Better Homes and Gardens BH&G Secrets of Getting Organized - Early Spring 2023

TAME THE CHAOS YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR LIFE IS SPINNING. The feeling you experience when your job, family, and home go topsy-turvy is shared by many people (myself included). I won’t pretend to have an easy remedy, but I do know that I can momentarily steady myself by focusing on something orderly for 15 seconds. One of my go-to spots is a vintage metal storage cabinet near our back door. Many of its 30 small drawers are assigned specific storage duties (Brian’s gloves, Dennis’ photography gear, extra charging cables), but at least four compartments are allowed to be junk drawers. The result of this rudimentary organizing system: Nothing ends up cluttering the top of the cabinet except for a single vase. When I look at the cabinet, I’m reminded of how…

BATHROOM TOILETRIES • LINEN CLOSET • TUB & SHOWER It’s time to address your home’s hardest working areas: your bathrooms. You place daily demands on these often very compact spaces and clean them regularly, but when was the last time you removed clutter? Keep the following strategies in mind as you bring order to three of the messiest zones in your bath. LEAD THE CHARGE. If you’re reading this and wanting a tidier bath, you’re probably the best person to initiate a cleanse and establish systems to keep future chaos in check. RECRUIT HELP, BUT BE REALISTIC. Yes, you’re in charge, but you can ask for assistance. Just ground your expectations in reality and specifics. Identify the tasks you need help on and make requests with concrete deadlines. (“By bedtime Wednesday, I need…

SWAPPING ROOMS INSPIRED TYLER MOORE TO GET RID OF CLUTTER. He and his wife, Emily, live with their three daughters in a 750-square-foot railroad-style apartment in Queens, New York, so space is in short supply. When they decided to trade their bedroom (the largest) with their daughters in order to give them more play space, they understood a decluttering was needed. Inspired by Marie Kondo’s KonMari method, they edited down clothing, books, paper, miscellaneous items, and finally sentimental belongings. With Tyler’s background as a grade-school teacher and Emily’s as a pediatric occupational therapist, they found ways to add kid-friendly strategies to the KonMari method, and soon Tyler started sharing their decluttering philosophy on thetidydad.com and @tidydad. The family now keeps “just enough” stuff to prevent clutter from coming back into…

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MEAL PLANNING? IS IT WORTH THE EFFORT? GEORGE You can save sanity and money and minimize food waste. You generally eat healthier too since you aren’t relying on drive-throughs. REICH When the meals are planned in advance, they tend to be healthier and the cooking is less stressful. You have a plan when you come home from work. ALKHAS There are many benefits of meal planning, but my favorite is the peace of mind I feel when I know I have everything I need to prepare dinner after a long day of work. DELAP Our goals are often to lose weight and get healthier. Meal planning helps you implement your goals with better food choices and an intentional eating plan. KLEIN You are only shopping once a week for your meals and you know where…

FAMILY OFTEN GATHERS at her dad’s beach home on Washington’s South Puget Sound, so Seattle designer Hayley Francis knew more sleeping space would be a boon for fun family time. She set about turning the garage into an inviting guesthouse and loading it with smart storage features that make the most of limited space. “My first thoughts were built-ins, a window seat with storage underneath, and hidden storage for the microwave,” Francis says. “I was also hoping we could fit a pantry and a bedroom closet—this was my North Star, and we made it all happen and then some!” RESOURCES BEGIN ON PAGE 92. IN THE ZONE CLEVER LAYOUT CHOICES ENHANCE AVAILABLE SPACE.…

“Two to three slim bookcases can work as open lockers—one per family member would be ideal. Add a lift-top ottoman as a place to put on and take off your shoes.”—JAMIE NOVAK, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER CUSTOMIZE STORAGE to suit your family’s needs. Here, a mix of matching elements from a storage line offers both open and closed cubbies, as well as drawer units that double as benches. Storage was personalized for each family member to produce a custom look for less. ASSIGN A HOOK to each family member so everyone knows where their stuff goes—and when it’s time to move overcrowded items elsewhere. (No, you don’t need to hang every coat you own in the mudroom.) If you’ll be hanging heavy backpacks, make sure the hook can hold a good amount of weight. SET…