“Everything has a place, and I love making sure I put everything in its place.”
My Nana has a way of inserting great wisdom into ordinary conversation. Last weekend we visited my grandparents in their beautiful, cozy and very tidy home. She made this statement in passing, but I was struck by the wisdom it held!
Everything has a place, and I love making sure I put everything in its place.
What’s the secret to a tidy home? I think the answer lies in the two actions Nana mentioned:
#1 Give everything a place
Depending on the size of your home and the amount of possessions in it, this might take a while. Work through all the piles, clear out the junk drawer and every other storage space in your house (drawers, closets, cabinets and counter tops).
I am not a minimalist and have spent a good part of the last five years organizing our home. Now that I have functioning organization systems, I just have to work new items into those spaces. Any time I bring in something new – whether it’s a large grocery haul, new home decor or anything else – I assign it a place.
And by the way, having a bigger house doesn’t mean you’ll have less clutter. Most of us tend to fill up whatever space we have!
#2 Make the choice to put things back in their place
Organization systems don’t work if you don’t use them! It might seem easier to toss your clothes on the chair instead of hanging them up in the closet, but that won’t yield a tidy home.
Putting things back in their place requires a character trait that isn’t easy or popular: discipline. Proverbs 25:28 illustrates this perfectly – “A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.”
Just as discipline has rewards, laziness has consequences!
I hope this encourages you that having a tidy home is possible! It just requires giving everything a place and choosing to return things to their places!
Come Home For Comfort 
I adore both the wisdom in your Nana’s words and the heart/attitude behind them! What a beautiful thing to put care into making a home for all of your things, and also to love putting them there! This makes me smile! I enjoy my home so much more when everything is in its place, that along with my desire to create a home that my family can feel comfortable and cozy within pushes me to not put off until later what we’d all benefit from my doing in the “now”. I also read your mom’s comment and love her quote, “Don’t put it down, put it away!” The words I’ve read here today will no doubt return to my mind as an encouragement on weary days when I need them most. 🙂 Thank you for your continual desire to encourage fellow homemakers and for sharing your Nana’s wisdom along with your own. 😉
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That quote from my mom literally rings in my ears when I’m tempted to put something down. LOL! 🙂 She said that to me often when I was growing up!
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Thank you for the kind way you have of making your Nana sound so wise. These principles have been in place for the 63 years that we have been married. One relative was so shocked because an article he coveted, and asked me if I had a copy, was produced within minutes. Everything has a place and needs to be put there when you are finished with it. How else can you remember where something is?. Oft times I look at something and think, that’s a dumb place to keep that, and move it. Next time I look for it, I can’t remember where I moved it to. That’s a problem for Seniors.
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Thank you for your wonderful example! ❤
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I love this article. It was a good reminder to for me as to why things look so messy! Your grandmother is beautiful and her home is lovely. Cherish her. My grandma was such an influence in my life. She has been gone 30 years but her words come to me every day. I love your blog and You Tube channel. I love to read your Mom’s, also. She is such a wise and godly lady. She raised two beautiful daughters and I am sure she is very proud of you both. I am old enough to be your Mom, too but I learn from you. Regardless of age, women can share and learn from each other. Keep up your blog and YT, you are talented and I enjoy your writing and “seeing” your life. Love you and your love for our Heavenly Father!
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Thank you, Pam! I’m truly grateful for the heritage of godly women I have! ❤
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I love your Nana!! Sounds like you had a great visit. This is my motto too – a place for everything. I make sure that everyone at my house is involved in picking places for things so we can all work together to keep things neat and tidy.
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You’re so smart to include your family on your mission of putting things away. That saves your energy and teaches them how to accomplish the goal of a tidy home at the same time!
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I have had a friend who loves to organize come in and help me! Organizing is a weakness, so sometimes I just need someone to help me figure it out. Then I can work at maintaining it. That’s been a big help for me!
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I love that, Bridget! You are so wise to ask for help.
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I love this. I worked to instill these values into my children; your home should always be a place of peace. A few minutes in the evening straightening up and planning for the next day is so worthwhile!
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You’re absolutely right, Alicia!
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Put things in their place… YES YES YES! This is what I preach to everyone who asks how I keep a tidy home with a 5 year old. I am always reminding C and J to keep things in their place and it makes for an easier clean up.
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Yes! I love that, Stephanie! Not only does your discipline give you a tidy home, it encourages others that it’s possible! Bravo, my friend. 🙂
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I’ve watched her practice that principle all my life. The result is the calm and order you described. One thing I say to myself often is, “Don’t put it down, put it away! “That helps me keep things in their place.
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Hmm…I hear that “don’t put it down” phrase in my head all the time. I wonder where that came from! 🙂
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We just hired a lady to come in and organize two spaces that I’ve had issues with—my pantry closet and our dining room area that’s going to be a playroom. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and am so excited! I can keep it organized once it’s done, but needed help getting there.
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I love that, Tif! You’re so wise to know when asking for help will really benefit you.
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I share your Nana’s philosophy. While everything doesn’t have to be perfect, a home is, to me, more enjoyable when it is organized rather than chaotic.
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That’s a great way to put it!
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