The Complete Book of Home Organization

For anyone who has wished for the time and tools to organize their homes into clutter-free, design-conscious, Pinterest-worthy spaces, the perfect hands-on manual is here. From storage solutions and cleaning tips to secret space-saving methods and expert strategies, The Complete Book of Home Organization is packed with the tips and shortcuts you need to effectively organize your home.

If you haven’t already, you need to add The Complete Book of Home Organization to your must-read list!

Toni takes readers through each space, combing through the unknown, purging, donating and categorizing. The book includes weekly challenges, including checklists, to make tasks enjoyable and easy to tackle. Readers will have new tools to keep track of their pantries, holiday and craft supplies, weekly menu planning, and schedules. From the basement to the attic, this book covers every nook and cranny.

It’s time to tackle the mess and take back your space.

In all honesty, I love this book. The projects in it are very inspiring and I’ve come up with a lot of ideas for my home based off pages of this book.

Here are some tips provided from the book:

Designate a Place for Common Items
Keeping a space tidy is just as simple as sorting items into categories. Take the time to really think about which items you use on a daily basis, and then give them a distinct and consistent home that the whole family knows about and remembers to use.

Where will you store your keys and outgoing mail?
Don’t spend a lot of time looking for them when you’re ready to leave. Use a key holder or hooks to hang them near the door, and place outgoing mail in a wall organizer or in a basket on the foyer table. As for incoming mail, put it in its proper place immediately, so it doesn’t pile up. Send any bills straight to the office (see item 118), put catalogs and magazines in their designated spot, and recycle any junk mail before it collects in a useless heap.

Enforce a Nightly Cleanup
Children need to be reminded that cleaning up isn’t a chore instead, it’s another way to make playing more fun. Put on a favorite song and have the kids gather and put away toys until it’s over; or, while watching a favorite show, have them clean up during the commercials. Turning cleanup into an enjoyable activity will give children pride in their space and establish a routine.

Store Splash Supplies
If you have a pool or waterway nearby, you’re likely stocked to the gills with floaties, toys, swimming aids, and other accessories. Whether you’re keeping the family pool organized or corralling the various beach vacation supplies between tropical trips, keep a few things in mind.

SUNSCREEN AND SPRAYS
Keep extra sunscreen and bug spray in a bucket by the pool (or near the vacation gear), in case anybody forgets to bring or pack their own. Remember to check expiration dates. (I’ve always liked this bit of popular wisdom: If you’re not using up your sunscreen bottles before they expire, it means you’re not using enough sunscreen!)

PORTABLE ORGANIZATION
Mount some hooks or wire baskets to an old pallet or large piece of wood for a towel organization system that can move inside or outside as needed. Keep it in the garage when not in use or during the off season, and take it outside for the start of summer and pool parties. It can serve as a handy drying rack for wet suits and towels.

MILDEW MAINTENANCE
Make sure any baskets or bins used for storage have good-sized holes or mesh in the bottom to drain water, and ensure your hooks (or any other places you store wet items) aren’t too close together so that air can circulate. The key to avoiding mildew is allowing air to get in and around items. Also make sure to retire any toys that get stinky but can’t go in the washing machine.

Toni Hammersley is the creator and writer of the popular organizing blog A Bowl Full of Lemons, which inspires thousands of people around the world to get their lives in order. She hosts a popular 14-week organizing challenge each year, aimed at helping her readers conquer clutter. She is also a registered nurse and photographer. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband and three children.

Purchase the book here: The Complete Book of Home Organization