I often read about elements that contribute to beautiful design, but less frequently do blogs and magazines address the root of what make a space comfortable to live in: organization. I will be the first to admit that I’m not an organized person. I never have been. My mother used to pretend to be shocked if she could see just a square inch of the carpet on my floor. Since I’ve moved out, I’ve cleaned up my surroundings, but anyone who knows me well can tell you that I keep clutter. (Let’s please refrain from analyzing what this really means about me.)

Over the holidays during our cross-country drive Peter and I stopped to stay with my cousin, Shawna, in Arkansas. Shawna and her fiance, Ryan, just bought a house and I was shocked by how unbelievably clean and organized everything in their house was. On our way home they let us stay there while they were in Vegas and even though they weren’t home everything that we would possibly need was so easy to find. The placement of items in their house was logical. Here’s a picture or Shawna and me together:

The sense of order that Shawna has may be something that comes more naturally to some than it does to others but I am confident that it is something that, with a lot of effort, I will learn. I’m so inspired by my cousin and her fiance’s gracious hospitality  and ability to make a house a home.

Anyone can shove their things behind couches, under beds, and in drawers to make a house appear clean for a photo but it takes true thought and organization to create a space that is easy to live in. Every item in the house needs a place to go so that when we come home from a long day it will be natural to put things where they belong. If I can master this then I will have a better designed home. What about you? Are you like Peter and I am and frantically clean before people come over (or just tell them, “You can come over but the place is a mess and we like you to much to clean before you show up.” Manipulative–I know.) or do you maintain an organized clean house? If you fit into the latter category, what are your best secrets?

Image courtesy of The Container Store.

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