Can you believe it's already September? I know it's technically still summer and, truth be told, the weather here will still feel like summer long into fall. But the end of August and back-to-school is the unofficial end of summer. And even though I say it every year, it really does seem like it flew by. I don't know if anyone else feels the urge to reorganize/get organized when there's a shift in their schedule, but I'm a teacher and a librarian so that's kind of my jam. Even though I'm not working in those fields now, it doesn't change who I am inside.
There are MANY shows on TV and the internet that make home organization look so good - with a budget of around $10,000 and up. While that would be great in a world where money is no object, I happen to live in a different world. But honestly, even if I had tons of money to spend on projects, I love the thrill of finding a bargain and accomplishing a great look on a more reasonable budget. So let's talk about ways to get organized on a budget.
Command Strips - the organization hack for any budget.
Command Strip products are awesome because they go anywhere and they're great for organizing those little things you need but can't seem to find place for. And if you ever need to move or remove them they come off without damaging your walls. I'm not just talking about their original hooks. They have a products geared towards specific rooms. There's a line for college dorms that work great in my full-sized home. The small towel bar is great for a small bathroom, but I use them in my kitchen because the handle of the oven door was the only place I had to hang dish towels. I use the hooks to hold oven mitts, aprons, and a plastic shopping bag that's full of other plastic bags (which I repurpose as trash can liners). I also have hooks on the wall beside the door to hold keys and dog leashes. I'm sure there are lots of other ways I can use them, but I'm still figuring that out for my home. They have products that can hold a surprising amount of weight, but even the smaller ones are great for organizing kitchens, bathrooms, office space, homework space, closets, pantries, and probably any other space you can think of. This is not a paid endorsement, I just really love these products.
No mudroom? Create an organized drop zone.
Don't mudrooms look great? It seems like such a luxury to have a separate room to hang your coats, purses, and backpacks right by the door, and they will stay out of the way until you are ready to pick them up again. If you have one, just know that I'm a wee-bit jealous. What I have is more of a small drop-zone that also doubles as my (small) laundry area, right off my kitchen. Maybe you have a similar space, or maybe you have to use the space right by your front door. I've been there, and I know it can be a challenge. But no matter what your situation, there are options to help get the clutter under control.
One of the easiest and least expensive options is to hang a row of hooks to keep coats, hats, scarves, and dog leashes organized. Amazon, Wayfair, Home Depot, and Esty have tons of options to choose from. I was pleasantly surprised by how affordable and sturdy the one from KSkyStudio at Etsy is. All of the options I've shared are strong enough to hold coats, but if you want to hang heavy bags such as school backpacks, you'll need to look closely at the weight limits before you buy. For even more storage, place a small table against the wall under your coat hooks to hold hats, keys, bookbags, or whatever you need by the door. You can find great deals on second-hand furniture, and you'd also be reusing something that might otherwise go into the landfill. You may even have something in your home already; a hand-me-down piece you were given when you first started out, or something special you inherited but haven't found the right place for it.
Depending on your budget, you might consider purchasing a hall tree. They are typically more expensive, but they come with a bench for putting on shoes. They also offer extra storage space underneath, and some have built-in cubbies (or you could add baskets) to give everyone their own place to store shoes. We are lucky enough to live near Amish woodworkers, so we bought our hall tree from them at a very reasonable price. You could also hang coat hooks and then place a separate bench with built-in storage under them to achieve a similar result. This gives you the option of customizing your own style, rather than being stuck with pre-made designs. Target has some great options for storage benches that are functional, attractive and affordable. The great thing about storage benches is that you can use them all over your home - in the living room to hide away toys or extra blankets, or in kids' rooms to put away...well, more toys.
Create an organized office space
Whether you work from home or at your company's office, you need an organized work space. Not only does it help you to be more productive at work, it also looks more professional. Amazon and Target have some fun (Yes, I said fun - librarians love to organize!) organizers that work for whatever workspace you have, whether it's an office, a cubicle, or just a desk. While you're getting organized or reorganized is also a good time to switch out your family photos for new ones from this summer's vacation. This, too, could be a good place to use a little second-hand table for extra storage options.
Create an organized homework space, then show your kids how to use it.
Helping your kids develop good organization and work habits is one of the most important ways you can support their education. People often forget that kids need to be explicitly taught how organize their materials and how to use organizational tools. When my school gave students in grades 3-5 personal organizers to write down homework assignments and keep up with their own calendars, students had no idea how to use them. I had to spend time every day showing them how to open the book to the correct date, then write their homework assignments in the correct space (math, reading, science, social studies, etc.) of their organizers. Before I did that, they were just opening to a random page and writing "math" or "23" as their homework assignment. Then of course they couldn't find it when it was time to do homework, and neither could their parents. If they did happen to find it, they had no idea what "math" or "23" meant.
We adults have been doing these things for so long, it's easy to forget that we didn't always know how to do it. Someone had to teach us - and they had to do it more than once. So take the time to look at your child's homework assignment each night, provide them a space to do their work, and don't forget to show them how to use all the great organizational tools you gave them. You'll not only help them develop good work habits, you will also be showing them that their education is important to you.
So, those are a few tips for getting organized at home or in the office on a reasonable budget. I didn't talk about making stuff yourself because that's not something I'm good at. At all. However, if you're a handy/crafty person, I'd love to hear about what you've made to add functional design to your home. Please share!
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