As summer heats up in Raintree Village, there’s no better time to step indoors and start organizing for the school year ahead. With rising temperatures and growing back-to-school to-do lists, many local families are finding that a clutter-free home can bring not only peace—but purpose.

World-renowned tidying expert Marie Kondo, creator of the KonMari Method™, has long encouraged families to view home organization not just as a task, but as a way to “spark joy.” Her philosophy can offer the perfect inspiration for families looking to start the school year with clarity, calm, and confidence.

Why Now is the Ideal Time to Tidy

The middle of summer brings more than just heat and humidity—it brings a slower pace, more time at home, and a great opportunity to reset. Kondo believes that life transitions, like the change of seasons or starting a new school year, are natural times to reflect and reorganize. “The best way to find out what we really need is to get rid of what we don’t,” she writes in The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

By taking advantage of the indoor hours during these hot summer weeks, families can declutter their homes room by room—and reduce chaos before school begins.

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KonMari-Inspired Tips for Every Room

1. Tidy by Category, Not Location

Rather than cleaning one room at a time, Kondo’s method encourages tidying by item category. For example, gather all school supplies in the home—regardless of where they’re stored—and sort them together. Discard anything that no longer serves a purpose, and keep only those items that are needed and loved.

2. Create Joyful Entryways

Shoes, bags, jackets, and backpacks pile up fast. Choose entryway solutions that “spark joy”—whether that’s a labeled cubby for each child or a calming, clutter-free zone with decorative hooks and baskets. “Visible mess helps distract us from the true source of the disorder,” Kondo notes.

3. Declutter Kids’ Closets with Gratitude

Before shopping for fall clothing, go through existing wardrobes with your children. Kondo encourages thanking each outgrown item for its service before letting it go: “Thank your clothes when you discard them. It is far more important to show appreciation for the things that have supported you than to be sorry for parting with them.”

4. Simplify School Lunch Prep

Tidy your kitchen by category—pantry snacks, lunch containers, drinkware—and store items vertically when possible. Kondo recommends organizing so that everything has a home and can be easily returned. A calm kitchen leads to calm mornings.

5. Designate a Serene Homework Space

Keep desks or study corners minimal and clutter-free. Include only what your child needs: writing tools, paper, and perhaps a favorite photo or plant. Kondo writes, “The objective of cleaning is not just to clean, but to feel happiness living within that environment.”

Build Habits that Last

The KonMari Method™ emphasizes tidying once, thoroughly, so you never have to do it again. While that may be a tall order for families with young children, introducing these principles early can help children learn respect for their belongings and feel empowered by an organized environment.

Breaking large projects into manageable pieces and tidying as a family—perhaps with background music and a small celebration after—can make it an experience everyone enjoys.

Start the School Year with Peace and Purpose

When homes are tidy and systems are in place, school mornings become smoother, transitions feel easier, and kids gain more independence. And during Houston’s muggy summer stretch, organizing indoors is a meaningful way to prepare both mentally and physically for the next chapter.

As Kondo says, “Tidying is a tool, not a destination. The true goal is to establish the lifestyle you want most once your house has been put in order.”

For more home organization inspiration and community updates tailored for Raintree Village, stay connected with My Neighborhood News.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.