Life gets overwhelming. After a stressful day at work, the last thing you want to end your day with is a stressful home. Through my experience, these are 6 tips that have worked wonders when it comes to managing the home!
1. Simplify Storage
Toys:
- Declutter: Sort through toys and keep only those that are frequently played with or hold sentimental value. Donate or discard the rest.
- Storage solutions: Invest in storage bins, baskets, or shelves to keep toys organized and easily accessible. Label containers for easy identification.
- Rotating toys: Consider rotating toys to keep playtime fresh and prevent clutter buildup. Store unused toys out of sight and swap them out periodically.
Cabinet:
- Declutter regularly: Regularly go through cabinets and drawers to remove items that are expired, broken, or no longer used. Only keep items that serve a purpose or bring joy.
- Utilize vertical space: Install shelves or organizers inside cabinets to maximize vertical storage space. This can help prevent items from getting lost in the back of the cabinet.
- Group similar items: Keep similar items together to create a sense of order and make it easier to find what you need.
Decor:
- Less is more: Embrace minimalism by choosing a few statement pieces rather than cluttering surfaces with numerous decorations. Opt for quality over quantity.
- Functional decor: Choose decor items that serve a dual purpose, such as decorative baskets for storage or wall-mounted shelves for both display and organization.
- Rotate seasonally: Rotate decor items seasonally to keep your space feeling fresh without overwhelming it with too many decorations.
Clothing:
- Closet audit: Take inventory of your clothing and donate or sell items you no longer wear or need. Keep only what fits well, is in good condition, and aligns with your personal style.
- Capsule wardrobe: Create a capsule wardrobe by selecting a limited number of versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create various outfits. This simplifies getting dressed and reduces decision fatigue.
- Smart storage: Organize clothing by category (e.g., tops, bottoms, outerwear) and use space-saving solutions such as slim hangers, drawer dividers, and under-bed storage containers.
2. Pick Up As You Go
Picking up things as you go about your day is a fantastic habit to maintain a tidy and organized home without feeling overwhelmed by cleaning tasks. You can incorporate this into your routine by having designanted storage spots, set a short timer, make it a habit, reward yourself, or involve your family!
3. Cleaning Routine
Determine which tasks need to be done daily, weekly, monthly, or seasonally. Make a list of all the cleaning tasks that need to be done in each room of your home. Break down tasks into categories such as dusting, vacuuming, mopping, laundry, and decluttering.
Set aside specific days or times each week for different cleaning tasks. For example, you might designate Mondays for vacuuming, Tuesdays for dusting, and so on. Consistency is key to staying on track.
Life can be unpredictable, so be prepared to adjust your cleaning schedule as needed. If you miss a day or fall behind on tasks, don’t stress—simply pick up where you left off and continue moving forward.
4. Reduce Decor
Go through your home and assess each decor item. Keep only those that you truly love or that hold significant sentimental value. Donate or sell items that no longer serve a purpose or bring you joy.
Keep surfaces clear of clutter by limiting the number of items you display. Opt for multi-functional decor pieces that serve a purpose, such as decorative trays or baskets for corralling smaller items.
5. Managing Kid’s Papers & Mail
Choose a specific area in your home to serve as the designated landing spot for incoming mail and papers. This could be a tray, basket, or wall-mounted organizer near the entryway or in a home office.
As soon as you bring in the mail, take a few minutes to sort through it. Separate items into categories such as bills, important documents, junk mail, and items that require action. If you receive any time-sensitive items such as bills or invitations, open them and address them right away. This prevents them from getting lost or forgotten in a pile of papers.
6. Laundry
Set specific days or times each week for doing laundry and stick to it. Consistency is key to staying on top of the task. Sort as you go by placing separate laundry hampers or baskets in your home for different types of laundry, such as whites, colors, and delicates.
Instead of letting laundry pile up until you have a mountain of clothes to wash, aim to do smaller loads more frequently. This makes the task feel more manageable and prevents you from feeling overwhelmed.
Which task do you struggle with the most? Comment down below!
Check out my last post here on becoming a minimal mom.
