The Organized Mom - Home Organization Tips for Busy Moms
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As a mom, the home is a place where memories are made… and often where routines go out the window.
Between daily school and sports runs, meal prep, cleaning, and more, keeping your home organized is one of the last things on your mind and often feels like a never-ending task.
However, I am here to tell you that it is possible to create a peaceful and clutter-free home. Also, you can create a home that is both functional and beautiful even with all of the hectic things that go on in everyday life.
Here are some practical tips to help you declutter, organize, and maintain a tidy home that works for you and your family.
Below are some “mom organization” tips and tricks that I use often to help me keep things organized.
Declutter Before Organizing
Think about it, it’s nearly impossible to keep a tidy home if you are holding onto every little thing.
Decluttering is the key to keeping things organized!
We often accumulate too many clothes, toys, papers, etc so take the time to go through these belongings and donate or purge what is no longer needed. It may be a lot more than you think!
How to declutter step-by-step:
Start with a room or area at a time: Don’t start by tacking the whole house at once, instead, take this task on one room at a time. Start with places that tend to have the most clutter (playrooms, closets, etc) and go from there.
Use the "one in, one out" rule: One rule to implement is for every new item you bring into your home, make sure to donate or throw away one old item. This keeps clutter from building up again.
Sort items into categories: Create 3 categories, keep, donate, or discard. If you haven’t used something in the last six months and it doesn’t hold sentimental value, it’s probably time to let go.
One item I recommend you use is the SimpleHouseware 6-Pack Foldable Storage Bins.
These bins are a great option for organizing toys, clothes, or books. These bins are also collapsible when not in use, so this helps to save space and come in tons of different colors.
Create Functional Zones in Your Home
Now that you’ve decluttered each room in the house it’s time to create some functional zones that help ensure everything has a place.
We do this because it helps maintain organization throughout the home.
How to Create Zones:
Below are some zone suggestions you can use in your house.
Entryway zone: Designate a spot for shoes, bags, coats, and keys. A small mudroom or entryway organizer can help make your morning routine a lot easier.
Kids’ play zone: Set up a specific area where the kids can play and store their toys. Even if you don’t have a play room, having a "play zone" will make it easier to contain the mess and encourage the kids to tidy up after themselves.
Homework/office zone: Create a space where the kids can focus on homework, and you can focus on your own work. Be sure this area is free of distractions!
The ClosetMaid Cubeicals Organizer is a great way to create zones in your home. This organizer has cubbies for books, toys, and storage baskets, helping to keep everything neat and organized.
Use Storage Solutions for Every Room
The key to maintaining an organized home is using the right storage solutions. Choose stylish and functional storage options that suit the needs of your family.
How to store effectively:
Under-bed storage: Take advantage of the space under your kids' beds or your own to store seasonal clothing, extra blankets, or toys.
Vertical storage: Use wall-mounted shelves, hooks, and hanging baskets to free up floor space. Vertical storage works great for bedrooms and bathrooms where you need more storage but don’t have extra square footage.
Multi-purpose furniture: Invest in furniture that can serve multiple purposes, like a bench with hidden storage or a coffee table that doubles as a toy chest.
Organize Closets Efficiently
Closets can often be the messiest part of the home. Just think of all the clothes, shoes and accessories!
However, you can transform them into highly efficient storage spaces, you just need the right tips and tools.
How to Organize Your Closet Space:
Maximize vertical space: Use hanging organizers, hooks, and shelves to maximize closet height. Add some adjustable shelving units to help you store seasonal clothing or shoes up high while keeping everyday items within easy reach.
Use clear bins and labels: To easily find what you need, store clothing, shoes, and accessories in clear bins or baskets and label them by category.
Double your closet rod space: Install a second rod below your existing one for extra hanging space for shorter items like kids’ clothes or scarves.
The AmazonBasics Closet Organizer Set comes with clear bins, shoe racks, and hanging organizers to help create a clean and efficient closet system.
Simplify Meal Planning and Grocery Shopping
There's nothing worse than a busy day, coming home late, and realizing you forgot to make dinner.
A well-organized home extends to the kitchen too. Simplify meal planning and grocery shopping to save time and reduce the stress of cooking.
How to simplify kitchen organization:
Meal prep on a particular day: Dedicate a day to prep meals for the week. Pre-chop veggies, cook grains, or portion snacks. This will save you time on busy weekdays.
Organize the pantry: Start by decluttering your pantry and donate or throw away unwanted items. Group similar items together in your pantry, such as canned goods, grains, or snacks and also use clear containers to store dry goods, and label them so everything is easy to find.
Meal delivery service: Use a meal delivery service to save time and simplify meals during the week!
Maintain Daily Cleaning Routines
After you’ve decluttered, cleaned, and organized your home, it’s onto maintenance.
The key is to keep it simple and realistic—especially when juggling family responsibilities.
How to Maintain Daily Routines:
Here are a few recommended routines to make daily life easier.
Make the bed every morning: A made bed instantly makes a room look tidier and studies show it sets a positive tone for the day.
Clear the counters: Every night, take a few minutes to clear kitchen counters and dining tables to prevent clutter from piling up.
Do a quick sweep each evening: Spend 10-15 minutes at the end of each day tidying up, putting away stray items, and wiping down surfaces.
Turn on your vacuum: If you have one that can automatically clean around your home, go ahead and turn it on once a day!
Set Up Family Cleaning Chores
Ahh the dreaded chores. No one wants to do them, yet it must be done!
In this particular case you can involve the whole family in keeping the home tidy.
Assign age-appropriate chores to your kids and create a chore chart to keep track of their responsibilities. This helps things become more managable.
How to delegate chores:
Create a chore chart: Create a chores chart in Canva or find a free printable online and post on the fridge. Make it a fun family activity by assigning colorful stickers or rewards for completed tasks.
Use a rotating schedule: Rotate chores each week so everyone gets a chance to do different tasks, from taking out the trash to washing dishes.\
The Melissa & Doug Wooden Chore Chart is a great tool for kids. It helps them keep track of their daily responsibilities while making chore time more interactive and fun. Plus it’s so cute!
Conclusion
As a busy mom, it’s not always easy to keep your home organized and tidy, but with a little planning, the right tools, and consistent habits, it’s definitely possible.
However, don’t stress out or punish yourself if you can’t get it all done right away. Mom organization takes time!
Decluttering, creating functional zones, using smart storage solutions, and maintaining daily routines will go a long way in creating a peaceful, organized space for you and your family.
Remember, it’s not about having a perfectly spotless home—it's about creating a space that works for you and your loved ones!