Home Organization: Your Ultimate Guide
Turn every room into an inviting, functional space with our signature whole-home approach.
Building an organization system that sticks is no easy task. Whether you're running around after kids or stuck at the office, the last thing you want at the end of the day is a cleaning marathon.
Want to know a secret? The key to keeping things manageable and clean throughout the day starts with a little bit of strategy.
Every client at Graceful Spaces Organizing works with us to create a custom plan for their home that pairs function and their unique passions and personality. We feel that enjoying your space should be a simple pleasure.
To help you recreate that same experience in your own home, we've put our top organization and cleaning resources in one place. So read on for the ultimate guide to organizing your whole house room by room.
Whether you tackle one room or every room, making the time to dig deep and look at how your home functions can produce incredible results. Your family is set up to work as a team. Your space will feel warm and welcoming. And, most importantly, you will have more time to spend on the things and people you love.
Ready to dive in? We can't wait to help you make all your organizing dreams come true.
Organization ideas for the mudroom/entryway
Whether it's your front door or back mudroom, entryways are high-traffic areas that tend to get messy quickly. The key here is to be as deliberate as possible with your storage, so the space is functional and easy to move through.
Every item needs to have a purposeful home. Use labels to keep things organized— even if it's a temporary drop zone (you'll want to schedule a day of the week to clear these out, so nothing gets too out of hand).
When organizing these zones, consider who uses that particular door. For instance, you might want to store the bulk of your items near the back door where you go to and from the car, while keeping the front door less cluttered to make an excellent first impression for guests.
For more ideas, check out these posts:
MAKE IT LAST
Get into a routine of putting shoes, bags, and coats away right when you walk through the door. This cuts down on time spent searching for items the following day, plus your floors will thank you! If your mudroom starts looking cluttered, consider putting seasonal items in seasonal storage (baskets or bins that are not as easily accessible and out of everyday zones - think high shelves, attics, or a storage closet) and only bringing them out when needed.
Organization ideas for the living room, den, or playroom
One of the most "lived-in" areas of your home and community spaces like the den or playroom are a magnet for messes.
This is a perfect opportunity to bring the kids on board. Giving them a routine or daily tasks doesn't just keep things tidy— it sets the foundation for a lifetime of good cleaning habits. You'll want to create storage solutions, labels, and play zones with their abilities in mind.
Create weekly routines that bring the space back to "perfect." This allows us to see again that everything has a home, teaches our children habits of tidying up regularly, and gives us a sense of peace.
The name of the game here is function. A place that encourages play and togetherness is sure to be the most popular room in the house. Be sure to use block font or pictures for all labels!
No space? Consider adding shelving or intentional baskets. When you love the way an area looks, you are more likely to keep it up!
For more ideas, check out these posts:
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/toy-storage-for-all-the-things
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/organizing-ideas-for-a-play-filled-playroom
MAKE IT LAST
Get the kids involved from the start. If you have young children, use pictures or colors to identify where things go. Older children might want to be more hands-on during the initial process of determining what goes where.
Organization ideas for the kitchen
A well-managed kitchen and pantry make such a difference in your home. It's so important that we dedicated an entire guide to organizing your kitchen.
To help prevent the natural build-up of clutter, be strategic about what you bring into the space. Consolidate your tupperware collection into one style (preferably stackable). To prevent overflowing junk drawers, use organizational inserts to make all contents visible and easy to grab.
The kitchen is one of the top areas where we find unused items taking up ample space. It's all about thinking through what you need most in the room and making it readily available.
Head on over for an in-depth look at kitchen organization, or check out one of the posts below:
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/ceomethod
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/simplifythekitchen
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/2019/7/24/5-top-ways-to-save-space-in-your-kitchen
MAKE IT LAST
Don't be afraid to tweak your layout every once in a while. The kitchen hosts lots of family activities, so, naturally, your needs might change. If you find yourself using specific tools more than others, bring them closer and put occasional-use gadgets up high.
Afraid you might lose something up high? Consider taping a note on the inside cabinet door listing the items you have placed in the higher cabinet.
Organization ideas for the bedroom
Create the bedroom oasis you deserve by surrounding yourself with the essentials you need and details you love. Start with how you move around in the space. Are you able to easily access closets and other doors? Are you always searching for somewhere to place something?
Treat these observations as helpful clues to where things should live in the room. If you're drowning in clutter, try putting things you don't need elsewhere to make the bedroom as calming and comfortable as possible.
Always use drawer organizers to create clear categories and make it a weekly routine to remove anything that is not being used.
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/10-things-to-do-to-get-better-organized-today
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/2019/7/25/what-professional-organizers-wish-you-knew
MAKE IT LAST
Brainstorm with your kids before tackling their rooms to get a clear idea of what they use most often. If they are involved in the planning process, it's a lot easier for children to take ownership of their space and keep things tidy.
We love to add a memory bin and a treasure drawer to every bedroom. It allows keeping items that may be important and creates a physical boundary that contains and limits what can be "special."
Organization tips for the bathroom
The most important thing to remember when tackling bathroom organization is how it fits into your family's routine. For example, does everyone get ready at the same time? Do you have separate bathrooms for different people?
Once you know who uses the space, organize toiletries and other items by how frequently they're needed. Daily and weekly items should be easy to grab, while monthly or occasional products can be more tucked away.
Low on space? Consider keeping bulk items such as cleaners, TP, extra towels or sheets, and overflow toiletries in an area such as a laundry room, garage shelf or hall closet that is less accessible. This will allow your daily items to be easy to grab and less cluttered or shoved.
For more tips on how to transform your bathroom into the serene space of your dreams, read on:
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/simplebathroomorganization
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/5-ways-to-master-your-master-bath
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/the-secret-to-sustaining-your-organized-bathroom
Short on space or Renting? Read this article from apartmentguide.com with tips from the pros (including graceful spaces!) for creating a spa in your apartment bathroom:
https://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/bathroom-spa-in-your-apartment/
MAKE IT LAST
Avoid clutter by implementing the "one in, one out" rule with your products. Regularly examine toiletries to identify expiring or empty items, and swap them out as you go. If you love to buy in bulk, store extras elsewhere or with occasional-use items.
Hate parting with things? Consider the financial investment made in comparison to the space (and emotional energy) it's taking up. Low ticket items will surprise you!
Give yourself the gift of time
The best kind of organization comes from daily and weekly habits that fit seamlessly into your family's routine. Once you've done the hard work of arranging your things around how they're used, tidying up becomes intuitive and straightforward.
But you don't have to do it alone.
While we believe everyone can become organized, working with a professional on your initial strategy can be a huge timesaver.
Whether you're looking for DIY courses or a 1:1 experience, our home organizing team will work with you to create a plan tailored to your home and your family's unique needs.
Because we believe that tidy spaces give you more energy to spend with the ones you love— and isn't that what it's all about?
So take a deep breath, give yourself grace, and dive in.
You've got this!
— Team Graceful Spaces
Psst— looking for inspiration? Follow us on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.
You can also check out Austin client home tours on our blog:
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/the-perfectly-posh-home-tour
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/the-radiant-residence-home-tour
https://graceful-spaces.com/blog/the-top-8-projects-of-2020
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