35 Surprising Home Organization Statistics That’ll Inspire You to Tidy Up

A cluttered home is a common source of stress for many people. Much of that stress comes from the guilt and shame we feel for the disorganized state of our living environments.

There are plenty of reasons why clutter and disorganization can become a major problem. A lack of free time to clean, ineffective organization and storage systems, inadequate space, and poor ingrained organization habits are contributing factors.

But just how bad are your organization problems compared to other people? Try viewing some home organization statistics to get some perspective.

Home organization statistics help put things in perspective

There are plenty of home organization statistics available that can help put things in perspective for you when it comes to your own home organization situation.

Home organization affects every single one of us. The link between home clutter and the harm it has on your health has also gotten more scrutiny in recent years from the medical community.

As such, it’s no wonder that many companies and corporations have realized that there’s an appetite from consumers for information about how we maintain our homes.

These studies, polls, and surveys reveal a lot of eye-opening home organization statistics that you can use to motivate and inspire you to restore order in your home.

Here are 35 of the more interesting home organization statistics that we’ve compiled.

Organized hobby room.

1. It’s estimated that only 20% of the things we own are actually used. (LexisNexis study)

2. 97% of surveyed realtors believe homeowners covet closet space more than basement and attic storage space. (Braun Research survey)

3. It’s estimated we’ll each spend 3,680 hours in our lifetime searching for misplaced items. (The Daily Mail)

4. 1 in 9 women were late for work because they were unable to find some part of their outfit to wear. (OnePoll survey)

5. Disorganization results in 23% of adults paying their bills late and incurring late payment fees. (Harris Interactive study)

6. Mortgage data research firm HSH.com ranked homeowners’ pet peeves, with lack of storage space coming in first at 67%.

7. 10% of women say they feel depressed every time they open their closet doors. (OnePoll survey of 1,000 American women)

8. 63% of those surveyed planned to get rid of outdated clothing in the next year. (MSN.com poll)

9. In the average home, getting rid of clutter would eliminate approximately 40% of housework. (Soap and Detergent Association study)

10. 57% of women believe that a closet that’s organized makes it easier and quicker to find what they need. (OnePoll survey)

11. A study of 2,137 U.S. women revealed that their closets had an average of $550 worth of unworn clothing. (10 Yetis survey)

12. Even with the popularity of smartphones and with many home organization apps available, only 8% of survey respondents regularly used an app to help with home organization. (Moen survey)

13. Women with shoe racks are 7 times more likely to be on time for work than women without them. (IKEA study)

14. 47% of women struggle when it comes to deciding on which work outfit they should wear. (OnePoll survey)

15. A new child in a household increases the inventory of possessions by 30% during the preschool years alone for a family. (UCLA study)

16. 1 in 6 women have resorted to taking dirty clothes out of their laundry hamper when they’re unable to find anything to wear. (OnePoll survey)

17. 40% of Australians say they feel guilty, depressed, or anxious about their home clutter. (Australia Institute study)

18. 50% of American women do some type of housework each day, compared to 22% of men. (Bureau of Labor Statistics study)

19. 61% of women who have a hard time finding anything in their closet end up buying new clothes. (OnePoll survey)

20. Disorganization (not lack of space) causes 80% of household clutter. (Soap and Detergent Association study)

21. The average U.S. home has 4 closets. (OnePoll survey)

22. The garage, kitchen, and home office were named as the most cluttered spaces in homes. (Moen survey)

23. It’s estimated that 80% of your clothes are only worn 20% of the time. (National Association of Professional Organizers study)

24. In a survey of 1,000 American women, 1 in 4 described their closets as being disorganized. (OnePoll survey)

25. 67% of people surveyed believe they could save up to 30 minutes a day if they were more organized. (Alpha Phi Quarterly study)

26. Phones, keys, sunglasses, and paperwork are the most commonly misplaced items in homes. (The Daily Mail)

27. Americans waste more than nine million hours each day looking for lost and misplaced items. (Ottawa Citizen)

28. 44% of women polled say they’re unable to find an item in their closet at least once a month. (OnePoll survey)

29. A international retailer’s survey found that 31% of its customers were more satisfied after clearing out their closets than they were after sex. (New York Times)

30. Worrying their home isn’t clean or organized enough is the 5th most common stress trigger for Americans. 47% say this caused stress within the past month. (Huffington Post survey)

31. The closet of the average American woman contains 103 items. (OnePoll survey)

32. 80% of our medical expenses are related to stress, which clutter contributes to. (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study)

33. The average U.S. home has approximately 300,000 things. (L.A. Times)

34. 3 in 10 women say an organized closet would make their mornings less stressful. (OnePoll survey)

35. The Daily Mail reports that the average value of the contents in Britons’ homes has increased 133% in the past 30 years.

Get motivated with these home organization statistics

These home organization statistics show us a lot about the way we keep our homes. Hopefully they’ll make you take stock of how functional and effective your own home organization is.

If the home organization statistics we’ve shared here have motivated you to find better ideas and solutions to keep your home tidy, Organized Interiors can help.

Schedule your free in-home design consultation with us today!

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5 Workplace Organizational Skills That Can Also Help You at Home

Office supplies retailer OfficeMax conducted a study of 1,000 American adults that showed the value of workplace organization. Some of their findings included:

  • 71% of those surveyed say they feel more an accomplished after their workspace has been organized
  • a tidy work environment made 68% of respondents feel more in control and 54% feel more confident
  • 52% of those surveyed felt more motivated and 43% more relaxed when their work area was organized

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that a more organized work environment produces people who have a more positive outlook on things. The same can be said for those living in an organized home.

Just as workplace organizational skills are transferable from one job to the next, they’re also transferable to your home life.

organizational skills

Your workplace organizational skills can simplify your home life

Nearly all positive workplace organizational skills have value outside of the workplace. Examples include being a strong communicator, knowing how to plan, effectively managing your time, paying attention to detail, and being physically and mentally organized.

Applying any of these organizational skills to your home life can help simplify things and lead to a more organized, efficiently run household.

But as much as good workplace organizational skills can help at home, so too can poor organizational skills used at work follow you home.

That only creates a perpetual cycle that keeps you surrounded in clutter almost all of the time. This contributes to higher stress levels and poor productivity, both at work and when it comes to getting your house in order.

If some of your organization-related skills at your job or home aren’t what they should be, work on improving them and then reap the benefits they’ll provide when applied in either environment.

Here are five workplace organizational skills that you’ll find very helpful when used at home.

1. Establishing clear goals

Your employer will have certain work expectations that need to be met. You’ll also have personal goals that you set for yourself, such as exceeding a weekly work quota or earning a particular promotion within a specific timeframe.

Having a clear focus on what your goals are will increase the odds that you’ll fulfill them. And while it’s always admirable to be ambitious with your work and career goals, remember to keep things realistic. There’s no shame in adjusting your goals to accommodate previously unforeseen variables or factors.

The same philosophy applies when establishing clear goals of what you want to accomplish with your home’s organization. How realistic is it to get a certain number of chores done within the time you have available? When will you realistically be finally able to add that long sought-after laundry room?

2. Knowing how to effectively plan

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of the beloved children’s book The Little Prince, once said “A goal without a plan is just a wish”.

You’ll need to have an effective plan in place to reach your long-term or short-term goals at work. Smart planning is a key organizational skill for anyone seeking success in their field.

Effectively managing appointments, schedules, and deadlines are all part of this process. Creating to-do lists are always helpful as well.

Schedules, deadlines, and to-do lists can also be extremely helpful when used at home in order to keep on top of things. Some of the organization apps we wrote about recently can make things even easier to manage.

3. Managing your time well and prioritizing

With established goals and a plan in place, which tasks will take priority over others? Understanding the best approach to tackling your to-do list will result in their successful completion. You’ll also experience less of the frustration that comes when goals aren’t met.

For example, certain tasks at work might be harder to complete at certain times of the day due to interruptions that make it difficult to focus.

This same scenario could also occur at home. Perhaps your laundry duties are taking longer than they should because you’re being interrupted by your kids who need help with their homework.

Understandably, their educational needs come first. Scheduling your laundry chores for a time when they’re out of the house (such as at a hockey practice) will result in more productive results when it comes to completing this task.

This is simply choosing to work smart. When your organizational skills help you effectively prioritize and multi-task, you’ll accomplish more.

And getting more done is only useful if you’re actually getting more done at a high standard level. Taking on lots of tasks and only getting decent results for each of them (as opposed to great results) isn’t the goal here.

4. Being physically and mentally organized

Being physically organized means keeping your environment tidy and clean, whether it’s your work office, home office, or bedroom.

Decluttering regularly is essential if you want to sustain an organized workspace or home. At work, this can include getting rid of unnecessary paperwork, keeping your desk clean, and managing digital clutter such as email.

It can be tricky finding enough time to tidy up at work or home, so you’ll want to make it as easy as possible to do so. That OfficeMax survey reveals that about a quarter of those polled said that not having the right organizational tools or systems made it more challenging to stay organized.

In the home, you could turn to a helpful closet organizer to make it easier to manage your wardrobe collection. Closet organizers allow you to group like items together so that you can easily find a specific piece of clothing.

Other helpful closet accessories like drawer dividers to separate socks, ties, and undergarments, or a retractable valet rod for extra hanging space can also save you time.

Once you’ve taken steps to ensure your world is physically organized, you’ll find it easier to achieve a balanced, healthy level of mental organization. That helps you focus better and be more productive in your career and your home life.

organizational skills closet organizer

Being physically organized includes maintaining a tidy closet.

5. Communicating and getting support

Strong communication skills will always serve you well. If you’re a leader at your work, that means making sure your workers understand what’s expected of them. Any strong leader also has a good sense of when and how much they should delegate.

For the non-bosses, part of their organizational skills includes constantly communicating with leaders and co-workers to maximize workplace efficiency. They should know when to ask for support and help if certain tasks are beyond their capabilities or time availability.

At home, a healthy level of communication between all family members capable of doing chores is important, too. Delegating tasks and holding family members accountable for their completion, in addition to lending others a hand with chores all work towards creating a harmonious household that’s more likely to stay organized.

Helping people get their home physically organized is what Organized Interiors specializes in. We provide free in-home design consultations, so schedule yours today.

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7 Essentials for Creating a More Learning-Friendly Home Study Space

As fall approaches, Ontario’s students will be spending more of their spare time doing homework.

Having a dedicated home study area lets kids and teenagers feel more comfortable and helps keep them focussed on their studies, allowing them to be more productive.

Whether your kids are in elementary school, secondary school, or enrolled in college or university, here’s how to create the perfect study space at home for them.

A home study space can help maximize learning efficiency

A learning environment that’s aesthetically dull, clutter-filled, uncomfortable, and too noisy won’t allow kids to get the most out of their study time.

Psychologists have found that one’s environment can have a significant effect on the quality of their study time. Specifically, information retention and work productivity increases when kids study in a space that’s comfortable, familiar, and has as few distractions as possible.

A dedicated home study space can be customized to create just such an area for your kids. Organized Interiors specializes in creating beautiful home office spaces. The same elements we implement in the design of an adult home office space can also be applied to the design of a study space for kids.

When planning the design of your work area, here are seven essential features and ideas to consider.

home study space

1. Location, location, location

The location of your study space is extremely important. Even the most well-designed and highly functional study area will have many of its benefits diminished if the location isn’t right.

Like a home office, an area devoted to studying is a perfect fit for a spare room. You’ll have more room to add all the design features you want and also create more privacy.

Converting a spare room into a home study space also affords you the opportunity to create a separate, dedicated space purely devoted to learning.

Naturally, not everybody has the luxury of having a spare room at their disposal to set up a work space for their kids. We can work within the dimensions of your home to create a study area within a bedroom, in a basement, or just about anywhere you have a reasonable amount of space to spare.

Wherever you decide to set up a home study space, give a lot of consideration to potential distractions like foot traffic and noise levels. A study area set up beside a noisy laundry room, for example, doesn’t make for the most learning-friendly environment. Remember, a quiet study space will be a more productive study space.

2. Consider who will be using your home study space

How many kids will be using your study space? Obviously, the more kids you have that will be using the study space the more room you’ll need to have it designed properly.

Perhaps you’ll need a shared study space for your home if you have two or more kids. That’s not a problem. Multiple desks and workstations can be set up to fulfill your home study space design requirements.

Each of your kids can have their own designated area in the study space, to create as comfortable a learning environment for them as possible.

You may also wish to create a multi-purpose home office/study space within a room, which we can accommodate. This can be a smart choice if space is an issue in your home. A shared work-oriented space between parents and the kids can satisfy everybody’s needs.

3. Have your desk custom-designed to fit your kids’ specific needs

The foundation of any work space is the desk. You’ll want your desk surface to be big enough that it can accommodate all of your kids’ textbooks, notebooks, school supplies, and a laptop if necessary.

You also need to be careful that your desk isn’t too big. If you have a bigger desk surface than you really need, there’s more of a chance it’ll start accumulating clutter. We can guide you on the ideal desk size that will work best within your home study space.

Organized Interiors designs, manufactures, and installs all of our furniture, so we have a lot of flexibility when it comes to customization.

Add as many desk drawers as you desire (and to the width and depth you need) to hold your kids’ school supplies, stationery, and printer paper. Does your child use a desktop computer as opposed to a laptop? Add an under-desk keyboard drawer to save space!

A well-designed desk will require less effort for you to keep your study area organized and clutter-free. You’ll be able to keep more frequently used supplies close at hand while storing less frequently used supplies out of sight, but easily accessible.

An absence of clutter in any work space will facilitate a more productive workflow by allowing you to concentrate much easier.

home study space 3

4. Maximize storage space with smart custom storage solutions

You can increase the functionality of a home study space or office by adding extra storage systems. A custom bookcase provides plenty of room for storing your kids’ books.

Upper storage cabinetry can also be added to provide extra storage room in your study space. Using your room’s vertical storage space (which can also include adding library shelves) will enable you to stay organized more easily. Vertical storage is also smart to use when your study space is set up in a smaller room.

Your home study space’s custom cabinetry can also include lower drawers, cupboard doors, file cubbies, and file drawers. Add extra touches like a tack board for posting reminders, calendars, and course schedules.

A study space doesn’t have to be dull, style-free environment. You can choose from a wide variety of finishes and features to add some character to the room.

Upper storage cabinetry can include frosted glass or mesh doors. LED lighting with convenient touch switches and puck lighting can also be incorporated into your home study space design.

5. Don’t forget the importance of a good desk chair

As mentioned, a learning environment that’s comfortable is important and comfort in a home study space starts with a good desk chair.

You’ll want to invest in an ergonomic chair that makes it easy to maintain a healthy posture. Your kids will appreciate having a chair that provides excellent lower back support, especially for those longer studying sessions.

Having a proper desk chair set up at the proper height can also alleviate problems that can affect other parts of the body, like the neck, wrists, and hands.

6. Make sure the lighting and room colours are right

Just as a good chair can minimize back discomfort, so too can good lighting minimize the problem of eye strain in a study space.

You don’t want to keep your home study space too dark, otherwise it might make the occupants more prone to nodding off. If possible, make use of as much natural light as you can. Choose ambient lighting that’s complemented with smartly located task lighting and a small desk lamp.

Wall and ceiling colours in the room can also affect the moods and concentration levels of kids. Lighter greens, yellows, and blues are considered good colour choices to stimulate productivity.

The wall and ceiling colours you choose for your home study space can complement the chosen finishes for your custom cabinetry, thereby enhancing the room’s look.

home study space 2

7. Personalize your home study space

While your home study area is meant to be a dedicated learning space, it can’t hurt to inject a few personal touches to it.

Add plants, hang some inspirational quotes, or add photos of family and friends to create a warmer, more inviting space. Just be sure to keep the personal touches to a modest amount so your kids aren’t overly distracted.

A home study space can be a great asset that enables your kids to flourish with their studies. Schedule a free design consultation with us to get your study space project in motion.

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Why the Type of Clothes Hangers You Use Actually Matters

Unless you work in the fashion, retail clothing, or home organization business, there’s a good chance you don’t give much thought to the type of clothes hangers you use.

We use clothes hangers every day and stand to benefit from storing our apparel in the best manner possible. That’s why it’s actually rather curious that we mostly don’t pay much attention to what kind of hangers are in our closets.

So why is this the case? You might be surprised to learn that it does actually matter what type of clothes hangers you use.

Most clothes hangers are cheap and readily available

The main reason clothes hangers probably don’t quite get the consideration they should is because they’re typically very cheap and easy to come by.

Yes, that 12-pack of plastic hangers that only costs a buck at the dollar store might seem like a great deal today. You probably know they won’t be the best quality, but they’re only clothes hangers, right?

And all those free wire hangers you’ve gotten from your dry cleaner over the years? Well, why throw out a perfectly functional item?

However, it’s worth pondering this – just what kind of quality can those hangers possibly have if the dry cleaner is just giving them away all the time?

The truth is, there’s a downside to buying and using cheap hangers instead of relying on a higher quality type, like wood clothes hangers.

clothes hangers

The downsides of using plastic clothes hangers

Everyone has had to throw out some of their plastic clothes hangers at some point. While they may be cheap, plastic hangers have several downsides:

  • they’re flimsy and have a shorter life (a reminder that “cheap” also equals “disposable” much of the time)
  • aren’t ideal for maintaining the shape of your garments, which shortens the lifespan of clothing
  • are more prone to clothes slippage
  • you’re more likely to have many colours and styles of plastic hangers, which creates a disorganized, mismatched closet look

The downsides of using wire clothes hangers

Wire hangers share some of the same downsides as plastic hangers and have a unique additional downside. The downsides include:

  • their pliability causes wire hangers to bend, which reduces their lifespan
  • also don’t provide an ideal long-term storage method when it comes to maintaining garment shapes
  • will rust, which shortens their life and can damage clothing
  • are also more prone to clothes slipping off the hanger

So as you can see, wire and plastic hangers may be readily available and cheap, but that comes at the expense of the best interests of your clothing.

Why premium wood clothes hangers are your best option

Aside from plastic and wire hangers, velvet hangers are an additional option that have their own benefits. But when it comes to hanging storage for your clothing, premium wood hangers are your best choice. Here’s why:

  • they’re much sturdier and won’t bend, which keeps your garment structure intact
  • will last a lifetime, which provides better value
  • have a stronger design, which allows for storage of heavier items like winter coats, jackets, and jeans
  • look much nicer than wire and plastic hangers
  • offer special design features like notches that keep clothing with straps secured
  • your garments are less likely to slip off the hanger or wrinkle

Are all wood clothes hangers created equal?

Definitely not. A set of wood clothes hangers being sold at your local store for a tantalizing low price might be better than the thin, flimsy wire hangers you’re currently using, but beware.

Both the wood and design quality are the key factors you need to be concerned with. Logically, a harder wood used in the clothes hanger’s construction will provide better strength and durability.

At Organized Interiors, we believe our premium cherry and white hardwood hangers are the best clothes hangers you can invest in. Here’s what they feature:

clothes hangers 2

The metal head of our hangers is smartly designed with a safety hook to prevent scratching.

clothes hangers 3

The hanger shoulders are strong to support jackets and shirts. We also carry thicker hanger shapes to support heavier items of clothing.

clothes hangers 4

Notches securely hold straps in place and prevent clothing from falling.

clothes hangers 5

Like the hanger‘s shoulders, its supportive cross bar is resistant to clothes slipping and creasing.

Maximize the life of your garments with wood clothes hangers

Our premium hardwood clothes hangers work well for all types of garments and will help you get the most life out of them by providing an ideal storage solution for your clothes.

You’ll spend less time ironing out the unsightly creases and wrinkles that can be problematic with inferior hanger types.

High-end clothing items (such as an evening gown or men’s formal wear) can cost into the thousands of dollars, so you need to protect your investment. Even a relatively cheaper $100 blouse deserves a suitable hanging home to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth out of it.

Keep your closet or dressing room’s look classy with wood clothes hangers

The mismatched colours of a closet filled with plastic hangers doesn’t add to the space’s aesthetics. Neither does the nondescript look of a bunch of wire hangers.

Premium hardwood clothes hangers add a distinct touch of class to your closet space. And while it may seem like a small thing, you’ll also appreciate the cohesive look that’s added to a closet full of identical premium clothes hangers.

If you’ve had home improvements made in the form of either a closet organizer or dressing room/walk-in closet, premium hardwood hangers are also a must-have. They’ll nicely complement the upgraded looks and functionality of these transformed spaces.

clothes hangers 6

Organized Interiors’ premium cherry and white hardwood hangers.

Limit your clothes hanger clutter by saying “no thanks”

After years of buying clothes and getting your dry cleaning done, it’s inevitable that clothes hanger clutter will become just one more thing you’ll eventually have to contend with.

You can minimize or eliminate this problem by simply saying “no thanks” when presented with the option of bringing a free wire or plastic hanger home. The salesperson or dry cleaner certainly won’t mind.

It’s a small gesture and the impact on your carbon footprint by rejecting hangers you don’t really need may be minimal, but every little bit helps.

Your old useable wire and plastic hangers might be welcome at a thrift store. Plastic hangers (without any metal) might also be recyclable in your blue box. Check your municipality’s recycling guidelines.

Treat your garments right with premium hardwood clothes hangers

You’ll prolong the life of your garments by treating them right and hanging them on premium wood clothes hangers.

Organized Interiors has a special offer that gives you 160 deluxe hardwood hangers for free with a closet or wardrobe order. That’s a $300 value!

Schedule your free in-home design consultation to take advantage of this great offer.

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9 Back-to-School Tips That Set Kids up for a Successful School Year

As the days get shorter and temperatures begin to cool, this time of year finds parents and their kids occupied with preparations for the upcoming school year.

There are many different back-to-school concerns for parents to consider, especially for those with younger children.

For example, what supplies and clothing needs to be purchased? What summer habits from your kids aren’t going to work during school season? Are there opportunities to improve areas that can streamline the morning routines of both kids and parents?

Simplify things with these back-to-school tips

Leaving yourself enough time for back-to-school preparations will make the transition into the school year much easier. No parent wants to find themselves scrambling around on the morning after Labour Day because they didn’t devote enough time to back-to-school prep!

These nine back-to-school tips will make the new school year easier to adjust to. They’ll also simplify things for you and your children well after that first school bell of the year has rung.

back-to-school tips

1. Adjust your kids’ sleep schedule

The first of our back-to-school tips is to ensure your kids aren’t going into a new school year with too many bad habits they’ve picked up during the summer.

Kid’s sleeping habits should be near the top of your list of back-to-school concerns. One of the cornerstones of good health is getting consistent and quality sleep, which minimizes the likelihood of stress.

A new school year can be a stress-causing time for many kids and they’ll be better equipped to deal with things if they’re well-rested.

With the first day of school just around the corner, you should already be getting your kids back into the same sleep schedule they’ll be keeping during the school year. It can take some kids longer than others to make an adjustment, so don’t procrastinate on changing their bedtimes.

2. Start limiting screen time

Another summer habit to keep tabs on is the amount of screen time your kids are getting. Like their sleep schedule, you should already be limiting the time your kids are spending on phones, tablets, and in front of the TV.

Making sure your back-to-school prep includes the gradual limiting of screen time will result in fewer headaches and potential arguments over the subject with your kids once the school year begins.

Another reason it’s important to monitor the amount of screen time kids are getting is because it can impact their sleeping habits. Even adults should be conscious of the fact that plenty of research shows that the blue light devices emit can disrupt our sleep patterns and throw off our body clocks.

There are many smartphone and tablet apps available that can limit screen time and help you monitor the usage of your kids’ devices.

3. Ease into a school day routine to lessen new school anxieties

It can be helpful to ease into the changing daily routine that comes with a new school year. Taking a proactive approach to a changing routine is particularly beneficial if you have kids starting at a new school.

If you’re responsible for driving your kids to school, do a few morning dry runs prior to classes beginning. Know how long it’ll take to make the drive and get to school in a comfortable amount of time. Naturally, factor in the added traffic that will be on the roads in the morning once the school year begins.

Unfamiliar surroundings and faces can be stressful, so see if it’s possible to tour the new school and meet some teachers beforehand with your kids. Familiarizing your kids with the school playground and bathroom locations can also up their confidence level.

Even the most well-adjusted of kids will be nervous before starting at a new school. Don’t add to their stress by having them and yourself unprepared for the coming school year.

4. Assess what school supplies you’ll need

A new school year means new school supplies. Check your school’s or board of education’s website to see if a list of recommended supplies is available.

Be sure to first take stock of what school supplies are already owned. This is a good opportunity to begin phase one of a back-to-school clean-up of your kids’ rooms. Clear out desk clutter like broken rulers, crayon nubs, and useless papers.

Bring your kids along for their back-to-school shopping and be sure to limit purchases to needs versus wants. Involving them in buying decisions will also instill a greater sense of ownership and responsibility towards purchased items.

And don’t overlook the importance of kids backpack safety. Ensure your kids are using a backpack that’s suited to their needs and physical size. Also, make sure they’re wearing their backpack properly to minimize aches and pains.

5. Take stock of your kids’ wardrobes

Any list of back-to-school tips would be incomplete without addressing kids’ wardrobes. Does your child have enough outfits for school to accommodate your laundry schedule? Is their clothing clean and presentable?

There are many kids clothing concerns to consider before a new school year. The best way to take stock of what areas to address is to carry out phase two of your back-to-school clean-up. That means thoroughly taking stock of what clothing your kids own by emptying out their closets and dresser drawers.

Some kids can grow several sizes within a year, so you’ll undoubtedly find outgrown clothing that’s only contributing to bedroom clutter. Store them away for future hand-me-down use with one of your younger kids or donate them.

After weeding out the old clothing, go through the keepers and determine what needs to be freshened up with a laundering. Make a list of what new pieces of clothing will be needed to enable an adequate rotation of school and play outfits.

6. Upgrade your kids’ storage and organization systems

Even a larger closet space can easily become disorganized if it’s poorly designed. You can make it easier to keep kids bedrooms and mudrooms/front entryways organized with the following solutions:

  • Custom closet organizers enable kids to maintain an organized closet space and can adapt to kids’ changing storage needs
  • Closet accessories like hooks, extra hanging bars, and drawer dividers enhance the functionality of any closet space
  • Make better use of a kids bedroom’s storage space with a bed surround
  • Your mudroom or front entryway can be upgraded with improvements that make better use of storage space

These upgrades can provide more kid-friendly functionality. Everything from better accessibility (such as hanging heights) to the ability to group like items together can be taken into consideration for your kids.

Kids clothing costs can add up and they’ll quickly outgrow things. You don’t want a new pair of kids jeans being worn once and then forgotten about under a heap of clothes in a messy closet, only to be found later when they no longer fit.

Boy's organized closet.

7. Teach your kids to be more self-sufficient

One of our back-to-school tips that can make your morning run a little smoother is to get your kids in the habit of being more self-sufficient.

That can include helping get breakfast ready or taking responsibility for their own breakfast. Monitor that they’re eating healthy, protein-rich foods – there’s a reason breakfast is referred to as the most important meal of the day! And make sure they’re leaving enough time for breakfast and not relying on just a couple of protein bars or a Pop-Tart.

You can also get your kids to start making their own lunches. Be mindful that they’re adhering to their school’s allergy policies and that they’re packing a well-balanced, healthy lunch.

Get your kids in the habit of making their bed before leaving for school. Author Charles Duhigg writes in his book The Power of Habit that this practice becomes a “keystone habit” that gets one’s day off to a positive start.

Preparing the night before can also save everyone time in the morning. Make sure your kids’ backpacks are ready to go and you can also have the next day’s school outfit hung up on a handy valet rod. This eliminates wasted time caused by wardrobe indecision.

8. Enable scholastic success with a proper kids study space

Is the space your kids are using for studying and homework enabling them or holding them back? Kids need a comfortable area that’s organized, well-lit, and functional, which can help keep them focussed.

Organized Interiors designs beautiful home office spaces which can be designed with your kids’ needs in mind, your needs in mind, or a combination of the two.

A spare room is ideal for setting up a home office or study space. If that’s not an option, we can also work with an underutilized area of your home to establish a productive studying environment for your kids.

9. Establish good organization habits your kids can emulate

The last of our back-to-school tips involves setting a good example for your kids with your own organization habits.

If the parents aren’t demonstrating that they’re concerned with organization in the bedroom and throughout the home, it’s unreasonable to expect a higher standard from your kids.

Set weekly cleaning and decluttering schedules for you and your kids and stick to them. One of our earlier back-to-school tips mentioned limiting screen time, but some exceptions can be made.

Make use of the many organization and productivity apps families can use to keep on top of home chores.

Get the school year started right with these back-to-school tips

These back-to-school tips can set your kids up for a successful school year. And by giving your kids the back-to-school tools to succeed, you’ll be minimizing your worries as well.

Schedule a free in-home consultation with us and one of our design consultants can evaluate your space. They’ll determine how to best utilize some of the home-enhancing back-to-school tips listed here.

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