When you organize these concepts in your mind, they seem less daunting. 

🗝Key 1 - Implement a Cleaning Routine Everyone can agree that a clean and tidy home is essential to beautiful living. So, one way or another, the house needs to get clean. Implementing a cleaning routine that is strictly adhered to is essential. This will vary per household depending on your own individual needs. This will be an intricate system. It must be written down and scheduled. You can either do this on a family command center that is visible to all, or write it down in your planner or in a notebook. Account for the laundry, the bathrooms, the floors, the dusting, etc. Whether you do the cleaning all on your own, or hire the help of a housekeeper, get on a proper schedule to regularly rotate the cleaning and keep the house tidy. 

🗝Key 2- Meal Plan - Meal planning is incredibly important for proper and effective house management otherwise you slip into the trap of having cereal and toast for dinner more often than not. When you have a plan, you can prepare and it feels so good to be prepared. My best advice here is to meal prep by stocking your freezer with everything from bolognese sauce and taco meat to your family’s favorite breakfast muffins. Also, plan what you’re going to cook each week, order your groceries and schedule in when you are going to make everything. While you’re cooking can you double the recipe to eat one now and freeze one for later? Or can you cook one, two, or even three recipes at a time and keep them in the fridge until they’re ready to enjoy? Here’s a trick I employ when I’m in a really busy season of life: I’ll order a handful of ready-made family meal trays from a local chef and have those for lunches or dinners on busy days. That ensures we get a healthy meal and it’s still less expensive than take out or drive thru. It also eases the burden of cooking three times a day and makes it fun and enjoyable when I do cook a meal. If you need inspiration on what to cook, I have an entire What’s for Dinner playlist. 

 🗝Key 3- De-Clutter on a Regular Basis A home is not effectively run if it is choking in clutter. You will not be able to relax properly and it quickly ruins a nice aesthetic. In the Madame Chic books I have chapters on how “Clutter is so not Chic”, plus strategies to tackle it once and for all. Get inspired by reading about how to get rid of your clutter. In addition to At Home with Madame Chic, check out books from my friends Dawn Madsen from The Minimal Mom, Cass from ClutterBug, and Toni Hammersley from A Bowl Full of Lemons also have books on clutter that are very motivating. Train your eye to detest clutter and when you see it. Sort it out. 

🗝Key 4 - Keep on top of bills and paperwork This might be the least fun aspect of homemaking. I know that I can’t stand organizing the paper clutter and paying bills, but they must be regularly attended to. I recently shared my secret system for filing which saves so much time and aggravation. When it comes to bills, we need to pay them on time. I set up two days a month to pay bills to make sure we are on top of it. I keep all the bills in the same, easy-to-find place, not scattered around the house (I used to do that). But I keep them in our command center. Thank you to Truebill for sponsoring today's video. 

🗝Key 5- Make the décor pleasing and enticing  I saved the most fun key for last. But just because this key is fun and creative, doesn’t mean it isn’t important for effective household management. When your home is beautiful and your décor pleasing, you actually want to implement these keys to maintain your home. So I’m not saying to go out on a furniture shopping spree. TrueBill will probably alert you that you’ve gone over budget! But I am saying, take a hard look at your space. Do you need to rearrange furniture? Hang up a painting that’s been sitting in your closet? Cut some flowers from the garden and add them to your space? Throw a colorful blanket over your tired sofa? For more inspiration check out my jewel box room video.

My homemaking series continues today as I share ten life-changing homemaking secrets from Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management. 

 

I hope you enjoy today's video.