The Kids Are Back at School — Now What About the House?
The backpacks are packed, the alarm clocks are back on, and the kids are finally settling into their school routine. After a summer of vacations, pool days, camps, sleepovers and a generally more relaxed pace, this is a great time to turn your attention back to the house.
Beach bags are still hanging around. Pool floats have somehow multiplied. Suitcases are technically unpacked... except for the three mystery items still sitting in the bottom. And summer clothes seem to be occupying every drawer, whether anyone is still wearing them or not.
But this time of year can be a really satisfying one for getting organized.
Fall is just around the corner. Cooler evenings, cozy nights at home, fluffy throw blankets, fireplaces, campfires, pumpkin everything, Halloween, Thanksgiving... all the good stuff is coming.
So rather than thinking of this as a giant organizing project, think of it as getting your home ready for Fall.
You don't have to organize the entire house.
Start by Gathering the Summer Stuff
Walk through the house and gather anything that was used mainly during the summer months.
That might include:
- Beach bags and towels
- Swimsuits and cover-ups
- Pool toys and floats
- Goggles and water shoes
- Coolers and picnic supplies
- Travel bags and suitcases
- Travel-size toiletries
- Camping equipment
- Summer sports equipment
- Seasonal clothing and shoes
- Outdoor games and toys
The important part is to bring similar things together before deciding where they should live.
When belongings are scattered around the house, it is difficult to see how much you have. Once everything is together, you may discover duplicates, damaged items or things the family has simply outgrown.
And sometimes you discover that apparently your household owns fourteen pairs of goggles!!
Before you put anything away, ask yourself:
Did we use this over the summer?
If the answer is no, consider whether it really needs to be stored for another year.
A broken pool float doesn't need nine more months in the garage. The swimsuit your child has outgrown doesn't need to go back into a storage bin. And those nearly empty bottles of sunscreen probably don't deserve valuable shelf space until next June.
Decluttering before storing means that when summer comes around again, you are opening containers filled with things you want and use.
Give Seasonal Items a Proper Home
Once you know what you are keeping, decide where those items will live until they are needed again.
Try to keep similar items together rather than simply filling whatever empty storage space you can find.
Create one clearly defined area for pool and beach equipment, another for travel supplies, and another for camping gear.
Label containers so that next summer you don't have to open six bins looking for one beach towel, or the beach bucket and shovel set.
And think about where you store things.
Items that won't be touched for several months don't need prime real estate. Everyday spaces should be reserved for the things you are currently using.
Moving summer equipment out of the way creates room for what's coming next.
And that means making space for the Fall things you want to see and use — the cozy blankets, the fire pit supplies, the boots, the jackets and perhaps that collection of pumpkins and candles that somehow gets a little larger every year.
Don't Forget the Suitcases
Suitcases are particularly good at lingering after a vacation.
They are unpacked... mostly.
Then they sit in a bedroom, hallway or closet with a few forgotten items still tucked inside.
Before putting your luggage away, empty it completely.
Return toiletries to the bathroom, chargers to their proper place, clothing to closets and drawers, and travel documents to wherever you keep important paperwork.
This is also a good opportunity to create a small travel kit containing the things you use every time you go away. Travel-size toiletries, luggage tags, packing cubes or other frequently used travel items can live together so you are not rebuilding the same collection before every trip.
With Fall Break on the horizon, your future self may be very grateful.
Make the Seasonal Clothing Transition Gradually
Here in Georgia, the beginning of Fall doesn't necessarily mean sweater weather.
We can be mentally ready for boots and scarves while the thermometer has other ideas.
So, there is no need to perform a dramatic summer-to-Fall wardrobe swap overnight.
Instead, start by removing the clothing you already know won't be needed again.
Look for items that are:
- Outgrown
- Worn out
- Uncomfortable
- Never worn
- No longer wanted
Donate what is still in good condition and discard or recycle what isn't.
If you're not sure where to donate clothing and household items locally, look at the Resources Page on our website for suggestions and organizations that may be able to put those items to good use.
Then gradually introduce cooler-weather clothing as temperatures begin to change.
This makes the seasonal transition much easier than trying to reorganize every closet in one day — while also avoiding the problem of packing away every pair of shorts just before Georgia decides to give us another 90-degree afternoon.
Now Tackle the Back-to-School Drop Zone
Once the summer clutter is under control, turn your attention to the new clutter arriving through the door every afternoon.
Backpacks.
Shoes.
Lunch boxes.
Water bottles.
Sports bags.
School papers.
Jackets.
And at least one completely unexplained piece of paper that apparently must be signed by tomorrow morning.
If these items don't have an obvious home, they will usually land on the nearest chair, kitchen counter, dining table or floor.
That's where a simple back-to-school drop zone can make a big difference.
A drop zone doesn't have to be elaborate or Pinterest-perfect. It simply needs to make it easy for everyone in the household to put things where they belong.
Depending on your home, it might include:
- Hooks for backpacks and jackets
- A basket or cubby for each child
- A designated place for shoes
- A spot for lunch boxes and water bottles
- A tray or file for papers that need a parent's attention
- A place for sports or activity equipment
- A charging station for school devices
The best location is usually close to the door your family uses.
Make It Easy Enough to Use
One of the biggest pitfalls we can make when organizing is creating a system that requires too many steps.
If a child must open a closet door, remove a container, lift a lid, move something else and carefully place their backpack inside... we probably know where that backpack is going to end up.
On the floor.
A hook may work better than a hanger.
An open basket may work better than a drawer.
A simple paper tray may work better than an elaborate filing system.
The goal is not to create a beautiful system that nobody follows.
The goal is to create a system that fits the way your family lives.
Because an organizing system only works if people are willing to use it.
Get Excited About the Season Ahead
There is something wonderful about preparing your home for a new season.
You're not simply putting away pool towels.
You're making room for evenings curled up under a soft blanket.
You're clearing the garage so you can find the fire pit supplies when friends come over.
You're creating a home for the backpacks so the kitchen counter can go back to being used to prepare those delicious S'mores.
You're clearing away the remnants of summer so that when Fall Break, Halloween and Thanksgiving arrive, you have space to enjoy them.
It doesn't need to be perfect.
Put on some music. Open a window if the Georgia humidity allows it. Make yourself something nice to drink. Get the family involved if they're willing — or take advantage of the fact that they're all out of the house!
Start small.
Put away the pool equipment.
Empty the suitcase.
Sort through one drawer of summer clothes.
Create a home for the backpacks.
Clear one surface that has been collecting clutter all summer.
Every little bit you do now makes the next season easier.
And If It All Feels a Bit Overwhelming...
Sometimes you know exactly what needs to be done — you just don't know where to start.
Or perhaps you've started three times and somehow ended up surrounded by piles, wondering why you ever opened that closet in the first place.
That's okay.
If any or all of this feels overwhelming, reach out to us for a complimentary chat.
Tell us what's frustrating you, what you'd love your home to feel like, and where you're getting stuck. Maybe we can help.
Fall should be something to look forward to.
So, make a little space, clear away a little clutter, pull out those fluffy throw blankets and get ready to enjoy it.
Sometimes getting organized isn't about creating more storage.
It's simply about giving the things you use a proper place — and letting go of the things you no longer need.
A Few Helpful Finds
You certainly don't need to buy new products to get organized. In fact, we always recommend deciding what you need to organize first and choosing storage products afterwards.
But if you're creating a back-to-school drop zone, here are a few simple products that may help:
Wall Hooks for Backpacks & Jackets A straightforward option for keeping backpacks, jackets and activity bags off the floor and easy to grab on the way out.
Natural Woven Storage Baskets Useful for cubbies, shelves, shoes, seasonal accessories and all those smaller items that otherwise seem to wander around the house.
Stackable Paper Trays A simple way to create a designated home for school papers, forms, homework and anything that needs a parent's attention.
Please note: A Proper Sort is not affiliated with these products, manufacturers, sellers or Amazon, and we do not receive any commission or other compensation if you make a purchase. These links are provided simply as examples of products that may be useful. We cannot guarantee product availability, quality, suitability or a particular organizing outcome. Every home and household is different, so always choose products that work for your own space, needs and budget.
Written by Joanne Benson, owner of A Proper Sort LLC. More articles · Get in touch