocated to Colorado, where you’ll find her hiking the Rocky Mountains and decorating her first home that she shares with her husband and dog.