How to Organize a Busy Household, According to Jillian Harris

It’s crazy what a little landscaping and a new exterior will do to a home’s curb appeal. Jillian’s team went to town on this property, giving the house a refresh while defining the front yard with a simple but organized entrance.

A great way to add instant organization to an entranceway (where everyone tends to unload their things) is by adding a bench and some baskets or cubbies. Now all four of the kids have a place to drop their shoes and stuff so they’re neat and put out of the way.

By stacking the washer and dryer in the laundry room, Jillian was able to maximize space and increase the number of cabinets, immediately increasing the amount of storage space.

The L-shaped bank in the kitchen allowed for extra cabinets, which means more space for all of those pots, pans and pantry items. Meanwhile the lighter colour scheme helps to reflect more light and open the room up.

The cabinetry above duals as extra storage and a design element thanks to these pretty finishes. The cream colour helps it all feel brighter, and a touch more modern.

Rather than bulk up the space with an eat-in table, Jillian opted for a breakfast bar with smaller stools that keep the room feeling open and don’t disrupt the flow.

This custom-made dining room table is sleek and fits the room perfectly; now the space feels more open and airy — a key component to any organized space.

Before: The living room was completely cluttered with kids toys and random odds and ends. After: Jillian gave the whole thing an adult makeover, including the fireplace, which received a white wash tile treatment.

So where does that leave all of the toys? While most of them have been relocated to a playroom below, Jillian left lots of storage upstairs too with the help of these units, knowing that kids like to spread out.

Now this is what we call a playroom. By elevating the floors and insulating the walls, Jillian definitely transformed this former garage into something unrecognizable and amazing.

Lots of shelves mean lots of space to tuck everything away neat and tidy at the end of the day. Even if not everything gets put away, at least it’s out of adult sight. And isn’t that half the battle?

Adding to the functionality of the room is this neat little homework station. It fits into the overall design by taking up little room, and even adds some extra storage.

So what do you do with the extra things that don’t quite fit into cupboards and bins? You throw them into these clever baskets of course. It’s finishing touches like these that help add just a little bit of organization to an overly hectic household. And even though the homeowners decided to list the place in the end, this home is now perfect for any bustling family.