It’s time to address how to create a place for every family member in your home to place their things. It’s the “how-to” when it comes to organizing everybody’s stuff! Specifically in the main part of your home, or what I like to call the landing strip. This may include (but of course never limited to) purses, wallets, gum, cameras, party favors, projects being worked on…you name it.

The Three Steps You Need to Follow

(1) Create an accessible area

This area will most likely be in the main hub of your home, near the kitchen if possible. The intent is to have each member picking up after themselves, but it will benefit you as well and give you a place to put things that are dropped here and there.

Some homes have beautiful mudrooms with lockers for each person, or a drawer or cubby. If you have this in place you are well on your way! If you don’t (like me) and your mudroom is more of a small closet/walk through room, you may have to be more creative. So, think through the spaces you have in your home and where you might be able to have a system for this purpose.

Our system is in our entry way hall closet right by the kitchen. We call this space our “Craft Closet”. The doors open with two bi-fold doors and this is what you see, three shelves with five bins across. The very bottom shelf holds art and craft supplies. The floor holds our homeschool files and the top shelf (not shown) holds puzzles, board games, and misc. electronics.

I was able to find bins that fit perfectly on the shelves and have used this as my way to set up our system. Five of the bins are for our family and the remainder bins have art and craft supplies, school supplies, puzzles etc. Each bin has a specific purpose.

(2) Teach your family how to use the system

Here are my three kiddo’s bins, with their names labeled. My hubby and mine are just to the left. These are right at their level, quick to access from the main rooms in our home and create a great catch-all spot.

(3) Maintain the system

I ask my kids to go through their Craft Bins when they start to overflow (or my OCD kicks in). Recently I took my kids to Dutch Bros for a mid morning treat, and when we got home I instructed them to enjoy their treats while they cleaned out their Craft Bins. Their level of excitement was minimal, but they did it. I pulled the garbage can around and told them to pitch anything and everything they no longer needed.

The result – clean, streamlined Craft Bins, and one happy momma. I don’t know how many times I have had someone come to me, hubby included, and ask me where something is, and I simply say, “check your craft bin”. Nine times out of ten, the item is there.

*Tip: Create a system using a basket, bin, shelf etc., where you, or better yet, each family member may easily put things away (think misc. items) in the main area of your home. This will be “their” personal spot that only they may use.

Happy Organizing!