When I am usually speaking with designer Marie Flanigan, we are debating the season's most popular colors, I am getting advice on what elevates a vignette on your entryway console, or how she styles her kitchen shelves. However, our most recent conversation moved away from design tips and trends to focus on how things run in her own home, especially around the hectic few weeks that see her three young children return to school.
As both a designer and a parent, Marie knows that in a family home, nothing can be purely aesthetic; spaces have to work hard to hide the mess and clutter that come with having lots of people under one roof. Marie built her own dream home for her family of five in Houston Heights, Texas, from scratch a few years ago, and while her home is filled with beautiful design ideas, it's the more practical parts of it that come into their own when her family goes back to school.
Here, Marie shares how things work in her house when the long summer vacation comes to an end and her family's routines return to normal.
Homes & Gardens: How does your home change at this time of year, getting your family ready for fall and back to school?
At the beginning of the school year, I always want to get my support spaces as organized as possible. With three kids in elementary school, I purposely built a sunroom that doubles as our catch-all space. The built-in cabinetry houses all of our school and art supplies, charging stations, backpacks, and other odds and ends.
This is also the first place that gets disorganized and a bit chaotic. I always try to give it a good clean out and make sure things are ready and accessible for the school year. I also try to clean out the pantry and mudroom as they’re also a big part of our back-to-school routine.
Homes & Gardens: What are your best tips for getting your home (and your family) ready for the transition from summer to back to school?
Kids and adults thrive on routine. That said, I try to start implementing more of a routine as we get closer to school starting. We also ensure that each child has a designated space for post-school activity – where backpacks live, where homework gets done, and how afternoons flow. For us, that means a clear spot for each child’s bag, an organized homework station, and a rhythm to our afternoons that the kids can count on. It keeps the chaos at bay and helps everyone get back in the school groove.
I would advise starting by editing what you don’t need and making space for what’s coming. Invest in good storage solutions that are easy for kids to use. Keep high-traffic areas functional and inviting, so they work hard but still feel beautiful. And finally, build in little moments of calm, whether that’s a vase of fresh flowers in the kitchen or a cozy throw by the sofa – those touches help make the busy days feel grounded
When it comes to prepping your home for back to school, investing in new, good-quality storage that looks stylish and does the job is key. Don't go for something flimsy; you need this storage to hold up. These from McGee & Co have a solid structure, so you get the lovely rustic look, but they are also sturdy.
A good laundry basket is key to a smooth-running household, but you don't just need to keep them in the laundry room. A chic design like this one that's on wheels can be moved around the home wherever it's needed. Use for towels in the bathroom or toy storage in a kid's bedroom.
If you need something bigger to house shoes in an entryway or spare bedding at the end of the bed, this is a versatile piece that looks the part but will work hard. The all-over woven detail is beautiful, but there's plenty of space to store clutter, and the lid means you can keep things hidden but accessible.
Homes & Gardens: Which room is the hardest working in the back-to-school routine?
Our sunroom takes the title! It doubles as our drop zone and has been thoughtfully organized so the kids know exactly where to put their things. I purposely made sure that the cabinetry would conceal any chaos that hides behind the doors.
Homes & Gardens: How does how you have designed and decorated your home make busy school mornings run more seamlessly?
My mornings start early – around 5 a.m. – so I can fit in a workout and a little quiet devotional time. Sometimes I’ll catch up on emails and look at my calendar for the day. Once the kids are up, everyone gets dressed, eats breakfast, and heads out the door. This is also where our routine and organization from the day before comes into play with all school necessities at the ready. Every design decision, from labeled bins to the charging station, supports that somewhat smooth transition to the busy rhythm of the day.
Homes & Gardens: Are there any back-to-school routines that you find affect how you decorate and organize your home?
Absolutely. School life has taught me that durability and accessibility are key. I purposely organized everything so that even our littlest can reach what she needs for homework or play. Our entryway sees a constant rotation of shoes, so we use attractive baskets for shoe storage that blend into the décor but keep things contained. It’s about striking that balance between beauty and function.
Family dinner is one thing that we never sacrifice. Each night, even if we’re just picking up food after a crazy day, we set the table complete with lit candles. Candles make the moment feel special, and the kids love them.
Homes & Gardens: How have you designed your children's bedrooms to make them multifunctional for work, play, and sleep?
Of course, each child has a comfortable bed, but also essential is a cozy chair and a floor lamp for reading. Since all of my children are in elementary school, they are required to spend reading time each day. Then, there’s plenty of floor space for play.
It's so special to sit down with your children once the business of the day has subsided, and Marie's idea to make it feel like an occasion with candles is such a lovely one. LED candles are a great option if kids are at the table, and these ones from Joanna Gaines' latest collection at Target look so like the real thing.
Marie mentions that children's bedrooms benefit from a soft reading lamp. This design has an adorable catch-all as the lamp's base to store small items. It comes with a simple white shade that diffuses the light, but you could switch it for something more playful and on theme for your child's bedroom
Having designated spots for each of your children's things is one of Marie's tricks for making back-to-school less hectic. Trollies like this one can work to store bags, books, and shoes, and you can have one for each child so they know where all their own things are and then can keep it (somewhat) organized.
'There's always an excitement and level of anticipation that comes with the start of school,' Marie tells me. 'I also love how fresh and new the school supplies and uniforms are in August. That is definitely not the case by the following May! I also always look forward to fall when the Houston temperatures cool down.'
August is the time to reset routines, reset your home so it's ready to shift from long, carefree summer days to a season packed with all the activity a new school year brings. As Marie suggests, it's key to assess how your most-used spaces are working, review the storage and the flow of these spaces – are they ready for the back-to-school chaos?
