25+ Sneaky Ways to Organize Your Whole House
It's time to FINALLY get your kid's toys under control.
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Some days your house may feel like a zoo but it shouldn't look like one. Whip your home into shape by following these expert tips and tricks for tidying spaces — your closet, playroom, bathroom, and more — that are notorious for collecting clutter. Your hard work will pay off in the long-run. You'll see.
Build a Nap Nook (With Drawers!)
Create an easy spot to tuck away the clutter that tends to build up at the bottom of the stairs. Designer Amy Sklar and architect Barbara Bestor teamed up to make this nifty nap nook, complete with extra deep drawers.
Use a Card Catalog as a Wine Holder
A bottle of wine fits perfectly into a drawer of an old card catalog. Drawers without wine offer a perfect spot to stash birthday and other holiday cards.
Mail and Miscellaneous Papers
Your junk drawer is already packed with, well, junk. Set up a (literal) in-box for all of your papers — mail, receipts, and your kid's notes from school — and sort through the pile once a week. When a guest comes, simply pop on the lid to hide the clutter.
Junk "Drawer"
Take advantage of your kitchen cabinets by turning the backs into an organization station. "Sort everything into categories and file in pocket organizers, which stick on the inside of kitchen cabinet doors," said Leslie Josel, creator of Order Out of Chaos. This means you'll be able to track down Mom's beloved recipe without digging through a junk drawer.
Pantry
Stock shelves like the grocery store does. By placing the newest boxes, containers, and cans behind the older stuff, you'll use the older food first. Keep stock of what you actually have by placing dry foods (including cereals, beans, nuts, and flour) in labeled containers.
Trade Storage Bins for Lockers
To contain the clutter of school papers, art projects and knickknacks, repurpose lockers from a secondhand store and designate a row for each of your kids.
Kitchen Counters
Cluttered countertops are a chef's nightmare. Grouping kitchen gear by color lets you reap the benefits of an organized kitchen without the stress of visible clutter. Amp things up a notch by taking everything off the counters and storing them on open shelves.
Fridge and Freezer
The key to having a fridge as pristine and organized as a celebrity (think: Khloe Kardashian) is clear, stackable storage containers. This set of six containers fits different fruit and vegetables, condiments, drinks, and eggs. You can customize 'em depending on your style, which means you can even designate them for different dishes or days of the week.
Kitchen Tools
Detangle kitchen tools with drawer dividers. Adjustable dividers like this expandable utensil organizer from OXO accommodate big, small, and awkwardly shaped tools. Finally, you'll be able to find your ice cream scoop in peace!
Grocery Shopping
Turn the back of a cabinet into a makeshift shopping station with an adhesive pocket for coupons and chalkboard decal for shopping lists. And hey, you can even include your home's wifi password in case for the next time the kids' friends come over.
"Maximize the space under the sink by adding stackable storage like bins and drawers to make the most out of the open space," suggests Rachel Rosenthal, founder of Rachel & Company. If you find yourself reaching for these products often (think: soap, feminine hygiene products, and spare rolls of toilet paper), then try a stackable cabinet with a sliding drawer for easy access.
Bathroom Sink
"Assign each family member his or her own color and use this as an organizing principle all over the house — each person's toothbrush, towel, and laundry hamper can be coordinated in the designated shade, making it easy for everyone to find their own stuff and (more importantly) put it away," Sharon Tindell, chief merchandising officer, The Container Store suggests. Start small with the bathroom (toothbrushes!) and then expand.
Keep your everyday essentials — jewelry, skincare products, perfume, and makeup — in one spot with this two-piece organizer. Your most-worn products will still be at arm's reach without causing a mess on your countertops. Win-win.
Linen Closet
You can never have enough sheets and towels ... until your closet is overflowing with mismatched, ratty, and well-loved linens. Instead of tucking them away in baskets, place everything straight on the shelves so that you can see exactly what you have. Use shelf dividers to keep everything separated and prevent stacks from toppling over. Rosenthal's top tip: Store sheets sets within the pillowcase to take the stress out of making the bed.
RELATED: How to Build the Best Bed Ever
Nobody has time for mismatched socks. This set of four fabric organizers — six dividers for scarves or ties, eight dividers for underwear, seven dividers for bras, and 24 dividers for socks — gives everything a home. Plus, you'll actually be able to see if you're running low on something before you try getting dressed in the morning.
Craft Supplies
Unless you're an avid crafter, you probably don't bust out your ribbon stash on the daily. Before gift giving season hits, set up a portable (and pretty!) ribbon station by placing the color-coordinated spools in a shallow box. When it comes to wrap, you can shop through your stash to find what you need.
Bookcase
For some, their personal library is tucked away in a Kindle. For others, it's scattered on shelves, nightstands, and floors throughout their home. Make your bookcases functional and pleasing to the eye by ordering books by height or color for a less cluttered, more cohesive look per organizing expert Jeffrey Phillip's recommendation.
Clothes
Take a note from the fashion experts to make your mornings so much easier. "Take tried-and-true outfits and hang the items together — shirts, pants, and accessories," suggests Stacy London, former host of What Not to Wear. By placing clothes and their coordinating accessories on streamlined velvet hangers, you'll be able to fit more in your closet, no matter the size.
RELATED: 20+ Genius Tips for Your Most Organized Closet Ever
Since you spend a lot of money on your bags, you might as well keep them in tip-top shape. This space-saving organizer holds up to six purses or backpacks, and easily hangs right in your closet.
Shoes
Whether you have designated shelves, shoe boxes, or a cluster of shoes at the bottom of the closet, organizing shoes heel to toe can maximize your space and give you a better look at the assortment of colors, toe styles, and heel heights.
Amanda Garrity is a lifestyle writer and editor with over seven years of experience, including five years on staff at Good Housekeeping, where she covered all things home and holiday, including the latest interior design trends, inspiring DIY ideas and gift guides for any (and every) occasion. She also has a soft spot for feel-good TV, so you can catch her writing about popular shows like Virgin River, Sweet Magnolias, Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart and more.
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