How to organize your family room by room

Kelly’s foolproof way to declutter and organize any space

Step 1: Inventory space

Before you start organizing, it’s important to understand the current state of the space. Why is this space cluttered? What can you do to make it more organized? How can you keep it organized? Taking pictures from before and looking back at the changes at the end of the organization can be very satisfying. Take measurements to consider how you want to bring order to the space, whether that means ordering/buying bins, baskets, tags, or other means of organization.

Step 2: Clear up space

It’s tempting to dive in and start moving items around the space without completely clearing it. You might feel like maybe you don’t want to waste time cleaning out your space completely, just put everything back. But, trust me, unless you completely clear everything in the space and clear every item, you’ll end up missing out on organizational opportunities. Expiration dates will be missed, or items that may be discarded or donated will be forgotten. Make sure to clear your space completely so you have a blank sheet of paper to work on. This will allow you to completely reimagine the space and return items in a neat and purposeful way.

Step 3: Stack/Organize Items

Once you’ve cleared your space, you can start organizing your items into piles or categories. This will help you understand what you actually have and may not need and what you can throw away/donate. For example, if you’re sorting out your pantry, you can throw away expired items and donate snacks/food that you’ve been holding on to but know you won’t eat. If you’re organizing your wardrobe, you can make piles of different types of clothing (T-shirts, tank tops, jeans, leggings, etc.). You might be surprised how many t-shirts you don’t wear or jeans that no longer fit you. Knock out the things that no longer serve you (or “give you joy” as Marie Condor likes to say) and donate a bunch.

Step 4: Return items to space in a purposeful/tidy manner

The final step in the organizational process is returning items to the space in a purposeful and uncluttered manner. Remember, you want your organization to stick around, so make sure you have the right mechanisms in place to keep your space tidy long-term. For pantry, cabinets, etc., use boxes, baskets, and tags. For a closet or dresser, use neat folds to keep items easy to see and return in an uncluttered fashion.

How to organize your family room by room

mud room

We don’t have a mud room in our house, I wish we had. If you have space for a separate cubby for everyone in your home, it’s a great way to organize everyone’s hats, jackets, shoes, backpacks, lunch boxes, and sports gear in one place. It also saves you time dedicating one place to everyone’s belongings.

kitchen

We spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and organizing and cleaning out the things you don’t need will save you a lot of time and effort in the future.The use of labeled litter boxes in our pantry space has been a game changer, and lazy susan, spice rack and tea organizers. I have easy access to frequently used items because I can see them as soon as I open the door.

closet

I tend to hoard clothes and shoes, so it’s hard to clear things out. If you haven’t worn it in the past year, it might be time to say goodbye. Sometimes it can be helpful to have a friend help with this process. We can be indecisive when it comes to our own business, but our friends know us well and can honestly tell us what to wear and what not to wear. The most important thing about clothing is to take absolutely everything in your closet and decide what you like and what brings you joy. If not, it goes into the donation box. Before returning items to your closet/dresser, think about how you want to organize your items. Make sure the ones you wear the most are accessible/visible. Make sure you have a system you can stick with to keep things organized and tidy.

bathroom

Product can easily pile up under the sink space, and getting rid of these things feels wasteful, but if you’re never going to use them, there’s no use holding on to it.Donate or discard old products that are no longer in use and organize the products you are using into the trash or These mesh organizers are a great organizational space saver.

basement

Basements tend to be dumping grounds for storage, and if yours is anything like ours, it has gotten a little out of hand. Every time I venture there to get wrapping paper, decorations, manuscripts for my kids, etc. I feel depressed and exhausted. Creating an organizational system that fits your space and storage is key. We plan to put a shelf on the back wall of the basement to store all the Tupperware bins labeled “Christmas decorations”, “gift wrap”, “camping gear”, etc. This way when we go downstairs to find something we can simply pull the bin we need off the shelf without having to rummage through a bunch of bins to find the one we need.

living room

The living room is a frequently used shared space, and when it feels cluttered, it creates clutter inside. whether you have children or not, storage in baskets Helps make the space feel relaxed and calm. We put baby toys in three baskets in one area of ​​the living room and books, computers, etc. in a basket on a shelf in another area of ​​the living room. This way we have things we need and use often, but they are out of sight.

garage

Our garage is another space that desperately needs a makeover. Shelving, Tupperware containers, and utilizing wall and ceiling space are key. Make sure to have a designated space for tools, outdoor décor, furniture storage, outdoor gear, and more.

Other useful organizational tips and tricks

revolving door method

The revolving door method is another method of perennial maintenance. If you bring one new thing into your home, another will go out. Not only does this prevent you from overfilling your home with unnecessary items, but it also provides simplicity and clarity of thought without all the tricks and excesses.

shoe rack Great for organizing shoes in a mudroom space.Add to carpeted stair treads like this to the top to prevent dirt and other outdoor elements from staining your floors.

Clothing turnover from winter to spring

At the end of each season, turn the hanger loop toward you. Every time you put an item back in the closet, you take the ring off of you. At the end of the season, you can see what you’re wearing and what you’re not wearing, and donate items that no longer serve you.

Feeling overwhelmed with all the projects you need to organize at home? Simplified by Kelly is here to help. If you’re in Cape or the surrounding area, get in touch with Kelley and she’ll help you assess, meet your needs and keep things organized. There’s nothing more satisfying than opening a cupboard or pantry and seeing everything in its place. I still smile every time I open our pantry and see the beautiful litter boxes, labels and everything.

What organizational projects do you need help with? What tips and tricks have you found helpful in your own organizational work? Let us know in the comments below!