It's back-to-school season already as kids will start heading back to school in the next week or two. Besides making sure they have the school supplies they need and purchasing a few items once they start, what better way than to prep your home to be back-to-school ready right now? We're sharing five simple ways to prep your home for the new school year that your kids can also help out with. These home prep tips will help set up an easier daily school routine for you and your family, that way you won't be scrambling to get ready in the mornings or figuring out last minute where you set your car keys. We wish you good luck and hope your kids are excited for the new school year!

Update Your Mudroom or Entry

Your mudroom or entry tends to become the spot where the kids drop their school items when they come back from school so consider how to utilize this space that'll best function for you and your family. If you don't already have a bench or hall tree of some sort, you may want to get one or the other so that it is easier to organize the items dropped off, from backpacks and books to jackets and shoes. With a bench or hall tree, you can organize baskets and use the shelving as storage space. For example, this built-in mudroom bench, hooks, and shelving make it simple for shoes to be placed underneath, jackets and bags to be hung, with the above shelf for books or bins filled with other go-to essentials. This makes things look and feel more organized in a space that could easily become cluttered. 

Bedroom Reset 

Set in place a daily bedroom cleanup, whether that's by having your kid/kids make their bed in the morning, put away their dirty clothes, pick up their toys, etc. This structure can help them grow their independence as they maintain an organized bedroom, the only space in the home that is theirs. A tidy bedroom will also create a space for them to feel most calm and relaxed in when it comes to bedtime. If that means reorganizing furniture and buying more to store their items, you may want to do so. 

Pantry Refresh

We say you can never go wrong with reorganizing your pantry, especially for back-to-school. That way, your kid/kids can help or make their own lunches for the next school day with ease. By organizing your pantry, you will also make it simpler for you and your family to find the items needed for making meals, especially for dinner. Having snacks accessible and visible by placing them in clear containers on lower shelving is just one simple example of making your pantry more functional. Find out 3 tips to help you organize your pantry and make the most use of the space in the latest blog post written by Britnee Tanner, SLC Professional Organizer.

Create a Study Space

A simple study space makes all the difference. If you don't already have a space in your home for studying and working on homework, try and find an area or room in your home that would perfectly suit that. This could be in your loft space, a corner of their bedroom, or a spot in the kitchen depending on where is most quiet and comfortable. Set up a table and chairs to get started and incorporate whatever else adds comfort and success in studying and working on homework. There's no need to go overboard and buy a bunch of office supplies, books, etc. as the basics will do just as well. Some essential items would include: a planner, pens, a notebook, a laptop/desktop computer, and their homework once school starts. To keep the kiddos on track with all their extracurriculars and such, place a calendar in the study space or area of your home you all visit often, such as in the kitchen, to keep on schedule and remember those important events. You'll be grateful once school starts that there's an area of your home for studying and doing homework, as it'll also create a spot for organizing most of their school supplies instead of having them scattered from their bedroom into the kitchen and wherever else and will be in a centralized location. 

Organize Closets and Dressers in the Bedroom 

Another way to prep your home for back-to-school is to organize your kids' bedroom closets and dressers. Have your kids help out with this one to make sure they know where all their clothing articles are organized and how to find things in the morning for picking out an outfit without you having to help them each time. You can also make this task more fun for them by having them find items of similar color to organize together and then have them pick out a few favorite clothing items that can be put in the front to find more easily. If they've outgrown their fall clothes from last year, donate them and other old clothing, which will free up space in their closet or dresser, then purchase new fall clothing, and organize them along with their other items. 

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