Alex Coleburn started as an Organizing Assistant with Minima in 2016 and gradually worked her way to Senior Project Manager. Now, she’s usually the first person our Richmond clients meet. I thought it was high time we featured her home and life on the Minima Journal! Alex shares her 1280 sqft Southside Richmond home with her husband, Joe, and their two young kids, Isaac and Mimi. She studied Graphic Design at VCU and it shows—her home is a colorful balance of form and function with unique pieces of artwork peppered throughout. Read on to learn how she stays organized with a family.

An organized home with kids — Alex in her dining room, which holds books, records, and vintage furniture she’s collected over the years

Kristen: What have you learned from working with Minima since 2016?

Alex: You don’t have to have all of the gadgets and organizing products to make spaces function well. It’s about editing first and seeing if you can use what you have—then deciding if a certain product would be helpful. There have been so many times I wanted to buy something, but in the process of editing, realized it was’t necessary. It’s always a good idea to do a second pass through a category (especially a difficult one) to see if more can be reduced. Organization is easier when you don’t have an over-abundance of things to store.

K: What’s a “day in the life” like when you’re not working with Minima?

A: Hanging out with my family and friends, exercising, and cooking.

K: What is your favorite spot in your home and why?

A: The kitchen! I cook a lot, so it’s important for everything to be organized in locations that make sense with the way I use the kitchen and easy to put away after use. Related: “4 Steps to Organize a Kitchen Effectively”

Alex’s pro tip: “If you don’t want to buy matching spice jars, you can buy the same brand from the store so they all match. I am in the process of getting all Frontier Co-op brand spices.”

K: What is your biggest organizing “win”, habit, or optimization that has improved your and your family’s quality of life?

A: The realization that we don’t need all of the toys. My children had ten or so accessories that came with their play kitchen and I would get so frustrated picking all of them up. I decided to reduce those toys to five, making it easier and less frustrating to put away. It’s also been important to set limits to toy intake and boundaries with incoming toys/gifts.

K: What is the hardest area of your home to keep organized and why?

A: Isaac and Mimi’s closet. These are both multi-functioning spaces; we don’t have a coat or utility closet, so there are items in both rooms that are not necessarily connected to the room they are in.

K: What do you love most about your work with Minima?

A: I find so much joy helping people create systems in their homes that work for their specific needs. I truly believe the work we do is life-changing.

Thank you for opening up your home to us Alex!

An Organized Home with Kids: Alex Coleburn of Minima

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