Organize Your Home for a Smooth Summer

Summer has a way of arriving before we feel ready for it. One day, the entryway is tidy; the next, it is full of sunscreen, gardening gloves, sun hats, and golf shoes. The garage quietly becomes a catch-all for everything that gets used between May and September. It happens fast, and it can make your home feel a little harder to move through.

The good news is that you do not need to organize your whole house before summer starts. You just need a few simple systems in the spots that support your daily routine. Start there, and the rest follows naturally.

Here are five places to begin.

1. Set up your entryway for the season. 

Your entryway works hard in the summer. It is where you grab things on the way out and where everything lands when you come back in. 

A sturdy hook near the door for sun hats and light layers, a small basket for sunscreen and lip balm, a tray for golf shoes or garden clogs. That is really all it takes. When each thing has a home, you stop searching and start moving.

2. Organize your garage or shed for how you actually use it

For many of us, the garage or shed holds the things that make summer feel good. Garden tools, sports equipment, patio cushions and a bike you keep meaning to ride more often. 

The key is putting the things you reach for most often right at the front. Wall hooks or a pegboard keep garden tools up off the floor and easy to see. Less-used items can live further back. A little thought now saves a lot of frustration all summer long.

3. Make a small space for visitors and grandkids.  

If family visits over the summer, a little preparation goes a long way. 

A basket in the corner of the living room or porch for books, toys or games keeps things contained without taking over your space. A low shelf in the garage for outdoor supplies makes it easy for everyone to help themselves and easy to tidy up at the end of the day. When their things have a spot, visits feel relaxed for everyone.

4. Get your outdoor space ready to use. 

Summer is one of the best reasons to be outside with people you enjoy. A little organization makes it easier to do that without a lot of planning first.

Chairs that are easy to pull out, a side table for drinks, a basket with a few candles and a blanket for cooler evenings. When your outdoor space feels ready, you are much more likely to actually use it.

5. End each day with five minutes of reset. 

The best organizing system is one that stays easy to maintain. 

Garden tools back in the shed. Shoes on the tray. Sunscreen in the basket. Grandkids' toys in the bin. Five minutes at the end of the day keeps things from building up and helps your home feel calm and easy to move through all season long.

You do not need everything perfect before summer begins. You just need a few simple systems that fit your life. Start with one area, get it set up, then move on to the next when you are ready.

If you are not sure where to begin, I would love to help you put together a plan that feels right for your home and the summer ahead.