Skip to content

Top Navigation

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Food
  • Holidays & Entertaining
  • Home & Garden
  • Style & Culture
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Southern Living

Southern Living Southern Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Most Popular Hairstyles of 2021

      The Most Popular Hairstyles of 2021

      The trendy haircuts you’ll be seeing everywhere this year. Read More
    • How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      How To Season A Cast-Iron Skillet

      Learn how to season this Southern kitchen staple in five easy steps. Read More
    • The Right Way to Heat a Pre-Cooked Ham

      The Right Way to Heat a Pre-Cooked Ham

      It's so easy, trust us. Read More
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    How Long Do Deviled Eggs Last in the Fridge?

    How Long Do Deviled Eggs Last in the Fridge?

    Best practices for dealing with deviled eggs
    • All Food
    • All Recipes
    • Holidays & Occasions
    • Quick Fix Suppers
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Casseroles
    • Healthy Recipes
  • Holidays & Entertaining

    Holidays & Entertaining

    See All Holidays & Entertaining
    70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart

    70 Wedding Vow Examples That Will Melt Your Heart

    Fight writer's block and find ways to express your love with these romantic, funny, and short wedding vow examples.
    • Christmas
    • Entertaining
    • Thanksgiving
    • Southern Weddings
    • Easter
    • Kentucky Derby
    • Valentine's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Mother's Day
  • Home & Garden

    Home & Garden

    See All Home & Garden
    30 Containers for Covered Porches That Will Thrive in the Shade

    30 Containers for Covered Porches That Will Thrive in the Shade

    Some containers have all the sun. These shady planters, though, are having plenty of fun sans sun. We’ve gathered all of our favorite shade-loving containers to inspire your planting this season. If you have a shady yard or want to perk up a shaded spot in your home, at your front door, on your porch, or around your patio, put together a pretty shade-loving container that’s also easy to care for. Plants like caladiums and creeping Jenny will thrive in the shade, and they’ll also add great color and movement to your planters. If you’re looking for the best plants for the shade and great flowers that thrive in shade, also reach for impatiens, coleus, sweet potato vines, mazus, vincas, torenias, violas, petunias, pansies, hellebores (Lenten roses), hostas, astilbes, and trilliums. They look great and will thrive in full to partial shade. Shade-loving flowers aren’t too hard to find. Ask around at your local garden store, and you’ll be able to locate the ingredients and put together any one of these shade-tolerant container ideas. Also, in regards to your container, don’t forget to think vertical. We love pots and planters, but a hanging basket is another great option, as is an elevated planter, which will make a statement and take advantage of any vertical space.
    • Home Decor Ideas
    • Idea Houses
    • Before & After
    • Inspired Communities
    • Curb Appeal
    • House Plans & Builders
    • The Grumpy Gardener
    • Plant Names A-Z
  • Style & Culture

    Style & Culture

    See All Style & Culture
    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    70 Cute and Funny Nicknames For Your Best Friends

    Let your besties know how much they mean to you with these unique nicknames.
    • Southern Culture
    • Hair
    • Travel
    • Beauty
    • Pets
    • Southern Fashion
    • Healthy Living
  • News
  • Video

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Southern Living Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

LIVE
  1. Southern Living
  2. Home
  3. Home Organization
  4. WATCH: 10 Shortcuts to an Organized Home

WATCH: 10 Shortcuts to an Organized Home

By Caitlin Murphree Miller
November 11, 2016
Skip gallery slides
Save FB Tweet
Mudroom
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn
Declutter your home and give life to your inner neat freak with these 10 too-easy-to-not-do tips.If your life is hectic, join the club: Between kids, homework, housework, and ever-demanding jobs, nobody has time to organize on the go, and everyone knows how easy it is to let the mail pile up, the laundry get out of control, and the dishwasher remain perpetually full. The pie-in-the-sky dream of most homeowners is to focus on the eventual purge and redo of their homes—that “one day” you’ll get to that overflowing laundry room, or that “one day” you’ll get the kids to make their own beds. While many people feel as if a clean and organized home is only the result of a weekly cleaning crew and a personal organizer, do yourself a favor and design the smart way, adopting these ten clever keep-tidy tricks so you never have to spend hard-earned weekend hours cleaning and organizing. Once your rooms are working harder (and your habits fall in line), your life will be tidier than you ever imagined.
Start Slideshow

1 of 11

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

10 Shortcuts to an Organized Home

Declutter your home and give life to your inner neat freak with these 10 too-easy-to-not-do tips.

1 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 11

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Keep Clothes Off the Floor

Green and White Bathroom
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Looking to manage a tiny bathroom shared by multiple members of the family? One large, easily accessibly hamper tempts those who typically step out of their clothes—and never look back—to chuck them where they belong. A sizable hamper such as this one, fashioned in a nubby natural material (a nod to the room’s bamboo roman shade and countertop wicker basket), serves a utilitarian purpose while also adding visual interest and texture to the room.

2 of 11

3 of 11

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Keep Beds Made and Nightstands Clear

Blue and Green Master Bedroom
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

The secret to a neat home (and a future good night’s sleep) is a freshly made bed and an organized nightstand. If you can’t imagine yourself fully making the bed each and every morning, at least make an effort to pull up your sheets and comforter daily, when you get out of bed. Once you get used to that habit, you may find that it takes only a little extra effort to finish the process. For your nightstand, focus on keeping only must-haves close at hand: a lamp, paper and pen, and your nighttime read. Utilize bedside drawers to store away everything else.

3 of 11

Advertisement

4 of 11

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Make Your Mudroom Multitask

Mudroom
Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Designed to stand up to dirty shoes, this mudroom is a go-to place for dropping bags, boxes, and coats during the rush of a busy day. In a high-traffic area, it’s important not only to spruce up the look, but also to make it less prone to disarray. Baskets store out-of-season accessories, such as winter accessories in the summer and swimming supplies in the winter, while a long bench creates an easy spot for taking off and putting on shoes (reminding adults and kids alike to discard muddy shoes near the door). Well-placed hooks keep coats and backpacks off the floor.

4 of 11

5 of 11

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Limit Your Laundry

Laundry Room with Blue Doors
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Believe it or not, sometimes the lack of a sprawling laundry room can be a blessing in disguise. Housing a front-loading washer and dryer in a wide closet—where louvered doors can close at any time to conceal the dirty work—creates an efficient, hard-working space with limited junk zones. A compact space like this demands good clutter management; this means that forgotten dirty clothes can’t pile up, and a deep-set hanging rack—while perfect for drying delicate clothing—is small enough to avoid becoming overflow closet space for the house. To minimize clutter, take advantage of vertical space (as shown here with lots of open shelving), and put laundry supplies in pretty glass jars so that you’ll always know when you’re running low. The green pail is a handy catchall for dryer sheets and wayward socks, while a painted wooden countertop can be used for folding and sorting.

5 of 11

6 of 11

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Make your Entryway More Efficient

Organized Entry

Arguably one of the most visible (and visited) areas in a home, the front entryway is crucial to an organized home—it’s a go-to spot where guests and family members corral hats, umbrellas, keys, and important mail. Many homes today don’t have a formal entry, but it’s easy to create the feel of one with a scaled-down vignette in a front hall or an area beside the door. It’s important for every item in a small entry to have a purpose: Here, a hand-carved wooden box holds car and house keys, a table lamp illuminates the hallway at night, and a bamboo tray serves as a catchall for mail and other belongings. With its curvy edges, this neutral table bears plenty of surface space but also stays comfortably out of the way. Also consider adding pieces that are pretty and practical: This bamboo hat rack provides ample hanging space, and the umbrella stand—though seemingly a thing of the past—adds much-needed storage.

6 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 11

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Create a Command Center

Make Paint Functional
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

To tame clutter and tackle your family’s endless to-do lists, consider incorporating a command center—including a work space, a spot for notes, and organized storage—along previously unused space, such as a long empty wall, an awkward kitchen corner, or a hallway nook. Here, this home’s command center includes a built-in desk and storage, but the same function could easily be achieved with a freestanding desk and cabinet combo. A coat of simple magnetic chalkboard paint above the desk provides a spot for notes, grocery lists, and weeknight recipe ideas.

7 of 11

8 of 11

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Keep Linen Storage Tidy

Stocked Wooden Linen Cabinet
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Usually the scene of strewed-about sheets and castaway pillows, the linen closet is often the soft and fluffy version of a junk drawer. Employ a closet or armoire with tall shelves to make putting up laundry a breeze. The height keeps bedding in plain view, helping prevent blind ransacking of sheets. Assign a shelf for each room so that all members of the family can grab their own linens. To keep things looking crisp, also consider using all-white bath and hand towels. Tip: Tired of folding fitted sheets? Wrap each one inside its coordinating fat sheet for crisp, finished stacks.

8 of 11

9 of 11

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Declutter Your Closet

Closet Organization
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

One way to tackle everyday clutter, especially in a small space, is to demand that your closets work harder. In a shallow closet such as this one, consider moving little-used long formal dresses and coats to a separate location and installing shelves in the bottom half for holding shoes and handbags. Above the shelves, hang tops only. When everything is in plain sight—meaning no more shoving things in the back—it’s harder to lose track of your belongings. At least once a year, make an effort to purge your closet of any clothes, shoes, and accessories you haven’t touched in the past 12 months.

9 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 11

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Utilize Every Inch

Lindsey Beatty Kitchen
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Kitchens are often pressed for space—particularly for growing families—so keep little-used items (like cake platters, pitchers, vases, and large holiday serving pieces) out of your usual cabinet storage spots. Here, utilizing built-in storage in a traditionally unused space above the refrigerator means that you’ll free up spots in your easier-to-reach cabinets for food, dishes, and everyday service ware. Just like your personal closet space, go through kitchen cabinets at least once a year to remove worn-out, broken, or no longer used items, either giving them away, storing them elsewhere for future use (think outgrown baby bottles or kids’ cutlery), or tossing them altogether.

10 of 11

11 of 11

Save FB Tweet
Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

Tame the Tech

Organize TV Cabinet
Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Thanks to wires, cable boxes, game stations, and numerous remote controls, an entertainment center can quickly become cluttered and disorganized. But, if you arrange it in an intentional and stylish way, it can become a part of the aesthetic of your home. Lighten up an old wood armoire by painting the inside a soft color in a flat finish (to limit reflection), and mount a TV at eye level with cords routed through a hole in the back of the cabinet. To make the space feel less tech focused, colorful books are stacked in orderly groupings. Unsightly items, such as remote controls, are hidden away in decorative boxes. The best part: You can always close up the cabinet to hide its contents during a last-minute cleanup.

11 of 11

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Caitlin Murphree Miller

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 11 10 Shortcuts to an Organized Home
    2 of 11 Keep Clothes Off the Floor
    3 of 11 Keep Beds Made and Nightstands Clear
    4 of 11 Make Your Mudroom Multitask
    5 of 11 Limit Your Laundry
    6 of 11 Make your Entryway More Efficient
    7 of 11 Create a Command Center
    8 of 11 Keep Linen Storage Tidy
    9 of 11 Declutter Your Closet
    10 of 11 Utilize Every Inch
    11 of 11 Tame the Tech

    Share options

    Pinterest Mail Email iphone Send Text Message Print

    Login

    Southern Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Southern Living
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Sitemap

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Other Meredith Sites

    Other Meredith Sites

    • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
    • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
    • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
    • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
    • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
    • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
    • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
    • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
    • Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
    • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
    • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
    • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
    • More this link opens in a new tab
    • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
    • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
    • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
    • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
    • Parents this link opens in a new tab
    • People this link opens in a new tab
    • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
    • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
    • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
    • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
    • Shape this link opens in a new tab
    • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
    • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
    MeredithSouthern Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. Southern Living is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporationthis link opens in a new tab All Rights Reserved. Southern Living may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.southernliving.com

    View image

    WATCH: 10 Shortcuts to an Organized Home
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.