Why your organized home isn’t like anyone else’s…

As no two snowflakes are alike, no two organized homes are the same.   When working with clients, I’m often asked to replicate a system or solution modeled in someone else’s home or in a magazine or often, Pinterest.  But like all unique snowflakes, every organizing challenge and therefore its solution needs to be unique.  For “generic” organizing challenges, create a simple, easy-to-follow system.  Lots of large toys to organize for your toddler?  Consider low shelving with easy access and picture labels for pre-readers.  Lots of Barbies or Legos and Matchbox cars?  Bins, bins, and more bins to the rescue to containerize.  Lots of little ones to get out to school in the morning?  Create transitional space with low hooks to hang coats and backpacks to make mornings more manageable.  To determine your best organizing solution, ask the question – what’s my greatest pain point?

What’s your pain point?

Your pain point is that challenge that’s most impeding your ability to get organized.  From many years of working with clients, I’ve learned that it’s often not the obvious answer.  Do you struggle to get yourself and your family out the door in the morning without a major meltdown?  Break down a typical morning into time blocks to narrow down where the greatest challenges arise.  Is it when everyone enters the kitchen?  Do you have a designated breakfast space and routine?  If not, plan one to eliminate that chaos.  Does the bottleneck occur before everyone gets to a common space?  Wardrobe or closet disorganization is a likely culprit.    Can you “grab and go” to get out the door?  Are backpacks, athletic bags and workbags in a designated spot and at the ready?  Create dedicated transitional space to get everyone out the door quickly.

No two organized spaces are alike.  Determine your pain points and address them.  And don’t waste time and energy creating elaborate and complex systems.  No one needs to be creative before 8 am and it is okay to have the same routine every day…