Every home needs a launch pad — that place where family members can grab and go everything they need as they head out for their day’s activities. Whether this area is a mudroom, entryway, or side door, having it organized and functional is imperative to starting your day off smoothly and on time.

If your home’s launch pad resembles more of a dumping ground, set aside some time this week to make the most of this area. Come next Monday morning, your family can put this renewed space to the test as you rush off to start another busy week.

      Don’t fight what you can’t fix.  Kids, and adults for that matter, can be notorious “dumpers” when entering the house. Without a system of control, tossed-off shoes often just pile up wherever they may fall. (One clever client of mine used to refer to her family’s pile of shoes near their front door as the “shoe garden.”)

As wonderful as it would be to insist everyone’s shoes are neatly lined up, the reality is that eventually the dumping will resume, and in the end you will be back to dealing with the “shoe garden” again. Instead, don’t fight their habits, but give them a designated spot to dump their shoes. Color-coded bins are great for this — just choose a different color for each member of the family and make sure the bin is not too big, and thus a bottomless pit.

      Create a space for EVERYONE. In addition to a designated shoe bin, each family member needs their own spot to hang the coat or jacket they use most often. Ideally this hook or hanger should be located above their shoe bin. Out-of-season outerwear or seldom worn items should find a home elsewhere.

This is also the space to “dump” backpacks, briefcases, and purses. If possible, hang another hook for each family member half-way down the wall beneath the coat hook for “organized” dumping of these items. A simple shelf above the coat hooks, or a basket near these hooks is useful as a permanent home for storing your keys when they aren’t being used. The idea here is to speed up the process of getting out the door every morning and simplify putting things away when you return home.

      Containerize. Different seasons require different accessories: hats, mittens, gloves, baseball caps, sunglasses, etc., etc., etc. . . . Contain these items for quick and easy retrieval with a clear over-the-door shoe organizer. Place items for the younger members of your family at a height they can reach. This is also a great spot to store suntan lotion, band-aids, car keys –anything you may find yourself in need of as you come and go every day.

Every family has different needs and issues when setting up a launching pad, and complete customization is necessary to ensure an efficient and eas- to-maintain system. Get creative, think functional, and you’ll be launching your family out into the world in an organized manner every day of the week.

Simply yours,

Debbie

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3. School’s Out . . . NOW What? Organizing for Summer
4. The Ultimate Family Command Center, Part 2: The Family Resource Binder
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