When Winter Days Turn Into Organizing Wins
If you’ve ever woken up to fresh snow and realized the day ahead will look very different than planned, you’re not alone. Winter has a way of slowing us down—sometimes by choice, sometimes by surprise. And when kids are home for a couple of days, routines shift, energy fills the house, and the little pressure points start to show. Especially near the door, where coats, boots, mittens, and wet everything seem to multiply overnight.
Instead of fighting that moment, I love helping families lean into it—calmly, intentionally, and with just a bit of creativity.
Turning Winter Gear Into Its Own Project
One of the most helpful mindset shifts is to make winter gear its own organizing project. Not a rushed cleanup. Not a reaction. A real, thoughtful moment where you say, “Okay, this is winter, and this is what winter needs.”
That might mean gathering all the coats, gloves, mittens, boots, and scarves in one place and deciding together where they truly belong. It could include floor mats, towels for drying off, or even a temporary solution for letting things air-dry after a snowy adventure. When you treat this as a project—not a problem—you remove the stress and replace it with clarity.
Creating a Space That Anticipates Real Life
Whether it’s a hallway, foyer, mudroom, kitchen corner, back porch, or front entry, the goal is to intentionally create a space that supports what’s actually happening. Winter brings snow. Snow brings wet gear. Wet gear needs somewhere to land.
This is where simple decisions make a big difference. Who gets which basket? Where do boots come off? Is there a chair that works better than the floor? Would a temporary indoor clothesline help things dry more easily? There are some really clever ways to do this—even behind closed doors—and when you anticipate the need, the whole house feels calmer.
Making It Joyful for Kids
When kids are home, this can become part of the fun. Let them help decide where things go. Let them claim their basket or hook. Let organizing feel like teamwork instead of correction.
Winter already gives us a playful invitation to bundle up, head outside, and come back rosy-cheeked and tired. When the systems are in place, the return indoors feels just as good. Organized spaces don’t take the joy out of life—they make room for it.
As winter settles in, remember that organizing doesn’t have to be perfect or permanent to be effective. Every small space you set up with intention is a gift to your future self—and to your kids, who are learning how to care for their environment in a gentle, supportive way.
Pinky Jackson is a Decluttering Specialist and Home Organizing Expert. If you need expert organizing help, don't hesitate to reach out. Pinky and her team would love to help you. Onsite Organizing services are available in the Louisville, KY area and Virtual Organizing services are offered for clients in other locations and for those who prefer to work online. Visit pinkyjackson.com to learn about our services and schedule a free assessment.
Photo: Jill Wellington @jill-wellington
