tips for tiny home organization
Happy First day of December! I often get asked how I keep my house so clean. For one, it's not always clean. But for the most part, cleaning is a cinch when your house is already organized. I wanted to share a bit about my daily routine and about some helpful tips for organization. I have a pretty small house so organization is key to my family’s functionality. In fact, most new Mom's feel more accomplished when they are productive during the day, myself included. If you are a new Mom like I am, take time to find what works for you. We all operate on different schedules and therefore we can't make all the same rules. I hope you find some take-away’s from me!
Get a "To-Do" list
and write it out the night before. I always find cute journals and notepads at the dollar aisle at Target. Find a time during the day to write out tasks. My quiet time is often before bed so I write mine out then. This also helps me become more organized with my blog too.
Designate days
on a weekly calendar/agenda for "laundry" or "clean bathroom" so that tasks aren’t so daunting. I do my laundry on Mondays and Trader Joe's shopping list on Tuesdays... I also keep a meal plan on hand so that I can create a grocery list without forgetting an item.
Put things by like things
for example. Coffee mugs above the coffee machine or towels next to the shower. It seems like this is a no-brainer but even I have to remind myself sometimes.
Trash Simplified
Place a clean trash bag underneath the trash bin so a clean one is always there after the trash is thrown. Place a trash can in most rooms even if they are close to each other. I have one in the bathroom and one right outside the bathroom. But they both get used! It applies to Starbucks stores too.
Put toys away
in a cute basket near where they always fall. Mine is in the living room by the TV stand where most the toy traffic happens. This way, putting them away is a simple reach and even the babes can help put them back.
Wash dishes
right after meals to avoid overnight pile-ups. It's annoying but if you don’t have a dishwasher (I am the dishwasher at my house) the dishes can pile up to epic proportions. It's best to attack once you are done with a meal. When I cook, I also clean too so the mess is LESS.
Clean one room
or area a day. Make a day (like Saturday) an open day. Use this day to attack big tasks like a bi-yearly closet re-organization.
Shop at Ikea
They specialize in small spaces! I find inspiration in their catolog all the time. When in doubt, head to Ikea.com
Visit goodwill
if you have items you have not used in a year. Don’t just trash them! Recycling is best.
Find a focal point
in each room and make that area clean. The couch in the living room or the bed in the bedroom. This will make the room seem cleaner faster. Every morning I make my bed and I keep it clean. It's a great start to my day.
Less is mas
ALWAYS. So put those trinkets away. No one needs to see your jazz CD collection on display. Place those numerous items in bins inside the entertainment center. Focus on the things that are asthetically pleasing to the eye and showcase them!
There's a place for everything! Once you are organized, keep it that way! There is also time for breaks when organizing. Resting is essential to a clear mind. Especially with children in the picture. And speaking of little ones, get them working too! It might take longer but when my son Ace asks to help I let him. He feels useful and he learns what it means to help. What do you guys do to be organized? Any useful tips would be greatly reccomended! xoxo Kris
