This project was a family event.

The kids helped remove the glasses and mugs to the kitchen island. They shared which ones they enjoy using, and we figured out which shelf they could reach.

I explained the importance of leaving just enough space between each row of glasses so fingers can fit in between.

I also showed them that by facing the mug handles in the same direction, you don’t need identical mugs to get that uniform look.

Having a small pantry to feed a family of four means every inch matters.

While this pantry wasn’t in bad shape, there were some issues with knowing what goes where.

After emptying it out, grouping and editing the food, we made decisions together on what made sense for the whole family.

Kids always love having a dedicated shelf for their self-serve foods. And grouping the ingredients for meal prep together made it easy to figure out what to make for dinner.

We didn’t get any new organizing products.

We used what they had, rearranged based on the family’s needs.

No labels either — because the locations made it self-explanatory.

This is the kind of work I enjoy most. Not just the extra hands, but everyone having a voice in how a shared space works.

Let me know if you try any of these ideas with your family. And if you're wondering what's possible in your own home, I'd love to chat — book a complimentary consultation and we’ll figure out what’s best for your family.

Did you know, for around the price of one oat chai latte ($8/month),
you can participate in as many co-working sessions as you’d like? (Schedule are posted in the most recent monthly update) Hope to see you there!

Explore Subscription Options Here

The result was familiar to many families:

• Frustration when things couldn’t be found

• Stress from running late

• Tension and short tempers between family members

Over time, the closet turned into a dumping ground for jackets, bags, and shoes. The mom shared that she often felt anxious about heading out with the kids.

What was working:

• A hanging shoe organizer helps divide items

• Hooks for easy access

• Baskets for accessories

What wasn’t working:

• Overpacked space, making it hard to reach anything

• Set up is outdated since post-COVID lifestyle changes

What we did:

We started by completely emptying the closet and giving it a good wipe down.
Next, we sorted items based on what’s currently needed and relocated the rest to their proper homes. (Some seasonal items were moved to the garage or back to their wardrobe.) We grouped what remained by category, size, frequency of use, and accessibility—such as keeping the kids’ shoes in the bottom container for easy reach.

We also added another hanging organizer (found squished at the bottom of the closet) to hold grab-and-go items like umbrellas and wipes, and dog-walking shoes.

After reworking the closet, this family felt more at ease going out, and the parents were able to better focus on teaching their children to get ready and put away their shoes after coming home.

If your entryway has become a source of daily frustration, it might be time for a refresh, too.

More tips on chapter 23 in the Dooley Method guide, or if you are part of the Parent Circle tier subscription, share your questions in the chat!

As always, if you feel you can make more progress having a coach or accountability partner to work with you, I can help.

“We’ve been away for nearly a month, but when we came back and did laundry, H folded all the clothes just as we had learned and has kept everything so neat! This new habit is a great new change in our family.”

I had a great experience working with my young client, who had many board games, Pokémon cards, and a closet that was a mix of his and his parents’ jackets. We had three hours to sort, decide what to keep, and set up a system for all of his things. He was excited to share his ideas and was incredibly decisive about all his knick-knacks.

Here are a few photo highlights from our session. My favorite part was repurposing his toy dinosaur with a broken arm to hold his headphones! His sister also helped create the labels for the pull-out drawers, which she was very proud of.

This closet was difficult to access and had a mix of toys and Pokémon cards in random bins. The dinosaurs were too large and awkwardly shaped.

We moved the storage units around so each side had a theme, now easily identified with his sister’s labels. The boardgames are organized by size and type.

This space was simplified after we worked on his bookshelf to make room for the random books scattered around.

Now he can sit on his beanbag stuffed with plush toys and listen to music! That dinosaur became a fun focal point when you enter the room.

This under-utilized space feels cluttered, with bins of toys that don’t belong in this closet.

We reorganized the hanging closet and consolidated his Pokémon collection. The mom had some card holder boxes being delivered, and we gave her son the task of organizing them over the week. Another task they had at the end of the session was to donate and recycle the items in the two gray bins on the floor.

Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or feel inspired to work with your children on organizing as well!

Leave a comment

Home organizing is letting go of what no longer serves you.

Parenting is knowing when to let go and trust your child to figure it out.

The Dooley Method is practicing both — together.

********