Seven Back to School Organization Ideas
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These back to school organization ideas will help you streamline your mornings and get organized for back to school, without the stress!
Each of these ideas is something you can accomplish fast – and feel better about sending your kids out the door! Breathe a sigh of relief knowing you’re organized for the start of a new school year.

Is it even possible that kids are going back to school so soon? I want to feel good about our home and create excitement for the girls for school.
Summers are all too short – and often the fun is mixed with a bit of chaos! Pool bags coming and going, packing and unpacking for the lake, eating food on the go and lots of smiles in between.
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Back to School Organization
I love helping you get organized! I’ve shared a variety of posts over the years to help you feel calm and serene in your home.
Be sure to check out Living a Simple Life, Kitchen Counter Organization, Under Sink Storage Ideas, and so much more in my organization category.
I even have a 30 day organization plan with printables and fast, actionable ideas you can accomplish easily!

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Seven Back to School Organization Ideas
This time of year, it seems we’re rarely actually home, and it shows throughout every room. Soon the pool bag will be replaced with backpacks, so it’s time to get organized for back to school!
I have found that back to school organization helps me retain my sanity and make the transition a little easier for all of us. Simple systems put into place so we can send their time at home having fun and decompressing, rather than picking up.
Want a little more help? Check out my post about Back to School Meal Planning!
Quick Tips
- Eliminate excess – start by decluttering.
- Leave empty space. This is the best way to keep your organization efforts in place!
- Label any items that benefit from a label – chargers, remotes, etc.
- Keep kid-related items at their height! Lower hooks, baskets and organization systems means they are more likely to use them.
Declutter
A quick declutter always yields maximum impact with minimal effort! It’s the best quick fix! Eliminate all the junk that collected over the summer, that is consuming countertop space and more.
From your countertops to your shelves and drawers, eliminating unnecessary items it the easiest way to immediately breathe easier in your home.

Home Office Organization
These days, home offices aren’t just for parents. They can function for kids too! Carving out space for homework and virtual classes will make your days run in a smoother way.
Our home office has served the adults in our home quite well for many years, with lots of built in function and organization. However, we are now hoping to incorporate more ways for the girls to use this space, too.
Setting up kid-friendly desks, organized supplies and work stations can help make it so much more fun to get that work done! It also creates an environment of calm and allows for a schedule and expectations to emerge.

Kitchen Pantry Organization
This is such an important area for back to school organization!
I break down their sides and snacks into baskets so they can grab and go or pack their own lunch. One basket contains peanut items while another is fruit or veggie focused, another contains their daily splurge and finally, the coveted chips and crackers.
This makes it easy for them to pack their lunch and snack for school.
Having an organized pantry cabinet also makes breakfast quick and easy whether they’re eating at home, or on the run!

Refrigerator Organization
Tired of packing your children’s lunches? This refrigerator organization is the solution for you!
Again, everything is broken down into drawers so the kids know exactly what to pack. They grab their water, meat and cheese, and fruit or veggie of choice all broken down into drawers and individual containers to take the guesswork out.

Don’t Have Room for a Mudroom?
Add a Garage Mudroom or garage drop zone! We use a combination of storage baskets and brass hooks in our mudroom to contain the clutter. Kids can kick off their shoes (or put them on) on the bench and stow them in the baskets below.
Hang jackets and coats on upper hooks and backpacks on lower. This eliminates all the clutter from entering the home and is a great idea for back to school organization.

Kids Closet Organization
Heading back to school means it’s a great time to see what fits, what doesn’t, and make sure your kids have what they need for a successful year ahead.
Overwhelmed by the closet clutter? Take it one project at a time. De-cluttering a closet is the best place to start. Why? Because decisions of items that stay or go are often super easy!
Remove any clothes that are out of season or they have outgrown to eliminate the guesswork in getting ready each morning.
Tidy it up, and if you can, utilize a closet system to make it even more efficient.

Bathroom Organization
This is another easy weekend project that can really make a difference in your busy mornings! It’s a back to school organization must.
Go through bathroom drawers and under the sink storage. This is a great time to eliminate old toothbrushes, make-up, hair accessories, and simply organize their daily necessities.

I’d love to hear from you! How are you making back to school time fun and exciting this year?
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Lilly says
Could you share where your closet baskets are from? I need some of those! 🙂
Julie Blanner says
Hi Lily!
You can find them linked in this closet organization post: https://julieblanner.com/kids-closet/
Enjoy,
Julie
Melanie at Dish Dish says
I really like the ideas for organizing the pantry and refrigerator to make it easy for the kids to pick out their own snacks, pack lunches, fix breakfast, etc. Teaches them important life skills while making life easier for mom (after getting things organized), too!