​It’s almost that time again! In a few short weeks, the kids will be headed back to school. Is your home ready to handle the influx of backpacks, supplies, instruments, and sports equipment? When it comes to getting ready to go back to school, the name of the game is Organization:

1. Clean out and organize closets and drawers. No one likes to sift through piled up clothes and try to guess if they’re clean, dirty, or if they even fit anymore. Donate old clothes and shoes to charity, put up hooks for belts and hats, buy a shoe rack, and designate drawers for each type of clothing item. Getting dressed goes so much smoother when everything has its place and is easily accessible. 

2. Clean out and organize the bathroom. Bathroom sharing can be quite a headache on school mornings. Disorganization, expired products, and empty bottles certainly don’t help. Categorize your products in drawers or on shelves. Maybe even have a basket for each member of the family’s personal toiletries. Invest in a good shower caddy or shelves. Bite the bullet and fold and put away towels and washcloths in their proper place so they’re ready for use.

3. Create a homework area or work station. Whether your child prefers to study quietly at a desk in their room or in the middle of the action at the kitchen table, having an organized workstation is essential for homework success. Along with a sturdy table or desk, have a set of shelves equipped with baskets or bins for organizing school supplies. Add a cork board with pushpins for important reminders. Don’t forget to have good lighting and a comfortable chair.

4. Create a breakfast/lunch/snack station. Grab-n-go foods are an integral part of the school year, especially if you’re preparing lunches at home. Set aside a section of your kitchen island or cabinets that has all your kids’ breakfast and snack foods easily accessible. Prepare lunches the night before and make space in the fridge for lunch boxes. Have a designated place close by where lunchboxes are stored.

5. Create a mudroom or drop zone. There’s nothing worse than cast-off backpacks and shoes all over the house. Whether you have a designated mudroom or simply an entryway, you can outfit it for back to school success with a few simple modifications. Hooks are essential for backpacks, bags, and jackets. If you have the room, add a combo shelf/bench/cubby unit for storing shoes, sports equipment, and instruments. If space is limited, try a console table with baskets underneath for storage. Also invest in a good rug to protect your floors from scratches and dirt.

​Follow these tips to help keep chaos and stress at bay and make the school year smoother for everyone in your household. 

​More often than we’d probably like, we find ourselves in the laundry room. It’s often a dreaded chore, but it must be done. Does your laundry room leave you feeling lost in a sea of mismatched socks, towels, hampers, and stinky gym clothes? If so, we hope to share some tips to make your laundry room inviting and efficient. 
 
No matter what the size of your laundry room, one of the most important features is storage. The area above the washer and dryer has so much potential for this. This is a great spot to hang a clothing rod, a shelf with baskets, or even install a cabinet unit to store supplies within easy reach. If your laundry room has room for counter space, utilize it for a folding area; or, if you have a front-loading washer and dryer, you can also consider installing a countertop above your machines. This also makes for a great folding and sorting area. Need drying racks? Two space-saving options are a hanging rack that folds out from the wall or a pull-out drawer rack.
 
Of course, we can’t talk laundry without mentioning clothes hampers. A stylish free-standing clothes hamper can add a personal touch to your laundry room. This kind of hamper comes in many shapes, textures, and sizes ranging from wicker to plastic, and even metal. If you need a more space-efficient hamper, you can put those floor cabinets to good use by installing a pull-out, drawer-style hamper. Another option is a floor unit with cubbies for laundry baskets.
 
Another crucial element to your laundry room is flooring. Laundry rooms are exposed to water, chemicals, mud, and dirt, so the flooring in these spaces needs to be durable. There is also potential for water leaks from the washing machine and scratched floors from shaky machines. Here are some flooring options to consider for the laundry room:

• Ceramic or porcelain tile (water resistant).
• WPC (waterproof) flooring, rigid core, or vinyl planks
• Luxury vinyl (waterproof)

 
All of these options are available in wood or tile looks and even decorative patterns.
 
With the right storage, organization, and a little style, you can make your laundry room more efficient and enjoyable. Call us today to get your project started! 256.231.0008.