Home organization starts with the right tools: How to get everyone on the same page

(BPT) – Your closets may be a bastion of neatness and your pantry a model of the philosophy “a place for everything and everything in its place.” Still, no home is truly in order if the people who live in it are disorganized.

“Perfectly organized storage throughout your home is a beautiful thing, but it’s all for nothing if your family can’t keep track of their own and each other’s schedules,” says designer and stylist Emily Henderson, a blogger and spokesperson for the Home Collection by Post-it Brand, Scotch Brand and Command Brand. “Today, families are constantly busy so it’s important to find organization tactics and tools that work for everyone.”

To organize your family, Henderson suggests turning the heart of your home – the kitchen – into its command center. Make your kitchen both the storage and display location for items that help you plan meals, make schedules, remind you of important appointments and bring a smile to your day.

Ideas for organizing documents and accessories

Menus, receipts, schoolwork that requires parents’ signatures, tickets for upcoming events – the average family juggles a lot of paperwork, even in today’s increasingly digital world. It’s important to keep documents organized and in sight in a central location and in a way that works for everyone.

Consider these tricks for keeping documents in order:

* Take-out menus often get stuffed in a drawer or scattered around the house. Pull yours together in one spot by mounting clear plastic pockets on the inside of cabinet doors. Post-it View and Go Pockets make it easy to keep menus in one place.

* Items that your family uses daily (bus passes, gas cards, etc.) can be stored in plain sight on the refrigerator using sturdy magnetic clips. Consider designating one side of the fridge for such items so everyone will know where to look when they need access to them.

* Keep items you need for quick reference or that require action in sight. The Post-it Grip Board gets important papers off the counter or out of drawers or book bags and into full view and includes a spot to jot notes.

* How often do you need a pen, pencil, scissors or tape and find yourself reduced to rummaging through the kitchen junk drawer to find what you want? Place essential planning and scheduling accessories in clear caddies that can easily mount on any smooth surface. The Command Clear Caddies adhere to a variety of surfaces, including walls, wood, tile, metal and more, without damaging walls with nails, screws, tacks or permanent adhesive. Place one in the kitchen near your planning calendar to store pens, pencils, tape, Post-it Notes and more.

Scheduling solutions

Menu planning and coordinating schedules – from Mom’s business trips to junior’s tae kwan do tournaments – can be a challenge for busy families. To avoid scheduling conflicts, missed appointments and meal-making confusion, try these scheduling tips:

* Place a dry erase planner on your refrigerator or in a key location in the kitchen. Encourage family members to jot important appointments on the weekly planner so everyone is aware of family schedules.

* For menu planning, look for a planning pad that provides room for menu ideas and shopping lists. Hang the pad in a central location in the kitchen, so that when you go grocery shopping, you just tear off the list portion and go.

* To facilitate grocery-list making, when you put items away – in the pantry, cupboard or freezer – attach a Post-it Full Adhesive Note to the second-to-last item in the pack or stack, and note the item name and the words “buy more” on the note. Whoever takes that penultimate item simply makes note on the family planner and list pad so Mom or Dad will know to purchase more of that item.

For the love of your family

When your child brings home a new masterpiece or a great grade, you want to display it for everyone to see. Rather than damage walls and that precious paperwork with tacks or tape, try displaying artwork, photos, school schedules and projects in a Scotch Display Frame. Two sizes can accommodate items either 4-by-6 inches or 8 1/2 by 11, and they mount easily with removable Scotch mounting squares.

For more organizing insights, visit Henderson’s blog at stylebyemilyhenderson.com. To learn more about the Home Collection products for home organization, visit www.post-it.com/home.