How to Get Your Home in Order

*Inside my pantry, image by* *Folchi Creative*

I have one word, and one word only. Baskets. Ok, I’ll elaborate. Baskets, bins, jars, containers — the list is actually endless. These are the (not so) secret items used in all areas of my home to maintain streamlined organization. Not to mention, these items promote sustainability in many different ways. In the pantry, if using jars to store grains/nuts/seeds/etc, you’re cutting out plastic by purchasing from the bulk section of the grocery store (hopefully using reusable muslin bags), and transferring the food directly to your jars. In the fridge, if using baskets to store produce front and center, you’re less likely to let the food go bad because it doesn’t get lost in the back of the fridge or produce drawer.

Read on to discover the many other ways I organize my home, and for tips and product suggestions on how you can conquer the clutter. Keep in mind, you don’t need to head out and purchase tons of product to get organized. Start with what you have, find bins around your home, and declutter things you don’t actually need.

PS: When shopping SISTAIN, use code EMMA10 for 10% off!

DECLUTTER

First things first: take a good look around and decide which items stay and which items go. If you declutter before you organize, the process will be much smoother, trust me! I’m not saying you need to become a minimalist by any means. I have many things in my home that disqualify me from a minimalist title; my favorites being my coffee table books, ceramics (mugs, bowls + vases), wooden trays for hosting, gardening supplies, and more. I’m a big advocate in collecting what you love! But when the time comes to declutter, a couple of my favorite resources on the how-to are:

Wellness Blogger: Jules Acree
Minimalism Lifestyle Author: Shira Gill
Interior Designer: Natalie Walton

These women encourage intentional living by curating a space in which you feel at peace. Whether that means simplified interiors or cleared countertops, figure out what brings you peace, and thrive.

2. ORGANIZE, ROOM BY ROOM

IN THE PANTRY

Utilizing glass jars, seagrass baskets, and bins from The Container Store (which are plastic, but we plan to have them for a longgg time), we store our bulk food, packaged goods and back-stock items. We use bamboo turntables for cans, nut butters, spices and supplements for easy access and visibility.

Product Suggestions: bamboo canisters found here, glass jars found here

IN THE FRIDGE

Small jute baskets hold our fresh produce front and center. I’ve been asked if the produce stays good if not in the produce drawer, and I’m glad to say they do! Having fresh ingredients and snacks at the front of the fridge encourages healthy eating. We also utilize plastic bins to hold eggs, condiments, and cans. Again, we plan to keep these bins for a longgg time. #progressoverperfection

Product Suggestions: seal tight containers found here, jute baskets found here

UNDER THE KITCHEN SINK

Cleaning supplies can be a tough one to organize. There always seems to be tons of different things you “need.” I’ve recently streamlined our home’s cleaning process to a more sustainable one, and here’s a list of the items we use:

Branch Basics all purpose cleaner; one bottle is refillable with a solution + water
Branch Basics glass cleaner; one bottle is refillable with the same solution (just less of it) + water
Blueland dishwasher tablets stored in a metal tin to last years
Molly’s Suds stain remover (non-toxic ingredients in a sustainable bottle)
- We also use their laundry powder and LOVE it
Grove compostable kitchen wipes for quick cleaning emergencies (much needed living with a baby and a husband)

And that’s (mostly) IT. These cleaners live in one bin along with SISTAIN’s natural loofas, compost bags for our compost bin (from SISTAIN), and recycled plastic trash bags (from Grove). The less items/cleaners you have, the easier to store in a single bin. A couple dish brushes (this and this) also live under the sink in a ceramic vase with drainage holes.

Product Suggestions: steel organization bin found here, ceramic vase found here, metal tin found here

FOR THE KID TOYS

Throw all the kid toys in a basket and call it a day. Kidding, kind of. We have Ev’s soft toys in a large natural-fiber basket, and his structured + wooden toys in our media console. Both live in the living room, ready for him to grab when he wants. We are encouraging a Montessori style of learning and play, where Everett can choose what he wants to interact with to develop a realm of skillsets. More on that in an upcoming article!

Product Suggestions: natural-fiber basket found here in size large

As you can probably tell, I love to create streamlined systems within a home. Organization brings clarity to the mind, and peace to the physical space. If you’re ever in need of an organization consultation, please reach out! I’d love to help. And like I said before, please don’t run out and purchase tons of organizational tools (baskets, bins, containers, etc) until you’ve decluttered your space, assessed what you need, and really decided what tools to have for the long-term. Always remember, #progressoverperfection

How to Get Your Home in Order