Is your kitchen feeling cluttered and chaotic? It’s time to whisk away the clutter and start taking control. Organizing doesn’t have to be overwhelming — with a simple sorting system, you can create a space that’s both functional and enjoyable. Let’s get your kitchen working for you!
At Organizing CU, we believe that a clutter-free kitchen starts with simple, intentional sorting—making room for what you use every day and letting go of what no longer serves you.
When organizing the kitchen, I start by pulling everything out and sorting it into three groups: “A” for everyday essentials, “B” for occasional use, and “C” for donate or store away. Trust me, you’ll find plenty to donate that you forgot you even had!
Your “A” group is your go-to stuff: plates, cups, and favorite pots.
Remember, some items in the same category might fall into different groups—fancy China is probably “C,” while your everyday dishes are “A.” Same with cups: regular ones might be “A,” champagne glasses “B.”
Next, assign spaces: “A” items go where they’re easy to reach—like lower upper cabinets.
“B” items fit on higher shelves that require a stretch.
“C” items get tucked away in less-used spots—like the bottom of the pantry or a dining room shelf. (Personally, I stash big appliances and fancy serving dishes there)
Bonus tip for parents: keep kid stuff in a bin at their height (like bowls, plates, sippy cups) so they can grab what they need and help put things away.
Check out my earlier blog post about kitchens, along with episode 21 of the Organizing Confidence Unlimited podcast!
Your kitchen is the heart of your home so let’s transform it into a place that inspires and supports the life you love every day.
I’m Maggie, owner of Organizing CU and a busy mom who gets the chaos. With my motto—Reduce the mess, Arrange the rest, Maintain the calm—I’ll show you that getting organized isn’t a dream; it’s something anyone can do. Let me help you take control of your space and keep your peace!
Is your closet causing more headaches than happy outfits? You don’t need hours or a huge overhaul to fix it—just one focused hour can transform your space and simplify your mornings.
At Organizing CU, we’re here to help you hang up the chaos so your closet feels fresh and your mornings flow just right.
If your closet feels overwhelming, you’re not alone.
But here’s the good news: you don’t need to spend all day decluttering to make a big difference. In under an hour, you can create a cleaner, more functional closet that actually works for you.
Step 1, Gather All Items of One Category Start by taking all the clothes from one category—whether it’s t-shirts, pants, dresses, or sweaters—off the hangers, shelves, and out of drawers. Seeing everything together gives you a clear overview of what you have, making it easier to organize and decide what to keep.
Next, Sort Into Three Piles Create “Keep,” “Donate,” and “Maybe” piles. Be honest—if you haven’t worn something in the past year or it doesn’t fit well, it’s probably time to let it go. For those “Maybe” items, box them up and revisit in a few months. If you haven’t missed them, donate them.
Lastly, Put Clothes Back Strategically Return the “Keep” clothes to your closet, organizing them in a way that makes sense to you—by type, color, or season. The key is to keep it simple and easy to maintain.
Bonus Tip: Use this quick declutter as a habit every time you’re swapping winter and summer clothes—regular small efforts keep your closet manageable and stress-free.
Try this method next time your closet feels chaotic. You might be surprised how much lighter and happier your space feels after just a hour!
A calmer, more joyful closet is totally within reach—and it doesn’t require perfection, just progress. Take that one small step, celebrate the win, and enjoy the difference it makes every single morning.
Check out episode 3 of the Organizing Confidence Unlimited podcast for even more closet tips!
I’m Maggie, owner of Organizing CU and a busy mom who gets the chaos. With my motto—Reduce the mess, Arrange the rest, Maintain the calm—I’ll show you that getting organized isn’t a dream; it’s something anyone can do. Let me help you take control of your space and keep your peace!
Feeling overwhelmed by clutter, chaos, or just the nonstop juggle of life?
If you’re like most moms, you’re probably living in one of three worlds: drowning in stuff, racing against the clock, or locked in a battle with that one chaotic zone that just won’t behave.
The good news? Knowing which camp you’re in is the first step to finally getting it together. For good.
In this post, I’ll help you identify your organizing style and share how a personalized, step-by-step approach can turn your overwhelm into calm, one simple move at a time.
Ready to reclaim your space and your sanity? Let’s get to work.
Most of my clients fall into these one of three camps. Some need help tackling their entire physical space; the whole house feels overwhelming, cluttered, and chaotic. These clients benefit from a comprehensive, step-by-step approach that breaks down every room, helping them create lasting systems from the ground up.
Meet Jessica, a mom of two who had reached her limit with the constant mess in every room: from overflowing closets and a cluttered kitchen to a garage she hadn’t stepped into in months. She wasn’t lazy or mess. She was overwhelmed. There were no systems in place, so things piled up faster than she could manage. We took a step-by-step approach, starting with the highest-stress areas like the kitchen and kids’ bedrooms. Room by room, we decluttered, created smart storage solutions, and set up daily habits to maintain them. Now, the home feels calm, functional, and totally manageable and she finally has space to breathe.
For others, the challenge goes beyond just the stuff; they’re looking for help organizing theirlife: managing schedules, priorities, paperwork, and daily routines that feel out of control. These clients often need personalized strategies to bring balance and flow to their time and responsibilities, not just their physical environment.
Take Sarah, a working mom of three who wasn’t struggling with clutter as much as she was with constant chaos. Her mornings felt like a race. There were misplaced permission slips, forgotten lunches, double-booked appointments, and never-ending to-do lists. Her physical space wasn’t the problem. It was the lack of systems around her time and tasks. It was time to create a personalized weekly planning routine, set up a family command center, simplify the calendar, and give her a clear place to track priorities. The result? Her days now feel less like crisis management and more like a rhythm she can actually manage.
Then there are clients who have one specific problem area (like a cluttered closet, an overflowing pantry, or a chaotic home office) that feels like a persistent source of stress. For these individuals, focused attention on that one space can provide a quick win and a sense of accomplishment, often motivating them to tackle other areas later.
Take Amanda, a busy mom who kept her home fairly tidy. Except for one major stress point: the pantry. It was overstuffed, disorganized, and full of expired food she didn’t even realize she had. Mealtime felt chaotic because she could never find what she needed, and grocery shopping often led to buying duplicates. We tackled just the pantry: cleared it out, categorized everything, added labels to her bins and turntables, and set up a simple restock system. The transformation made her daily routine so much smoother, and seeing that one space finally under control gave her the calm she had been searching for.
No matter which camp you’re in, the key to lasting transformation is understanding your unique challenges.
Because only a customized approach can turn overwhelm into order, chaos into calm, and get you living your best, most organized life.
If you’re like Jessica and need help with the physical stuff around your home, start with the House & physical organization tag on my blog.
One problem area in your home? Type your area into the search bar on this page or the Organizing Confidence Unlimited podcast for practical, step-by-step solutions.
At Organizing CU, we believe that no matter where you’re starting, whether it’s one cluttered corner to a whole-house overhaul, or juggling life’s nonstop chaos, you can create lasting order that fits your unique rhythm.
Because getting organized isn’t about perfection; it’s about finding your camp, taking one intentional step at a time, and finally living in a space (and life) that feels calm, clear, and completely yours.
I’m Maggie, owner of Organizing CU and a busy mom who gets the chaos. With my motto—Reduce the mess, Arrange the rest, Maintain the calm—I’ll show you that getting organized isn’t a dream; it’s something anyone can do. Let me help you take control of your space and keep your peace!
Kids running late, coffee spilling, and clutter everywhere you looked. Something had to change—not just in the home, but in how you approached organization altogether.
As a busy mom, I discovered a simple three-step philosophy that helped me cut through the chaos without spending all day tidying up.
In this post, I’m sharing how reducing the mess, arranging what matters, and maintaining the calm transformed my home—and my sanity. Ready to make your space work for you? Let’s dive in.
I know how easy it is for clutter to take over and stress to build up. That’s why I’ve found a simple way to cut through the chaos and create a home that feels calm and manageable—without spending hours organizing every day. Let me show you how reducing the mess, arranging what’s left, and keeping the calm can totally change your family’s space and your sanity.
Reduce the Mess: My Decluttering Tips to Simplify Your Space
The first step in my philosophy is Reduce the Mess, which is all about decluttering—the foundation of any effective organizing system. I believe that reducing clutter means making intentional decisions about what to keep and what to let go of, focusing only on what truly adds value to your life.
For example, in my post How a Work Bag Can De-Stress Your Busy Mornings, I share how streamlining daily essentials into one organized bag helped me eliminate morning chaos and start my day feeling calm. I also recommend tackling those “hot spots” in your home—like kitchen counters or entryways—by clearing out items that aren’t regularly used.
These decluttering tips can create physical and mental space, making your home feel lighter and more manageable.
Arrange the Rest: Practical Organizing Hacks That Work for Me
Once I’ve reduced the clutter, the next step is to Arrange the Rest in a way that fits my daily routines and space. I focus on creating practical systems—like grouping similar items together or using labeled bins—that make sense for how I live.
For instance, in my post Streamline Your To-Do Lists, I talk about how consolidating scattered notes into one organized list helped reduce my mental clutter and gave me more headspace. I often use simple organizing hacks like color-coding paperwork or setting up a family “command center” to keep schedules and important papers in order.
By thoughtfully arranging what I keep, I save time looking for things and reduce frustration, which helps create a more peaceful home environment.
Maintain the Calm: Habits That Help Me Keep Organized Long-Term
The last step is Maintain the Calm, which means building habits that keep clutter from piling up again. I find that consistent upkeep through small daily or weekly routines makes a big difference.
For example, I do a quick ten-minute tidy-up every night to keep surfaces clear and systems working smoothly. I also focus on mental organization, managing my to-do list and prioritizing tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
These habits help me maintain a stress-free home environment over the long haul, so organizing doesn’t feel like a constant battle.
How I Apply This Philosophy in Real Life
What I love about this three-step process is how flexible it is—I use it for everything from my kids’ playroom to the kitchen to my paperwork. I’ve learned that small changes, done consistently, lead to big results.
Because I’m a busy working mom, I design my organizing approach to fit into even the craziest schedules. And I focus just as much on the mental calm that comes with an organized space as on the physical tidiness.
Why This Philosophy Works for Me—and Can Work for You Too
Following these steps has not only transformed my home but also helped me reduce daily stress and save time. As someone who juggles work, family, and self-care, I understand how important it is to have realistic, manageable organizing strategies.
When I share my tips on decluttering, organizing hacks, and stress-free home organization, I’m speaking to others who want practical, achievable solutions. For me, organizing is not a chore—it’s a form of self-care that promotes balance and peace in everyday life.
Organizing doesn’t have to be overwhelming or perfect—it’s about making small, meaningful changes that fit your busy life. When you focus on reducing the mess, arranging what matters, and maintaining the calm, you create a home that supports your family and gives you peace of mind.
Ready to take the first step? Let’s make your space work for you, one simple habit at a time.
Want to hear more about my philosophy? Listen to episode 1 of the Organizing Confidence Unlimited podcast!
I’m Maggie, owner of Organizing CU and a busy mom who gets the chaos. With my motto—Reduce the mess, Arrange the rest, Maintain the calm—I’ll show you that getting organized isn’t a dream; it’s something anyone can do. Let me help you take control of your space and keep your peace!
Anyone else ever feel like they’re running around in circles, trying to get everything done? Finding sticky notes of things to do in your purse, your work bag, your kitchen counter, your car…
The very first tip I give for home and life organization is to eliminate all those floating papers.
Gather them all up and put them in a single place. When they’re scattered all over the house, they have a tendency to become permanent clutter, where you learn to ignore them.
Make a master to-do list, either in a small notebook (hello dollar store), your calendar, or into a shared family app that you can sync. Write down every single thing that you need to do.
Then you need to prioritize the list. You will know which are the urgent ones. Keep those at the top, obviously. Then decide which ones are important soon (calling the electrician to fix the front porch light that has been out for a couple of days) and which ones are dreams (washing your baseboards).
Every couple of days or week, depending on how long your list is, go through and update it, adding and removing where necessary. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish when you have everything in one single place.
With a simple master list system, you can organize your life efficiently, focus on what truly matters, and feel more in control of your day-to-day routine.
I’m Maggie, owner of Organizing CU and a busy working mom who understands the struggle of trying to juggle all of it. Using my Reduce, Arrange, Maintain philosophy, I can help you get and stay organized!
When you don’t have to think about where you should put the bills that need to be paid (small basket labeled “To Be Paid”) or the receipt for the dress you might return (envelope labeled “Just In Case”), it takes away a bit of that mental load that people tend to carry around.
It becomes second nature to just put it where it belongs right away.
My closet has three hampers in it: darks, whites, and towels. When I first implemented the system, I put labels above each one so everyone in the house knew exactly what went where. (The cat eventually clawed them to pieces after about two months, but the habits were well established by that point). The labels prevented things from ending up in the wrong bin. And saved me a lot of aggravation.
The same applies to your kids and their toys: it makes it easier for them to pick up after themselves when they know exactly what goes where. You can use labels with pictures or words.
Labels are a simple, effective tool to help you organize your home efficiently. With a few thoughtful systems, tidying up becomes second nature, and your household can run more smoothly.
I’m Maggie, owner of Organizing CU and a busy working mom who understands the struggle of trying to juggle all of it. Using my Reduce, Arrange, Maintain philosophy, I can help you get and stay organized!
How often is your family asking you where something is or where it goes? If your house is like mine, it’s pretty often!
Having a home for everything in your home is key to maintaining an organized house for busy families.
Then everyone knows where to find it…and more importantly, where to put it away!
When everything has a home, it’s second nature to put it away. It doesn’t get stuck in a temporary home, becoming permanent clutter. Imagine your kids know exactly where their hockey bag is or where they should put their bake sale reminders for you to see.
The ‘One Touch Rule’ means everything gets put away the FIRST TIME you touch it. No more paperwork piling up on the kitchen counter. No more unfolded clothes sitting on your closet floor.
With the ‘One Touch Rule,’ those “I’ll deal with it later” stacks disappear. Go through the mail as soon as you get in the door (junk mail recycled and magazines onto the bedside table). Put away the laundry as soon as the dryer dings.
I’ve previously talked about how it is easier to keep up than to catch up. The ‘One Touch Rule’ is the perfect compliment. When you only touch it once, there is no chance for anything to pile up. You save so much time when you’re not spending 45 minutes each week going through a week’s worth of junk mail or cleaning up the playroom.
This simple habit creates a calmer, more organized home for your family.
I’m Maggie, owner of Organizing CU and a busy working mom who understands the struggle of trying to juggle all of it. Using my Reduce, Arrange, Maintain philosophy, I can help you get and stay organized!
You know that notification that pops up when your phone is running out of space and it demands that you remove an app or two before letting you save anything more?
Space limits are the same thing, but in your home.
Using space limits in your home is one of the easiest ways to prevent clutter from taking over and keep your home organized. It helps prevent that clutter creep, which can quickly become permanent clutter.
Space limits are restrictions on how much stuff you can keep in a certain area. In our house, we have space limits on clothing. We have 100 hangers in our closet (I didn’t count). Once we are out of hangers, I will not buy any more hangers – it means it’s time to purge some stuff out of there if I want to bring in any new clothes.
It is so easy for toys and clothing to explode out of control, especially after a holiday or birthday. Setting space limits for toys and kids’ items helps families maintain a clutter-free playroom without feeling overwhelmed.
Space limits make it so you can easily tell when you have too much of something. We have a couple of bins in our playroom for toys. If they’re full, we know it’s time to ship some toys to younger relatives or Goodwill.
You can do the same for your kitchen. Keep only a couple of items on the counter top and banish the rest to cabinets. Only the things that fit in the cabinets are kept. When you get new big items, it’s time to purge some of the older stuff that you don’t use.
Especially those of us that have small homes or children, you really need to keep your incoming items in check. Making a routine of it will make it easier to keep the house organized.
Implementing space limits is a simple but powerful way to maintain a clutter-free home. By setting boundaries for toys, clothing, kitchen items, and more, you prevent accumulation before it becomes overwhelming. Start small, stay consistent, and enjoy a more organized, stress-free home today.
Want to hear more? Check out episode 6 of the Organizing Confidence Unlimited podcast.
I’m Maggie, owner of Organizing CU and a busy working mom who understands the struggle of trying to juggle all of it. Using my Reduce, Arrange, Maintain philosophy, I can help you get and stay organized!
I’ve already shared the simplest way to organize your paperwork in 4 easy steps, but now it’s time to tackle another big project with only 4 simple steps: your closet.
Organizing your closet for a clutter-free home can save time, reduce stress, and make getting dressed easier.
Step 1: Throw out all broken and busted clothing. If there is anything that has a broken zipper, missing button, or rip in it, throw it out. If you haven’t fixed it by now, you are not going to.
Step 2: Get rid of everything that does not fit right now. Don’t save anything for “just in case.”
Step 3: Toss all the uncomfortable shoes. If you can’t imagine wearing them for an entire day, then it’s time to get rid of them.
Step 4: Do you love it? Do you feel good in it? Scale everything from 1-10 (10 being something you can’t live without and would replace asap; 5 is meh). Everything under a 7 goes.
Four simple steps makes it seem like it should be a very easy task, but I know it can feel overwhelming. If you don’t have the time or energy for a full closet purge, try doing just steps 1-3 now and then keeping a donation box in your closet. When you put on a shirt that is less than a 7 (such as you can never seem to match with pants or it just doesn’t fit right any longer), into the box it goes. Once it gets full, it heads over to Goodwill.
You will see how much easier it is to stay organized and get dressed when you’re not constantly looking for something you love that fits you!
Even a partial closet purge creates momentum — small, consistent decluttering habits can transform your wardrobe and simplify your mornings.
Ready to go more in depth on this topic? Check out episode 3 of the Organizing Confidence Unlimited podcast.
I’m Maggie, owner of Organizing CU and a busy working mom who understands the struggle of trying to juggle all of it. Using my Reduce, Arrange, Maintain philosophy, I can help you get and stay organized!
Creating a command center can seem particularly daunting if you’re on Pinterest. There are literally thousands of ideas and each one more magically perfect than the one before it. If you have seen any of my Instagram stories, you know that my house is not a Pinterest perfect home.
So obviously, our command center is also anything but.
Our ‘command center’ in our house is basically the little counter space next to the stove when we can toss bags that need to be emptied after work and school before being repacked for tomorrow. I keep a little stacked letter holder for some of those little items that are strictly for short term use. In our junk drawer, we keep phone chargers, along with pen and paper.
(Update: we’ve now added a large 3×4 foot bulletin board to keep some fun and useful things close at hand!)
It can feel overwhelming if you’re trying to figure out what would work best for your family.
Here is my master list of items that you could include in your family command center to keep your home organized. Think about whether you already have a space for some of these things and if you would like to move them to one central location for everyone:
On desk:
Charging station
Small tray for jewelry and/or keys
Notepad and pens
On wall (can be clipboards, cork boards, photo frames, dry erase boards):
Clock
Calendar (week or month)
Key hooks
Menu
Grocery list
Cleaning checklist
Artwork/greeting card holder
To do list
Filing system:
Per person
To file
Bills to pay
School stuff
Invitations
Pending file
Coupons
To read
Shred
Mail
Magazines
Receipts
Personally, I don’t have a full-on command center in our house. Keys have their own hooks near the door, jewelry is in our bedroom, calendar and to-do list is electronic, menu is in our pantry, grocery list is near our table, paperwork is typically addressed immediately.
But that’s me and my house.
What is overwhelming about command centers is also what makes them so fantastic: they are 100% customizable for you and your home.
A customized home command center can save time, reduce stress, and help your family stay on top of daily tasks.
If you find yourself constantly looking for some of the items on this list, it might be time to set up a command center and give these items a home!
Start with a simple setup and add items gradually. Because small, consistent organizational habits will transform your busy household into a calm, orderly home.
Looking for some more guidance? Check out episode 26 of the Organizing Confidence Unlimited podcast!
I’m Maggie, owner of Organizing CU and a busy working mom who understands the struggle of trying to juggle all of it. Using my Reduce, Arrange, Maintain philosophy, I can help you get and stay organized!
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