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Getting your home ready for back-to-school doesn't have to mean a major organizing overhaul. Focus on three things: create a landing zone for backpacks, shoes, lunch bags and school papers; reset homework and study spaces so kids have what they need within easy reach; and look for ways to simplify busy morning and evening routines. A few thoughtful changes can help your home work better for your family and make the transition back to school feel a little calmer.

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3 minute read…..
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Back-to-school season always seems to arrive faster than expected….heck my kids went back to school on August 10th! 

Doesn’t it seem like one minute you’re enjoying the wonderfully unstructured freedom of summer and the next, you're juggling early mornings, packed lunches, homework, sports practices and a calendar full of activities? 

I know that buying school supplies and getting everyone's schedules organized for school is likely at the top of your TO DO list right now, but this is also a great time to think about how your home can make the transition back to school easier.

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Your home doesn't need a complete organizational overhaul. A few thoughtful changes can help reduce some of the everyday friction that comes with busy school weeks — while still keeping your home beautiful and comfortable.

Here are 3 Things To Do to Get Your Home Ready for Back-to-School:

1. Create a Landing Zone for Everything That Comes Through the Door

Backpacks. Shoes. Water bottles. Lunch bags. Sports equipment. Papers that need to be signed, etc.

More hall trees / mudroom storage options here.

Without a designated place for these everyday items, they have a tendency to migrate onto kitchen counters, dining tables or the nearest available chair. (I need to get better at this ;)

Before school starts, take a look at the entrance your family actually uses every day and think about what tends to get dropped there. You don't need a large mudroom to create a functional landing zone.

Depending on your space, you might add:

• Hooks for backpacks, jackets and bags

• Baskets or bins for shoes and sports equipment

• A small tray or bowl for keys

• A basket or file for school papers

• A bench or stool for putting on shoes
  
  

The goal isn't to create a Pinterest-perfect command center. It's simply to give the things your family uses every day an obvious place to land.

And when you're choosing storage, look for pieces that work with the rest of your home. A beautiful woven basket, a wood bench or a row of simple hooks can solve an organizational problem without making your home feel utilitarian.


2. Reset the Homework and Study Spaces

Homework spaces don't necessarily have to be dedicated desks. Some kids work best in their bedrooms. Others prefer the kitchen island or dining table where they can ask questions while you're nearby. Older kids may need somewhere quieter where they can concentrate.

More beds with desks and storage here.

Instead of trying to create the perfect homework station, think about how your child actually works best. Then make that space easier to use. Clear away anything that accumulated over the summer and make sure the basics are easily accessible — pencils, pens, paper, chargers and whatever else they regularly need.


Lighting is especially important. If the space doesn't already have good task lighting, consider adding a table or desk lamp rather than relying entirely on overhead lighting.

For spaces that serve more than one purpose, portable storage can be incredibly helpful. A basket, caddy or rolling cart can hold school supplies during homework time and then be tucked away when the dining table needs to become a dining table again.

A functional home doesn't mean every activity needs its own room. Sometimes it simply means making it easy for a room to transition from one purpose to another.

3. Make Busy Mornings and Evenings Easier

One of the best things you can do before school starts is think about the parts of your family's routine that usually feel rushed.

Where does everyone get stuck?

Maybe mornings become chaotic because shoes and backpacks are impossible to find. Maybe the kitchen counter disappears under school papers. Maybe sports gear gets scattered throughout the house. Or perhaps evenings feel stressful because no one has a good place to wind down after a busy day.

Those little frustrations are clues.

Walk through a typical school morning and evening in your mind and look for places where your home could do more of the work for you.

It might mean creating a spot in the pantry for grab-and-go snacks, dedicating a drawer in the fridge to lunch supplies, putting a hamper where clothes actually get dropped or adding baskets near the stairs for things that need to go up or down.

And don't forget about the end of the day.

Back-to-school season can be exhausting for kids and parents. Having comfortable spaces where everyone can decompress matters too. A cozy chair for reading (this swivel glider chair is my absolute fave), a comfortable family room or simply keeping one area of the house relatively calm and uncluttered can give everyone somewhere to recharge.

More comfy swivel chairs here.

Your Home Should Support Your Real Life

Getting your home ready for back-to-school isn't really about becoming more organized. It's about looking at how your family lives and asking:


What could I change here to make our days a little easier?


Sometimes the answer is a new storage system. Sometimes it's moving a basket. Sometimes it's finally adding a lamp to the desk where your child does homework. Small changes can have a surprisingly big impact when they're designed around the way your family actually lives.


A beautiful home shouldn't just look good. It should help take care of the people who live there.


If your home isn't supporting you quite the way you'd like it to, I'd love to help. Explore my virtual interior design services and let's create a home that feels beautiful, functional and personalized for the way you live.

Until next time,

Val xo

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