I don’t know if I’m on a spring cleaning kick or what, but getting organized has been on my mind lately. Ever since I wrote some articles years ago on feng shui — the Chinese art of creating a harmonious environment — I’ve noticed that I feel happier and more peaceful in attractive, orderly surroundings.

Too bad my family could care less about being organized. I mean, what’s the point of having a coat rack, a shoe cubby, key hooks, and a change jar if everything gets dumped in a big pile the second everyone walks in the door? Work with me, people!

Everyone knows that once you have kids, you accumulate a lot of stuff. The baby gear, the diapers, the toys, the clothes… the list goes on and on. Then you’ve got to find places to store all that stuff. Somehow in my house, it seems to multiply overnight. I now have an entire kitchen drawer dedicated to cup and bottle parts. Matching them all up is another story.

I don’t need my home to be as Zen and minimalist as a magazine layout. As long as I have messy kids and a busy life, that will never happen. I’m fine with having a pile of mail on the counter, a stack of books on the table, and a basket of dirty clothes in the corner. And I do love those fabric bins. At one point I tried to keep my kids’ stuffed animals in one bin, toy cars in another, and blocks in another. But since no one will work with me, usually everything’s all jumbled up together. But I don’t care as long as it’s off the floor and out of sight.

The important thing is being able to find something when you need it, right? I may not be the neatest person in the world, I may not have clear systems for everything, but I can usually tell you where something is. The extension cords? They’re in the pantry next to the disposable placemats and flavored drink mix that no one likes. What? Makes sense to me.

I could probably come up with a better way to organize my home, but I’m too busy doing other things. Like putting everybody else’s stuff back where it belongs.

How do you stay organized with kids?

There’s nothing harder than making a house a home. Seriously — how do you even do it? Where do you even get started? Sure, you can paint your walls and add carpets and accent with personal touches, but nothing makes a house feel more like a home than by keeping it cozy.

What’s not a to love when you walk through the front doors and just feel like you never left? Really, there’s no feeling in the world like it. And with baby on the way (or baby making his way through the house!), you’re constantly trying to make that “cozy” feeling come to life.

The trick isn’t in fancy wall decor. It isn’t in high-rise ceilings or toys scattered all over. The trick, friends, is in these five serenity-inspiring secrets. Your home will never feel warmer, never feel cozier — I swear! Bring the bliss back into your home!

Head on over to TheNest.com and check out the five tips you need to achieve your cozy decor dreams!

How do you keep your home feeling cozy and cool?

Plus, more from The Bump:

Give Your Home a Luxury Makeover for Less Than $50!

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Maybe you’re nesting, maybe you’re getting your home ready for baby, or maybe you’re already enjoying life at home with your little one. Whatever your reason, we know that spending all that extra time inside has got you thinking one thing: Decor!

Instead of harping on all of the things you can’t change about your home (either you don’t have the time, the money, or the stomach to handle all that renovation!), or daydreaming about the DIY projects you’ve been endlessly pinning on Pinterest, focus on the simple tips you can use to punch up the personality in your pad. A few easy tricks will give your space all the feelings of a full-on makeover minus the hefty bill. (We can see you waving your hands in delight!)

So, how can you give your home a revamp that won’t suck up all your time or all your spare change? Our girls at The Nest have 10 ways you can give your sacred space some TLC for UNDER $50. (Yup, we said under. This is real.)

Dying to see how to do it? Head on over to The Nest to check out these 10 accents you can add to any room of your home.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Nursery Tips on a Budget

21 Inspiring Wall Decor Ideas

Stuff We Love: Design Tricks on a Budget

Today, we’re loving this adorable owl — a chic home accent and a great gift for your mother-in-law, best friend, aunt. Whoever loves to decorate!

Why we love it: The multipurpose vessel is trendy and the perfect addition to any decor.

Price: $121

Buy it

See more of the best gifts for decorators at The Nest

Plus, more from The Bump:

Best Toys for Babies and Toddlers

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How did you save money on your nursery?