accessories, 94, 118, 138, 140–41
annual tasks. See yearly tasks
appliances
heating and cooling, 207
kitchen, 79, 101, 102, 108, 209
laundry, 145, 146, 180, 191, 207
life spans, 207
April, 32–37
artwork
decorating with, 93, 124, 128, 135
hanging, 209
August, 56–61
backyards. See yards
baking. See also cooking
cakes, 23
for holidays, 23, 34, 52, 76, 83, 84, 242, 245, 249
with maple syrup, 29
baskets and bins
for decorations, 17
general usage, 11
for guests, 84
for kids’ rooms, 165, 166, 168, 170
for kitchens, 98, 101, 102, 107, 108, 116
for laundry rooms, 146, 148, 149, 190
for living rooms, 127
for utility spaces, 173, 174, 175, 209
bathrooms, 114–21
cosmetics, 120–21
designing for relaxation, 116
evaluating, 116
storage, 118
bedding. See also blankets
laundering, 41, 145, 189, 190, 191
tips, 136
bedrooms, 132–41. See also kids’ rooms
accessories, 140–41
beds and nightstands, 136
closets, 138
evaluating, 135
tidying, 135
bee houses, 54
bicycles, 31
bins. See baskets and bins
blankets. See also bedding
for guests, 84
laundering, 189
for pets, 263
picnic, 53
seasonal, 65
bookcases
cleaning, 24
for kids’ rooms, 166
organizing, 128
as room dividers, 124
books
boxes. See also baskets and bins
budgeting
for furniture, 127
for gifts, 240
for groceries, 218
for home maintenance, 207
cabinets
laundry room, 146
office, 152
utility, 174
cakes, 23
calendars. See also monthly calendars
family, 253–54
mounted, 173
cards. See also gifts
reusing, 239
cars
summer kits, 47
warming, 25
carts
bar, 130
for kitchens, 101
laundry, 146
for offices, 152
casseroles, 221
celebrations, 236–49. See also entertaining; holidays
gifts for, 239–41
schedules, 244–49
strategies for, 239–42
supplies for, 238
table settings for, 241
chairs. See seating
Christmas
schedules, 247–48
cleaning, 178–85. See also laundry; stains
beach towels, 61
ceiling fans, 46
before entertaining, 233
grills, 29
ovens, 79
patios and porches, 185
rugs, 30
schedules, 184–85
siding, 29
silverware, 77
sponges, 101
strategies for, 181–82
swimwear, 49
technology, 160
windows, 34
wood floors, 182
cleaning supplies, 180
DIY cleansers, 182
closets
bedroom, 137
entryway/hall, 94
kids’, 165
laundry, 146
linen, 25
clothing. See also laundry
folding, 138
kids’, 165
comforters, 136
composting, 37, 70, 110, 195, 198
containers
for bathrooms, 118
for cleaning supplies, 101
for folded items, 175
for food storage, 11, 79, 106, 110, 111
for laundry supplies, 148, 149
cooking, 212–25. See also baking; In-Season Picks; pantries; recipes and tips
big-batch, 221
casseroles, 221
grocery shopping, 218
make-aheads, 231, 242, 245, 249, 257
no-cook meals, 55
planning for, 65, 218, 232–33, 257
presentations, 47
preserving, 222–23
schedules, 225
strategies for, 215–23
supplies, 214
on vacation, 59
cords and chargers, 93, 124, 136, 152
couches. See seating
craft projects
coloring placemats, 78
coloring wall, 171
folded heart notes, 22
leaf art, 73
map coasters, 48
painted wooden eggs, 35
paper ghosts, 72
paper snowflakes, 85
thumbprint animals, 40
crafts
supplies and storage, 168, 170–71, 256
while traveling, 259
cubbies, 93, 94, 128, 131, 136, 166
daily tasks
cooking, 225
laundry, 191
lawn and garden, 202
December, 80–85
decorating. See also artwork; flowers; houseplants
bathrooms, 116
closets, 138
displays, 60
entryways, 93
focal points, 124
for holidays, 17, 35, 72, 73, 82, 85, 247, 248
with keepsakes, 60
kids’ rooms, 49, 163, 165, 168
living rooms, 124, 127, 128, 130, 131
offices, 154
DIY
accessories organizer, 140
bungee-cord shelves, 154
cleansers, 182
coloring wall, 171
command center, 90
credenza, 130
cubby station, 166
ironing board, 146
miniature “forests,” 198
ottoman, 131
pesticides, 197
supplies pocket, 156
tool kits, 209
under-shelf storage, 171
wall hangers, 89
documents. See papers
donating. See purging
drawers
for accessories, 140
for craft supplies, 170
dividers and inserts, 11, 104, 106–7, 157
for office supplies, 157
Earth Day, 37
eco-friendly tips. See also composting; Earth Day
bags, 218
cars, 25
conserving energy, 208
food packaging, 79, 83, 107, 257
pesticides, 197
entertaining, 226–35. See also celebrations
food and drinks, 47, 130, 229–33
hosting, 233
schedules, 235
seating for, 124
stains, 85
strategies for, 229–33
supplies for, 228
entryways, 88–95
closets, 94
command centers, 90
evaluating, 90
personalizing, 93
storage, 92–94
exercise. See wellness
family
command centers, 254
meetings, 253
Father’s Day, 48
February, 20–25
filing. See also papers
digital, 160
storage, 154
systems, 159
financial planning, 16
first-aid kits, 271
flea market finds, 102, 163, 175
flowers. See also gardening
lilacs, 41
orchids, 30
planting bulbs, 64
food storage
Fourth of July, 52
foyers. See entryways
fruits. See produce
furniture
bedroom, 135–36
multi-tasking, 11, 127, 131, 135
office, 152
rearranging, 43
repair kits, 209
furoshiki, 25
garages. See utility spaces
gardening, 192–203. See also houseplants
bulbs, 64
cleanup, 28
container gardening, 43
planting and nurturing, 198–99
potting benches, 201
schedules, 202–3
strategies for, 195–201
supplies for, 194
tools, sharpening, 25
trees, container-grown, 36
vegetables and herbs, 54, 55, 70, 202
weeding, 199
gifts. See also cards
with batteries, 85
for Christmas, 83
for Father’s Day, 48
lists, 239
for the new year, 17
purchasing, 240
shipping, 241
goals, setting, 10
guests. See also entertaining
shoes, 93
towels, 145
Hanukkah, 249
health. See wellness
heating and cooling, 55, 207, 208–9, 210, 211
herbs
dried, 215
planting, 55
holidays. See also celebrations; entertaining
baking for, 23, 52, 76, 84, 242
Christmas, 17, 82, 83, 84, 247–48
Earth Day, 37
Father’s Day, 48
Fourth of July, 52
guests, preparing for, 84
Hanukkah, 249
MLK Jr. Weekend, 19
Mother’s Day, 40
New Year’s Eve, 85
home maintenance, 204–11
conserving energy, 208–9
kits, 209
patios and porches, 185
projects and upgrades, 208
schedules, 210–11
strategies for, 207
supplies for, 206
hooks
for bathrooms, 118
for bedrooms, 135
for kids’ rooms, 166
houseplants. See also flowers; gardening
for aromatherapy, 273
decorating with, 83, 115, 128, 130, 133, 135
miniature “forests,” 198
schedules, 202–3
In-Season Picks, 18, 23, 29, 36, 42, 47, 53, 60, 64, 71, 77, 83
inspiration boards, 154
jams, 223
January, 14–19
July, 50–55
June, 44–49
kids, 250–59. See also craft projects; crafts
calendars, 253–54
managing activities, 256–57
menu planning, 257
schedules, 259
strategies for, 253–57
study habits, 254–56
supplies for, 252
table settings, 241
traveling with, 259
kids’ rooms, 162–71
arts and crafts, 168–71
books and toys, 166
evaluating, 165
storage, 165–66
kitchens, 96–113. See also pantries
cleaning, 35, 66, 79, 184, 185
evaluating, 98
islands, 102
refrigerators and
sinks, 101
labeling
for bathrooms, 118
for offices, 152
for utility spaces, 174
lamps. See lighting
laundry, 186–91. See also bedding; cleaning; clothing
drying, 190
prepping, 189
schedules, 191
strategies for, 189–90
laundry rooms, 142–49
evaluating, 145
storage, 146–49
strategies for, 146
supplies for, 148–49
lawn care. See yards
lazy Susans, 11, 101, 104, 110, 118
leftovers
Thanksgiving, 79
letters. See mail
lighting
for bedrooms, 136
LEDs, 209
linens. See bedding
living rooms, 122–31
bar carts, 130
bookcases and shelves, 128
evaluating, 124
seating and accent
magnetic strips, 101, 111, 152, 174, 208
March, 26–31
Martha Must
apricot jam, 223
buffets, 244
cleaning supplies, 184
closet storage, 138
cookie icing, 34
dusting, 65
fruity cocktails, 235
gardening, 195
garden tools, 25
hardware storage, 208
hydration, 273
ice cream sundaes, 233
ironing boards, 146
junk mail, 159
kids’ collectibles, 166
kitchen outlets, 102
knife care, 217
laundry supplies, 190
lilacs, 41
lobster, 58
mailing gifts, 241
miniature “forests,” 198
New Year’s gifts, 17
orchids, 30
pantry organization, 110
pasta dinners, 49
pesto, 54
phone chargers, 93
potting plants, 201
raw turkey, 78
room layouts, 127
school lunches, 257
sponges, 101
wet clothes, 94
May, 38–43
meal-planning, 65, 218, 245, 257
memory boxes, 166
MLK Jr. Weekend, 19
monthly calendars
January, 15
February, 21
March, 27
April, 33
May, 39
June, 45
July, 51
August, 57
September, 63
October, 69
November, 75
December, 81
monthly tasks
cooking, 225
home maintenance, 211
laundry, 191
lawn and garden, 202
pets, 267
Mother’s Day, 40
New Year’s Eve, 85
November, 74–79
October, 68–73
offices, 150–61
desks, 152–57
documents, 158
evaluating, 152
filing, 159
technology, 160
pantries
cleaning, 66
stocking, 215
papers. See also mail
digitizing, 159
document-retention
guidelines, 158
filing and sorting, 151, 152, 154, 159
parties. See celebrations; entertaining
patios, 185
pest control
for clothing, 34, 138, 141, 175
for household goods, 174
pets, 260–67
calming, 52
safety, 267
schedules, 267
spaces for, 263
storage, 92, 94, 110, 173, 263
strategies for, 263–65
pickling, 223
picnics, 53
pillows
cases, 25
down, 145
porches. See decks
principles of organizing, 10–11
produce. See also cooking
gardening, 28, 54, 70, 195, 202
prepping, 218–20
preserving, 222–23
seasonal, 18, 23, 29, 36, 37, 42, 47, 53, 60, 64, 71, 77, 83
storage, 108
projects
bungee-cord shelves, 154
command centers, 90
graphic grid, 168
home improvement, 208
kits, 209
purging
entryways, 94
holiday decorations, 239
kids’ homework, 259
kids’ rooms, 166
kitchens, 35, 66, 98, 108, 110
tips, 10
utility spaces, 174
recipes and tips. See also baking; cooking
alliums, 31
apple desserts, 67
big-batch cooking, 221
blueberries, 53
burgers, 48
dried herbs and spices, 215
for entertaining, 231–33
flavor builders, 217
grilled corn, 59
hamburgers, 48
handling raw meat, 78
Hanukkah, 249
heart-shaped baking, 23
jams, 223
kitchen scraps, 19
lobster BLTs, 58
make-aheads, 231, 242, 245, 249, 257
maple syrup, 29
no-cook meals, 55
nut and seed butters, 217
pasta, 49
pesto, 54
pickling, 223
picnics, 53
produce, freezing, 222
produce, seasonal, 37
rhubarb, 41
salmon, 217
store-bought broth, 217
Thanksgiving, 244–45
toasted sesame oil, 217
toasting grains, 217
yogurt parfait, 18
repairs. See home maintenance
repurposing
baskets, 263
coffee tables, 168
for craft supplies, 256
file sorters, 168
magnetic strips, 208
maps, 48
shoe organizers, 168
spice racks, 118
rugs, 30
safety
air quality, 181
bunk beds, 165
cars, 77
hazardous materials, 174
home, 76
pets, 267
seasonal tasks
cleaning, 184–85
cooking, 225
home maintenance, 210
laundry, 191
lawn and garden, 202
pets, 267
seating
for entryways, 89
for kids’ rooms, 163
for kitchens, 102
September, 62–67
sheets. See bedding
shelves. See also bookcases
for craft supplies, 171
entryway, 93
for general use, 11
kids’, 163
laundry room, 146
living room, 128
pantry, 110–11
shoes and boots
protecting, 76
storage, 93, 94, 138, 141, 173, 175
silverware, polishing, 77
small spaces, 92–93, 116, 146, 189
sofas. See seating
sporting gear, 93, 174, 175, 257
stains
entertaining, 85
rugs, 30
tables
accent, 127
activity, 165
console, 93
craft, 168
tag sales, 46
technology
cords and chargers, 93, 124, 136, 152
office, 160
tools
basic, 206
kits, 209
laundry, 146
power tools, 174
towels
exfoliating with, 274
folding, 145
for ironing, 146
toys
cleaning, 184
traveling
keepsakes, 60
with kids, 259
plant care while away, 55, 199–201
trays
for closets, 138
general usage, 11
for laundry rooms, 146
for living rooms, 124, 127, 130
utility spaces, 172–75
evaluating, 174
storage, 175
vegetables. See produce
vertical space, 94, 104, 128, 146
weekly tasks
cooking, 225
laundry, 191
lawn and garden, 202
pets, 267
wellness, 268–77
first-aid kits, 271
gratitude, 275
handwashing, 19
healthy habits, 16
holidays, 83
mindfulness, 274–75
preventative health, 72, 276–77
relaxation, 116
strategies for, 271–75
supplies list, 270
vitamins, 76
winterizing
cars, 72
houseplants, 201
pipes, 211
woolens
storage, 175
yards. See also gardening
bee houses, 54
birds, 19
firewood, 71
improvements, 208
trees, 76
yearly tasks
cooking, 225
home maintenance, 211
laundry, 191
lawn and garden, 202
office, 159
pets, 267
utility spaces, 174