Table of contents for Spring 2023 in BH&G Secrets of Getting Organized

By the time we’ve managed to get everyone out the door in the morning, worked a full day, driven the kids to various activities in the evening, and somehow squeezed in dinner before bed, many of us are left wondering where the time went. The struggle to fit everything in a day is frustratingly real. Although we can’t give you more time, we can help you use the time you have more efficiently. That’s why we’ve packed this issue with time-saving tips from professional organizers and productivity experts. Getting your house organized can help you find more time too. An efficient mudroom (“Easy Entries,” page 36) can simplify getting everyone out the door on time, and an organized pantry (“Pantry Power-Up,” page 54) will expedite finding cooking ingredients. A messy…

STREAMLINE YOUR PHONE Smartphones are powerful tools, but they can also feel as if they’re taking over your life. Learn how to leverage your phone’s features and apps so you can use it effectively and efficiently. REGAIN CONTROL IN THREE STEPS 1 EVALUATE Take a hard look at what is on your phone. Go through your apps—news, email, games, social media. Look at each one, weigh its functionality as well as whether using it makes you feel good or lousy. Delete liberally—you can always bring an app back. 2 ORGANIZE YOUR HOME SCREEN It’s prime real estate. Reserve it for the practical apps and tools you require regularly throughout your day, or any that support habits you hope to build (such as daily meditation). Dedicate the dock or navigation bar…

1 WALL POWER Keep electronics charged and ready with a metal shelf featuring holes for cords. Hang it at eye level so teens will use it. 2 WORKING DECOR Family room storage needs to be attractive and hardworking. Leather-handle drawers look good and hide kids’ art supplies without creating clutter. 3 BASKET CASE Open storage, such as this pair of baskets, collects dog toys and controllers, simplifying cleanup. “If something is hard to put away, we probably won’t do it,” professional organizer Cassandra Aarssen says in Real Life Organizing. “We will set it aside and pile it up to put away later. So make it easy.” 4 HIDDEN VALUE Covertly store hand weights, exercise bands, and a yoga towel in a sturdy bin to make a quick home workout a…

1 UPRIGHT SOLUTIONS Stop tugging on baking sheets, cutting boards, or cooling racks crammed inside a cabinet. Use built-in wood dividers to separate and stand flat items vertically. Wire add-ons are budget-friendly and accomplish the same goal. CLUTTER CURE 30 MINUTES Schedule an extra half hour this week to empty a cabinet or drawer and sort its contents. Have two boxes on hand: one for broken things or trash, the other for donations. Wipe down every item and put things away so you can easily access each item. 2 KEEP ONLY THE GOOD ONES Spices expire in 3–4 years. Store the ones you use most close to where you cook. The rest can go in a less-accessible cabinet. Visit eatbydate.com to help determine when it’s time to toss ingredients. 3…

☑ GET BACK TO BASICS when it comes to your makeup. Lightly apply a tinted moisturizer, then blend in concealer under your eyes. Define your brows with a brow pencil, swipe on a neutral eye shadow, and add a coat of mascara. Use a daytime pink liquid lipstick that works as a blush too. ☐ CLEAN THE VANITY and get rid of old or unused makeup and bath products. Safely dispose of expired medications (search for local disposal sites online). Keep the makeup you use daily within reach—preferably stashed away neatly in a vanity drawer, below, rather than on the countertop. ☐ KEEP ESSENTIALS VISIBLE so they’ll be easy to grab. Items you use multiple times a day can be left on the countertop. Consider making use of available wall…

1 THE REAL DISH Turn a wooden dish rack into a file organizer. Secure the rack with double-sided tape so it doesn’t slide when you’re on the go. 2 METAL METTLE A metal cart comes with benefits beyond sturdy construction. Magnetic organizers, such as spice tins, hold clips and rubber bands and can be placed just about anywhere. 3 CLEAR POSSIBILITIES Quickly find office supplies in see-through drawers and containers. 4 CART-SIDE CADDY Create ride-along storage by repurposing a shower caddy. Pens and pencils are right where you need them. 5 STAND-UP DESIGN Sometimes a laptop isn’t enough. Create a spot for an extra screen, whether it’s a tablet or a monitor. Choose a sturdy stand that can weather regular use. 6 NEARBY NOSH Snacks are a must in any…

WITH SO MUCH EMPTY SPACE, garages are the go-to spot for stashing odds-and-ends, but a messy garage can soon interfere with finishing a quick DIY project or accessing gear for outdoor activities (not to mention parking the car). Dividing this space into sections that work for your household will help you conquer clutter and get your garage in souped-up shape. Start your garage overhaul by going through its contents. Toss broken items and set aside unused items to donate. Then deal with items you’re keeping. Set up zones for sports equipment, gardening gear, tools, and so on. Add rails to walls to maximize vertical storage, and use pegboard and hooks to put tools and cords within reach. Stash chemicals in cabinets. After your system is in place, the whole household…

I FEEL OVERWHELMED AND CAN’T SEEM TO GET THINGS DONE. WHAT CAN I DO? WENDY BUGLIO It’s important to have some compassion for yourself and acknowledge there’s a lot getting in the way of our ability to be productive, and it’s not all in our control. Communicate when you’re feeling overwhelmed and be willing to take a step back. JAMIE STEELE I think we need to reframe how we look at our to-do list. It is a living document and things are never going to all be done. Once we relax into that, we remove some of the stress. HELENE SEGURA Try to rejoice in having this never-ending to-do list because it means you have a full life. And give yourself permission to not do everything today. RACHEL FONTAINE Planning…

A TIME-SAVING, CLUTTER-BUSTING MINI MUDROOM doesn’t have to take up much space near the door. In fact, these three entryways encompass just a swatch of square footage, but they bring great rewards when it comes to efficiency, organization, and style. Common to all three are a few must-haves for today’s families on the go: hooks mounted on the wall for jackets and bags; a cushioned seat for slipping shoes on and off; open shelves for items you need to retrieve quickly; and solid bins for anything that should stay hidden. You can further personalize your drop zone for children, pets, and items your family needs to get out the door—with time to spare. RESOURCES BEGIN ON PAGE 93. MINI MUDROOM 1 COTTAGE CHIC CLUTTER CURE 5 MINUTES Set aside a…

☑ CREATE A BINDER filled with your family’s favorite recipes, right, and use this tool to plan the meals for the week ahead. Be sure to review your calendar as you plan; opt for slow cooker meals on busy nights and try new recipes on evenings you have no activities planned. ☐ POST A WEEKLY MEAL PLAN where everyone can see it, opposite. Under the plan create a station for writing utensils and label-making tools, opposite inset, so you can quickly update shopping lists and put labels on containers of leftovers. ☐ STOCK THE PANTRY with key ingredients so you’ll be ready if your meal planning goes awry. Try to have a variety of pastas, oils, canned tomatoes, beans, broths, fast-cook rices, sauces, taco shells, garlic, onions, and potatoes on…

WHETHER YOURS IS A SPACIOUS WALK-IN area or a single cabinet, a hardworking pantry is about planning, not spending money. Follow three key strategies: SORT IT OUT. Optimize your pantry by first emptying it. Toss expired, stale, and unappetizing items, then group what’s left into categories that are meaningful for your family. “I’m seeing nutrition-minded clients organize using categories like proteins, oils, and sweeteners rather than pasta, canned veggies, and baking supplies,” professional organizer Kathy Jenkins says. THINK BEFORE YOU RESTOCK. Reposition shelves to match the height of items to be stored, and consider limiting shelves to 12 inches deep or shallower. Place foods you eat every day at eye level or just below. Position kid-friendly categories (breakfast, snacks, lunch-making supplies) at appropriate heights. Reserve top shelves for partyware, small…

☑ TRY A CAPSULE WARDROBE by paring down your clothes to essential, well-made basics in a single mix-and-match color palette, opposite. You will have multiple outfit options yet fewer clothes to go through every day. “Limit your wardrobe to a set of nine outfits, work or casual, that you look great in, and rotate them,” efficiency expert Laura Vanderkam says. ☐ THINK AHEAD and assemble the outfit you plan to wear the night before, including undergarments and shoes. Hang your outfit on a hook or valet rod, opposite inset, to help minimize wrinkles. ☐ SIMPLIFY SHOES by limiting your choices, right. Most people wear only four pairs of shoes frequently and waste time trying to find them. Identify your favorites, as well as those worn for a specific purpose or…

1 ROLL CONTROL Stackable acrylic wine storage holders are ideal for managing rolls of trash bags or hand towels. 2 AT THE READY A grab-and-go caddy filled with your top cleaning supplies—from sprays to scrubbers—is always ready to travel to where the work is. Keep it at an easy-to-reach height, and faithfully restock it when items run out. 3 SPIN DOCTOR Versatile lazy Susans can help make sure every corner of a utility closet gets used. This high-side version designed for pantries also works great for holding cleaning supplies upright. 4 FLAT FUNCTION A collapsible bucket and footstool are the ultimate space-savers. Hang them on the interior of a closet door to utilize otherwise overlooked real estate. 5 MEMO BOARD Remember those tasks! Post a schedule for seasonal home maintenance…

JANINE ADAMS Certified Professional Organizer Janine Adams has been helping clients in St. Louis get organized since 2005. She is the owner of Peace of Mind Organizing, whose organizing team helps clients create dramatic changes in their homes. She blogs regularly at peaceofmindorganizing.com and organizeyourfamilyhistory.com and, with life coach Shannon Wilkinson, cohosts the podcast Getting to Good Enough about overcoming perfectionism. JANINE ADAMS, CPO, PEACE OF MIND ORGANIZING, ST. LOUIS; PEACEOFMINDORGANIZING.COM WENDY BUGLIO Wendy Buglio is a Certified Professional Organizer, Productivity Consultant, and Move Manager. She brings 15 years of industry experience to her leadership role at Wendy Buglio Consulting, a team of professional organizers serving clients in the Greater Boston area. With her nonjudgmental approach and calming energy (combined with a healthy dose of reality and a sense of…

1 REFRAME YOUR MORNING Take a few moments to eat with your family and check on the day’s schedule. “Mornings can be a good time to enjoy one another’s company,” time-management expert Laura Vanderkam says. “Family dinner may not happen if life after school or work is hectic, but family breakfast can happen. That’s quality time together.” 2 GIVE EVERYONE A SPACE Whether it’s a hook or a cubby, assign a place to hold each person’s jacket, bag, gear, etc., so they can find and put away things quickly. “That spot remains sacred: Coats, backpacks, and shoes come off and stay there,” Vanderkam says. 3 TURN IT INTO A GAME Coaxing young kids to get dressed on their own—or even older kids to tie their shoes—can be a struggle. Have…

”If you have a hall closet, use a set of plastic drawers on the floor for rags, treats, and other dog stuff. Label each drawer so everyone can find what they need.”—RACHEL FONTAINE, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER ☑ DESIGNATE A HOOK by the door for hanging leashes, opposite. Set a regular time and route to walk each day so your dog knows how long it has to do its business. “If you’re regimented with your pet, they will fall in line and you can time that,” professional organizer Kathy Jenkins says. ☐ CREATE A FOLDER to help keep track of pet-related tasks. Give them their own color-coded folder for medical and grooming records and adoption papers. Set an ongoing reminder on your phone for their routine grooming times. Or download a printable…

”When you set aside roughly 20 minutes each night to prep for the next day, you make the morning routine a little less stressful.”—HOLLY REISEM HANNA, AUTHOR, TIME MANAGEMENT IN 20 MINUTES A DAY ☑ PLAN AHEAD and save time by using the tools and appliances you already have more efficiently. Learn how to set your coffeemaker’s timer so it will brew your java when you hop into the shower. Or prep extra hot water in the teakettle so you have enough for your drink and your instant cereal. ☐ DECANT PANTRY STAPLES such as cereals, dried fruit, nuts, and granola in clear, closed containers. You’ll keep them fresher longer and know exactly how much you have. Keep cereal handy so kids can get their own breakfast in the morning…

KEEP THINGS ACCESSIBLE and you can turn your space-starved kitchen into an efficient powerhouse. Our featured kitchens transform precious square footage into hard-working zones that save time and energy—as these two examples demonstrate. Kitchen No. 1, right, uses well-planned details to streamline cooking. Open shelves put dishes within arm’s reach. A petite kitchen island with doors on two sides saves valuable steps by stashing cookware close to the range and fridge. The microwave is placed at a height where kids can reach it and help with food prep. The designers even used five spare inches by the range to keep cookbooks handy, below. Maybe the smartest detail of all: This double-duty kitchen opens up to the dining room so adults can make dinner and supervise homework at the same time.…

1 IN FULL VIEW A magnifying mirror speeds up the grooming process. Position it on the mirror or wall with hook-and-loop fasteners so you can pull it off to hold closer when needed. 2 STICK TO IT Use a magnetic pad to hold high-use items like tweezers and clippers and stop digging through drawers to find them. 3 EASY TO REACH This guy-friendly, repositionable catchall takes messy stuff off the counter with designated places for a ring, razor, toothbrush, and toothpaste. 4 GATHERING PLACE Streamline the countertop with a multilevel valet that offers spots for jewelry, glasses, and a phone. 5 LAYERS OF ORGANIZATION Gather similar items under the sink in small drawers. “Stackable bins and baskets can help you keep all the items under the sink organized and grouped…

”It is so helpful to have your to-do cleaning list written down. Otherwise it’s easy to ignore or forget. If you have it on paper—even virtual paper—it’ll help you stay on task.”—MELISSA MAKER, AUTHOR OF CLEAN MY SPACE ☑ CORRAL GEAR by making up a cleaning caddy that has all the supplies you need. You can put together a general one, opposite, or create one with specialty supplies for specific spaces like the kitchen or bath. “Look for a caddy that will easily fit in the space you intend to keep it,” cleaning expert Becky Rapinchuk says. ☐ CLEAN SURFACES regularly. Wipe down kitchen counters, the sink, all appliance handles, knobs, and switchplates with a microfiber cloth and your favorite disinfectant or a cleaning wipe. Then tackle bathroom surfaces, including…

DOING THE LAUNDRY CAN SOMETIMES FEEL NEVER-ENDING. How do you make it easier? “The key is to find a system that works for your family and your lifestyle,” says declutter expert Dana K. White. “Many people like to do a single load, all the way through, each day. I do much better with a weekly laundry day. Then I have a goal to get the laundry finished so I stay focused.” Organizing expert Kate Martin prefers to set a new frame of mind: “Use your washer and dryer as mini breaks for your busy day.” Martin suggests setting a reminder on your phone to add clothes, switch machines, fold, and put everything away. “One load a day gives you healthy stretch breaks, a complete cycle finished, and a more productive…

ON THE COVER Clock Epy Huts, small yellow clutch WOZEAH—Amazon; amazon.com. Large yellow purse, narrow white bin (bottom middle)—Target; target.com. Calendar—Staples; staples.com. Bin with wood handle—Yamazaki; theyamazakihome.com. Pages 30–31 ENTRY + LIVING OPENER Wall color SW 6908 Fun Yellow—Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com [P]. Clock Epy Huts, small yellow clutch WOZEAH—Amazon; amazon.com. Large yellow purse, narrow white bin (bottom middle)—Target; target.com. Calendar—Staples; staples.com. Bin with wood handle—Yamazaki; theyamazakihome.com. Pages 34–35 FAST + EASY FIXES: FAMILY GAME STATION Console Nolan Entryway Console in dark walnut + antique bronze—West Elm; westelm.com. Banner Keep It Wild Championship Banner—Oxford Pennant; oxfordpennant.com. Storage boxes Bigso Linen, stacking bins Like-It Brick Bins, water hyacinth bins—The Container Store; containerstore.com. Remote control organizer rack—Yamazaki; theyamazakihome.com. Toilet paper holder (similar available)—Lowe’s; lowes.com. Large floor basket Better Homes & Gardens—Walmart; walmart.com. Woven rug, table lamp Knox Adjustable Shaded Table Lamp, shower caddy Command Shower Caddy,…

EASY TO ACCESS Storage cubes attached to the wall and a standing desk carve out a convenient place for paying bills, sorting mail, and filing important papers. 1 STANDING DESK This slim desk features open cubbies that provide easy access to a laptop and essential office supplies. A barstool offers a comfy spot to perch. 2 MAIL SLOTS Include labeled mail slots for each family member so everyone can grab their mail on the way into the house. 3 SLEEK BINDERS Organize paperwork by year or family member in binders and hide the mess. 4 PERSONAL GEAR Dedicate a cubby at floor level for shoes and bags to keep the area looking tidy. RESOURCES BEGIN ON PAGE 93.…