The start of the school year is just around the corner, and let’s just say things on the home front have gotten a little lax. Between planning for summer vacations, getting your kiddos ready for camp, and keeping them engaged while at home, your house might be feeling a little disorganized.

Not to worry. While spring usually gets top billing as the season for a full home declutter, back-to-school season might just be the best time to put your home into order. 

Why Back-to-School Season Is Prime Time for Family Organization

During summer break, old routines can quickly break down. Rules like cleaning rooms and keeping family areas clean may take a back seat as your kids discover new hobbies, have friends over, or spend their free time outside. As the school year approaches, it’s time to bring those old routines back into style.

Back-to-school season is the perfect time to transition away from the summer routine and get everyone onto the same organizational page. It’s also the perfect opportunity to declutter the house. 

Prepping for a Productive School Year: Key Areas for Family Decluttering

What does it actually mean to roll up your sleeves and dive into family organization as the school year approaches? A few common steps can help you get started.

Conquering Kids’ Rooms

By the end of summer break, your kids’ bedrooms may look like a tornado ran through them. Get things back into order with a clear, methodical approach.

• Sort through all clothing and remove items that no longer fit, are stained beyond repair, or simply haven’t been worn.
• Pack away summer clothes your kids won’t need during the school year and bring out school-season clothing.
• Take a quick clothing inventory and make a note of which new items your children need.
• Go through toys, games, and books to remove items that are broken or that your children have outgrown.
• Organize the remaining toys into designated bins or shelves.
• Clear out completed summer reading materials, finished craft projects, and any temporary activity setups.

If your children are old enough, recruit (or draft) them to help you with these chores. Learning to organize possessions is an important life skill your kids will (eventually) come to appreciate. 

Reclaim Common Areas

It’s funny how your children’s domain can slowly creep out of their bedrooms and start to take over the common areas of the house during summer. Now is the time to do some “pruning” so the whole family can enjoy cleaner and clearer spaces. 

• Pack away any summer items you won’t be using next season, like beach towels, pool toys, outdoor games, and vacation souvenirs.
• Reorganize coffee tables and entertainment centers.
• Clear your pantry and fridge of expired summer snacks and leftover picnic supplies. 
• Clear your mud room of summer gear, like flip-flops, beach bags, and sun hats. Replace them with school essentials, like backpacks, jackets, and closed-toed shoes.
• Set up a family calendar system so you can easily track everyone’s school schedules, extracurricular activities, and important dates.

Optimizing Playrooms and Hobby Spaces

Did your kids’ playroom become a summer free-for-all? That probably made it the go-to place for your children and their friends, but it needs to serve a different purpose for the back-to-school season.

Start by removing broken toys, outgrown games, and used-up craft supplies. Sort the remaining usable items into clear bins. Label the bins to make it easier for your kids to find. Consider adding a small desk, good lighting, and storage options for school supplies so that your playroom can become a study and homework zone.  

If you’ve got a little leftover space, organize it for after-school activities and hobbies that your children plan to pursue during the school year. 

If your kids are old enough, invite them to help you plan this space so they have ownership of the area.  

How Self Storage Can Boost Your Back-to-School Organization

You’re going to need a place to put the summer pool floats, camping gear, big outdoor toys, and all those summer hobby supplies you bought to keep your kids entertained over the break. If your garage and closets are already full, consider self storage for families.

A self storage unit is an excellent option to extend the storage footprint of your home. It can help you keep your house uncluttered, so you have more room for a dedicated study and hobby area for your kids. It can also work well for seasonal storage. 

Choosing the Right Self-Storage Unit for Your Family’s Back-to-School Needs

Self storage for families is one of the simplest ways to pack away the summer clutter and get your household focused on the upcoming school season. 

Price Self StorageⓇ has locations throughout California, making it easy for you to swing by to pick up hockey equipment or your kid’s favorite fall sweater. We also offer a range of storage unit sizes at every facility, from small to large, so you only rent the amount of storage you need. 

The end of summer can be hard for kids, but by organizing your home and embracing a back-to-school routine right away, you can make the transition as easy as possible.

Find a Price Self Storage near you today. 

 

Self Storage for Families FAQs

What size storage unit is typically best for family decluttering during the back-to-school season?

The right storage unit size will depend on the items you need to store. A small 5×5’ unit is great for storing seasonal clothing, sports equipment, old books, and board games. If you need to store more items, like small pieces of furniture, big hobby sets, larger sports equipment, and more, a medium 10×10’ unit might be a better option.

How can self storage specifically help establish better back-to-school routines? 

A storage unit is a great way to declutter your house and move out any unneeded summer items that can be distracting. A more organized home will make it easier for your children to stay focused and keep their spaces cleaner. 

Is it possible to get a short-term storage unit just for the back-to-school transition?

If you choose Price Self Storage, the answer is yes. We offer month-to-month leases, making it easy for you to invest in temporary storage without getting locked into a long-term lease. 

What are some less obvious items families can store to improve home organization for back to school?

While it makes a lot of sense to store items you won’t need for the school year in a storage unit, what about storing items you will need? Consider buying school items in bulk, discount winter and summer clothes, and extra sports equipment and storing them in your storage unit. 

How does decluttering with self storage benefit the whole family?

A cleaner, more organized house creates a better quality of life for every member of the family. Not only will your children have fewer things to pick up in their rooms, but you’ll have less to put away in the common family areas. That’s a win for the whole family.