10 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Home for Back-to-School in Minnesota
For many Minnesota families, August feels like a second New Year.
One minute you're enjoying lake days, vacations, and late bedtimes. The next, you're shopping for school supplies, signing up for fall activities, and wondering how the calendar filled up so quickly.
The transition from summer to fall can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Taking a little time to organize your home before school starts can make busy mornings smoother, afternoons less stressful, and help your family settle into new routines with less chaos.
Whether you're sending kids to preschool, high school, or anywhere in between, these simple organizing tips can help your home feel ready for the season ahead.
Choose one spot near your main entrance where backpacks, shoes, jackets, water bottles, and sports gear all have a designated home.
When everything has a place, mornings become much less of a scavenger hunt.
If you have younger children, adding labels or picture labels can make it easier for them to put things away independently.
Minnesota weather likes to keep us guessing. One week it's 85 degrees, and the next you're reaching for a sweatshirt.
Now is the perfect time to go through closets and:
Donate clothes your children have outgrown.
Store swimsuits and beach gear.
Bring lightweight sweatshirts and jackets to the front.
Make room for fall shoes and layers.
You don't have to pack away every pair of shorts—our warm September days usually stick around—but having seasonal clothing organized makes getting dressed much easier.
Busy mornings call for easy options.
Take a few minutes to:
Toss expired snacks.
Group lunch items together.
Create grab-and-go snack bins.
Talk with family members about what kinds of food they prefer for snacks and lunches.
Refill reusable containers.
Keep breakfast essentials within easy reach.
Clear bins and simple labels make it easy for everyone in the family to find what they need.
It doesn't need to be an entire room.
A basket or drawer with pencils, crayons, scissors, chargers, notebooks, and headphones is often enough to keep homework time organized.
The less time kids spend searching for supplies, the easier it is to stay focused.
Back-to-school season often means juggling school events, sports, dance, music lessons, appointments, and everything in between.
Whether you use a paper planner, a wall calendar, or a shared digital calendar, August is a great time to start fresh.
Having one central place for everyone's schedule helps eliminate surprises and last-minute stress.
School supplies, new clothes, sports equipment, and seasonal decorations all take up space.
Before bringing more into your home, look for things you no longer use.
Donate what no longer fits, sell uniforms that won’t fit next season, recycle old papers, and let go of duplicate items.
Creating space first makes it much easier to stay organized throughout the school year.
Think through your mornings before the first day of school.
Can lunches be packed the night before?
Can clothes be laid out before bed?
Can backpacks stay by the door?
Small routines often have the biggest impact when mornings get busy.
One of the unique challenges of living in Minnesota is how quickly the weather changes.
As we eventually move from hot August afternoons to cool fall mornings, it's helpful to create space for:
Hoodies and light jackets
Rain boots
Umbrellas
Hats
Reusable water bottles for warm days
Keeping these items accessible helps your family adapt without constantly digging through closets or storage bins.
Your mudroom or entryway works hard during the school year.
Take a few minutes to tidy shelves, hang hooks securely, wipe out baskets, and create designated spots for shoes and outerwear.
You'll thank yourself once rainy days—and eventually snowy boots—return.
You don't need a Pinterest-perfect home to feel organized.
The best organizing systems are the ones your family will actually use.
Start with one space. Celebrate small wins. Build simple routines that make everyday life easier.
A little preparation in August can make the entire school year feel more manageable.
Need Help Getting Organized Before School Starts?
If you've been meaning to tackle the pantry, mudroom, closets, playroom, or another space in your home, we'd love to help.
At Simplicity Organization, we create practical organizing systems that fit your family's lifestyle—so you can spend less time searching for things and more time enjoying the season.
Don't forget our August & September Back-to-School Special!
Book 5 hours of organizing services and receive your 6th hour FREE.
Let's make this school year your most organized one yet.
