Last Thursday I had the privilege of hearing professional organizer Stephanie Calahan speak.  She shared about how she and her husband have very different organizational styles.  Then she explained how they have found a middle ground of organization they can agree upon.  That’s when she shared a term that I got excited about.

She said that she and her husband agreed that their main floor would be kept “public ready,” as much as possible.  In other words she didn’t want to be horribly embarrassed if someone dropped by unexpectedly.

I loved this concept!  Mark was sitting in the audience listening as well and I leaned over to him and said, “That’s what I’ve tried to communicate to you but I didn’t have a term to describe it!  Now I have the words “public ready” to help describe what I’d like to work toward.

Stephanie went on to explain that her basement is her husband’s man cave so she has little expectation of how it is maintained.  And the upper level is their bedrooms and certainly the expectations are more relaxed there as well.

I loved this concept and I thought it was something we could introduce to our family.

When our kids were little and we had toys all over the main level, I used to keep a large basket in every room that we could quickly throw toys into at a moments notice.

These days, I fight the usual stuff that lays around with five people living under the same roof: socks tossed off while watching TV, blankets used on the couch but not put away, and school papers on the kitchen counter.  But now we have a term to describe a small vision of what I hope to achieve.

Don’t get me wrong…I’m not looking for Martha Stewart perfect.  That wouldn’t be a home.

I’m simply looking for some sense of organization that allows a friend to come in unexpectedly, sit down at my kitchen island and actually be able to put her elbows on the counter and relax as we sip a cup of tea together.


What about you?  What organization tips do you have to find some sense of “public ready” in your house?

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