When it comes to organizing, a little can go a long way in making your home function better.

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing instead if you focus on these three spaces you’ll feel the most relief and get the biggest return.

Kitchen

They say the kitchen is the heart of the home and honestly an organized kitchen makes everything easier, from meal planning and prep to packing lunches and easier mornings- hello breakfast stress. The focus is giving everything a home so that kids can be more independent and you and your partner can see at a glance what’s needed at any given time.

Create zones:

Before you take everything out, make a plan. Think about how you want your kitchen to function, is there often more than one person in there at a time? Do you need to have a coffee zone and a lunch prep zone happening at the same time?. What tools are needed where? Focus on functionality, not where they’ve always been. ie) Dishes and cutlery should be close to the dishwasher to make that process as easy as possible. Spices and oils should be next to the stove for ease when cooking. Kids' dishes and lunch bags should be accessible to them. Heavy appliances should be close to where you’d use it and easy to lift. Also consider where things will fit, adjust shelves or add risers, stacking racks and drawer dividers to give everything a “home”.

Declutter:

Now that you have a plan it’s time to take everything out. Let go of the things you don’t love or use, limit the number of water bottles and mugs to realistic numbers. Do you really need all the jars you save “just in case” Donate the food you know you won’t eat to the food bank.

Food storage:

Whether you have a pantry or you store food in the cupboards you need to be able to see what you have to eliminate food waste. There’s nothing worse than getting back from the grocery store with pantry staples, only to realize you already had them hiding in the back. For deep cupboards, bins and turntables or pull out shelves will be your best friend. If you have a lot of vertical space, get risers and racks so you can see all that you have.

Entryway

This one's pretty obvious but in my experience if the entryway or mudroom is functional, life is easier. Nothing derails a morning faster than an argument because you can’t find what you need to get out the door on time. Entryways can become cluttered easily with shoes, bags, mail and papers, sports equipment etc. The key to an organized entryway is having drop zones and functional storage.

Kid zones:

Give the space that’s needed. If your kids do multiple activities, create space for that; it could be baskets, hooks for bags, or a cabinet that keeps things together. The key is being realistic about what you need and allow for that space. Also, make it their level. And create a routine around it. There are always times where you’ll have to remind them, but once habits are formed it will be much easier, also do what works for them, if they always forget socks in the morning, add a basket at the entrance. Make your life easier by anticipating their needs.

Mail:

Create a sorting system, have an organizer by your front door and as soon as it fills up (or schedule one day a week to sort it) go through it and file it away. This also works for those paper things that come home from school. Another idea is to go paperless whenever possible.

Bags:

This one can get overwhelming quickly if you change bags regularly, but a hook for the bag is a great way to keep it out of the way but accessible.

Shoes:

Don’t let the shoes take over. Add shelves, baskets or containers to divide up the shoes and keep them under control. Or if you’re like me and have many pairs, keep some in the primary closet, try to limit what’s in the entryway so it isn’t so cluttered.

Coats:

Similar to shoes, sometimes it’s good to limit the number of coats in the closet. Stick with the ones that are seasonally appropriate and rotate with a storage area to keep it easy.

Keys:

A hook for each person to make it easy. Cute hooks are a bonus

Accessories:

Baskets are always a good idea. Winter is long in Canada and there’s nothing worse than losing a glove along the way. Have a basket per person, or if you’re a sharing family, have a basket for hats, one for mitts and one for scarves.

Bedrooms

Your bedroom should be a sanctuary, peaceful and calm but more often than not they become a dumping ground filled with clothes that have been outgrown, unread books, and laundry yet to be put away.

A place for everything, and everything in its place:

Every item in your bedroom should belong in its own organized space. Keep the items on the nightstand to a minimum, and leave everything else hidden in organized drawers.

Hotel at home:

Make your bedroom feel like a luxury boutique hotel. Add mood lighting, flowers or a candle and luxurious bedding to create a relaxing environment.

Love your wardrobe:

Your clothes should make you smile every time you open your closet so take care of what you have. Regularly review (and recycle, donate or resell) to make sure you have long lasting love for every item.

Seasonal storage:

It’s hard to store a year’s worth of clothes in one closet. Rotate your pieces and remember to think practically about how often you need to access off season items before you store them. A rail is the best option for items from the closet if you have a spare closet, or room in the basement or bins in the basement or in a spare closet for folded items.

Ideal Wardrobe:

Use matching hangers, and baskets in your closet drawer dividers and smart folds in your dresser. Sort your clothes by type and then by colour so it looks beautiful and is easy to find exactly what you’re looking for.

Organizing doesn;t have to be all or nothing, small changes in key areas will make your home more efficient, in turn making your life easier.

Happy Organizing

-Jocelyn

The 3 Rooms That Give You The Biggest Return When You Organize