Keeping a Tidy Home with Kids
I have always enjoyed a serene space. Even as a kid, I would reset my room daily. When preparing to have our daughter, I kept hearing “you will never be able to keep your home tidy with a kid”.
If you have also heard this message, I want to tell you that it’s untrue. I’m not saying your house will never be messy—that’s just part of humans (and pets) existing in a space, but you can have systems in place that help you reset it quickly!
There are 3 foundational steps to achieving a tidy home with kids:
Know your storage limits. Whether you have a 4,000 square foot home or a studio apartment, you need to set the limit on how many items can be in there. I always like to ask clients to show me where they want toys stored. Sometimes this is in several places (the child’s bedroom, a playroom, and a shelf or two in the main living area). If you have a smaller home, it could be just one area. Choose the spaces where you want toys to be and only keep what will fit!
Designate a home for everything. If you have a play kitchen or dollhouse, it will take up more space, but make it the official spot for those items. Smaller toys can be contained by category depending on the types you have. Choose the best container for your space, whether that is zippered pouches, wicker baskets, clear bins, or anywhere in between. Whatever best fits the desired aesthetic and meets your storage needs.
Choose what items to keep. Let go of toys that are broken, no longer played with, or are not serving your family (that last one requires a bit more decision-making). I want to remind you that your child doesn’t need free reign of the art supplies if the mess overwhelms you. You don’t need to keep the loud, battery-operated toys if they give you a migraine. They will play with these elsewhere, you’re not obligated to provide every possible play opportunity at home. Your space needs to serve everyone who lives there and if vacuuming glitter out of the carpet every night seems like too much, then it is.
These steps can set you up for success because they set boundaries around how your space best functions. From there, it is just a matter of maintenance and consistency! The biggest tip I have for families after we finish decluttering is to enforce the “one in, one out” rule. Does your child absolutely have to have a new toy? Use this as an opportunity to choose an older one to donate.
Feeling like your playroom is too big of a project to tackle on your own? Get in touch!
