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!

You have invested time and money into your home and it ideally should be the place where you love to spend time and not a home where you find yourself avoiding areas just to stay sane. So, what can be done? Is it actually possible to fall back in love with your home? Some of my tips to clients include coming up with a strategic plan, us the products that you love to help organize and work from there. As you go through your home and identify problem areas and work through solutions, you may find that you have a bunch of stuff that you no longer like, need, or want. You may feel wasteful just giving it all away, but remember that there are so many ways for others to use items that are in decent condition. Plus, the positive feeling from giving back may make the whole process even better for you.

Organizing can be seem overwhelming for a host of reasons like lack of time, not knowing where to start and when you throw children into the equation, I know that it might sound and seem impossible. You’ve probably heard me say it before, but I stand by the belief that homes do not (and very likely will not) always be neat, but they can always be organized. And, organization with kids is possible. Here are some tips on how to organize everything kid related, from Toys and Food to Homework and Art.

I am not sure if it’s the timing of the new year and people’s increased interest in getting organized, but in the last few weeks I have had a ton of email requests asking for Before/After pictures of past projects. You all have asked, and now I am going to deliver. Here are before and after pictures of closets and pantries that Rachel and Company has recently worked on.