5 Ways to Get Your Family Onboard with Organizing Your Home

We all strive to have a neat and well-organized home. However, if your family doesn't share your desires and is unwilling to cooperate, achieving this feat can be a pipe dream. Needless to say, finding ways to get your family on board with your organizing plans is vital.

And while it may seem far-fetched, it actually isn't. Regardless of what the personality of your family members is, with a bit of patience and the right approach, they will be onboard in no time.

Tips for Getting Your Family Onboard with Organizing Your Home

There are several benefits to living in an organized home, including:

• Better physical and mental health

• Simplicity in finding various items

• Simplicity in cleaning your home

• Income generation - the process of organizing your home, you and your family come across items that you no longer need that you can sell to earn extra cash.

Despite these benefits, convincing your family members to get on board with organizing your home can be a tall order. Below are a few tips that can help you convince them:

1.     Lead By Example

Let's face it: It can be difficult to deviate from your habits just because someone told you to do so. For instance, if someone told you to stop eating a given snack, the chances are that you wouldn't instantly stop doing so. However, if they led by example and stopped indulging in that given snack, the chances are that you would be more receptive to follow suit.

The same goes for organizing your home. If you pressure your family members into being more organized, they will likely resist. Instead, you should try leading by example. Picture your space and work towards decluttering it. Once your family members notice your efforts in making your home tidy and more organized, they will most likely feel inspired to do the same. 

That said, organizing communal areas will make it much easier for you to onboard your family into organizing your home. If you are not making any effort to organize your home, it will be challenging to convince your family to do so.

2.     Set Organization Goals Together

We all like to see progress. The best way of determining how much progress we've made is by comparing our efforts with our set goals. Setting goals and achieving them gives us a feeling of fulfillment.

Engage your family in finding decluttering goals that benefit everyone. For instance, if your goal is to earn extra money, you could convince your family to gather the items they aren't using so you can put them up for sale in a yard sale or a garage sale. You may also convince them to donate the items they aren't using to charity.

Another goal you could set is to sell some of your belongings and move to a smaller place. Inconvenient as it may seem, downsizing is a great way to get organized. With less stuff, you and your family will have an easier time organizing your home.

3.     Be Respectful of Everyone's Belongings

When organizing your home, ensure that you respect everyone's belongings lest you encounter resistance. Don't be pushy—be patient with your family member's spaces and belongings. You will find it challenging to get them on board if you insist on abruptly getting rid of the things they hold dear. 

Create dedicated spaces for every member of your family where they can keep things that are valuable to them.

Never forget this. Just because you think a given item is of no importance and should be tossed away, doesn't mean that your loved ones feel the same way. Give them time to get rid of their belongings that they may not need rather than forcing them to do so

4.     Involve All Your Family Members By Giving Everyone a Responsibility

You reside in your home as a team, so everyone should put some weight on the organization process. This means you should assign everyone a specific task and let them undertake it to the best of their abilities without meddling too much.

Doing this will make everyone feel useful and included, making the organization process smoother.

That said, you should exercise patience for everyone to get accustomed to the new arrangement, especially your kids. Show them that you appreciate their effort in helping make your home more organized rather than pointing out their mistakes every now and then. Such an approach will make them develop a positive attitude towards the new order instead of repulsing it.

5.     Take Small Steps First and Offer Help When Need Be

Don't expect miracles. Start small. Your family may need time to detach themselves from various items. And so, you need to respect their process. This means explaining the benefits of decluttering and organization and giving them time to do it independently.

Also, ensure that you look for any signs that your family needs help with the organization. Your kids, spouse, or other family members may be unwilling to admit it when they need assistance. So be on the lookout for any signs of struggle and help them whenever necessary.

Hire a Professional Organizer to Help 

Most people think that organizing a home is as simple as throwing away the things they don't need and then cleaning up. Well, that's not the case. Organizing a home not only involves decluttering and cleaning but also requires that you strategically place every item such that it can be easily located.

A professional home organizer can help you toward this end. A good home organizer will consider what matters to you and your family, the size of your space, the amount of clutter you have, how your home is currently organized, and so much more.

Their job is to organize your home in a way that suits you and your family members in the shortest time possible to help you avoid the burnout and fatigue that comes with this task.

If you are looking to get your home organized by professional organizers, they’re are many options out there that can handle all different types of organizational projects. Some of our favorites include:

• H2H Organizing

• Professional Organizers BR - Olivia Parks

• KonMari - Marie Kondo

Professional Organizers can make your home a clutter-free sanctuary where you are in control and help keep it that way. Whether you are looking to get your home’s organization project started or looking to have it fully completed, professional organizers can help you and your family reach your home organization goals. 

How to Unpack Efficiently After Moving

The move is done, the truck has left, and all your belongings have been moved into your new home. The hard part has ended, but now begins the long process of unpacking. This can be tedious and tiring, but if you follow some helpful tips, you’ll get through it faster and with less stress! Here are some suggestions from the best long distance moving companies that guide you on how to unpack efficiently after moving.

Use Clearly Labeled Boxes

One of the best ways to save time and energy after moving is by using clearly labeled boxes. The clearer you are with labeling, the more likely you are going to find what you need quickly. Labeling boxes can be as easy as writing the room that the box will go in on one side and then labeling each box with a list of items it contains on the other side.

Separate Large Items from Smaller Items

Large items are typically big furniture, appliances, or other large items that are expensive and difficult to transport. These should be placed in the room of your choice and left there for now. This will allow you to make the space around them workable for small items.

Smaller items such as clothes, linens, dishes, books, etc. can be unpacked easily from boxes and put away without much thought or effort since they're not as cumbersome.

Sort By Room

- Living Room: Place furniture where you want it. Fill bookshelves, and arrange electronics.

- Bedroom: Put sheets on the bed and add anything from your dresser that you need for the night and a comfortable ambiance in the bedroom. Hang clothing in your closet and put shoes in the closet or under the bed. Throw away anything that doesn't belong in this room (including trash). If something doesn't belong here but you are not sure where it goes, set it aside so you can find a place for everything later.

- Bathroom: Put toiletries on the bathroom counter. Add towels to the towel rack. Hang shirts and pants inside the wardrobe. Hang jackets on hangers inside of the wardrobe if there is enough space. Sort through makeup, hair products, bath products, etc., and put them into their respective places inside the cabinet or drawers.

Sort Items into Piles (Toss, Donate, Keep, Repair)

Some things need to be shifted to their specific places. You can choose among the below.

Toss - Anything that no longer has use or is broken.

Donate - Items you want to give away, but are not necessarily in good condition. 

Keep - Items you plan on using and need for the home (e.g., clothes, pots and pans, dinnerware). 

Repair - Items that can be fixed so they can be used again (e.g., a dresser with a broken leg).

Label Boxes and Piles with Date of Move-In

Label your boxes with the date of when you moved in. This will help you know which boxes are more recent and which ones may have been there for a while. 

You can also use color coding so that you only open the most recent boxes first. Red is for items you want to deal with right away, orange is for items that need some attention, green is for items to store away later and blue is for things that need to be packed away.

Ask for Help When Necessary

To unpack efficiently, you should enlist the help of friends and family. Even if they can't help for a full day, ask them for an hour or two. If you're lucky enough to have someone helping for the entire day, you'll be able to take care of household tasks like cooking or cleaning while they get your things unpacked and put away.

Enjoy a Clean Home!

It may be tempting to leave your items in their boxes, but unpacking your belongings quickly will make the move more tolerable. It also saves you time and energy for the next phase of moving. First, set aside a few hours for unpacking. To make this process easier, start from one side of the room and work your way around it so that you are not constantly going back and forth between two areas.

How to Organize Your Family's Electronics

Cords, cords, cords! Cords are everywhere. It doesn't matter whether you are a family of two or there are four or six of you - cords are probably giving you a headache. However, that is the price to pay for living in the age of technology and having a ton of electronics that make your life easier and more enjoyable. Things like phones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, TVs, game consoles, chargers, and even things like toasters, blenders, microwaves, etc., are all great but can be a nightmare to keep organized. But, you already know that - that is why you are here reading this article, right? Right! Don't worry - we've got you. We prepared a list of some interesting organizational tips and tricks. And, yes, they all have something to do with electronics. Thus, without further ado, here's how to organize your family's electronics. 

Start With Decluttering 

First things first - if you want a clean and organized home, that is, if you don't want to look at cords everywhere or, even worse, if you don't want to trip over them all the time, you have to declutter. We know - doing that is much easier said than done. You probably don't want to get rid of that high-school phone because it brings back many memories. You don't want to get rid of that toaster you are not using because you hope you will get to it again one day. Or, you don't want to get rid of your children's first electrical toy because you think it will make them sad. Are we right? 

However, there is no point in keeping the things you are not using. They clutter your much-needed space. Thus, follow the ultimate tip for decluttering - don't think much. Go around your home and gather all the old electronics. If they work, find them a new home - give them to a friend or a charity. And, if they are completely broken and useless, just let them hit the bin - by that, we mean to recycle. 

Give Your Kitchen Some Love 

To organize your family's electronics, you should start with the kitchen. Why? Because that is an area of your home where you have the most electronics. Hopefully, the big ones (stoves, ovens, fridges, etc.) are hidden behind the kitchen counters. So, they are not the problem. The problem appears with smaller devices - rice cookers, coffee makers, blenders, toasters, mixers, crook pots, deep fryers, etc. We named just a few of the small kitchen appliances you probably have in your home, but you know, and we know, that you have a lot more. 

If you are not using them but don't want to donate them, our advice is to rent a storage unit nearby and keep them there. Don't worry about packing and relocating - experts from Professional Movers Ottawa suggest that hiring experts is the best way to go.

However, if you wish to keep them in your home, you must create another kitchen cabinet (or two). Then, grab the original boxes of your appliances or, if you threw them out, grab some boxes of similar size and put them in. This will enable you to stack everything neatly and provide more space. 

And Then, Give Some Love to Your Living Room Too 

Another area of your home that is probably cluttered with electronics is your living room. There, you don't have as many electronics as much as you have cables - cables for TV, antenna, internet, cable, etc. Or you may have things like cables for stereo, Xbox, or your DVD player. You have to be creative in decluttering this space in your home. 

To organize your family's electronics in the living room, go to your local hardware store and buy cable covers. These come in many shapes and sizes. You will undoubtedly find ones that match the aesthetic of your home. Then, put the CDs and DVDs in disc holders. And, if you have a lot of remote controls, replace them with a universal one. Moreover, you can buy stands for certain electronics too - stands with hidden cables compartments. 

Organize Your Family's Personal Electronics 

Imagine having to relocate all of your electronics somewhere cross-country. Of course, you can pack, move, and keep them in good shape with the help of professional movers. But that would imply pairing each electronic with the cables you have tangled up in your drawers or on nightstands. We know that you hate those places, and we know that you would rather throw everything out than have to deal with it. 

However, what if we told you that there is an easier way to deal with your personal electronics (smartphones, smart watches, AirPods, tablets, laptops, clocks, etc.) and all the cables they come with? All you need is a smart charging station. You can put all your smart devices on it, and they will instantly start charging cable-free. 

Don't Forget About Your Desk 

If you are somebody who's currently working from home, you know how difficult it is to keep your desk clean and organized. Besides having tons of devices and their cables on your working desk, you probably also have papers, office supplies, coffee mugs, a bottle of water, skincare, and who-knows-what-else. Working like that may contribute to you losing control of your workload and even result in a lack of motivation. Trust us, the only way to prevent this, that is, the only way to stay in control, is by organizing! 

Organize your work desk by clearing it out. Keep only the things you need for work and eliminate the rest. Use desk clips for cables and cords or invest in desks with USB charging stations. Or, go to your local dollar store and buy a cord cubby. 

As you have seen, there are many ways for you to organize your family's electronics. We mentioned just a few of them, but keep in mind that the internet is full of other ideas too. So, do some exploring on your own and find a way to keep your electronics organized in the best possible way. 

Ways To Declutter Before Moving House

Packing up an entire house full of belongings is no easy task. Fortunately, there are ways to help make the process more efficient and easier on everyone. Below are some strategies for decluttering ahead of your upcoming move!

Starting fresh in a new home is an exciting time full of opportunities. One such opportunity is to sort through the old, unwanted items in your home and declutter. Clutter happens naturally over time, but, if left unaddressed for too long, it can accumulate beyond expectation. In fact, 54% of Americans said they felt overwhelmed by the clutter filling up their homes.

When it comes to moving, decluttering can be beneficial. For starters, you’ll have fewer things to pack, transport and unpack at the new destination. It also means you won’t need as many boxes and packing supplies. All in all, decluttering can save effort, time and money during your move, especially if you choose to hire movers.

The process of decluttering doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by making time to sort through your belongings before the move. The more time you have, the better, as it allows you to put more thought into decluttering decisions. Next, create a plan on how to tackle the chore. Popular methods are to go room-by-room or by category.

For a room-based approach, try arranging separate boxes for items you want to keep, donate or toss, and begin in the bathroom or a coat closet. These locations can be easier to declutter, as they typically involve fewer emotional decisions. When you feel more comfortable and practiced, move on to complicated areas such as the kitchen, where there are typically many more items to go through.

If opting to go by category, gather similar items from across the house — such as books or knick-knacks — and make decisions based on the whole collection. One category that shouldn’t be left for last is sentimental items. Going through belongings such as these takes time and can slow down the process due to their emotional value.

Once you’ve successfully decluttered, it’s time to dispose of the unwanted objects. Donation is a worthy route, and more can be put to good use than you might think. For instance, tattered linens and towels can be donated to animal shelters or used as a green alternative to packing supplies. Other examples could be giving old DVDs and books to the local library or helping a family in need with toys and clothing that your kids have outgrown.

Clearing clutter in advance can make moving day much less of a hassle. However, if the idea of packing seems daunting or you’re feeling mover’s anxiety, let a moving team lend a helping hand. These professionals can simplify the process and dispose of redundant items all while ensuring your belongings arrive safe and sound at your new home.

For more tips on donating and decluttering during a move, please see the accompanying resource.

Infographic created by Big League Movers.