5 Ways to Get Your Home Organized for Back-to-School Season

Summer always seems to go by too quickly.

One minute you’re enjoying time at the beach or by the pool. The next minute, it’s time to get the kids ready to go back to school again.

If the start of school has snuck up on you this year, don’t worry. I’ve got a quick checklist to help you get your home organized and ready for back-to-school season. Setting up organized spaces and systems will make this the easiest, most relaxed beginning of the school year yet.

Look to Last Year to Pick Your First Focus Area

Unless this year is your child’s first year in school, you can think back to last year to help you decide where to begin your focus for back-to-school organization.

Was it difficult to decide where to put paperwork and artwork? Then you might need to focus first on creating a plan for handling paper.

Were there a lot of battles about getting homework done each evening? Maybe you could start with setting up a calm, organized space where your kids would enjoy doing their homework every day.

Was selecting an outfit to wear particularly stressful for your child? Starting with a quick closet cleanup might make the most sense for your home.

You’ll get the greatest benefit when you tackle your biggest challenges first. 

5 Home Organization Tips for a New School Year

Keep in mind, with all these tips, you will want to make sure the solutions you choose work for you and your kids. If you try something that doesn’t quite work, make small changes until you find the right organization tools or methods that work best for your home.

1. Make a plan for paper.

Schools do a lot online these days, but there are still plenty of paper notices and flyers sent home in backpacks. Plus, elementary school students often bring home stacks of graded worksheets and quizzes every week. Then there is always their original artwork.

Before all the paper starts piling up on the dining room table or kitchen counters, make a plan for how you want to handle paper this school year. Which pieces do you want to keep? Which ones will you recycle?

You could create a binder for each child for each school year. Anything they want to keep can be placed in the binder. Or you might prefer to use a small box or file folder for each school year. You might choose to have a separate portfolio where you’d like to keep artwork.

Deciding what you’ll do with paper is half the battle and will make it easier to stay organized throughout the school year.

2. Create a drop zone.

Designate one spot in your home where it’s easy for kids to drop all their belongings when they come home after school.

If you don’t already have this drop zone, creating one will be a game-changer for your family. It will help keep items from being scattered about randomly. It also makes it easier to get out the door each morning when everything you need is right there.

Take a look at where your family comes in each afternoon and where they leave each morning. Do you leave from the front door, the garage door, or a side door? Whatever door you typically use, is there space to set up hooks to hang up backpacks or a small mat where everyone could leave their shoes?

This example of a drop zone includes wall hooks for hanging up jackets or bags and a place for shoes.

Depending on your space, you could use a narrow console table, cubbies, or drawers for stashing things you need to take with you when you leave or drop off when you come in each day. You can use this space to place things you want to remember. For example, if your child has a project due for school, you could put it on a table right by the door to help your child remember to pick it up on the way out of the house.

3. Reuse school supplies from last year.

Each new school year, teachers give parents a list of supplies to bring to school. Notebooks, pencils, binders, paper, crayons, dry-erase markers, scissors, etc. 

At the end of the school year, kids typically bring home any supplies that didn’t get used in their classes. The chances are pretty good that there are like-new supplies sitting in a desk drawer or on a bookcase in your child’s room at home.

You will start to discover which items and materials last longer than others. Binders without clear plastic covers, for example, have a bit of a longer lifespan. Those clear plastic covers tear easily on binders that get a lot of use in class.

Quality backpacks and lunchboxes will last a few years, so you should aim to get at least two years of use out of these items. Steel water bottles are sturdier than plastic versions.

Reusing school supplies is not only a good way to save some money, it’s a great way to keep your home clean and organized. Supplies you send back to school to be used in the classroom are not taking up space in your home. It’s a win-win all around!

4. Make a snack spot in the fridge and/or pantry.

This tip will help keep your kitchen well-organized, save you time, and give your kids a bit more autonomy.

To make a snack spot in your refrigerator or pantry, think about what healthy snacks your kids enjoy that are easy to grab and go with just a little bit of prep. 

In the pantry, you might put crackers, trail mix, seaweed snacks, or nuts within easy reach. You could use cute baskets with labels to designate which snacks your kids can grab after school. Or you could make it as simple as placing snacks on one shelf together so it’s obvious where kids can get their snacks.

This example of a snack drawer holds a variety of snacks that are easy for kids to grab after school.

In the fridge, you could corral snacks on one lower shelf or bin in the door of the fridge. You will want to put things like individual cups of yogurt, string cheese, baby carrots, apples, or celery sticks within easy reach for your kiddos. The only prep work needed here is washing and cutting some veggies or fruits you’d like your kids to eat throughout the week. 

If you use storage bins in the pantry and/or the fridge, it helps to use wire or clear bins. This makes it easier for kids to see what snacks are there, so they can make quick choices when they’re tired and hungry after school. But any kind of container you want to re-use for snacks will work. (You know I’m a big fan of using what you already have around the house!) For example, a shoe box without the lid works well for holding crackers, fruit snacks, and more in a pantry.

This could also save you time if your kids have after-school activities. They can quickly grab snacks on their way out to soccer practice or gymnastics class. Plus, you can build healthier habits for your family when you pre-select healthy snacks, and your kids get used to choosing from those particular snacks you’ve planned for them.

5. Create a homework station.

Everyone wants to avoid battles over homework, and it helps to have a spot ready for kids to do their studying or complete assignments.

If you have younger kids who don’t have a lot of homework or who need a parent on hand to answer questions, you might want to set up a spot at the dining room table or in the kitchen. Kids can do homework while an adult cooks dinner. All you need is a clear space with good lighting, comfortable seating, and away from screen distractions like a television.

For older kids, they might want to use a desk in their own rooms for homework. Or you might have an office or extra living space that makes sense as a homework area. Good lighting and comfortable seating are a must for any homework space. If your kids have their own desks, you also want to have plenty of supplies available. Make sure there is enough paper, pencils, pens, markers, rules, or whatever else they typically need for homework. If they complete homework on a computer, be sure there is an electrical outlet near the desk. 

A simple, uncluttered desk with pretty photos is an inviting homework space. (Photo by Kit, formerly ConvertKit, Unsplash)

Have your kids set up their desk area with pretty or inspiring little bits of decor that make them happy. Sports or academic awards could give them a boost of confidence, so you can place them on the desk or nearby, if it makes sense for the space.

You’ll also want to think about what keeps your kids on task. Some kids like routine and knowing what is coming up next, so you might place a clock or calendar on the wall next to the desk. If your kiddo gets stressed about upcoming tests or events, a calendar might not be helpful for them. A copy of a test where they earned a great score could be a good reminder to hang on the wall above a desk if your kid has anxiety about schoolwork.

Helpful homework spaces will look different from one kid to the next, so be sure your kids are involved in setting up their desks or schoolwork stations. Check in with them throughout the school year to be sure their space still works best for them. You can encourage them to make adjustments if needed. It’s a great way for kids to learn more about what works best for themselves. Knowing what helps them focus, whether it’s noise-cancelling headphones or a view of the backyard, will set them up for more success in the long term.

Beyond back to school

Here are a few other ideas to get your home organized and enjoy big benefits for the school year.

• Clean out closets. Donate clothes that no longer fit your kids, so it’s easier for them to find clothes to wear to school each day.

• Set up a family info center. If your schedules are busy with extracurricular activities or lots of weekend events, a family command center could be helpful. Use calendars or dry-erase boards in a common area of the home so it’s easy to see what’s coming up.

• Create a weekly clean sweep. Make a regular day and time to do a quick pick up around the house, clean out backpacks, and tackle any piles of stuff from the week. This is a great way to keep your home clean, involve your kids, and help build a habit of regular tidying up.

Even if you’re reading this after the school year has started, it’s never too late to get more organized. It will make every day less stressful. 

If you’re in metro Atlanta and would like help decluttering your space, setting up homework areas, or cleaning out closets, reach out to me. I’m always here if you need me!

Xoxo,

Michelle

Michelle Parravani, Atlanta professional organizer