Quick DIY Organization Hacks for Busy Families

Have you been struggling to keep the house organized with a hectic family schedule? We've got you covered with some ingenious DIY house organization hacks designed specifically for busy families. From quick and easy storage solutions to clever ways of taming your common spaces, these tips will hopefully help you transform chaotic spaces.

Let’s explore everything from bedroom bliss to kitchen and pantry organization. Plus, we'll share our favorite [DIY projects](https://parentingmessyandunscripted.beehiiv.com/t/DIY Family Projects) for keeping those loose papers and charging cords under control. Before you know it, maintaining a tidy home amidst the hustle and bustle will become second nature.

Key Takeaways:

• Effective hacks for organizing bedrooms, kitchens, and living areas

• Quick DIY projects for tackling clutter in bathrooms and laundry

• Simple strategies to keep paperwork and tech organized

Setting the Stage for Organization

Before getting into specific organization hacks, it's important that we lay a solid foundation. This involves understanding the different areas of your home, setting up a central hub for all activities, and clearing out unnecessary clutter.

Understanding the Zones

First, you need to think of your home in terms of zones. Each zone has a specific purpose, be it cooking, relaxing, or working. By defining these zones clearly, you can make sure everything has a place.

For instance, the kitchen has zones for cooking, cleaning, and food storage. Labeling these areas with clear tags can help everyone know exactly where things belong. By using simple labels or even color-coded stickers, you can make organization a breeze.

It's also super helpful to involve the whole family in this process- yes, even the little ones! When everyone understands the zones and contributes to maintaining them, it will keep your home running so much more smoothly.

Creating a Command Center

This may be a little different for you, but a ‘command center’ is the heart of an organized home. It's the go-to spot for schedules, keys, mail, and other daily essentials. Ours is the first counter in our kitchen next to the fridge.

Use a large, magnetic whiteboard to post important dates and reminders. Adding hooks for keys and small baskets for mail can help keep everything in one place.

Since we are in the digital age, syncing calendars and to-do lists on apps to stay on top of things can be huge! We like to use a shared calendar with our iPhones but there are tons of apps out there. By centralizing all our must-have info in one place, we can streamline our daily routines and actions.

The Art of Decluttering

Decluttering is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. The key is to start small and stay consistent. Begin with a single drawer or corner of a room. Sort items into three boxes: keep, donate, and toss.

Focus on what you truly need and use. It’s easier to maintain order in a space with fewer items. Set aside a specific time each week for mini tidying sessions to tackle different areas.

Decluttering also boosts motivation! A tidy space can reduce stress and create a more comfortable and functional living environment. So, definitely get rid of those old magazines and clothes you haven't worn in years!

Bedroom Bliss

Getting the bedrooms organized makes a world of difference in creating a less stressful environment. By focusing on practical storage solutions and clever hacks, you can maintain a tidy and tranquil space even amidst a busy family life.

Maximizing Closet Space

Closets are one of the first places to become chaotic, but with a few strategic changes, you could make the most out of every inch. Hanging organizers are a lifesaver for stacking shoes, scarves, and handbags neatly. We use dual-level rods to double the hanging space for clothes, especially for kids' shorter items.

Drawer dividers help us keep small items like socks, underwear, and ties orderly. For seasonal clothes, using space-saver vacuum bags means reducing clutter and free up more room. Lastly, consider adding shelf dividers to keep piles of clothes from toppling over and creating designated spaces for bags or hats.

Nightstand Necessities

Our nightstands often end up cluttered with random items. All we need are the essentials: a lamp, a good book, and perhaps some bedside water. Usually by morning there’s a diaper, bottle or pacifier crowding it up. But to keep smaller items organized, you could try a desk organizer or a small tray.

If your nightstand has drawers, drawer dividers work wonders for keeping items like phone chargers, reading glasses, and notepads in their own spaces. For those of you who like to keep your phones charged overnight, a multi-device charging station tucked neatly on or under the nightstand can help declutter the cord situtions.

Kids' Rooms and Play Areas

Keeping the kids' rooms and play areas tidy honestly seems impossible most days, but we’ve found a few simple hacks that have helped make it manageable. Toy bins or baskets have been our go-to for quick clean-ups- this has made it easier for our 3 year old daughter to help out. To help introduce reading, we just recently labeled the baskets so stay tuned if we think this has helped!

Bookshelves with cubby holes are perfect for storing books and small toys. To tackle the chaos of small items like action figures or building blocks, clear roll-out containers under the bed provide an accessible but hidden storage option. Labels can help kids know where things go, turning tidying up into a fun and easy task.

Kitchen and Pantry Organization

Containerize Your Kitchen

One of the best ways we have kept our kitchen tidy is by using containers. Clear containers have been our best friends! We store dry goods like flour, sugar, and pasta in these, and usually throw some of our daughter’s snacks in others for her to grab from. We love matching containers so everything looks clean and uniform.

Adding labels to our containers can turn us into organization wizards. Knowing exactly where everything goes saves so much time. You can use labels like "flour," "sugar," and "snacks" to keep everything clear. We personally ordered some chalkboard ones off of Amazon that have worked great!

Another great idea is incorporating a lazy susan in your kitchen cupboards or on the countertops. It’s perfect for fiddly condiments or spice jars. You could even neatly display your coffee mugs + spoons for a super cute and organized look.

For drawers, definitely look into drawer dividers. These keep utensils, knives, and other kitchen tools organized and easily accessible. It’s all about making our space work for you, not the other way around.

Perfect Pantry Solutions

The reality is that in order to create a functional pantry, you need to start with a bit of organization. You can put the healthiest snacks at eye level so they’re the first things you and the littles see. This absolutely encourages healthier eating habits without much effort.

Using shelf organizers can utilize vertical space efficiently. Stackable shelves will allow you to store canned goods, jars, and boxed products without wasting valuable space. It's all about maximizing what you have!

With placing a lazy susan here can again come in handy, especially for items like oils and vinegar or sauces. It keeps everything accessible and visible, cutting down the time spent rummaging through clutter.

You can try grouping similar items together in baskets or bins under categories like “breakfast,” “baking,” or “snacks” - keeping things streamlined.

Living Areas: Taming the Common Spaces

Let's tackle the common living spaces where you probably spend most of your time. It's crucial to have efficient systems in place for handling everyday items, like mail, magazines, and entertainment essentials.

Dealing with Daily Mail and Magazines

We all know how quickly mail and magazines can pile up. One way to stay on top of it is by using a wall-mounted organizer with slots for incoming and outgoing mail. This keeps everything off the counter and easy to access.

Another smart tip is to designate a basket or decorative bin for magazines. By regularly decluttering our magazine collection and keeping only the latest issues, you’ll prevent that overflow and maintain a neat space.

Action Plan:

• Install a wall-mounted organizer.

• Use a basket for magazines.

• Regularly declutter the collection.

Organizing Entertainment Items

It's easy for remote controls, game controllers, and any other entertainment items to get scattered throughout the living room. We found that this issue was solved by getting a decorative tray or a small basket for under the TV. You could even place it on the coffee table if you toddlers won’t pick them up and misplace them.

For a more extensive storage suggestion, consider getting an entertainment center with built-in cabinets or shelves. These units hide away larger items and keep everything organized.

Bathroom and Laundry Strategies

Let's talk about some handy tricks to keep the bathrooms and laundry rooms tidy and functional. These strategies focus on optimizing your medicine cabinets and improving your efficiency when dealing with laundry.

Medicine Cabinet Mastery

A well-organized medicine cabinet can save loads of time and reduce stress when you’re in a rush or panic. First, definitely try declutter every few months. Toss out expired medications and items you no longer use.

Consider using small containers, bins or zipper bags to categorize items like beauty products, first-aid supplies, and daily medications. This makes everything easy to spot without rummaging around. Adding labels can also help, especially if other family members are reaching for items they might not use daily.

A fun tip we loved when we heard this was installing magnetic strips on the inside of the cabinet door to hold metal items like tweezers, bobby pins, and small scissors. Genius, right?!

Laundry Room Efficiency

Getting the laundry room to be efficient starts with your layout and storage solutions. Wall-mounted racks and shelves can keep space clear and provide spots for laundry essentials. Hanging a pegboard is another great way to store tools like lint rollers, fabric sprays, and extra coat hangers.

For dirty laundry, definitely look into using sorting hampers or baskets labeled by color or washing temperature. This will help keep clothes pre-sorted, cutting down that prep time. Some days we have absolutely just dumped it and left but we try to keep those days limited ha.

Another little hack is attaching zip ties to the handles of brooms and mops to easily hang them from hooks, taking advantage of those built-in handle holes which usually go unused- there’s products out there that are pretty inexpensive too! We can also add a wall-mounted mailbox to hold items such as missing socks or stray loose change found in pockets.

Don't forget to use baskets to separate detergents and cleaning supplies, which prevents bottle clutter and makes it easy to grab what we need.

Organizational Tools and DIY Projects

You can tackle home organization with some easy and creative DIY projects while using practical tools. These ideas can help make the most out of your space without breaking the bank.

Using Pegboards and Hooks

Pegboards are a versatile option for organizing various items in almost any room. You can hang them on a wall and arrange hooks to hold tools, kitchen utensils, or even craft supplies. For the kitchen, pegboards can keep your utensils and pots within easy reach.

For an entryway, pegboards can hold keys, scarves, and bags. Combined with a small shelf or two, they provide a perfect spot for those last-minute items we need before heading out the door.

DIY Storage Solutions

Getting creative with DIY storage projects can be both fun and functional. You can start with something as simple as repurposing a cardboard box. With a little bit of fabric or paint, you can turn it into a chic storage bin for toys, shoes, or seasonal clothing.

Using an old pallet, you can build a sturdy storage solution for the garage or garden. Pallets can be disassembled and reconfigured into shelving units or even a potting bench.

Drawer organizers can make a huge difference, too. Simple dividers made from cardboard or plastic can keep our kitchen, bathroom, or office drawers clutter-free. You can label each section to make it even easier to find what you're looking for.

Tech and Paperwork: Organizing the Intangibles

In our busy lives, managing digital clutter and keeping track of important papers can be overwhelming. This is where we'll share some practical tips to tackle these issues efficiently, making our everyday tasks smoother and stress-free and hopefully yours as well!

Digital Decluttering

Let's start by addressing our overflowing email inboxes. A good habit is to unsubscribe from newsletters and promotions you no longer read. This helps prevent unnecessary emails piling up.

Another useful tip is to schedule specific times to check and respond to emails. This way, your inbox can stay manageable without constant interruptions.

For all your devices, organize your apps into folders based on their functionality, making navigation simpler. For example, grouping all social media apps together.

Try regularly reviewing and deleting unused apps, photos, and files to free up space. For important documents, utilizing cloud storage solutions, like Google Drive or Dropbox, keeps everything accessible and secure.

Paperwork Prioritization

Managing physical paperwork involves setting up an efficient filing system. We use labeled folders to categorize documents such as bills, medical records, and legal papers and place them in a little filing cabinet. Keeping these folders in a dedicated space makes locating important papers quick and easy.

A calendar system can help remind you of key dates and deadlines. Whether digital or paper-based, it ensures that due dates for bills and appointments are not forgotten.

It's also a good idea to go paperless wherever possible. Requesting digital statements and invoices can significantly reduce the amount of paper we need to manage. Periodically reviewing and discarding outdated documents helps maintain an uncluttered workspace.

Maintaining Your Organized Home

Keeping your home organized isn't a one-time task—it's all about daily maintenance and small habits. Let's get into a few simple ways we can keep things tidy and manageable.

Stay on Top of Tidying

A quick five-minute tidy-up can make a massive difference. Pick up stray items, straighten pillows, and put things back in their place. These little efforts prevent clutter from piling up.

Create a To-Do List

A to-do list helps keep us on track. Scribble down daily or weekly tasks like laundry, dishwashing, and dusting. It's super satisfying to check off completed items! We like to break up the tasks for specific days so we don’t feel so overwhelmed.

Use DIY Organizing Solutions

We don’t always need to buy expensive organizers. Reusing jars for storing small items, repurpose boxes as drawer dividers, or use hooks to hang keys and bags. These home organization hacks are chefs kiss.

Routine Cleaning

Establishing a routine for cleaning specific areas helps. Maybe Monday is for bathrooms, Tuesday for the kitchen. It distributes the load and keeps everything consistently fresh.

Paperless Solutions

Switching to digital files for bills and important documents can cut down on paper clutter. Scan papers you need to keep, then recycle the originals.

Quick Maintenance Tasks

• Laundry: Put it away as soon as it’s done.

• Dishwasher: Load it right after meals.

• Garbage: Take it out before it overflows.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve put together some practical questions and answers to help you keep your busy family home organized, all while making it easy and fun for everyone.

What are some quick tips for keeping a family home tidy on a daily basis?

We find that staying on top of small tasks makes a huge difference. Put laundry away right after it's dry and load the dishwasher after each meal. Little actions like these prevent clutter build-up.

Can you suggest some clever storage solutions for small spaces with kids?

Try using vertical storage like wall-mounted shelves for toys and books. Under-bed storage bins are perfect for keeping things out of sight yet within reach for the kids.

How do I create an easy-to-follow organization system for my family’s busy schedule?

Color-code a wall calendar or planner where each family member has a specific color. This makes it super simple to see who has what activities each day.

What's the best way to motivate the whole family to help with organizing our home?

Turn it into a game! Set a timer for a family clean-up challenge and see who can put the most items away in a short time. Giving small rewards can also boost everyone's enthusiasm.

Are there any simple DIY projects that can help organize multiple rooms in my house?

Absolutely! You can create DIY desk organizers using repurposed containers or make a charging station for electronics.

What are some affordable organizing hacks for parents working from home?

Use inexpensive drawer dividers and baskets from the dollar store to keep office supplies organized. Keep your work area clutter-free with a DIY cord organizer.