5 Easy Tips on How to Maintain an Organized Home
Is an organized home something you have always wanted but struggle to achieve. Do you clean and organize your house to find it in disarray only 1 day later. You are not alone! As a professional organizer, this is the most common problem I see. People cannot keep organized.
This does not mean that you are not organized. It means that you have not found an organization system that works for your family. An organization system is an easy process you have in your home for keeping things organized.
I always tell my clients that a little progress each day adds up to big results. But, the reverse is also true, adding a little more clutter each day can add up to a big pile. For example: At the end of a long day, at work, you just throw the mail on the counter and say I will get to it later. The next day it happens again and so on until, 1 week later you have a stack of papers that is overflowing.
The problem is the mentality of I will do it later, one day is no big deal but then the days start to compile on top of each other. Now the 5 minute task has become a half day’s work and you just let the pile keep growing. It becomes too overwhelming. BUT I have a solution.
Maintenance. Not only must you have a great system in place that works for your family but you also must continue to maintain an organized space.
Here are 5 organizing tips for you to maintain an organization system.
1. Establish routines
Break daily tasks into 5-10 minute blocks this makes it manageable. Every day you should do the following:
- make the bed
- put clothes in the hamper
- wipe the kitchen counters
- wash the dishes
2. Put items in their “homes”
Every item in your house should have a place where it lives to stay neat and tidy. I like to call this area its home. After you finish using an item you put it right back in its home. This allows you to find items easier.
3. Label it
Put labels on everything! Some examples include: bins, cupboards, and drawers. That way anyone who enters your home knows where items are located. It is also makes it a breeze for anyone to put back items back where they belong.
4. Have an organized “Launch Pad”
A launch pad is a place where you enter and exit your home. It is important that this area is organized so that you can get out of the house quickly in the morning. When designing your launch pad think about where people will place the following:
- bags
- shoes
- coats
- back packs
- keys
Remember that it needs to be easy for people to use. A shoe rack and hooks are key items to have in this area. In our house we even have a special hook for the dog leash so it is always by the door ready to go.
Make sure you establish rules about this area. Each person should have 1-2 pairs of shoes and 1 coat in the launch pad area. All others need to be stored in a separate area. This is especially important for small spaces.
5. Get everyone on board
This one is the most important! You need to set up organizational systems that work for your family. Each family member needs to understand the expectations around each system.
It is also important that each family member has tasks to keeping the house organized. Yes, even little kids can help! The earlier the better.
Ready to Get Started With Home Organizing?
I hope these 5 organization ideas help your family maintain an organized home. Remember that a little progress each day adds up to big results.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, it might be time to call in a professional to help with the decluttering process. Book a consultation with me about an organization project or my professional home organizing services and I can help get you and your family to have an organized home.
Melanie McConnell is a professional organizer and the owner of Mello Spaces. She helps busy professionals and parents, in the Lower Mainland, get organized. Follow her on Instagram for more home organization tips: @mellospaces