Best of the Week: 34 Clever Ideas for Busy Families
Don't let a jam-packed family schedule overwhelm you – these 34 design and decorating ideas will help keep you organised
Family life can sometimes feel like a non-stop merry-go-round of packed lunches, school drop-offs and after-school activities… and as any parent will tell you, things can all too quickly unravel if you and your home are not organised. We’ve scoured the Houzz archives for smart design and decorating ideas from families around the world that promise to help streamline the running of your home (and hopefully keep your sanity intact!).
2. Location: Perth, WA
Designer: Collected Interiors
Features: An oversized blackboard sticker that takes up practically an entire wall in this family dining room provides plenty of space to write weekly schedules and to-do lists for every member of the family. No more excuses from family members who claim they didn’t see the schedule!
Designer: Collected Interiors
Features: An oversized blackboard sticker that takes up practically an entire wall in this family dining room provides plenty of space to write weekly schedules and to-do lists for every member of the family. No more excuses from family members who claim they didn’t see the schedule!
3. Location: Toronto, Canada
Features: A bold, graphic black-and-white pattern transforms a practical bench seat by the front door into an elegant feature. The wall hooks are perfect for hanging dog leashes, bags, coats and hats.
Features: A bold, graphic black-and-white pattern transforms a practical bench seat by the front door into an elegant feature. The wall hooks are perfect for hanging dog leashes, bags, coats and hats.
4. Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Designer: Hastings Design
Features: Easy-to-use wall hooks are easier for little hands to manage than towel rails, which means less chance of walking into the bathroom to find a puddle of soggy towels on the floor.
Designer: Hastings Design
Features: Easy-to-use wall hooks are easier for little hands to manage than towel rails, which means less chance of walking into the bathroom to find a puddle of soggy towels on the floor.
5. Location: Phoenix, USA
Features: Custom-made built-ins on either side of a bathroom door with space to hang coats and school bags, plus somewhere to sit and pull on neatly stashed footwear.
Features: Custom-made built-ins on either side of a bathroom door with space to hang coats and school bags, plus somewhere to sit and pull on neatly stashed footwear.
6. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: PLANtoBUILD
Features: The last thing a time-poor cook needs is to waste precious minutes hunting inside kitchen cupboards for that elusive ingredient. Here, open floor-to-ceiling shelves make everything easy to find and readily accessible (although you might want to pop the kids’ snacks up high and out of reach!).
Designer: PLANtoBUILD
Features: The last thing a time-poor cook needs is to waste precious minutes hunting inside kitchen cupboards for that elusive ingredient. Here, open floor-to-ceiling shelves make everything easy to find and readily accessible (although you might want to pop the kids’ snacks up high and out of reach!).
7. Location: London, UK
Features: Three sets of taps and an oversized sink allow three children to brush their teeth at the same time – a smart time saver.
Features: Three sets of taps and an oversized sink allow three children to brush their teeth at the same time – a smart time saver.
8. Location: USA
Features: Manage cord clutter (and arguments over whose turn it is to charge their device) with a dedicated phone-charging station built into your hallway cabinetry.
Features: Manage cord clutter (and arguments over whose turn it is to charge their device) with a dedicated phone-charging station built into your hallway cabinetry.
9. Location: London, UK
Features: A pull-out caddy under the stairs is just the spot to store shoes.
Features: A pull-out caddy under the stairs is just the spot to store shoes.
10. Location: Vancouver, Canada
Features: One minute it’s a family organisation station with a place to write shopping lists, hang the car keys and pop the kids’ school notes – but close the doors and it blends into the kitchen cabinetry. Genius.
Features: One minute it’s a family organisation station with a place to write shopping lists, hang the car keys and pop the kids’ school notes – but close the doors and it blends into the kitchen cabinetry. Genius.
11. Location: Richmond, USA
Features: A mix of open and closed cupboards gives the members of your household somewhere to hang coats, hats and boots when they come inside, plus storage space up high for things you use less frequently, such as luggage.
Features: A mix of open and closed cupboards gives the members of your household somewhere to hang coats, hats and boots when they come inside, plus storage space up high for things you use less frequently, such as luggage.
12. Location: Chicago, USA
Features: With a firey’s pole in the middle of the hallway, we don’t imagine the owners of this house need to shout too loudly to get the kids to come downstairs and put on their coats and shoes. Plus, we’re loving the crazy wall of casual family photos.
Features: With a firey’s pole in the middle of the hallway, we don’t imagine the owners of this house need to shout too loudly to get the kids to come downstairs and put on their coats and shoes. Plus, we’re loving the crazy wall of casual family photos.
13. Location: Notting Hill, UK
Features: Choosing identical baskets to store toys and knick-knacks gives this storage set-up a sleek, cohesive feel.
Features: Choosing identical baskets to store toys and knick-knacks gives this storage set-up a sleek, cohesive feel.
14. Location: San Francisco, USA
Features: When you’re looking for extra storage space for toys, sports gear and shoes, don’t forget the valuable area under the stairs.
Features: When you’re looking for extra storage space for toys, sports gear and shoes, don’t forget the valuable area under the stairs.
15. Location: Los Angeles, USA
Features: A spacious layout and easy-to-access, open-wire laundry drawers make it a breeze for everyone in the household – whatever their age – to pitch in with this family chore.
Features: A spacious layout and easy-to-access, open-wire laundry drawers make it a breeze for everyone in the household – whatever their age – to pitch in with this family chore.
16. Location: Miami, USA
Features: Finishing the doors and drawers of this storage unit in a medley of different, bold colours makes it easy for the younger members of the household to remember what goes where.
Features: Finishing the doors and drawers of this storage unit in a medley of different, bold colours makes it easy for the younger members of the household to remember what goes where.
17. Location: Raleigh, USA
Features: Low-fuss, low-cost additions, such as a few wire baskets hanging on the wall and a footstool for pulling on boots, will make your entry area far more workable.
Features: Low-fuss, low-cost additions, such as a few wire baskets hanging on the wall and a footstool for pulling on boots, will make your entry area far more workable.
18. Location: Notting Hill, UK
Features: Make it easy for the kids to put their books away (and encourage more reading time!) with an open bookshelf set-up such as this one.
Features: Make it easy for the kids to put their books away (and encourage more reading time!) with an open bookshelf set-up such as this one.
19. Location: New York, USA
Features: Rather than closed cupboards or drawers, the owners of this New York family bathroom have chosen open nooks for their vanity so bath toys are easy to access and dry out quickly.
Features: Rather than closed cupboards or drawers, the owners of this New York family bathroom have chosen open nooks for their vanity so bath toys are easy to access and dry out quickly.
20. Location: UK
Features: Finished with magnetic plaster and given a concrete effect, this wall is a great idea for a teen study area – perfect for an ever-changing display of school notes, invitations and the like.
Features: Finished with magnetic plaster and given a concrete effect, this wall is a great idea for a teen study area – perfect for an ever-changing display of school notes, invitations and the like.
21. Location: Toronto, Canada
Features: Lining the storage baskets with co-ordinating, brightly patterned fabrics adds a fun touch to this hallway set-up.
Features: Lining the storage baskets with co-ordinating, brightly patterned fabrics adds a fun touch to this hallway set-up.
22. Location: Cincinnati, USA
Features: Labelling toy baskets with what goes where and storing them on open shelves makes it easy for the kids to tidy up their own things.
Features: Labelling toy baskets with what goes where and storing them on open shelves makes it easy for the kids to tidy up their own things.
23. Location: London, UK
Features: This trio of brightly coloured desks can be concealed behind doors when the children are busy elsewhere. We love the little touches here, such as the recessed overhead lighting above the desks and how the toy box can be rolled up a ramp and tucked away when games are over.
Features: This trio of brightly coloured desks can be concealed behind doors when the children are busy elsewhere. We love the little touches here, such as the recessed overhead lighting above the desks and how the toy box can be rolled up a ramp and tucked away when games are over.
24. Location: Austin, USA
Features: The staircase in this front entry makes a playful display place for family photographs.
Features: The staircase in this front entry makes a playful display place for family photographs.
25. Location: San Francisco, USA
Features: A chalkboard in the hub of the home is just the spot for a family calendar – no-one will be able to miss it.
Features: A chalkboard in the hub of the home is just the spot for a family calendar – no-one will be able to miss it.
27. Location: San Francisco, USA
Features: Storing supplies such as cereal and berries in clear, labelled jars looks attractive and makes it easy for everyone in the household to prepare their own breakfast or snack. Refilling your containers from the tubs at health food stores also reduces unnecessary packaging and waste.
Features: Storing supplies such as cereal and berries in clear, labelled jars looks attractive and makes it easy for everyone in the household to prepare their own breakfast or snack. Refilling your containers from the tubs at health food stores also reduces unnecessary packaging and waste.
28. Location: Philadelphia, USA
Features: A blackboard-painted wall allows the children to get creative (and hopefully organised!) and adds a playful touch to this family space.
Features: A blackboard-painted wall allows the children to get creative (and hopefully organised!) and adds a playful touch to this family space.
29. Location: Gloucestershire, UK
Features: Old-fashioned post cubbies recessed into the wall look charming and are a great way to keep everyone’s post separated and neatly organised.
Features: Old-fashioned post cubbies recessed into the wall look charming and are a great way to keep everyone’s post separated and neatly organised.
30. Location: Sonarp, Sweden
Features: A cheery yellow whiteboard makes for an eye-catching feature in a low-key room scheme and keeps the kids occupied.
Features: A cheery yellow whiteboard makes for an eye-catching feature in a low-key room scheme and keeps the kids occupied.
31. Location: Cincinnati, USA
Features: If you have sports-mad children, sports equipment can easily take over your house and car – keep it organised and under control in a wall-mounted storage system. Here, special racks hold bulky sports equipment and generous ball baskets, while storage boxes contain smaller items.
Features: If you have sports-mad children, sports equipment can easily take over your house and car – keep it organised and under control in a wall-mounted storage system. Here, special racks hold bulky sports equipment and generous ball baskets, while storage boxes contain smaller items.
32. Location: Saddle Butte, USA
Features: There’s something visually appealing about this wall-mounted saucepan arrangement. Plus, it’s a great way to keep cookware close to hand.
Features: There’s something visually appealing about this wall-mounted saucepan arrangement. Plus, it’s a great way to keep cookware close to hand.
33. Location: San Francisco, USA
Features: Having two showers and three sets of taps is sure to speed up the morning routine in this family bathroom.
Features: Having two showers and three sets of taps is sure to speed up the morning routine in this family bathroom.
34. Location: London, UK
Features: Bicycles can be tricky to store. In this London home, the owner has solved the problem by mounting them on wall hooks.
Tell us
Have you put any clever decorating tricks in place to help make family life easier or more streamlined? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite photos, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last week’s Best of the Week? Catch up here with Best of the Week: 24 Envelope-Pushing Designs From All Over
Features: Bicycles can be tricky to store. In this London home, the owner has solved the problem by mounting them on wall hooks.
Tell us
Have you put any clever decorating tricks in place to help make family life easier or more streamlined? Tell us in the Comments and don’t forget to save your favourite photos, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Did you miss last week’s Best of the Week? Catch up here with Best of the Week: 24 Envelope-Pushing Designs From All Over
Features: The kitchen is the hub of most family homes, so it makes sense to set up a bijou home office here, where you can keep on top of the family schedule.