Can we still blame mommy brain if our kids are out of diapers? I hope so! My kids are 5 and 7 and I’m still woefully forgetful. Thank goodness for the saving grace of organization. Left to my own devices I’d never remember who was supposed to be where, when; what is supposed to go to the tailor/post office/Goodwill; or where in the world I left the car keys.

Happily, we overwhelmed ones are not alone. There are people out there who make it their business to make our lives easier. And many do so in a way that embraces form as well as function. Here are five ways to impose order…beautifully.

1. Chalkboard planner

Yes, we all have calendars on our phones. But having a physical reminder of doctors’ appointments, work commitments and social engagements right there on the wall can be a lifesaver. At the beginning of each week, my seven-year-old and I write every activity from our digital calendars on the board - color coded by family member. It’s anachronistic but I can’t tell you the number of times its saved us from forgetting to be somewhere. A week-at-a-time version from Chazin Interiors works for our family, but there are lots of intriguing options on sites like Etsy.

2. Baskets…for everything

Sometimes its hard to remember to do something unless it’s right under your nose. One solution: put ‘to dos’…right under your nose with job-specific baskets. Rushing out the door for school or work? The “out” basket is right there with returns to make and letters to post. Barreling in from kids’ baseball? Pop the equipment in the sports bin and the keys in the wall organizer. Heading upstairs to put the kids down? Grab a few things you dumped earlier in the “going upstairs” box. Ditto the basement box, swimming hamper, recycling tote, and even the basket for my seven-year-old author’s ‘novels.’ Fifty at last count.

3. Kids “office”

Some time ago an assortment of paper tubes, scotch tape, construction paper, boxes and other random items began to grow in the corner of our living room. My son called it his “office.” Everyone wants their own space, right? But a growing cache of cast-offs wasn’t quite what this mum had in mind. So one evening the pile was magically replaced with a wee office-on-wheels: a storage cart filled with all the stationary and supplies a five and seven-year-old could possibly want. Yes, staplers and bits of cut up cardboard still spread all over the living room. But at least they have a home to return to at night.

4. Little library

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Books are a lovely activity for kids and a kid-level library makes reading an easy choice. It also keeps books contained and allows little readers to do their own clean up. Low-mounted book displays with front covers facing out let kids see featured options. Crates on the floor can corral other titles. Regular trips to the library can keep the selection fresh and interesting.

5. Easy-to-update kids art frames

Easy-to-update kids art frames - Kids can be prolific artists. They also seem to be irresistibly drawn to sticking things to the wall with tape. To save your paint and their pride, why not create a living art wall? Step one is an easy on, easy off frame - like these from Ferm Living. Step two is to turn your kids into curators. Whenever our boys create a new work of art, they have to decide if it’s wall worthy. Each lad has three frames, so adding something means removing something else (typically to the keeper art box or to a ‘better place’ in recycling.) It keeps selected pieces feeling special. And our decor feeling a tad less improvised.

So those are some of the ways we get our home to lend a helping hand. How about you? Please share your fab ideas with a comment!