As school starts, I almost have a sense of nesting in our home. After the fun of summer, it is time for everything to get restocked, sorted and find its place. This makes the days that are chock full to the brim run so much smoother. I want to share a few things that I do this time of year to help our home serve us well.
I started by getting rid of all the things that have piled up throughout the summer. Trash bags were filled as we went through the rooms of our home. It was amazing what hadn’t even been touched since the kids ended the school year! I think both of them still had things in their backpacks!! Papers, trash, receipts and old broken items were all trashed!
Next, we went through the drawers and closets, especially with growing kids. Before we did any back to school shopping, we donated the things that no longer fit or are worn. It felt good to take the trunk load to one of our favorite local charities so someone else can use it! Also, I set a record for actually taking the stuff out of my trunk the same day I loaded it in there! If you know, you know!!
Next, we put all the things away closets and storage. I like to buy cute baskets for toy storage, sheets and random items. This helps keep a cohesive look in our home while tucking some of the things that don’t match out of sight. Legos, card games, fish tank supplies, and random cords are all stashed beautifully in plain sight!
Our next step is making space. We designate a drop zone for ALL.THE.THINGS!! If you have a mudroom in your home, you know how valuable that space is because you have hooks, baskets and space.
We do not have a mudroom, so I have to be a bit more creative. I started by putting a row of hooks by both the front door and the garage door. This creates a home for coats, dog leashes, hats and bags. We have a spot in the hallway for the kids to hang their backpacks as well. In the kitchen, above the junk drawer, we have a little spot for mail, keys, random items in a basket and a charging station for the phones.
The last step for me was getting our pantry and refrigerator cleaned out and restocked. Quick breakfast options and easy to make, healthy school lunch items were top priority. We looked for everything that had gone bad or was expired and got rid of it. We took stock of what we had and what needed to be restocked. I also took items off of shelves and wiped them off. When I put everything away, I was able to organize it to allow for good meals and snacking options to be the most visible.
It isn’t the easiest tasks, but the impact pays off big time. Now, my home is organized and works well for our family as we are getting out the door each day for work and school.
Take some time to tackle each one of these projects over the next few weeks. You will be amazed at the sense of peace your home brings to your family!
As always, we believe that owning a home improves the quality of your life. If you don’t own your own home yet, we would love to help you create a plan towards home ownership. And if you have a home that just doesn’t work for you anymore, it would be a pleasure to help you get into the home that allows you to live your best life! Just send us a message and we will get you on the calender!
