Having an organised home is something many people want, but knowing where to start isn’t always straightforward. When day-to-day routines are filled with important work meetings, school pick ups and drops off and everything else in between, it can be especially hard to find time to show your home some TLC.
For leading home organisers Hayley Harrison and Gemma Abraham, this is something they know all too well. With five children between them, the pair, who are behind the business Organise-d (organise-d.com), know first hand what it’s like to try and keep a home well organised while also navigating the challenges that come with parenting. However, with five years’ experience helping organise family homes – with celebrity clients including Kate Ferdinand and Billie Shepherd – the duo have some tips to make things that bit easier…
A lot of children won’t necessarily jump at the opportunity to get stuck into organisation, but it’s important to get them on board in some capacity. “The number one most important thing is systems and number two is getting the whole family on board,” explains Gemma.
Hayley adds: “We’re very keen on getting everyone on board. When we work with families with children, just as we would in our own homes, we’re very passionate about getting the kids involved, no matter what age they are. It’s about getting them on board and making them proud of the space that they have.
“For instance, in a kid’s wardrobe we might make sure that everything is labelled and everything is put into sections. We use different tips and tricks to keep everything in sections, so it not only makes the parents’ lives easier, but it gives the child some ownership and some independence.”
While in the short term getting kids involved will help lead to a tidier space, the benefits are just as appealing long term. “As they grow up, we hope they have pride in their space and they know how to work within the systems that are put in place, which then sets them up for later life and stops them getting into a stage where they are just completely overwhelmed by stuff,” says Hayley.
Bulk buy offers can be extremely appealing when shopping, but how many times have you got home and realised you have nowhere to store it? If this has happened, just know that you’re not alone.
“One other really good point about family life is that people tend to go for the deals and they bulk buy. It’s great, but sometimes it can be a problem as people buy in bulk to get it a bit cheaper but not many houses are set up for the volume of stuff that we bring in.
“We really need to talk to our clients about just buying what you need. For instance, if it’s a kitchen, don’t buy 25 tins of baked beans because you’re going to have a problem storing those. Buy what you need for a week or two,” says Hayley.
When it comes to wardrobes too, really knowing what we already have can help put an end to unnecessary buying. “Lots of our clients say they kept buying and buying because they couldn’t find what they needed and actually we’ve changed their shopping habits as a result.
“Keeping everything as visible as possible, not having piles of things, not tucking things to the back of wardrobes for a rainy day, bring everything forward, make it so that you can see it all, and then it stops you from overbuying,” she adds.
When decluttering, Gemma stresses the importance of sustainability. While you might not have a use for an item anymore, consider whether it might be of value to someone else.
“I think sustainability is another one. Obviously it’s massive now and it’s something that we try to live and breathe. Another little tip is if you have kids in the pre-teen or teenage years, get them into Vinted or eBay,” says Gemma.
“Get them having ownership and understand that if they keep a pair of trainers in a pretty good nick, they could actually go on and sell them. They can earn pocket money through it.”
Follow Gemma and Hayley on Instagram @organise_d
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