The girls are back at college, my son is back in school, and y’all… it’s time to get back to business and get you some new Tips from Tonia! I don’t know about you, but I struggled to get it together this year. I had a lot going on the week before school, and it was hard to get all the things done!

September always feels like a reset. Schedules are back, routines are changing, and the holidays will be here before we know it. So, this month, let’s focus on organizing your home around the way you LIVE, not just the stuff you have.

1. Organize for the family you have TODAY.
   Kids grow, schedules change, and life moves quickly. The systems that worked a few years ago may not work anymore. Look around and ask: Does our home function for the season of life we’re in right now? Recently, I organized all my supplements that were in a lower cabinet. I needed to move them to a more ideal location, and once I did, it made my life SO much easier. It’s the simple things, right?
2. Put things where you actually use them.
   Forget where something is “supposed” to go. If homework happens at the kitchen island, keep supplies nearby. If everyone drops keys and sunglasses by the door, create a beautiful home for them there. Work with your habits, not against them. At our house we have a key drawer, and EVERYONE knows (even guests) that’s where your keys go, so you don’t lose them. Easy peasy!
3. Find the friction.
   What’s that ONE thing driving you crazy every day? Shoes by the door? Packages on the counter? Sports gear everywhere? Start there. Great organization isn’t just about how your home looks; it’s about making everyday life feel easier. I recently did a consultation, and the family’s one sticky point was all the packages at the front door. The husband travels a lot and shops when he is gone, so we came up with a rolling cart system that worked perfectly for them.
4. Get holiday-ready before the holidays.
   I know, y’all… it feels early! But now is the perfect time to check your serving pieces, linens, guest spaces, and holiday storage. A little preparation now means more time enjoying your guests and less time searching for that platter you KNOW you own! I saw a sale at Crate and Barrel the other day, and I am replacing my Thanksgiving napkins since they were on sale. I said to my husband, “I know it sounds crazy I am buying these now, but what the heck, it checked off my list!”.
5. Create a “coming and going” system.
   School, sports, travel, returns, dry cleaning—we’re constantly coming and going. Designate one area for the things that need to leave the house. Your home should help you remember, not give you one more thing to remember. We use our mudroom area for this, and it always needs cleaning up, so I try to do that every Sunday. Makes for a less chaotic Monday.
6. Let your home evolve with you.
   That playroom, formal dining room, or extra bedroom doesn’t have to serve the same purpose forever. As your family changes, your home should too. Give yourself permission to rethink your spaces around the life you’re living now.

Remember: your home should help you live your life, not manage your stuff.

Happy Organizing,

Tonia