How to Keep Your Home (mostly) Tidy and (relatively) Organized Everyday

Here are a few tips and ideas for creating a more peaceful, orderly home:

Designate a “Clean Zone”– claim a place that you will always try to keep neat…I selected my family room, kitchen area- I try to maintain a sense of order and calm here so if guests pop in it looks neat…just don’t open my bedroom door or go upstairs or look under my bed!

Designate a “Disaster Zone”– find a place where you can stash stuff until you have time to permanently put it away, this space should not be a “public” area (did I mention my bedroom, or under my bed!?)

Designate a “Drop Spot”- create a place to drop shoes, bags, keys, mail, etc…near your main entrance- like a mud room, laundry room, back hall or closet…this will help keep the main areas of your home more neat AND you will always know where to find your keys when leaving the house!

Designate a “Tidy Time”- take a few minutes each evening before bed, and periodically throughout the day to do a walk-through and straighten up so you can enjoy a clutter-free area.  To make it easier, grab a large tote or basket to throw items in until you have time to sort them and put them away.  

Decide to “Make Peace”– When all else fails, give yourself some grace…and learn to make peace with the “stuff” of life!  Sometimes we simply don’t have the time or the energy to keep the house neat- so let it go and enjoy your “comfortably cluttered” home!

Remember, all it takes is a few minutes a day to stay on top of clutter…but if you let it go too long, the task is more daunting!