Reset Your Home for the School Year

How to create command centers, drop zones, and decluttering routines

By Heather Thompson

Photo by Lauren Wojtalewski

September is the real “New Year” for families with school-age kids. It means new school supplies, new clothes, and a new chance to do this school year “right,” whatever that may mean to you. For me, it’s staying on top of everything without the house descending into chaos. So, I asked Amber Sliter, owner of “Organized by Amber,” for the best tips on how to set your home up for school year success.

Command center with digital calendar and chore chart. | Photo by Lauren Wojtalewski

Build Your Command Center

A family command center is a centralized place where you can track schedules, paperwork, and tasks. It should be located in a high-traffic area where everyone will see it.

The most essential element of every command center is a calendar. You may not be a “calendar person,” but when you’re busy and kid activities are piling up, it relieves your mental load. I can confirm this from my own experience. I write down an event or activity as soon as I know about it, and when I need to remember, it’s staring me in the face in black and white.

If you have nothing in place, where do you start? Use a white board or a paper desk calendar.

“[Get] something that lets you find your rhythm and what your needs are before you commit to something more expensive or permanent,” Amber said.

Keep track of important activities and doctors’ appointments for the entire family. Some people like to update as they go, others set time aside during the week to make changes and review plans.

With one calendar for the whole family, there’s a lot to read. Having things categorized by color makes appointments easier to digest when you’re looking at a big schedule.

“Color coding is your friend,” Amber said. “You might color code by Command center with digital calendar and chore chart. family member or type of activity; find what works for you.”

Once you’ve spent time with your family calendar and you’re ready to make a long-term commitment, try a digital calendar that’s color-coded and available for your family throughout the day. Adults and teens can contribute by keeping their own calendars updated and linked to one neat, digital hub.

In addition to calendars, think about what else your family realistically needs in the command center like task lists, paper organization, and so on.

“Don’t add things just for the sake of adding things, implement only what you’ll actually maintain,” Amber said. “The key to a successful command center is to keep it simple and free of clutter.”

It doesn’t have to look like Pinterest, it just has to work for your family.

Modified bookshelf for school gear drop zone. | Photo by Lauren Wojtalewski

Set Up Drop Zones

Drop zones are the areas you use to unload your gear when you enter the home. The key to a good drop zone is functionality because coming home after school and work can be chaotic.

Be real about your needs and what you can keep up with. The more steps it takes, the less likely your family is to keep up with it. If you don’t think you’ll take the time to hang up hats or the dog leash on hooks, get bins. They make an easy place to throw things while still giving you a clean aesthetic. Amber emphasized using labels (words or pictures) “so everyone in your family is clear about where things go.”

Some are lucky enough to have a mud room or a large entryway that screams “I’m a drop zone!”, but if your house is like mine, there is no clear space. To maximize vertical storage, I added a tip-out shoe cabinet to fit my narrow hallway with bowls on top for keys. Look for something with drawers so you have a spot to stash sunglasses, chapstick, and any other odds and ends.

Custom tip-out shoe cabinet. | Photo by Lauren Wojtalewski

Since I don’t have a large entryway, I had to get creative with a drop zone for school gear, too. Rather than setting up near my front door, I used a nearby room. I have a modified bookshelf outfitted with hooks and bins that serves as a makeshift cubby for my kids. I added command hooks on the side for their everyday jackets and umbrellas.

“Having a designated spot for backpacks keeps you from tripping over clutter and everyone knows where to find them the next morning,” Amber said.

Cut The Clutter

The best way to keep a home tidy is by reducing clutter. One of the biggest challenges parents face during the school year is the paper: newsletters, homework, art projects, flyers, etc.

I like to digitize everything and throw away as much as possible. I add important dates to the family calendar and take pictures of flyers to reference later. For papers that must be kept, I use a whiteboard that's eye-level for the kids and still visible for me. Making it accessible teaches them to be responsible.

Beyond the papers, there’s a constant buildup of toys, books, clothes, and other gear that gets harder to manage as the school year wears on. Just remember: clearing out the excess helps you feel more in control and less stressed.

“I like to pull everything out of a space and put it together in the middle of a room,” Amber said. “Go through the items one by one, putting back only what’s being kept, working from top to bottom, left to right.”

Try to get rid of as much as possible. Of course, no one likes to toss away sentimental items, so Amber offered a series of questions to determine if something should be thrown away:

Modified bookshelf for school gear drop zone.

• Why am I holding on to this?

• Am I keeping it because the person who gave it to me was important?

• Would that special person rather have me keep it or have space to enjoy my home and family?

• Will my kids truly care about the item down the road?

• Do I actually use this?

“Simplify your space,” Amber said. “You deserve a home you can walk into that’s relaxing and not overwhelming.”

For more help with organization, contact Amber at organizedbyamber315@outlook.com.