When you're living with a big family, it's all too easy for your home to fall into chaos. Clutter and mess multiply, schedules get out of hand, and it can feel impossible to keep things running smoothly. But with some savvy organization hacks, you can wrangle the chaos and keep your big household under control! Here are seven home organization tips to help make managing a large family a little easier.
1. Create Personal Zones
Give each person in your family their own personalized storage zones around the house. Set up bins, baskets, or shelving cubbies in common living areas where each child can keep their special toys, books, art supplies, etc. Make sure everyone has their own space - kids and adults alike! When each person's belongings have a designated home, it keeps clutter from taking over the whole house. Personal zones help kids learn to take responsibility for their own messes too.
2. Label Everything
Take the time to clearly label all storage bins, shelves, drawers and more with words and/or pictures. This helps even young kids know exactly where things belong for easy clean-up. You'll save time by not having to repeatedly remind kids where their toys go. A labeled storage system also helps kids become more independent in keeping their zones tidy.
3. Schedule Regular Purging Sessions
Even the most organized homes can easily become chaotic disaster zones when you've got a big family. Make decluttering a habit by scheduling regular family purging sessions. Have everyone go through their personal zones and decide what toys, clothes, or other items they no longer need. You can then either sell or donate the items you come up with. Getting rid of the excess creates more space and less mess!
4. Get Creative with Storage Solutions
Use your creativity to come up with storage solutions for corralling all the stuff that comes with a big family life. Baskets, bins, cupboards, shelving units, hooks and more can all help you organize possessions and keep spaces clutter-free. For shared living areas, choose storage furniture like shelving units with doors and drawers to conveniently tuck away kid clutter.
5. Streamline Cleaning
With lots of people making messes, chores take longer. Make daily and weekly cleaning more manageable by stocking cleaning supplies around the house. Create checklists of tasks and divide them up so no one person gets burned out. Making tidying up a quick family affair - maybe even a game - makes it feel less like a chore.
6. Use a Shared Family Calendar
Staying on top of everyone's activities, appointments and schedules can be tough. To save stress, keep it straight with a shared family calendar that's always accessible. Take time each week to compare schedules and coordinate who needs to be where and when. Avoid double-booking kids for less driving around and less confusion.
7. Rent Storage Units as Needed
Even in the most organized home, you sometimes simply need more space. Renting storage units is ideal for stashing away off-season gear, holiday decorations, memorabilia and keepsakes. It also gives kids more bedroom space if they're bursting at the seams. Allowing each person to neatly tuck some belongings into storage helps reduce clutter overwhelm. With locations in more than ten states, Bolt storage is a fantastic option for many families.
With a little planning and creativity, you can find organizational solutions that work for your family's unique needs. Implementing these handy home organization hacks will help restore order, reduce stress, and let you enjoy the wild ride of big family life! What are you waiting for?
