Housekeeping Organization

If you live in a house with kids, then you likely have a playroom that moonlights as an office or a living room full of LEGO bricks. Perhaps your kitchen needs to handle homework as deftly as it does meal prep. Unless you live in a larger home, you’re sharing spaces with your children, so what’s the best way to make it work?

Warning! Drooling over organized closets, pantries, and garages on Instagram could delay your organizing goals. The pristine, hyper-sorted spaces on social media make you think you need to buy a bunch of pricey bins, baskets, and storage solutions to get results. But here’s what you really need to know. You don’t have to buy containers to get organized!

Bathroom closets are often catch-alls for anything and everything remotely related to self-care. We store towels, medicine, toiletry supplies, first-aid gear, massage devices, facial steamers, spare bed sheets; you name it. If you’re unsure how to organize a bathroom closet, it quickly becomes a chaotic mess, adding a snowball of stress to your day.

As you prepare to place new glassware in your kitchen cabinets for safekeeping, you may find yourself pausing with a glass in your hand. You have to decide whether your glasses will face up or down.

If you feel like your child’s belongings triple in winter, you’re not imagining it. Aside from the fact that you’re probably home more between the frigid temps and winter break, the holidays likely introduce a bunch more stuff into your house. But are you doomed to wallow in kid clutter all winter long? 

Hushing the house means reducing the number of items in your home to achieve a quieter, more peaceful environment. House housing, or quieting the house is a popular trend in a world where everyone seems overworked and stressed. The idea of a simpler life and a serene retreat sounds amazing.

When you have too much stuff, it can overwhelm your home, your mind, and your life. Clutter makes it harder to find things, complete tasks, move around, and even breathe. It’s no wonder so many people make it a goal to declutter their homes. But with so many different how-tos and decluttering rules out there, how do you know which one is the right one for you?

What’s not to love about springtime? The sunshine, flowers, cute baby animals, picnics in the park, spring cleaning — oh, wait. You might not love to clean (who does?), but spring is the perfect time to refresh your home and enjoy a sense of renewal. 

There are many reasons why you might need to put items in storage, but the goal is that these stored items will be just as perfect when you take them out of the storage unit as when you put them in. Some items are likely to be resilient, regardless of how they are stored. But other belongings made of more vulnerable materials can be susceptible to damage. This is especially true if you don’t have a climate-controlled unit. Therefore, it is important to climate-proof all the items you decide to put in storage.

When you’re dreaming of a picture-perfect home, with everything in its place, it’s hard to ignore the barrage of aesthetically pleasing storage solutions out there. Influencers show off luxury bins, fill fridges with clear acrylic containers, and arrange their closets as if they’re a department store.

Does your lack of closet space turn your bedroom floor into a clothes storage site? Or maybe you’ve grown accustomed to piling clothes on any surface you can find, from your bed to the kitchen table. If any of this sounds familiar, a few clever ways to store clothes without a closet are just what you need to take back control of your space.

You can spend hundreds of dollars on cute organizers to color-code everything from your socks to your kitchen utensils, but it’s still overwhelming. Piling overflow shoes and clothing from your closet into stackable bins makes things easier on the eyes, but does nothing to streamline your life. Put simply, organizing your house isn’t the same as simplifying your life.

The rise in remote work opportunities has increased the need for many people to create a viable home office space. If a good portion of your job happens in your house, it’s challenging to define the line between your personal and work lives. It’s tough to separate work from play when you work from home, especially if you live with others, but it’s possible.

A dedicated place for kids to play can be a lifesaver when it comes to keeping your home organized and tidy (not to mention calm). When things get messy, simply shut the door or draw the curtain to hide the chaos. But if the playroom isn't functional, toys and mayhem soon start seeping into other parts of your home.

When you don’t have much room for your belongings, efficient storage is a must. Whether you live in a small apartment or share your space with others, you need to be smart about where you put your things. So, what’s the best way to store your items when you’re short on space?

Proper storage makes all the difference in how your home looks, feels, and functions. If you don’t have a place for everything, clutter takes over, leading to stress and frustration. Blankets, sheets, towels, and similar items tend to accumulate, which means adequate storage is essential. Many homes feature linen closets for this very purpose, but how do you store linens without a closet?

Let’s face it; our pets take over our hearts and our homes. Between the pet toys, beds, grooming supplies, leashes, litter boxes — the list goes on and on — you might feel like your pet needs their own room. Don’t give up the spare bedroom just yet. Instead, use these tips for organizing your pet’s belongings.

Time is precious, so who wants to spend more time than they need to get ready in the morning? But if your makeup drawer is a wreck, you’re likely wasting a bunch of time searching for items. Knowing how to organize a makeup drawer so you can find what you need quickly can make a huge difference in your day. 

Come on, you knew an article about making the most of your small space was going to have a section on decluttering. That’s simply because it is imperative to reduce your inventory when you want to maximize your living area.

A well-organized space makes life easier and keeps your home tidy, but when is it enough? What exactly does it mean to be organized? Do you have to have matching bins, detailed categories, and precise labels, or do you just need to know where your stuff is?

According to recent data, the average new home size in the US is 2,485 square feet (much larger than approximately 50 years ago). However, interestingly enough, over the past several years, the size of new homes has been shrinking. 

Organizing your clothing in a way that works for you can make a huge difference in how your day goes. If it’s simple to get ready, find what you need, and your things stay nice, you save time and money. Typical clothing storage in your bedroom is usually a dresser and closet, but what should you keep in them?

If you live in a household with school-age children, you know that the end of the summer can be a very stressful and even overwhelming time of year. There are many items to buy, meetings to attend, and activities to sign your child up for. While you can't ignore these parental obligations, you can organize your life and home to help the whole family transition smoothly.

Charities are always in need of donations, especially around the holidays or after a natural disaster. When you think of charitable contributions, you likely think of essentials like clothing, water, and canned goods. While these are exceptional items to donate, there are many other products that charities gladly accept. Some of these items might even be collecting dust in your home right now.

It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of the New Year, dreaming about a fresh start and all the things you plan to accomplish. Like many homeowners, you likely set several house goals. However, as February approaches, you’re beginning to think that maybe you were a bit too ambitious with your New Year’s home resolutions.

The first reaction to overwhelming clutter is usually thinking you have to get organized. But a lot of times, the best starting point is to get rid of stuff first. So, can you organize your house without decluttering? And more importantly, is it effective?

Wait! Put down the paint swatches, and don’t buy that new furniture just yet. If your home doesn’t feel quite right, it’s tempting to jump to redesigning your space or planning renovations. However, before you invest a bunch of time, money, and effort into redesigning your home, consider whether what you really need to do is reorganize.

After decluttering your house, you often feel like you can breathe more easily and things are more peaceful. It’s like you hit a giant reset button. But if you’re not careful, that reset can quickly turn into more of a replay, with everything creeping back to how it was before. 

The holidays often stir up feelings of magic, whimsy, and heartwarming cheer. But if you spend more days stressing about your house than basking in the joy of the season, it’s time for a change. Get your home ready for the holidays without feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

You finally found the home you've been looking for, whether it's your first house, second, or third. Over the first few months, you spend days unpacking, decorating, tweaking, fixing, and rearranging. But your new house still doesn't feel like it’s yours. Did you pick the wrong place, or does it just take time for your new house to feel like home?

As summer comes to an end, you’re probably thinking about back-to-school schedules, cooler weather, and fall fun. You’re also likely thinking about the backpacks, jackets, and muddy boots that go along with the new season. These changes are enough to make you start rethinking your mudroom to make sure it can handle the fall frenzy.

With housing prices at an all-time high, many people have had to downsize to smaller homes. In some cases, a smaller home feels just as spacious as a slightly larger home. But one thing you inevitably sacrifice, is storage space. This means more and more people need to find creative places to store belongings. One great place to store bins and totes is underneath the bed. This might have you wondering how you can create even more storage space underneath the beds in your home.

For anyone working an in-0ffice job, lunch is always a looming consideration. Some prefer to eat in an employee cafeteria, while others order out. But these habits can become expensive and even unhealthy. These are a couple of reasons why the concept of meal-prepping has grown more popular.

When you hear the word minimalism, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Do you picture a room with white walls, a bed, a table, a single chair, and a toothbrush? Maybe if it’s a more daring display of living with less, there’s a houseplant on the windowsill and a woven rug on the floor.

The holidays can feel like a never-ending series of cocktail parties and family gatherings. There’s always an excuse to throw a party in the winter, and you may even plan on hosting one or more parties at your home this year. While no concrete entertaining rules exist that you must abide by as the host, there are many mistakes you should avoid to ensure every holiday event you plan is flawless.

Whether you’re an avid home cook, a busy parent, or just love to snack, a disorganized fridge can put a damper on your kitchen habits. French door refrigerators are one of the most popular styles of this appliance. Knowing how to organize a French door refrigerator will go a long way to keeping your life calmer and more productive (and you won’t waste food).

It can take years and even decades to build a sizable tool collection that you are proud of. There are just so many essential tools, it can take years to save up for them all. Power tools, in particular, are quite expensive, but necessary for anyone who wants to do lots of DIY projects. But once you finally do have a full tool collection and lots of power tools, you might find that organizing and storing your power tools is a whole new challenge you need to overcome.

With home prices and apartment rentals at an all-time high, many people have had to downsize into smaller living spaces. In some cases, life can feel pretty much the same in a slightly smaller home. But one room that can be difficult to navigate when it shrinks in size, is the kitchen. A small kitchen means there is less room for your appliances, and you are suddenly left with minimal counter space to prepare food. When you find yourself in a kitchen with limited counter space, how do you create more?

More people work from home than ever before. Because of that, many people have struggled to adapt and stay focused in their home offices. You aren’t alone if you’ve ever wondered how to create a productive home office.

One of the best ways to minimize the amount of space your luggage takes up in your home is to buy a luggage set that stacks within itself. If you can find a good luggage set you love, see if they have a carry-on bag that fits within the checked bag.

The holiday season is synonymous with dinners, parties, and family gatherings. There are many reasons to attend a party at this time of year. You may even feel inspired (or obligated) to throw a holiday party of your own. There are a lot of ways to approach hosting a holiday party in your dwelling, and they all come with their challenges. This is particularly true if you plan to host a holiday gathering in a small apartment.

Maybe your favorite organizing influencer’s pantry or medicine cabinet has you drooling. Everything has a place, and it seems so easy for them to find what they need within moments. You decide this marvel of modern organization must be yours, so you start trying to recreate the look in your own space.

As home prices continue to rise, more people are choosing to move into smaller homes. While downsizing certainly has benefits, one of the biggest challenges is limited storage space. If you’re one of the many homeowners struggling to fit all your belongings under your roof, then you’ll want to find fast and effective ways to create more storage.

It’s too easy to get behind on laundry when you're busy with work and other responsibilities. However, there’s no better time to put your laundry away than before having guests over. A pile of laundry is an eyesore to many people, even if your guests can relate. 

You’re selling your house, and your agent tells you to clean up before they take pictures. You scrub, dust, mop, and do your best, but then they tell you there’s still too much stuff, and you need to declutter. But then, they start talking about how they’re going to stage your home, and you’re confused because you thought you were doing that already.

Corner pantries are meant to be a major part of your kitchen’s storage. It’s usually where extra food goes, and where you can expect your other less-used kitchen tools to go. If you’re a foodie like me, that usually means that you’re a little overwhelmed when you see how much stuff you have to fit into a corner pantry. Is there any way to make organizing this easier?

You’re not alone if you’ve ever let the clutter in your home get out of control. This is all too easy, as basic responsibilities, work, and family commitments can make decluttering difficult. However, it’s much easier if you stick to an ironclad yearly decluttering checklist.

If you resolved to be more organized this year or currently find yourself living in a home filled with clutter, then the winter is the perfect time to do something about it. The weather outside might be frigid, but inside your home, there is plenty of work you can do. However, organizing your home and ridding it of clutter can feel overwhelming, which is why it is best if you accomplish this goal one task at a time.

Getting kids to pick up their toys often feels about as hopeless as asking a dog to drop its bone. You don’t want to do it yourself, and you certainly can’t expect children to magically love tidying. The solution? Creating storage that makes it super simple to put things away so your kids don’t have to think twice.

The art of cooking in a tiny kitchen is a feat that can take years to master. Each tiny kitchen has its unique quirks and challenges. But with time, preparation, and perseverance, great meals can come out of these very small spaces. While cooking a typical meal in a small space is easy enough, preparing a holiday feast in a tiny kitchen is a much larger challenge, and requires lots of planning and tricks to pull off without any issues.

If your home is short on closet space, you could end up with a significant clutter problem if you don’t come up with a plan. Older houses often lack closets, and the ones they do have aren’t usually large. Or maybe you simply have a bunch of stuff and decluttering your home isn’t on your to-do list anytime soon. 

One of the best ways to ensure your winter clothes are safely stored in the spring and summer is to use durable airtight containers. Large plastic and locking storage totes are ideal. For one, they are usually easy to stack, making storing clothes easier.

Kitchen cutlery comes in every material imaginable. From silicone and other man-made materials, to aluminum and other types of metal. But when it comes to aesthetics and chef preference, nothing beats a good solid wooden spoon for stirring a sauce. But unlike other materials, wood does not last forever. In fact, it deteriorates so much over time that it eventually needs to be tossed in the trash. So, when is it time to throw away your wooden spoon and purchase a new one?

It’s no secret that moving is a stressful experience. Moving can be a long and expensive process, and figuring out how to manage your time can be frustrating. Many people understandably struggle with what to get rid of when moving.

Accumulating a vast wardrobe over the years is something many people do. Whether you love to shop or hate to get rid of garments you love, there’s a good chance that all your clothing won’t fit into one closet. When you have more garments than you know what to do with, then clothing storage is a great option. But before you pack away clothes for several months, you’ll want to find ways to keep them smelling fresh, so they don’t have a weird odor when you pull them out.

Football season might be over, but now it’s time for soccer, baseball, track, volleyball, softball, swimming…whew! Spring sports are huge for kids, with countless options, which means tons of gear to put somewhere! Unless you want a pile of shoes, gloves, uniforms, and packs by your door, it’s time to get organized.

Pet parents love their fur babies, and many pet owners are happy to give their dog or cat free range when it comes to the home. However, this doesn’t mean you want to see pet beds, toys, grooming supplies, and other items around every turn. So, how do you hide your pet’s stuff but still make it easy to access?

One factor that can impact a product's longevity is how and where it’s applied. Using a clean applicator to use a cream or solid product will prevent bacterial growth. 

Small homes are cozy, practical, and often easier on the budget, but they definitely have challenges, especially when it comes to storage. If you live in a smaller house, you probably have to get creative when it comes to everyday organization. Seasonal storage is a whole other conundrum.

Some homeowners unfortunately treat their attic like it's a trash can. Maybe you’re not filling the space with trash, but you may not use everything in there. Get realistic about what you keep in your attic and whether or not you’ll ever use everything.