We chatted with The Washington Post on their Facebook Live yesterday to discuss how to organize a fridge, our favorite products to use, and general tips for how to keep up the systems once they are in place to prevent food waste in the future. Some of the tips that we mentioned are keeping similar products together, using clear containers and checking out-of-sight places regularly. These small actions will make a world of a difference when it comes to grabbing a quick snack for breakfast or making dinner for the whole family.

Closets are area that for many seems to be too big of a beast to tackle for many reasons. With kids, it’s inevitable that systems will never be perfect. In order to create a system that will be successful for you and your family it is important to think about your needs, identify how you and your children use the space, and figure out what you want for it to look like. Here are some of the tried-and-true tips that I incorporate into my client’s homes and that would work in any tight space, from dorm rooms and studio apartments to older homes with teeny storage spaces.

When I walk into an awkwardly-shaped room or tiny closet that I know is not functioning best for the client I am forced to get creative with the existing space (especially if it is not an option or within budget to change the layout of the space). So, I maximize the area that is available. Here are some of the tried-and-true tips that I incorporate into my client’s homes and that would work in any tight space from dorm rooms and studio apartments to older homes with teeny storage spaces. Choosing quality over quantity, investing in double-duty pieces, adding color and texture pieces are all key in getting the most out of your small space.

Packing is not a fun task, but–similar to organizing–when you create a system to help get the job done you are not only going to cut down on the time it takes to get ready for a trip, but you’ll also spare yourself the stress, second-guessing, and overstuffing that is commonly associated with it.  Creating a packing list, planning outfits in advance, and preparing for just-in-case moments will make your travel experience go a lot smoother.

My 9-year old identical twin daughters and I were on Great Day Washington earlier to discuss spring organizing tips and to provide real-life examples of how families, including those with young children, can help out with getting organized (and not just create more chaos). Here are a few tips to get your family involved with spring cleaning the closet, toys chest, pantry and storage.

There are SO many organizing products out there, and in recent years more stores have stepped up their game to offer products that are aesthetically appealing. It’s overwhelming to know where to begin.I can hear the frustration in my clients’ voices as they describe their failed attempts to get organized on their own. If you’ve been in this situation know that there is ONE thing that you need to know to avoid this type of frustration moving forward: how to measure.

I am often faced with the “I don’t why I store this here” situations during client appointments (i.e. why lightbulbs and batteries are stored typically in 3+ areas of the home) and it just reiterates the point: when you bring an item into your house it typically lives where it lands. One of the best times to create organizing systems is also during what can be for some a very stressful period: moving time! It’s the only time you will have a completely blank space to work in and get to re-assign what goes where, which–if done strategically–will make your life easier moving forward.

I’m excited to announce that we have launched a new series on our YouTube channel dedicated to organizing with kids with my daughters fielding the questions! Our first video discusses How To Pack Your School Lunch.We hope that these quick, fun videos are helpful for you (and your children!) and we would love to know what other topics you would like to see covered.

As you know by now, we’re firm believers that organization can go hand-in-hand with great design, and over the years, I feel like the product options for organization have just gotten better and better. One of our go-to shops when we are choosing products for our clients both online and locally here in Washington, DC, is West Elm because we love that their products are not only beautiful and well-made, but also extremely versatile.

We worked on a multi-room organization project for a family, and one of their pain points was their laundry room. The room itself was nice in that there was storage, but the cabinets were located high on the wall which wasn’t doing the family many favors because they were difficult to reach and made it tough to pull down (and put away) the items that were stored inside. Increasing visibility and access is key in this process the cabinets more organized and useful, check out the rest of our tips here!