Simple Systems for a Stress-Free Life
Life as a busy family is hectic enough without the added stress of clutter. Between work, school, activities, and everything in between, maintaining an organized home can feel impossible. But with the right systems in place, you can create a clutter-free home that practically runs itself. Here’s how to set up simple, effective organization strategies that will keep your home tidy and your stress levels low. The Nashville area is a destination spot for so many busy families so our work as professional organizers gives us a ton of experience creating simple and effective systems for our clients.
The Busy Family’s Guide to a Clutter-Free Home
1. Start with Family Decluttering Sessions
The first step to an organized home is decluttering. Set aside some time each week to tackle each area of your home together. Involve kids in decision-making by giving them choices about what to keep, donate, or toss. Make it fun with music and a reward at the end if you want! But also, make this a normal thing – not something special. Encourage the concept that it is not one persons job to tidy up after anyone else – that we are each responsible for our own spaces and belongings. Kids learn by watching more than they do by being told. If your habits demonstrate responsibility and tidiness, it is more likely they will pick up these habits. Even if they don’t want to…
Decluttering Tips:
- Use the "One-Year Rule" — if you haven’t used it in a year, it may be time to let it go.
- Gathering all of one items together in one place can be helpful in making decisions - if you have 20 of something but they are scattered all about - it's hard to know which to keep or let go.
- Designate a donation bin in a central location. Making it a game to find items to donate can encourage decluttering.
- Identify a person or place or charity that you can feel good about donating to - it'll help everyone feel that their items will be used and appreciated.
- Create a memory box for each family member. This helps keep memories from being damaged as well as from becoming clutter. We often use these weathertight totes for longer term memory storage.
- You know your kids best - if your child won't remember if things disappear, then organizing without them can work just fine. But if they have a memory like an elephant, then they need to be part of the process.
The Busy Family’s Guide to a Clutter-Free Home
2. Create Drop Zones for Everyday Item
A major source of clutter is the daily influx of items like mail, backpacks, and shoes. Set up designated drop zones near your entryway to keep things organized. However, this isn’t a ‘set it and forget it’ situation – it needs regular attention and action.
Drop Zone Essentials:
- Hooks for backpacks and jackets
- A system for incoming papers & mail
- Shoe storage (cubbies or a shoe rack) near the door
- A spot for packages/returns/things that go elsewhere
3. Implement the "10-Minute Tidy" Habit
At the end of each day, set a timer for 10 minutes and have everyone pitch in to put things back where they belong. This small habit prevents messes from piling up and makes a big difference in maintaining order.
The Busy Family’s Guide to a Clutter-Free Home
4. Make Storage Work for Your Family
Storage solutions should fit your family’s lifestyle and don’t have to necessarily be Pinterest worthy or overly granular. Use labeled bins, drawer organizers, and furniture with storage to keep things neat without extra effort. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the aesthetics to the detriment of function. We generally operate on a function first approach so while we always want things to look good – they really need to work.
Smart Storage Ideas:
- Clear bins for toys, so kids can see what they have. These 'Our Tidy Boxes' are one of our faves.
- Over-the-door organizers for shoes, accessories, or pantry items.
- Maximizing vertical space with shelving and wall hooks.
- Consider a rotating toy system where you swap toys in and out on a regular basis - old toys become 'new' again!
- Adding shelves to a closet can increase its storage capacity. You can add free standing shelves or have shelves added to an existing system.
- Create zones for items in the space they are actually being used like a hair bow drawer in the kitchen or a craft cart in the dining room. Any group of items that regularly make their way to another space probably means you need to give them a home in that space!
- Labels are your friends! We like to label all the things and getting the kids involved gives them ownership.
The Busy Family’s Guide to a Clutter-Free Home
5. Set Up Weekly Resets
Pick a day each week for a family reset. Go through common areas, put items back in place, and tidy up any clutter that has accumulated. This habit keeps things from spiraling out of control.
6. Maintain an "Incoming-Outgoing" Policy
For every new item that enters your home, make sure something else leaves. This prevents unnecessary buildup and helps maintain balance. This may not always be possible but for most categories it makes sense. It’s easy to get caught up in the dopamine hit of getting something new but also need to abide by the laws of physics in that there is only so much a single space can hold. If nothing ever leaves, trying to declutter is like an archaeological dig and can take about as long.
Pro Tip: One thing to be mindful of as parents is to not let your own enthusiasm about an activity or an item cause unnecessary clutter. Sometimes a child will express a mild interest and we go all out buying all the gear they’ll ever need. Then they lose interest and we have piles of stuff. Start small and let the kids push the issue if they need more to do the thing they love.
Kid Friendly Organizing
7. Get the Kids Involved
Teaching kids organization skills early helps set them up for success. Assign age-appropriate tasks and make organizing a part of their routine. Check out our recent blog post about how to use Montessori methods to help get kids space organized and How To Organize Your Playroom!
Kid-Friendly Organizing Ideas:
- Label bins with pictures for younger children.
- Give kids ownership over their spaces by letting them choose how to organize their toys or clothes.
- Set up dedicated zones for the interests like Legos or crafts.
A Clutter Free Home Starts With Help
8. Call in a Professional Organizer
Sometimes, even the best intentions aren’t enough to get your home in order. If you feel overwhelmed, a professional organizer can help you declutter, set up systems, and create a home that works for your family’s needs. For many families – getting a solid foundation of organized systems means that the ongoing maintenance is so much simpler!
Creating a clutter-free home doesn’t mean achieving perfection—it’s about setting up simple systems that make daily life easier. By decluttering, assigning designated spaces, and involving the whole family, you’ll create an organized home that reduces stress and brings more peace to your busy life. Need expert help? Contact us at A Fresh Space to set up organizing systems tailored to your family’s needs!
Check out some of our favorite kids organizing products below and our Amazon shop & curated list for great organizing ideas!
