Motherhood comes with a vast array of challenges: whether it’s figuring out how to get your little one to sleep through the night or how to sneak more vegetables into your picky toddler’s diet, one does not escape motherhood without having to face a few obstacles!

One of the more challenging hurdles I’ve had to face in my short 2 1/2 years of motherhood is just how tough it is to keep an organized home with a toddler who wants to play with every toy he owns before 10 am! That’s why I’m turning to the experts, our Real Moms, to share their best advice for maintaining an organized home while also creating memories with their little ones.

Tip #1: Let Go of Perfection

Our Real Moms agree: while we all want tidy homes, we also want to embrace the “beautiful mess” of motherhood. Perfection isn’t the goal; instead, you want to create a space that actually serves the people who use and enjoy it! Remember: you aren’t staging a photoshoot; you’re creating a home where you’ll make memories!

Real mother and grandmother, Susan H., recalls that when her children were younger, “Keeping a tidy home would often take precedence over sitting and creating memories.” 

These days, Susan relishes in the joys of being a grandparent instead. Her advice to Real Moms in the trenches? “Offer yourself grace over perfection!”

Tip #2: Making Sure Every Toy / Item Has A Home

As my son grew, so did his toy collection.  No matter how hard I tried, by the end of the day, I was knee-deep in Duplo blocks and Hot Wheels race track parts (boy mom life).  After much trial and error, we have finally implemented the “every item has a home” system in our playroom.

If creating an organizational system feels a little overwhelming, don’t stress. Here’s a breakdown of what you need:

First on the list is this cube organizer shelf from the Room Essentials line at Target.  This piece of furniture is an excellent and budget-friendly first step in your journey to maintaining a more organized home. This versatile piece can be placed vertically or horizontally depending on the needs of the room in which you are organizing, making storing toys of all shapes and sizes a breeze. 

Real Mom (more like a superhero) of twin toddlers, Brittany B., shares the importance of having “bins and labels for everything!”

One of my favorite features when shopping for the Room Essentials brand is their “shop the look” tool.  With the help of this feature, you can effortlessly locate and add to cart any additional items you may need in order to, you guessed it, complete the look! 

For example, these Fabric Cube Storage Bins are the perfect fit for the Cube Organizer Shelf with endless color options to choose from!

If you really want to step up your organization game, label your bins and baskets! These clip-on labels easily attach to the side of your containers, and they come with pre-printed vinyl labels you can remove and swap out anytime. Warning: once you start, you’ll want to label everything!

Implementing the “every item has a home” method can extend into all areas of your home life, not just your child’s toys.  Whether it’s your cleaning supplies, spice cabinet, shoe, or cosmetic collection, designating a specific bin or area within your home to “house” these items make maintaining organization during chaotic days a little easier. For a deep dive into kitchen and bathroom organization, check out this post!

Tip #3: Create a Cleaning Schedule

Cleaning the entire house in one day just isn’t possible when you’re home with little ones. Instead, Real Moms recommend splitting up the big chores among different days of the week. You’ll avoid burnout and you’ll also avoid that feeling of wanting to burn your house down when every single room is a disaster (or maybe I’m the only one who gets that urge!)

In addition to a daily cleaning routine, soon-to-be mom of three Carly W. encourages all moms to do one load of laundry every single day.

Before you revolt, Carly shares: “It’s easy to fall behind on mundane tasks like laundry, making that rapidly growing pile of dirty clothes an even more overwhelming chore by the end of a busy week.” Doing one load per day makes it feel manageable and will quickly become part of your routine.

Apply the same strategy to dishes: empty your sink every night and let the dishwasher work its magic while you’re sleeping. One load per day truly helps avoid the pile-up!

Tip #4 Involve Your Children In The Process

One of the best ways to implement organization within your home is to involve everyone in the process, including your children. Channel your inner Mary Poppins and make it a game: one of my favorite ways to do this is by setting a timer and “racing” to finish our tasks before the alarm sounds! In our home, we call it the 10-minute tidy-up.  

Another tidy-up tip from Real Mom Coryn M: She recommends teaching your child the mantra of: “We clean up before we move on.”

Before your child takes out a new toy, have him put away the first one. Heading out on a playdate? A quick clean will make coming home so much nicer. Ready for nap or bedtime? Wind down with a 10-minute tidy-up. Your future (exhausted) self will thank you!

Tip #5: Declutter Often

For most, motherhood comes with the sudden urge to save every little thing that reminds us of when our babies were little. While I’m not saying you should purge your little one’s first pair of shoes, Real Moms agree that regularly taking inventory of your child’s things and letting go of what no longer fits can free up valuable space and bless others, too!

Real Mom Chrissy P. shares: “I keep a ‘too small’ bin in my daughter’s closet. Anytime I try something on her that’s a little tight, I toss it in the bin. When it’s full, I donate!”

Whether you choose to donate to charity or make some extra cash by selling secondhand, you’ll be so grateful you let go.  And remember: decluttering isn’t a “one-and-done” event.

One of our Real Moms shares: “Decluttering is a continual process!” We couldn’t agree more!

Tip #6: Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

The biggest piece of advice that our Real Moms can offer someone searching for ways to keep an organized home is to ask for help when needed. While we believe that moms are superheroes, you shouldn’t be expected to walk through this season alone. If that means asking a trusted loved one to babysit your children for an afternoon while you tackle some household chores or hiring extra help once or twice a month to handle the deep cleaning, reach out and ask for the help you need!

“Excuse the mess, we’re creating memories.”

In a world that celebrates Pinterest-perfection and Instagram-worthy moments, it’s easy to feel like you need to do more. Sometimes, we attribute how well we “mothered” that day to the cleanliness of our home. 

But keep this in mind: your kids won’t remember the organizational system of their playroom, your weekly chores, or whether the kitchen sink was full.

What they will remember is the joy and laughter of a happy home. So offer yourself the same understanding you offer your children when their juice spills or you find they have taken their artistic abilities to the walls.

It also helps to have a little humor when raising children and maintaining a home because, after all, you are creating memories!

For more tips and tricks on how to stay organized with little ones, check out our Give It Blog on Designing A Small Space Nursery and Everything You Need For An Organized Nursery.  If you’re a Real Mom searching for advice or a soon-to-be mom wanting to hear first-hand experiences when it comes to motherhood, don’t forget to visit our Ask A Real Mom section!