If you know me, you know I love things organized and pretty *thanks to my interior designer mom.* But if you walk into our house, you’ll immediately know kids live here…and I love it that way.
With a full house, I try to keep everyone together as much as possible. I’m raising ”living room kids” - not “bedroom kids.” I love seeing what they’re building, playing, and creating while we’re all in the same space. It’s louder, messier, and a little chaotic… but it makes sense for us.
That said…five kids come with a lot of stuff. And while I love a cozy, put-together home, I also live with tiny humans who seem to think every room is the playroom. So for me, organization isn’t about perfection, it’s about systems that actually work for real life.
Some things that work in our home:
• Each of us has our own basket in the front closet for shoes
• Pretty baskets for toys in our living room
• A mud room locker with labeled cubbies for backpacks, coats, and sports/dance gear
The key to having so many kids with so many things is to make sure everything has a place to live. When kids know where things go, cleanup is faster, and I’m not answering “Where does this go?” all day long!
Baskets are my best friend. We use them everywhere - closets, the pantry, the playroom…honestly, baskets solve a lot!
Quick mom tip: depending on your kids’ ages, labels or photos can be a game-changer. Pictures help younger kids feel confident putting things away.
Once a month, we do a FULL.TOY.RESET.
Everything gets dumped out on the floor, and we sort it together. What we’re keeping, what’s broken, and what we can donate. This is nonnegotiable! We talk a lot about gratitude and making room for others when we have more than we need.
At the end of the day, I don’t want a perfect house. I want a home that feels warm, lived in, and full of life! <3
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