Do you often find yourself wondering, “How can I make my family more organised?”

You’re not alone. Modern life is hectic and it’s not easy to stay on top of everything. That’s why we have put together a list of tips to get your home organised and your life back on track.

First of all, remember that all families are different. Pick and choose what will work for you rathern than start a regime that is going to make life more complicated. Here are some ideas to try:

1. Find a beautiful dining room table

You might be surprised how much easier it is to stay organised when you have a big table for activities. A dining room table is a place to gather for meals, but it’s also invaluable for homework, projects, folding the washing, present wrapping, arts and crafts, board games and so many other activities.

When there is a specific space to set up activities, it keeps things from being scattered around the house. Because it’s also for meals, there is the incentive to clean up afterwards. You can’t have dinner if the table is still covered in Monopoly pieces.

On the other hand, if controlled chaos is more your style, a big table gives you room to push things aside. If you’ve folded the washing but haven’t had the chance to put it all away, you can all eat up the other end. Make it work for you.

2. A place for everything

Have you ever been tidying up, picked up a bit of bric-a-brac, wandered around with it, and then realised it had nowhere to go, so you put it back where it was? Don’t let this happen again. You can’t tidy things away if they don’t have a place to ‘live’.

If something has no place to go, find it a home or get rid of it. In terms of finding a place, a new bookshelf, chest or drawers or storage cabinet can help free you from clutter. Try to store things by category so you know where to find them.

3. Create an art wall

An art wall can help you stay organised and make your house feel like a home. You can create an art wall with anything you fancy, but one way to make them work for you is to rotate children’s artwork.

Kids seem to bring art home every second day, and it can be tricky to figure out what to do with it. As a new piece comes in, the oldest goes out. Store it away or take a picture and get rid of it.

4. Colour coding

If you have multiple kids, colour coding toothbrushes, towels and linen can simplify things. It doesn’t always have to be the colour of an object either; it might be a box or container. Then everyone knows which is theirs.

5. Set Alarms

There are lots of ways to set notifications these days. A simple organisation tip is to set an alarm in your phone 15 minutes before you have to leave the house. This will give you the reminder to start grabbings bags and shoes.

With a smart home, you can even have the lights flash when it’s bedtime. Alarms are not only a perfect way to remind when it’s time to leave the house or switch focus, but the impetus also comes from the alarm and not from you as a parent.

“It’s not me saying go to bed; it’s the alarm!”

6. Don’t do it all yourself

It’s the family home, so everyone should contribute. Find jobs for everyone and delegate responsibilities. It may take some time and effort to find the right tasks for your children, but it is in everyone’s interest that they participate.

Of course, incentives also don’t hurt. Rewards can come in many forms. Whether it’s pocket money, sweets, a family game night, extra screen time, find the right rewards for your kids and family.

A popular parenting tool is to use is when/then. “When you have tidied your toys, then we can have dessert.” It gives children motivation but not threats.

7. Hold meetings

Getting everyone to participate in an organised home can be tricky. This is where family meetings come in. Sit down to discuss what you each want in the home environment.

Regular family meetings are also the perfect time to look ahead and discuss what needs doing this month. It is the time to assign tasks and implement methods. By including the whole family, you share the responsibility and give them a sense of autonomy.

What do you think?

These ideas are only scratching the surface when it comes to organising your household. Do you have any other great tips to share? Let us know how you keep one step ahead of the chaos.