I can’t believe it’s already mid September! Kids are back in school, the air feels different, and it’s the best time to get your home organized and ready for the new season. Although I’m a summer girl through and through, I love fall because it feels like a fresh start - more than the New Year in my opinion! The transition from living life outdoors in the summer, to spending more and more time indoors as the weather changes is a hard one for me. By making your home the most enjoyable place to be, it makes for a super easy + happy transition into fall.
It’s crucial to purge + organize your home once a season. Doing so will make keeping tidy so much easier, and the more you do it, the easier it gets!
It takes a lot of effort to get organized, but it doesn’t have to take a lot of effort to keep organized. If your home is set up to be tidy, it will stay like that with minimal effort. Promise. Keep reading to learn all my tips and tricks.
Invest a little time, a little money, and a little discipline, for your home will be effortlessly organized.
COUNTERTOPS
My basic rule for countertops is less is more. I absolutely love when my countertops are clean as can be, clutter free, and fresh looking. However I’m not the type of person who loves the “sterile” look. Your countertops still need a little décor and obviously be functional for you and your life! My go to’s: a plant here or there, a stack of cook books, a little décor.
My Everyday Items
Only my most beautiful things get to be on my countertop! I have my Ratio coffee machine (aka my obsession) front and center. 1, because coffee.. 2, because the design is flawless and it’s such a statement! I have a discount code NOELLERYAN10 that gets you 10% off! To learn why I love it so much, read this post!
Also my white knife block is a dream and super affordable, a fruit bowl, and a cutting board against the backsplash. Near my stove I have olive oil, salt and pep, and a plant which are together on a wood serving board. I love how this board is raised a little, making it easier to reach the items! All other appliances that we do not use every day gets stored in the cabinets.
OK wait, there are some appliances that I use everyday that do NOT get to live on my kitchen counter. My vitamix and milk frother ( I love a good homemade latte! ) get put back into cabinets every time.
Life is too beautiful to have a huge, bulky blender on your countertop.
DRAWERS
Pull everything out of your drawers and categorize by size or use. Purchase these amazing drawer organizers so everything can stay put and not slide around. I love these ones for cooking utensils, Categorize by like items and always always always put them away nicely! It will take an extra second to stack the pans correctly or to put the baking sheet at the bottom.
It is a bit of an investment, especially because you’re purchasing a piece of plastic.. but it is SO WORTH IT!! You are basically buying happiness. The piece of mind is worth it, and feeling like you have your sh*t together is also, worth it.
It will take a few times, but once you train yourself on where and HOW things get put away - its just maintenance from there!
Repeat this process for all the drawers in your home! Bathroom, dresser, etc!
CABINETS
Categorize like items. Invest in GOOD plastic storage I love these oxo containers, and start buying BULK at the grocery store. You get so much more for your money and bonus points if you get reusable bags to transport the goods instead of using those plastic bags. You’ll eventually pay for the storage containers with the $$ you’re saving from buying in bulk.
I totally just made that up, but it COULD be true.
By storing food this way, you always know how much you have on hand, its clean and looks way better than bags everywhere, and you can either label them or just leave blank as long as you know what you’re working with.
Use these clear containers for all small items – (same as for the drawers but with higher sides) this will make sure nothing gets lost in the back, and keep everything neat and together! I do this for medicine, vinegars and oils, small snacks, etc.
ENTRYWAY
The entrance to your space is THE MOST important.
It sets the tone, it’s the first impression, and it should be super functional, as you’re never walking though the door empty handed. Some people have whole rooms as their entryways, and others have tight hallway entrances. It doesn’t really matter what type you have- these tips will work with any space.
-A “drop station” this is where you literally drop your things. A few hooks on the wall for coats, purses, keys. A table or shelf to drop other small items that don’t hang up like wallets, keys, books (whatever you’re holding). I like a bowl or a tray to keep all things together and make it look more tidy!
-Shoe storage - If you have a closet in your entryway, thats amazing. If not, you need this basket! It has a lid thank Jesus! If there is some kind of storage closet to conceal the shoes, you’re lucky and please use that!
-Decor obviously! This can be as simple or as extravagant as you want. Just remember when you enter into your home, the first few things you see are going to set the tone. If its clutter and mess… that’s how you will feel. If its chic and organized.. that’s the vibe we’re going for.
KIDS TOYS
Let me start with this : I do not have kids and have no experience with this personally!! However some organization with toys comes to mind. A beautiful credenza, sideboard, or wardrobe/hutch. These furniture pieces could also be anywhere in your house, not just your kids rooms. I feel like teaching your child to like cleaning is super important. If they hear their parents complain about cleaning.. I feel like they would do the same. (Yes, I’m giving parenting advice with no children of my own.. lol don’t listen to me). ANYWAYS.
By storing all toys in a bin or basket, it makes it so easy for you OR your child to clean up. That bin will then go into a cabinet, credenza, whatever piece of furniture works best for you!
Here are some storage ideas.
MY TWO CENTS -
Take a weekend, and get super super organized. Use all the tips above that apply to you and your lifestyle. By establishing a home for everything, nothing should be out of place.
2. Spend 10 minutes a day “maintenance” cleaning. I like to do it either at night before bed or first thing in the morning. Just power through it and you will feel so much better. It’s like working out, you dont want to do it, but you feel so good after and you never regret doing it.
Play this game with yourself or your partner / roomie.
Me and Marcus do this sometimes and it is amazing! The game is
“whoever leaves ____ in the ____ looses and has to ____”.
Our version was “whoever leaves anything in the sink/kitchen looses and has to clean the floors”. Honestly our kitchen + sink stayed clean for like over two weeks. No one lost, and we both still have that mindset / habit. AND yes, I caved in and cleaned the floors anyway.
(Establish your rules right away or there will be a fight;)