Happy New Year!
Let’s get to the nitty gritty.
I’m messy.
Our house is messy.
I know, I know. You usually see it all prettied up…staged, clean, the best my house could possibly look.
But that’s not reality. Not life.
We weren’t always messy. You’re talking to a former type A.
And type A’s can deal with pile-making type B’s like Matt (love you honey–but it’s the truth). Type A just walks around picking up after Type B–type A likes to organize.
But after children, something happened to my type A-ness.
We’ve talked about it before–I do want my home neater. I do want it more organized.
I also want to spend lots of time living and less time paving the perfect path.
We are learning how to live a little neater, however. And once we learn how to organize we spend less time organizing and certainly less time fretting over the lack thereof.
Hence, let’s celebrate the imperfect home. Let’s talk about ways us type B’s (because now I’m a convert) can learn to organize our home.
We read about organizing all the time, especially this time of year. A neat bedroom gives you peace of mind. Clear your paper clutter.
But how do we, who may or may not have allowed their homes to resemble a hoarder’s garage, actually make organizing easy and attainable?
In the last couple of months, Matt and I have begun re-purging our once-spotless house. Room by room, cabinet by cabinet, we’ve purged and reorganized.
The laundry still kicks my pa-tooty, though.
I’ll get it one day…just you wait, you stack of clean clothes. I’ll get you folded one day.
Ahem.
Wanna hear some things we’ve learned along the way?
Note: This does not mean we keep our home perfect (or even semi-neat) every single day. And this may not be the best post for those of you who are already neat and tidy. But these last two months, these things have worked for us, and we have spent more days in a tidy state than not.
And that makes this former type A happy.
1. Have a place for everything
This is a hard one–I know. But here’s the truth. If it doesn’t have a spot (and I mean a spot within a cabinet/closet/drawer/etc., then it will stay out.
All the time.
Do you guys experience that? We certainly do. Matt has this little set of drill bits that has a spot. It sits on the bar, on the island, on the counter by the sink, in the tray by kitchen desk.
That’s not a spot. It basically serves as a tiny reminder that we’re not quite done cleaning out our garage.
We’re close, though.
I know it’s tough–but go room by room and find a place for everything.
2. When you can’t, designate some drop zones.
Our little drop zones are quickly becoming my best friends. The lidded baskets by the sofa hold all toys that aren’t put completely away, the tray by my kitchen desk holds whatever screws or bits we’re working with at the time, the basket in the laundry room stays & holds rotating loads so they aren’t on the floor, and there are huge canvas bags that hold large toys in the kids’ rooms.
I believe this was one of the many reasons I didn’t get organized after the kids were born. I, being that type A, wanted every single toy to be organized by color, type, specific lego set…you get the idea.
Which brings me to my next point.
3. Pick a SIMPLE system that works for your family.
If you’re a piler, use lidded trays to pile bills and magazines, rather than tell yourself you’ll file them in a binder every week. Do what works for you. If you are able to stay on top of sorting every toy set, then go for it! I’m kind of not able to do that.
Actually, I can’t do it all–and then?
It doesn’t get done.
It only took me 4 + years to learn that it’s way less important that every lego set stays together and more that they are put away at the end of each day.
4. Get your kids involved!
How many times do we talk about having our children pick up their toys, only to follow behind them to do it the right way or let them go watch a movie instead?
I’m talking to myself as much as I am to you, friends. Those sweet adorable bundles of joy are m-e-s-s-y and they need to be involved in the clean-up.
Therefore, our systems for their things need to work for them. Ava won’t take time to sort her My Little Ponies from her Barbies, so I’ve relaxed. Into one big basket her toys go.
Gray can’t possibly sort and keep every single Lego in it’s perfectly proper place, so I bought him a giant bin where they all go. In the end, teaching our kiddos to take responsibility for their belongings is much more important than color-coordinated organization.
Never let toy pick-up slide more than every other day. I know some of y’all are gasping at me, mouth wide open. You let your kids leave their toys out?? We do. I admit it. But after 2 days, they all go back up. It’s much easier to pick up every day or two than to let it pile up for a week or two.
Believe me, I know.
5. Hyper-organize high traffic areas (like the living room, kitchen, desk area, & kids’ rooms)
These are the areas with the potential to create major mess in the house. If the kids’ cups don’t fit in the cabinets well, where do they sit? I actually removed our cabinet doors in our kitchen just to get them more organized. And it helped drastically!
It won’t do any good for Grayson to have a giant lego bin if there’s nowhere for it to go except the floor.
Go through those rooms and be brutal–purge like crazy! Clean out drawers in your coffee and end tables in the living room…that way you can keep your stack of shelter mags close by.
Or, you could buy a massive basket that sits under your side table, holding approximately 1,000 magazines.
Just sayin. That’s what some people do.
6. Don’t bring your mail inside until you’re ready to sort it.
I’m serious. If you can’t bear the thought of sorting Ballard’s from your bills, just leave it in a neat pile in the car. I mean, how long can we leave it in our cars??
I’m kidding, but this does help me! If I don’t feel like doing it, I’ll leave it in the front seat. After a day or so, that bugs me and I’ll bring it in and sort immediately.
7. After bills are paid & other stuff finds a home, file important papers once a week.
Pick a day, set a time, and just do it. Get it over with. It, along with hanging clean laundry, are my achilles heels. If you’re feeling lazy (like I often do regarding filing of any sort), file twice a month. Cutting down your paper clutter really is freeing–and believe me, it will always be an ongoing battle for us. But, when we do it, I’m practically giddy.
8. Purge at least twice a year.
Oh, poor Matt.
This is soooo hard for him. We didn’t do this for years–until Grayson was about 3. Things just continued to pile and pile behind cabinet doors…until there was no more cabinet space to be had.
It’s hard to let things go, but I’m trying to grasp that things are just things. Yes, I want to save certain mementos and toys the kids have loved, but if toys are just sitting there, and clothes aren’t worn, or a gadget never used, then there is a great chance that someone else could benefit from it tremendously.
I’m getting quite brutal about this when it comes to toys. There was a day and time that Gray would spend hours playing with matchbox cars. He had a million and played with every single one. He lined them up by color from the time he was one year old.
Why, yes he did.
So of course I’d like to keep some to remember that precious time in his life, but he probably could do without most of them since he never touches them anymore.
Hard? Yes.
But the thought of spreading joy to another child?
Easy stinking peasy.
9. Reorganize the insides of your high traffic cabinets & drawers every 6 months, too.
If cabinets are too full to fill with everyday items, they’re too full. Again with the purging.
10. Follow the 5 minute rule:
Once you get a room organized, meaning everything has its place, follow this rule: If it takes less than 5 minutes to do, do it right then.
This helps me with hanging a few shirts rather than letting them all pile up, unloading the dishwasher immediately, taking toys to the baskets, etc.
Plus, once a room is neat, it’s sooo much easier to keep it that way.
And when it’s tiring, let it go for a week. Cut yourself a break, let the house get messy and enjoy your family.
You can clean it up in a week.
Which is precisely what I plan to do today.
If you’re able to use any of these tips to help with your home organizing, let us know and if you have an awesome tip we’ll all enjoy, be sure to leave it in the comments.
Happy Organizing!
*Again, please know that if you and your fam are able to keep organized in impressive ways–I’m SOOO jealous and good for you! These are simply tips that worked for our somewhat messy family.
great post. my husband and i just spent all day, purging the office. three bags of shredding and paperwork that should have been gotten rid of months ago. we are going to sell our current office/desk and chair and go get some more functional furniture at ikea so we can set up a system and stay organized. i think if you have a system it is much easier to put things away and keep tidy! so looking forward to a cleaner life in 2012.
Great post Shaunna! Organization is on my list ! It will involve though some building…a new pantry closet & putting some “workable” smart shelves in existing closets! I need to be smarter about the space I have! 🙂 happy new year!
I love this post so much. Its not just at this time of year but literally every single day that Im cleaning out. Little things, little areas. My family picks on me that my favorite day of the week is Thursday-recycling day-when we get to put all that extra garbage out to the curb. I just love having things simplified and cleaned out. Annnnnd….it makes less dusting when you dont have as much “stuff” lying around. Double bonus:)
great post 🙂
I feel like our house is spinning out of control with a 3 year old and 1 year old. We are really trying to purge and organize so I don’t feel like I spend every waking minute cleaning!
Beautiful photographs and such helpful information. I can relate to you. I have 4 kids and everything was in organized perfection prior to having my children.
Great ideas. It’s hard to keep up with your home when you have children and work. I’m retired so am living at the ideal time to be organized. When younger and even now, my mantra is to keep my house “company ready” or as close as possible. Our children knew and still know they can brings friends over at anytime. It feels so good to wake up and start the day in a clean, organized kitchen. I make it a goal every night to leave it as perfect as possible. It feel so good! Keep up the good work. Your children learn by your example! (So will Matt)
You read my mind today! I’ve been working on all of these recently! I’ve gotten over all like toys staying together and realized they just need to go in a besket. My two year old doesn’t care! It was me stressing about all her toys staying together! Thank you for sharing what works for your fam! It’s VERY similar to what works for our fam!
This is so very helpful! I am a type B longing to be a type A. My husband is for sure a type B. And we were talking yesterday about how we can keep how home neat this year so that at any time the other person can be confident to bring a friend to the house at a drop of the hat knowing the house is clean. The place for everything idea is something we don’t have and a day set aside to put away mail is too. These will definitely help us I think. Thank you so much for all of these helpful tools!!
Ok, I will try to do these 🙂 I walked around on Face-time with my daughter yesterday and she said she’s calling TLC Hoarders on me. LOL, it’s just bad in a couple places. I hope the door bell doesn’t ring…These really are some great ideas!
Debbie
Debbie- I have seen pictures of your house- and nothing is out of place! This must not be the same Debbie! lol!
Cheri
Great post, Shaunna! We are messies too, all of us! While I would love a clean and organized home, I love playing with my kids more.
I would say that once the kids are all moved out our house will be neat and clean but unless I kick JC to the curb (which will never happen) we will always have a bit of a mess around here.
My goal is to have the house at least presentable most of the time. You know, clean enough that if someone does stop by I don’t run out to chat with them in the driveway so they don’t come in!!
Shaunna, I am you – you are me! I’ve said the same thing a million times. What happened to the good ole’ days when I was capable of keeping my house clean. Great post – I’m on it!!
I find myself constantly “organizing”! My goal is to have a place for everything by the end of the week! This blog post has been an inspiration to continue this daunting task! I have to ask… where did you get the desk for your office space? Love the space!
When I am looking at my favorite Pinterest pictures of beautiful rooms- my husband’s comment is- “but nobody lives there”- and he has a point. These rooms are staged and I understand that- when I take my “home” pictures- I don’t want to see a stack of clutter- so I can keep it out of the “photo range” pretty good! Our home is getting a little neater- with the kids gone off to school and careers- can’t blame the mess on the kids/toys anymore! It is a battle to keep up with the papers that accumulate- even with most bills being online- I still get bombarded with the mail- if I let it build up for more that a day or two. Sometimes I flip throught the mail while walking up the driveway with it in hand- and toss the junk mail in the garbage before it makes it inside! Seriously- I find this helpful!
My husband and I must both be Type B’s, so we have a Type B (me) running around picking up after the 2 Type B’s! Definitely a losing battle most of the time! If I didn’t have bunco the house would never be all straight at one time!
And seriously, I enjoyed your tips! I am striving to do better “this year”!
Keep up the encouraging words!
Cheri
Thanks everybody! Glad it was somewhat helpful….keep on leaving comments for your tips–those help me tremendously!! Happy Organizing.
🙂
shaunna
This is my mantra for 2012. To get organized. I have stacks of paperwork that has been here since…well…
LOL.
Mr. Goodwill Hunting
You immediately caught my attention saying you were a former type A as this describes me exactly. When my children were very young I worried about little messes constantly. I found great relief when I managed to stop caring so much which is just as well as clearing up after them has just got worse as they have become teenagers. Anyway their rooms are now their responsibility and if they can’t keep them clean then they can’t have friends over and I stick to that rule rigidly. Sadly I feel like that about the rest of our home and often find excuses not to have people over if the mess gets out of hand. Thank you for the ideas I shall try to at least put some of it into practice although I don’t want to go back to being paranoid that everything is perfect all the time!
I know this post took lots of valuable time to write. Thanks for the words of wisdom and the motivating pictures. I like to think that I’m organized and blame the disarray on two young boys that live (really live) in my otherwise perfect house. maybe it’s time to teach them some organization skills. Or maybe I’ll just adjust to life as a Type B Convert…
Fran
These are great tips,thanks for sharing and taking the time. Since laundry was kind of a problem for me I started doing one load at a time. I make the promise to remember to come back, to put it in the dryer, then fold it and put it away right away. I used to do 5 loads in a row and have baskets of folded clothes around for a week, or worse unfolded. Now I only put in the washing machine what I intend to do the whole process with. It’s kind of changed everything for me. The other thing I do is I only touch mail once. I open it on the way into our house, I get rid of more than half in the recycling bin before I even enter the house. We pay every bill online except our water bill which we can’t pay online. And then it’s usually just cards and magazines and I’m always quite happy to open those up, or set the magazine aside until I have time to enjoy. I was also thinking it would be really cute if you made some art out of grays matchbox cards. Maybe put the, in color order in a shadow box, or hot glue them like they do a bug collection? It would be cool, attractive and sentimental. Happy new year!
To organize papers, I have yearly files by month, insurance, and bank statements. When the bills come in and get paid I put the paid bill into the month/year file immediately. As soon as bank statements are handled, they are filed immediately. This has helped me stay on top of those nasty bills and paper junk. At the end of the year I transfer the files out of the drawer to a file storage box and keep them with the taxes for 3 years. I mark the file box with a shred date. When the box goes to shred, I remove the tax file and put it in an archive box that has tax returns only. I have never shred a tax file. This is a system I adopted back when business records were important and I have just maintained the same system for personal records. It has saved my bacon a 1000 times and helps me maintain a piece of my sanity. A ‘tiny’ piece. :()
I love this time of year. A fresh start! I’ll be cleaning, purging, organizing starting this week when everyone goes back to school & work. I’m going to be a little more brutal with the purging since that’s where I really have a problem. I’m a sentimental soul who finds memories in lots of things. But it’s time to let go of some things. I hope 2012 is the year that I accomplish my organization goals. Best wishes to you for a very happy 2012. Looking forward to more inspiration from you.
Oh girl…yet another way we are alike. I am a former-super-anal-type-A who would snub my nose at a stained carpet and messy counter top. Now, with two little boys, I just have to deal with some level of messiness or be totally miserable all day long trying to make everything look perfect at every moment.
Sigh…that office space is a dream.
Thank you for this piece. I read it with great interest. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and honestly, embarrassed by the state of things in my home. I have one boy and am pregnant with another and before I had a child – I was reasonably neat and tidy. Not a clean freak…but at least tidy. Now…I shudder every time I look in the office. At the piles of stuff. Everywhere. It seems like all I can do just to keep up with doing dishes or laundry.
This is inspiring and helpful.
I have never had the pleasure of being a Type A. I am, however married to one. We had 4 babies in 4 years and with two full time jobs, our house was out of control. Then I discovered giant baskets. It is amazing how quickly children can clean up if its a race to fill your basket. Who cares what’s in it? Its getting dumped out tomorrow anyhow! These days, now that they’re older, I get 15 minutes of dedicated time each day from each of them to clean the house. It doesn’t seem like too much time to them but times 6, its an hour and a half! I also make a list of the things we will be cleaning each day and let them each choose a job. Not much complaining that way.
Most importantly, all of my friends know my motto. If you’re coming to see ME, come over anytime. If you’re coming to see my HOUSE, call first!
Hi Shaunna,
I need to get more organized this year and purge my crafting supplies. I have too many quilting books, painting books, magazines, fabric…. I know there are projects I have started, or purchased supplies for that I will not do. It has been a struggle to part with them because they cost money, but just having them sitting around reminds me how much I have spent, and is a weight on my shoulders. I don’t want to make a project that I do not like or feel inspired to make. I am going to have to be ruthless and get rid of it unless I absolutely love it. Maybe I can sell some things on ebay.
AWESOME ADVICE AND PIX!
What a great post! I love the advice, the pictures and your tips on what works for you. It’s hard to keep up with organizing! I’m trying to organize our home and have made a lot of progress by doing one room at a time. I have one closet left before I tackle the storage room in the basement. UGH!
Thank you so much for such a “REAL PERSON” post. You made me feel like we were sitting at the kitchen table talking about what we want to do. I’m at a point in my life where I need a guide and your blog is full of ideas. This is one of your best!
Right on! Really! This could not have been more of what I really wanted to focus on right now! Thank you soooo sooo much for the guidance! Purging and donating in Florida!
GREAT tips – and I have a “laundry system” post coming up that might help you out!
This post resonates with me like crazy, my house used to be spotless. THen kids happened. I am always waiting till that room is decorated or when i paint that room I will get it organized but it just leads to clutter and mess. This post is just what I needed, I know I am not alone in this. I plan to get started on the purge and clean up one room at a time next week once the kids start back at school and hope to get some painting done too!
Help, I’m a type A stuck in the body of a type B!!
The type A inside me loves doing the washing, sorting it into lights, darks etc, hanging it on the line nice and neat, but the type B in me prevents me from putting any of it away after so I am forever surrounded by piles of clean washing.
I love this post because the type A inside me likes lists and organisation, and as a type B I needed some direction. I have been purging and de-cluttering all areas of my life recently and it feels so good. I have found the purchase of lots of clear plastic storage boxes great for places like the under stairs cupboard so I can find things quickly.
All I can say is you’d LOVE FlyLady. (FlyLady.com). She has these tips and then some.
THANKS FOR KEEPIN’ IT REAL! I’m about to cry a little. I’m always comparing my semi-tidy home to the perfection I see on yours and others’ sites. It’s great to know I’m not alone. Good ideas, too! Love ya.
I’m your newest fan….and follower 😉
Yeah, I would really LIKE everything to be neat. It isn’t. I would like it to be color coded and alphabetized. (I’m a high C on DISC, no surprise.) But, for my husband, simply getting his stuff in the bedroom is good. If it makes it into a drawer, it’s great. (If it’s folded, it’s a miracle.)
But, it doesn’t bother him. Or, the 14 year old. So, if trying to make things “right” according to my standards simply stressed them out, why bother? (As long as they can find their stuff, that is.)
I agree with problem piling.
If something tends to always get piled, I think “Does it have a home?”
Sometimes the answer is no. (Then I make one.)
Sometimes the answer is yes – but it doesn’t get used. (Then I try to make a better solution.)
I did a 31 day series on “Tasks that take 31 minutes of Less to a More Organized Life!” It’s not rocket science. But, it was helpful for me to intentionally think of ways I could make our lives easier – without committing tons of time or planning. (I can get ‘stuck’ if the plan isn’t good enough. 31 Minutes is a “Just do it!” sort of thing.)
Thanks you for all of your suggestions!
~ Dana
Cooking at Cafe D
I LOVE THE POST-FIRST TIME I HAVE REPLIED TO ANY BLOG, BUT, FUNNY I WAS IN A STORE YESTERDAY AND IT DAWNED ON ME BASKETS. LET ME BUY BASKETS FOR EVERYTHING. I HAVE A HARVEST TABLE QUITE HIGH AND LONG. I WILL PUT THEM UNDER THE TABLE IN MY KITCHEN FOR: MY GRANDSON’S TOYS, RECYCLES AND SO ON AND SO ON. AFTER READING YOUR BLOG I FELT VERY PROUD OF MYSELF!!
THANKS FOR YOUR POST.
Love your organization! Great job.
I would love it if you shared this post with my readers on my organizing link party. I think they’ll enjoy it too: http://thriftmeblog.com/lets-organize-2012-kitchen-cabinets-recap-link-party/
Just wanted to share a product that cleared my dresser top. I bought the hanging Jewelry Storage Organizer on the Brylanes website but I think you can go to Amazon. I looked in a bunch of stores like Bed, Bath, and Beyond and the Container store and could not find it so I had to suck it up and spend the $59. It hangs inside my closet door or they send you hardware to mount to the wall but I did not. I did not need any tools as it came in two pieces and you just hang one on the other. Its quality and you will never need to replace it. Not only can I see the the top of my dresser but I can see absolutely everything I own. All the costume jewelry, bracelets, earrings and rings are now being worn because I actually know what I own. No more finding unmatched earrings or untangling necklaces. I don’t know why all stores don’t sell them. Brylane offers coupons on their websete for 20% off days or free shipping days so that will help with the price.
this post resonated with me as well, and thank you. all the replies could have been written by me as well, I used to be neat before kids, I have lots of craft/sewing/scrapbooking/etc projects I want to do “when I have time” that never get done, and all the supplies to go with them, piling up in boxes, I’m a pilier, my family says there is no safe flat surface, because it will get piled on. I’ve tried flylady, organizing books (lost it, found it a few years later haha) I will keep trying. It’s actually encouraging to realize that I’m not the only one with a messy but loving house, at least that’s what I tell myself, I spend time with the kids and family, not cleaning, but that’s just my excuse. they are getting older now, teens, and I’m embarrassed that they’ve grown up with my messiness.
I moved and need to set up a brand new office/sewing room/craft room all in one. The closet has shelves in it set up for crafts, but not nearly enough. Anyone have any suggestions as to where to start to look for organizational ideas that don’t cost an arm and a leg, but look fabulous? Thanks.
I am busy sorting and clearing out at the moment and so enjoyed this article and the awesome pics. Thank you 🙂
I had some major problems letting go of toy organization, but you’re right – I don’t have time to be that obsessive! So we designated the bottom two shelves of our family room bookshelf for the chubster, and it’s amazing! There’s enough space for a stack of books and puzzles, a space for her basket of craft supplies, and just enough room for a little pile of toys – all of which she uses every day. And for everything else she has 2 drawers in her room which occasionally overflow with miscellaneous toys. But the thing is, those two shelves can get cleaned up in a few minutes if we are having company over, and if we aren’t then who cares? Those toys are probably all over the floor being played with then anyway.
Don’t get me wrong, I still have all the notable A-type issues. I just try my best to bottle them up until bedtime or when we have people over. (She’s actually cleaning up right now…I think I’ll go support this.)
You always surprise me with amazing and so creative ideas.I wish I had your talent to organize and transform the house in that great way.
I just don’t even know where to start…..is there a best room to start with? My daughter and 3 year old live with us so we have gone back to being a child-filled-with toys and stuff home. Not that it was any neater when it was just the two of us. I just get overwhelmed looking at it and really don’t know where to start. I am going to take time and read this slowly and pray for inspiration. Really. My mom used to have a saying….in fact, it now hangs in my kitchen……”in order, there is liberty” Gonna get there. Love your home
I’ve discovered that it’s a fruitless battle with kids in the house. They say it’s like shoveling during a blizzard and I totally agree! I love your tips for overcoming some of these challenges!
You should go through your mail when you are “in the mood” which makes it go faster. And you are in the mood every few days, believe it or not. You should tear off you address label and shred it before you toss it in the trash, and anything else with your name on it!
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for how to organize
What wonderful ideas for organizing the house. I work at home and for me it is very important everything to be in its place, otherwise I can’t concentrate. Thanks a lot for these incredible ideas again!
Your articles have been so inspiring. I was already in a slow journey to simplifying my life. However, since around October 2014, I have actively shed my home starting with shoes, clothing, moved to the kitchen, bedroom junk and moved back to getting rid of more clothing. This was a very freeing activity. It made me think clearer and be more intentional about my purchases. I still have a lot to do as a recovering pack rat but I will get there with your help. Thank you very much!Longlands Carpet Cleaners Ltd.