by April Welch, The Mental Clutter Coach
Finding ways to be organized in the family room {great room, bonus room, living room} can be one of the most difficult projects you take on.
Why?
Because there are so many different organizing personalities using the same space.
{and yes, that picture is the Man Cave in my home ... no adjustments made before the shot}
How to be Organized in the Family Room | deClutter
Let's start at the beginning.
Take a look around.
- Start collecting the garbage into a trash bag
- Sort "stuff that doesn't belong" into piles based on where it needs to go {ex: dishes = kitchen}
- Deliver piles to their destination
How to be Organized in the Family Room | Function
Next, you'll want to look at what's left in the space.
Ask yourself the following
- What do I do in here?
- Who do I do those things with? {other family members, guests, myself}
- Where does it make sense to do those things in this room?
How to be Organized in the Family Room | Maintaining
Finally, keeping up on it.
Here's the deal. When you live in a space, it will never look like a magazine ad. Well, unless you're selling storage containers to your friends ... but I digress.
- You're going to have snacks while you watch TV
- and place dishes or garbage on the convenient surfaces
- You're going to cuddle up under blankets when you're cold
- and leave them sprawled out all over when you sleepily head to bed
- You're going to find a catastrophe after the kiddos have friends over {or girl's night or the Super Bowl or the animals were left home alone all day}
- and wonder what tornado arrived inside your home when you weren't looking
These things happen.
Now.
I give you permission to allow all that to go on under your roof without anxiety.
Why?
Because, this is what life looks like.
How to be Organized in the Family Room | Reality
How do other people do it?
They see things are lying around and they make the time to pick them up.
Oh, and don't get me wrong. I'm not talking about the strict "you must do it this way" regime.
I'm talkin' - you enter the room, notice the blankets & either fold them up and put 'em away or you get back under them ... then fold 'em up & put them away when you're done.
Give yourself a break.
No one is perfect. And a family room is most definitely NOT the place to begin measuring yourself against any sense of normal.
Join me in the conversation below or over on the VolunteerSpot Facebook Page ...
What does your family room look like right now, and what attempts have you made to be organized in that shared space?
Keepin' it Tidy,
April
April is a Mental Clutter Expert | Mom of 2 boys | Wife to 1 Fireman | Horrible Cook | Loyal Friend | National Public Speaker who gives you permission to be imperfect
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