How to Use Your Kitchen to Stay Organized This School Year

Now that the kids are back to school, it starts to happen: the paperwork piles up on the kitchen counters. The backpacks are strewn across the floor. The kitchen table gets taken over by homework in a giant, disorganized mess.

It’s the same every year -- but this year will be different, because we have some tried-and-true ideas to keep your family in the kitchen (because it is nice to have everyone together after a day apart) and organized (because homework covered in last night’s pasta sauce probably isn’t what your son’s teacher was hoping for).

Tip #1: Make the island a homework hub

At the end of the day, you’d love to cook a slow, leisurely meal while sipping a glass of wine. But the truth is, you’re usually a little off your game, trying to avoid burning dinner as you run back and forth to the kitchen table to help your kids with their homework.

The simple solution: Make your kitchen island the destination for all things homework. This puts your kids closer to you, so it’s easier to cook, answer questions and catch up on what happened in their day. Store a little basket in or near the island, and fill it with homework essentials: pens, pencils, a calculator, etc. This will help make the evening rush a little more organized. And, when it’s time for dinner, you no longer have to worry about clearing off the table before you eat.

Tip #2: Build a homework station into your renovation

If you’re considering a kitchen remodel, we highly recommend building in a small desk area for the kids to do homework. This gives them a separate, organized space to get to work.

But it’s not just for them! You can use it as a bill organization station or meal planning center. It might also serve as your workspace when you have to wrap up some unfinished work at the end of the day. The addition of a desk in the kitchen has proven to be a functional and well-loved space for many families.

Tip #3: Add a hidden filing cabinet to your kitchen décor

Even as you transition to paperless statements and opt out of junk mail lists, it seems like there is still so much paperwork involved in family life. And, for many families, this paperwork collects in the kitchen until it’s moved elsewhere to be filed, shredded or tossed.

That’s exactly why building a hidden filing cabinet into your kitchen design is a useful addition. It will encourage you to file that paperwork now, instead of letting it collect dust in a pile on the counter. If you can find space, tuck your paper shredder into the kitchen, too. This will give you everything you need, all in one place, so you can make immediate decisions on whether to keep or get rid of the day’s mail.

We love how one of our clients did this by adding a filing cabinet to her hutch. She says: “I wanted a space to sort all the bills, restaurant menus, permission slips, and activity schedules. It looks like a regular cabinet, but is perfect for tying up all my loose ends.”

Kitchens are the hub of the home, especially during the school year. When you design your kitchen based on how you and your family actually use it, you can create a space that adds to the calm, not the chaos.

How do you make your kitchen space back-to-school functional? Let us know in the comments.