This home office is a complete mess – to much clutter for work

Clutter in your house or office doesn’t happen overnight, at least not usually. It’s a gradual process that we allow to overwhelm us. For many families the problem may be the slew of sports and other activities that occupy our time and the lives of our children that contribute to the disarray. All the equipment, uniforms and other gear can be kept tidy, with effort; if it’s not sports gear, it can still be kept tidy. Here are some ways to keep things in your home organized, using sports equipment as an example.

Start by maintaining sports clothing. Simply providing two baskets for dirty and clean uniforms can go a long way. Be vigilant about immediately putting uniforms in the dirty basket after use. Once washed, the clothing gets folded and placed in the clean basket rather than being put away with other clothing.

Try choosing a central location for sports gear. The space need not be large, and it doesn’t even have to be in any of your children’s rooms. The garage is a nice option, which you can revamp into and actually make look stylish by adding refurbished metal containers, hooks and baskets for sports items.

Another popular idea is to purchase seating with built-in storage. For example, a bench that contains cubbyholes underneath can save lots of space and help to keep your items organized. Simply finding vintage trunks can serve as a bench. Taller items such as baseball bats or lacrosse sticks can find a home in a barrel that doubles as a stand. Finding furniture that can “pull double duty” is a great way to keep things out of your way.

For all the effort we may place into hiding our equipment, some choose to put it on display. Hooks, shadowboxes and shelves are all way to show off the family’s active lifestyle. Try finding vintage school or gym lockers, which will bring a real throwback look and feel to your house.

If you have a room devoted to sports gear, why not play it up? Introduce sports memorabilia, banners, and trophies and make the space engender a competitive spirit. The design will be deliberate, but fun as well. At the end of the day, week or month, your home will stay tidy, and maintain organization.

You can use the examples above for anything in your home that causes a mess. The main take away is to have a plan, and stick with it – the first time you stop fighting the clutter is the first step towards a messy home.