Want to know the fastest way to increase productivity, de-stress, and boost your mood?
In case you skipped the title of this post, it’s pretty simple: Organize your home!
With the kids back in school and a little extra time on your hands, you may be looking around and surveying the toll that all the summer fun has taken on your house. If it’s time for a little sprucing, we’ve got some expert tips for organizing and beautifying that living space!
So, grab a pencil, jot down some notes, and get ready to turn your house into a heavenly sanctuary of carefully curated items, finely folded linens, and pretty toilet paper. (Not kidding about that last one. Read on and you’ll see what we mean.)
Create “flow and order” in your kitchen
You knew, you just knew there would be something from Joanna Gaines on this list, right? Well, you’re right. The incomparable co-owner and co-founder of the Magnolia network is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to home beautification tips. And what better place to start than the kitchen?
Here’s what the Magnolia blog suggests for creating “flow and order” in your cookin’ space:
“[L]ook around and note your most-visited cabinets, shelves, and prep zones. (If it helps, put a sticky note or piece of washi tape on those spots, so you can easily visualize your daily use.) Now consider what gets prime real estate but should actually take a back seat and any sections that feel overly crowded, mismatched, or too out of reach. (Mark those with a different tape or color.)”
Then you’ll follow these steps:
- Pull everything out of your cabinets. Toss your unused items in the trash or donation bin and relocate the things you don’t use as frequently. (The basement can house those seasonal dishes, perhaps.)
- Put daily use items up front and on top wherever possible. Store things like baking sheets, pans, cutting boards, and trays vertically.
- Keep daily essentials within arm’s reach. (Cutting boards, olive oil, salt and pepper, etc.)
- Add a dash of beauty. Throw in something that makes you smile, like a potted plant, a glass soap dispenser, or a rustic chair.
- Use drawer dividers to maximize storage space.
A few simple tweaks like these will have you feeling ready to dance in the kitchen again!
Use this space-saving item in your bathroom
Martha Stewart is like the OG domestic lifestyle guru, so you bet she can offer some great advice on organizing your living space. If you’re looking for one simple way to save space and beautify your bathroom, her design team has a genius hack for you: invest in a good shaker peg rail. According to their blog, here’s why it’s a good idea:
“Using a peg rail means everything is on display. The key to maintaining organization is to select objects that are functional-yet-attractive, like opting for a beautiful wooden bath brush instead of one made of neon plastic. Aim for a minimalist, clean look by housing the less attractive items in visually appealing containers. For example, removing toilet paper from its plastic packaging and placing it in a pretty cloth basket makes it display-worthy.
The other thing you should hang on your shaker peg? A touch of greenery. Pick something that does well in high humidity, like jasmine or aloe vera. It keeps things pretty and purifies the air — which is always a good idea in a bathroom!
Streamline your makeup routine by cleaning out the beauty drawer
You know who knows a thing or two about organization? The dynamic duo of Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, stars of the popular Netflix series “Get Organized with the Home Edit.” (Warning: Watch this at your own risk. Once the organization bug bites ya, there’s no going back.)
These gals are pros at tackling every area in the house, but here are their tips for organizing beauty products:
“The first step (per usual) is to remove every item you own and group them into categories. Next, go ahead and toss anything that looks old because, ew, bacteria. Any duplicates or products you never use should be on the chopping block. Just remember: If you keep them, they are only taking up space for the items you actually *do* use.”
Once you’ve pared things down to your faves, put all your beauty go-to’s in an easy-to-reach space. Even better if you can use storage dividers to keep everything separate.
(And if you’re looking to revamp your makeup supply with high-quality beauty products, we can help you out with that, too. ;))
Keep the bedroom clean and cozy
Aside from the kitchen, the bedroom is probably the next most important room you’ll want to keep nice and orderly. If you really want to rest easy at night, follow these bedroom organization tips from the experts at HGTV:
- Store clothing, bedding, and other items under the bed in rollout drawers. (Bonus tip: If this clothing is wrinkle-free, you don’t even have to worry about folding it. You’re welcome.)
- Save space with a shoe rack. (This way you won't have to toss your favorite pairs.)
- Put your jewelry in a drawer if your collection has outgrown its box.
- Create a reading nook. Get a nice comfy chair and a small shelf for books to place in the corner. If you prefer to read in bed, keep a small bookcase by your bedside.
- Make your bed every day!
“If you spend three minutes each morning to tuck and fold, you'll develop a habit of keeping order in the room, which may translate into motivation for picking up the pile of clothes on the floor,” writes HGTV’s Caren Baginski.
You can find more organization tips for your home and office on the HGTV blog!
Get Brigitte’s FREE Daily Productivity Page
All right, we’ve given you a few actionable tips for home organization, but if you really want to seize the day and stay on top of things, it all starts with organizing your thoughts. Having a clean kitchen, bedroom, or bathroom won’t matter much if you feel like you’re constantly running around with your head cut off every day.
To help you get in the habit of organizing your daily routine, we’ve got a super easy-to-use and game-changing tool: Brigitte’s FREE productivity page! As a busy momma of four, a wife, and a business owner, Brig has learned to fine-tune her routine to make sure that all the important stuff gets done every day — and it’s SO simple.
“The key to success happens in the things you do daily. There will never be enough time to do everything but there is always enough time to do the most important things. This page will help you to prioritize and practice being efficient with your time and multiply your focus. Being consistent with this will give you a return that will be immeasurable. I know this has been true for me so I wanted to share it with all of you. I made this product FREE because I can't put a value on helping those I love to feel accomplished and happy with their life. I hope it helps you in your busy days as much as it has me.” — Brigitte
Get Brig’s free productivity page right now and see what a difference it can make when you start owning your day.
Happy organizing!