This spring, I had the incredible opportunity to contribute to an article in PEOPLE Magazine all about spring organizing and entertaining. While only a small snippet of my advice made it into the final article, I shared a lot more behind the scenes—so I’m turning that into a real-life guide you can actually use. No fluff. No Pinterest-perfect nonsense. Just stuff that works in real homes.

Whether you’re gearing up for a deep clean, getting ready for spring hosting, or just trying to tame the mess before it drives you nuts, here’s what I recommend (and what I actually do in my own home).

Feeling Overwhelmed? Start Small

If you want to organize everything, don’t start with the hardest project. Seriously.
Start with something small: one kitchen drawer, the space under the sink, or clearing expired food from the pantry.
Why? Because getting a quick win gives you momentum. That little dopamine hit of I did it is way more motivating than dumping every closet and instantly regretting your life choices.

What Most People Get Wrong About Spring Cleaning

The biggest mistake I see? Trying to do too much all at once.
People try to clean and organize the whole house in one go, but that’s a fast track to burnout. Instead, pick one area, finish it fully (declutter, clean, and organize), then move on.
If you pull everything out at once, you’ll likely end up overwhelmed and surrounded by a mess that sits there for days—or weeks.

In the Kitchen: Set Up Systems That Match Your Habits

High-traffic areas like the kitchen need systems that work with your routines—not against them.

Dish towels always on the counter (or floor)? Add a small hamper bin under the sink just for dirty rags. Easy to toss, easy to empty.
Junk drawer chaos? Spring-loaded drawer dividers work wonders. Designate space for all the random bits—chargers, pens, takeout menus, etc.
Paper piles? Mount a Velcro folder inside a cabinet for mail, bills, forms, and other stuff that tends to land on the counter.
Coffee stuff scattered? Keep mugs, filters, and the coffee maker all in one spot. Store things where you actually use them.

Living Room Hacks: Embrace Your Laziness (and the Messy Middle)

Your living room doesn’t need to be a showroom—it needs to function for how you actually live. Instead of trying to force perfectly tidy habits, embrace your laziness and build systems that work with your natural routines.

Blankets everywhere? Add a lidded basket near the couch. People are way more likely to toss a blanket in a bin than to fold it nicely—and honestly, that’s good enough.
Random stuff always migrating into the living room? Try a stair basket (or any basket, really). We toss things in throughout the day, and when it’s full (or I’m feeling overwhelmed), we do a quick reset.
Paper clutter creeping in from the front door? A simple bin or tray near the entrance catches mail, flyers, and school notices before they explode across every surface.

It’s okay if your space looks a little lived in—that’s kind of the point. But giving clutter a place to land makes the “messy middle” way easier to manage day-to-day.

Organizing Trends That Don’t Always Work IRL

Not every hack is worth the hype. Here’s where I see people struggle:

Over-labeling. Labels should add clarity—not confusion. Keep it simple.
File folding. It looks amazing, but if it’s too much to keep up with, skip it. Hang what you can. Toss the kids’ sweatpants in a drawer and call it a day.
Buying bins instead of decluttering. The real magic isn’t in the container—it’s in owning less. Declutter first, then organize. And always try to use what you already have before buying new.

Organizing Principles That Work Everywhere

Trends come and go, but these tips are timeless:

Give everything a home
Store like with like
Keep only what you love, use, or need
Make it easy to maintain
Prioritize accessibility

A system that works for you is always better than one that looks good online but falls apart in real life.

One Last Thing: It’s Not Just About the Stuff

Spring organizing isn’t only about decluttering—it’s about building habits that actually help your home run smoother.

A 5-minute reset at night, decluttering as you go, and creating simple drop zones can make a massive difference.

Less stuff = less to clean = less to organize = more time for what actually matters.

And hey, if you need a little motivation? Just remember: your favorite organizing expert (hi!) was featured in PEOPLE Magazine. Not bad, right?

Happy organizing!