28 Clever Organizing Tricks to Cut Clutter All Around Your Home
Simple swaps can make every room feel more manageable.
Keeping the home organized can be challenging, especially when life gets busy. If the clutter is starting to feel overwhelming, check out some of the best organizing ideas that can inspire you to tackle any room in the house. Whether you’re looking to finally do something about that jumble of pots and pans in the kitchen cabinet, find a more streamlined way to organize your cosmetics, or clear out your overstuffed closet, there’s sure to be an idea here you can use.
But before you start buying new bins and baskets to corral items, try decluttering. Pulling out the items that can be donated or tossed will free up more space than you think, and give you a better idea of the storage solutions that will work for your space. Decluttering can be overwhelming, so we recommend picking a method to help you along the way. Some editor-approved strategies include the move-out method, the domino decluttering method, and the core 4 decluttering method.
Ahead, check out some of our favorite organizing tricks that can help you create a functional and easily maintained space. For more tips, read up on the “touch it once” organizing rule that helps prevent piles of stuff from building up around the house.
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.
Hide a Hamper
Place a basket underneath an open bedside table to create an undercover drop spot for laundry or throw pillows.
Think Vertical for Shelves
Some kitchen items, like cutting boards and baking pans, are best kept upright, whether for visual appeal or to make them easy to grab.
Mount Drying Racks on the Wall
Boost your laundry room's functionality by mounting a few drying racks straight to the wall. When they're not in use, you can fold them up, so they don't get in the way of washing, drying and folding.
RELATED: Clever Laundry Room Ideas
Compartmentalize drawers.
Group similar items into categories, so you can find exactly what you need in a pinch. In this case, the most-used baking tools were kept together, along with a range of sprinkles and sugars for decorating sweet treats.
Turn a Closet Into a Book Nook
If you tend to keep your closet door open, make it a focal point — and a charming haven for your kids. Paint walls in a daring hue to serve as a stylish backdrop for bookshelves.
Hang a Pot Rail
A piece of copper pipe from your local hardware store can create space for hanging pots, measuring cups and other kitchen essentials.
RELATED: Storage Tricks for Small Kitchens
Install a Space-Saving Desk
If you can't designate an entire room for a home office, add a flip-down work area to just about any corner. Even when your work day is over, you can keep your notebooks, laptop and other supplies tucked inside — out of sight, out of mind.
RELATED: Easy Ways to Organize Your Desk
Fill Drawers With Mini Bins
Outfit pull-out storage with dividers for spools of ribbon and use a slide-out system for wrapping paper to keep your craft supplies nice and organized.
Camouflage Pet Gear
Keep your furry friends beside you at all times without letting their beds, food bowls and toys cramp your style. Here, a monochrome approach disguises a dog bed inside a lower cabinet space and a drawer for pet food bowls.
Make a Dedicated Work Closet
Photographer and author Alyssa Rosenheck enlisted professional organizers from The Home Edit to get her office supplies in order. They added a mix of sleek boxes and acrylic organizers for storing everything from stationery to invoices and created a small gift station down below.
Create a Command Station
Stick adhesive pockets to the inside of your spice cabinet to keep all of your grocery lists, coupons and recipes in one spot. Add a pen loop, so you don't have to go searching to jot something down.
Try a Shelf Riser
Shelf risers give you double the space for storage. Keep short jars underneath and taller sprays and bottles up top so you can easily spritz and go.
Add a Towel Rack to the Linen Closet
They're not just for bathrooms. An over-the-door hanger creates out-of-sight storage space for extra tablecloths, throws, or towels.
Try a Tiered Shelf
Find your canned veggies, beans and soups in a flash with a tiered shelf. You'll know when you're running low on staples if you're able to see everything at once.
Teach the "One In, One Out" Rule
Kids need to understand that storage is finite, and that continuing to collect eventually leads to clutter and chaos. When they get a new toy or new jeans, send an old one to the donation bin.
Hang Pots and Pans
Instead of taking up valuable cabinet space with these clunky items, use Command Hooks to hang them on an unused wall, like this pro organizer did. Start by hanging the biggest items first, then incorporate the medium-sized ones and finish with the smallest items.
Repurpose Trays and Bowls
Reusing some old dishes as organizers can help you finally tame that junk drawer. Place a non-slip mat underneath to keep them from shifting when you open and close the drawer.
Hang a Towel Bar Over the Sink
It looks cute, and puts towels, measuring spoons, mugs or whatever else you like within easy reach.
Repurpose a Magazine File
Corral hot tools (once they're cool to the touch!) on a vanity with a decorative magazine holder.
Laura Millar (she/her) is a freelance lifestyle journalist for Good Housekeeping. She holds a degree in Film, TV & Media from the University of Michigan, and was previously the assistant lifestyle editor for GH, where she covered home design. Her byline has appeared in NBC's TODAY.com, PEOPLE, Real Simple, and Business Insider.
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