6 Ways to Stay Organized While You Shelter at Home
A professional home organizer shares strategies for creating a sense of calm at home when the world is anything but
A lot of us are spending more time at home these days. Having a sense of routine and order at home can help bring some calm to our surroundings and mental state despite the ongoing chaos in the world. Read on for six ways I recommend you get organized to create a sense of calm and comfort at home.
2. Corral Your Kids’ School Supplies
Your children are likely being assigned schoolwork to do at home, and the dining room or kitchen table can be a great location for kids to do their assignments. However, things can quickly get messy and disorganized with kids home all day.
To stay organized, I recommend storing school supplies in a large basket or other storage container once homework is done for the day. Have at least one container per child so work doesn’t get mixed up. Place containers in an out-of-the-way location to keep your home from feeling cluttered.
Find storage baskets on Houzz
Your children are likely being assigned schoolwork to do at home, and the dining room or kitchen table can be a great location for kids to do their assignments. However, things can quickly get messy and disorganized with kids home all day.
To stay organized, I recommend storing school supplies in a large basket or other storage container once homework is done for the day. Have at least one container per child so work doesn’t get mixed up. Place containers in an out-of-the-way location to keep your home from feeling cluttered.
Find storage baskets on Houzz
Magazine files are another handy way to keep school work organized. Files work well for older students who have multiple school subjects. Perhaps you own some files that can be repurposed, or if not, you can purchase them online.
Find magazine files on Houzz
Find magazine files on Houzz
3. Organize Your Pantry
Many of us may find ourselves modifying recipes and improvising meals as we reduce grocery store trips and find that online delivery options are somewhat limited. Having an organized pantry and knowing what’s in it can help with meal planning and make trips to the market more efficient.
To get started organizing your pantry, I recommend removing everything and wiping down shelves with warm soapy water. Wipe dust off cans and jars.
Toss any stale items or food that has gone bad. Do keep in mind that “[m]ost shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely,” according to the USDA. “In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the ‘best by’ date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor. You’ll know when you open the package if the food has lost quality. Many dates on foods refer to quality, not safety.”
As you place remaining food back in the pantry, I recommend grouping similar items together. All baking goods can be on one shelf, canned and jar goods on another, dry goods such as rice, pasta and grains on another.
If it’s hard to see everything on your shelves, I recommend investing in a tiered shelf for cans if your budget allows. A Lazy Susan that has high sides and is divided into sections is ideal for storing oil, vinegar and sauces. Clear plastic storage bins are helpful for corralling packages of rice, beans and pasta. I also suggest clear plastic bins for packages of snacks such as nuts, chips, cookies and dried fruit.
Some of my clients do not like plastic and prefer glass, ceramic, or bamboo containers for storing snacks and dried goods. A multitude of pantry storage products are available online.
See Houzz Editors Discuss a Pro’s Go-To Kitchen Storage Products
Many of us may find ourselves modifying recipes and improvising meals as we reduce grocery store trips and find that online delivery options are somewhat limited. Having an organized pantry and knowing what’s in it can help with meal planning and make trips to the market more efficient.
To get started organizing your pantry, I recommend removing everything and wiping down shelves with warm soapy water. Wipe dust off cans and jars.
Toss any stale items or food that has gone bad. Do keep in mind that “[m]ost shelf-stable foods are safe indefinitely,” according to the USDA. “In fact, canned goods will last for years, as long as the can itself is in good condition (no rust, dents, or swelling). Packaged foods (cereal, pasta, cookies) will be safe past the ‘best by’ date, although they may eventually become stale or develop an off flavor. You’ll know when you open the package if the food has lost quality. Many dates on foods refer to quality, not safety.”
As you place remaining food back in the pantry, I recommend grouping similar items together. All baking goods can be on one shelf, canned and jar goods on another, dry goods such as rice, pasta and grains on another.
If it’s hard to see everything on your shelves, I recommend investing in a tiered shelf for cans if your budget allows. A Lazy Susan that has high sides and is divided into sections is ideal for storing oil, vinegar and sauces. Clear plastic storage bins are helpful for corralling packages of rice, beans and pasta. I also suggest clear plastic bins for packages of snacks such as nuts, chips, cookies and dried fruit.
Some of my clients do not like plastic and prefer glass, ceramic, or bamboo containers for storing snacks and dried goods. A multitude of pantry storage products are available online.
See Houzz Editors Discuss a Pro’s Go-To Kitchen Storage Products
4. Take Stock of Your Spices
Now is a great time to review and organize your spice cabinet, and doing so might even provide inspiration as you discover spices you haven’t used in awhile.
As with the pantry, I recommend removing everything from your spice cabinet, cleaning shelves with warm soapy water and wiping down any sticky or greasy spice containers. Most spices have an expiration date printed on the container, and while your spices won’t actually go rancid or make you ill, they do lose their flavor. Since not all of my clients like to toss expired spices, I recommend smelling or tasting them to check if they still have flavor. Of course, anything extremely out of date should be tossed.
To better see your spices, I recommend a tiered spice shelf. A small Lazy Susan works well for frequently used spices. Avoid a trip to the store and consider purchasing these items online if your budget allows.
Find cabinet and pantry organizers on Houzz
Now is a great time to review and organize your spice cabinet, and doing so might even provide inspiration as you discover spices you haven’t used in awhile.
As with the pantry, I recommend removing everything from your spice cabinet, cleaning shelves with warm soapy water and wiping down any sticky or greasy spice containers. Most spices have an expiration date printed on the container, and while your spices won’t actually go rancid or make you ill, they do lose their flavor. Since not all of my clients like to toss expired spices, I recommend smelling or tasting them to check if they still have flavor. Of course, anything extremely out of date should be tossed.
To better see your spices, I recommend a tiered spice shelf. A small Lazy Susan works well for frequently used spices. Avoid a trip to the store and consider purchasing these items online if your budget allows.
Find cabinet and pantry organizers on Houzz
5. Declutter Your Countertops After Dinner
I’m generally an organized person, but I live with less-tidy family members, and clutter sometimes has a way of accumulating on my countertops. Right now I’m making an extra effort to completely clear the clutter from my counters after dinner. I’ve grown to love the sense of calm I feel each morning when I walk downstairs to a neat and orderly kitchen.
This does require some effort on my part. In my family, we put the dinner dishes in the dishwasher, then hand-wash our pots and pans, put away leftovers and wipe down the counters. Depending on who is doing the dishes that evening, large pots and pans might be left out to air dry. For some family members, a “clean” kitchen does not include putting away clutter like pens, mail, phone cords, keys, dog treats and other random items. The placemats may or may not be put away and the chairs are often not pushed in around the table.
Before sheltering at home, if I had a particularly long work day I was sometimes too tired to tidy up after the designated kitchen cleaner was done. Currently, I am home all day, and having my countertops completely clear each night has become necessary for my sanity. I highly recommend taking the time to give yourself this gift.
I’m generally an organized person, but I live with less-tidy family members, and clutter sometimes has a way of accumulating on my countertops. Right now I’m making an extra effort to completely clear the clutter from my counters after dinner. I’ve grown to love the sense of calm I feel each morning when I walk downstairs to a neat and orderly kitchen.
This does require some effort on my part. In my family, we put the dinner dishes in the dishwasher, then hand-wash our pots and pans, put away leftovers and wipe down the counters. Depending on who is doing the dishes that evening, large pots and pans might be left out to air dry. For some family members, a “clean” kitchen does not include putting away clutter like pens, mail, phone cords, keys, dog treats and other random items. The placemats may or may not be put away and the chairs are often not pushed in around the table.
Before sheltering at home, if I had a particularly long work day I was sometimes too tired to tidy up after the designated kitchen cleaner was done. Currently, I am home all day, and having my countertops completely clear each night has become necessary for my sanity. I highly recommend taking the time to give yourself this gift.
6. Tidy Your Family Room or Living Room Before Bed
After dinner we often retreat to the family room to read, watch television, play a game or work on our laptops. Since evenings are still chilly, we usually snuggle up under warm throw blankets and surround ourselves with comfortable pillows. Hot tea or cold drinks often find their way onto end tables. Cookies or other dessert items are not out of the question.
Before we go to bed each night, I make a point to put away all the blankets and arrange the pillows neatly on the couch. I wash cups and glasses and put them away. I stash our games, books and laptops in a cabinet and remote controls in a basket by the TV. Now that I am at home full time, I always make a tidy family room a priority.
These steps may seem small, but to me, starting each morning with a clean slate adds a little joy to my life. I enjoy all the beautiful things in my home so much more when they are not surrounded by clutter. I feel a sense of tranquility inside my home that I don’t feel in the outside world right now. I hope these suggestions will help you feel that too.
More on Houzz
Read more stories on sheltering at home
Work with a professional home organizer
Shop for kitchen storage and organizing products
After dinner we often retreat to the family room to read, watch television, play a game or work on our laptops. Since evenings are still chilly, we usually snuggle up under warm throw blankets and surround ourselves with comfortable pillows. Hot tea or cold drinks often find their way onto end tables. Cookies or other dessert items are not out of the question.
Before we go to bed each night, I make a point to put away all the blankets and arrange the pillows neatly on the couch. I wash cups and glasses and put them away. I stash our games, books and laptops in a cabinet and remote controls in a basket by the TV. Now that I am at home full time, I always make a tidy family room a priority.
These steps may seem small, but to me, starting each morning with a clean slate adds a little joy to my life. I enjoy all the beautiful things in my home so much more when they are not surrounded by clutter. I feel a sense of tranquility inside my home that I don’t feel in the outside world right now. I hope these suggestions will help you feel that too.
More on Houzz
Read more stories on sheltering at home
Work with a professional home organizer
Shop for kitchen storage and organizing products
For those fortunate enough to remain employed, working from home can be an adjustment. You may be juggling work responsibilities, home schooling, exercise, entertainment, meals and household chores. You may not have the luxury of a home office or even a dedicated desk. Using a kitchen table for work, school and meals may feel a little stressful.
If you don’t have a home office, I recommend setting up a dedicated work location separate from other family activities if at all possible. Choose a place where your supplies won’t be disturbed — perhaps a bedroom, an infrequently used dining room or the corner of the living room. A small table, desk or shelf can serve as your work surface. It’s OK to use a card table or other folding table.
If you have toddlers or a compact home, it might not be possible for you to keep your workspace set up 24/7. The only available work location might be the kitchen table, which is also used for children’s schoolwork and meals. In this situation, I recommend you designate a particular spot to put your laptop and supplies at the end of the day, even if this means clearing out a kitchen drawer, a bookcase shelf or the top of a dresser. If possible, organize items in a large basket to keep clutter out of sight. Having a routine place to store your work items can make finding supplies each morning effortless and contribute to a calmer feeling for the day.
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