Household Organization Tips

Let’s face it, life can be hectic and our good intentions for maintaining an organized home are often put aside so that we can focus on more pressing issues – like work, meal preparation, errands and chores. In light of this we’ve come up with a few tips and tricks to help you fend off disorganization and restore a sense of calm in your home.

1. Carefully plan and then execute. Tour your home room-by-room and take inventory. Usually hall closets, mudrooms, pantries and laundry rooms are the worst offenders. Once you have your hit list in place, use a site like Pinterest or Houzz for inspiration.

2. Clear it out and clean it. It’s a lot easier to organize when all of your junk and unwanted items have left the premises. Grab some garbage bags or storage bins and decide what can be donated and what should be tossed. Then give the space a thorough cleaning.

3. The perfect pantry. By using labelled clear glass containers for baking and dry bulk goods, such as flour, sugar, oats, rice, pasta you’ll avoid having to store lumpy, bulky bags and boxes, which will immediately give you more space. Remove packaged snacks like granola and breakfast bars from boxes and store in wire baskets. Sort and store crackers, cookies and large chip bags in fabric storage boxes. Hang a chalkboard inside your pantry to keep track of items you need to replenish. Label everything!

Excel Homes - Kimberley show home in MountainView, Okotoks

4. A lovely laundry. This is a room where you will likely spend quite a bit of time, so function is key. Install storage cabinets and/or wiring shelving with a drying bar for hanging clothes. If possible, add a countertop above your washer / dryer to use for folding clothes – or install a fold down shelf. Store fabric softener, stain remover, dryer sheets, etc. in fabric or wire baskets. Use a three-part laundry hamper to easily separate lights, darks and colours. Purchase a small folding rack for drying delicates.

5. A tidy manageable mudroom. Loose shoes, boots and bulky outerwear have a tendency to overtake mudrooms and entry closets. Start by organizing your gear into summer and winter and store anything that is off-season elsewhere. Purchase sleek, uniform hangers for coats and a large low format basket for each family member to store loose hats, scarves and mitts. Use a shoe rack and a plastic mat or pebbled filled tray to dry wet winter boots. Pegs are great for hanging purses and bags. If you have the space, add a bench and place storage boxes underneath for kids’ school and gym equipment.

Excel Homes - Kimberley show home in MountainView, Okotoks

“Organization isn’t about perfection; it’s about efficiency, reducing stress and clutter, saving time and money, and improving your overall quality of life” – Christina Scalis