Employing home organizing ideas to create a manageable space isn’t just a trend. It’s a lifelong way of living that has a slew of benefits. From saving time and money to easing stress and potential relationship issues, getting and staying organized in your home is worth striving for. It can seem difficult when you have obstacles, such as limited storage space or a busy schedule. But it’s certainly not impossible.
There are home organization ideas used by professional organizers that help maximize and make sense of each area of the house. Your bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen all deserve to be easy to navigate so you can spend less time looking for stuff and more time enjoying your space. Implement the following home organization ideas to get every room as functional as possible.
Embrace Empty Space
This is one of the most important home organizing ideas. Be sure to declutter regularly, leaving drawers, cabinets, and closets at least one-third empty (or as close to that ratio as possible) to leave room for things in the future. You’ll inevitably need to add items over time, whether it’s a few new outfits for work or some backstock pantry goods.
Corral Your Cords
Cord management is often an overlooked area of home organization. Tidy cables and cords can significantly impact the organization of your home. Use zip ties, cord catchers, and bundlers to keep cables in check in any room. This is especially helpful for televisions and gaming systems.
Utilize the Area Under Beds
Dealing with a small closet? Look to the area beneath your bed for additional home storage that easily rolls in and out, then store your off-season clothing, shoes, or extra bed linens. Add some risers if the bed frame is too low to accommodate storage.
Use Vertical Garage Storage
If storage is limited, consider garage systems to maximize vertical space. Install suspended racks from the ceiling to keep items off the floor and out of your way. Use the overhead compartments for seasonal decor or sports gear, keeping it tucked away until needed.
Customize a Pegboard
Pegboards aren’t just for tools in the garage or shed, though they are one of the best solutions for screwdrivers and garden shears. You can also use this home organization idea to hang your jewelry, including necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Or consider one for the craft room or office to hold scissors, gift wrap, or ribbon.
Organize with Boxes and Bins
Keeping items contained conceals clutter and limits the volume of what you can own. This is especially helpful for high-traffic areas you want to keep neat. For example, look for boxes and bins just the right size for holding folded blankets, magazines, and other living room odds and ends. Line them up under a low sofa table for a quick storage fix.
Add an Island
Create bonus counter space and storage with a rolling cart in the kitchen. Built-in drawers and open shelving provide plenty of room for accessible kitchen storage. Add a pegboard to one side to hang baking essentials and use hooks for dish towels and oven mitts.
Hang Floating Shelves
In almost every room, adding a few shelves can give you extra storage. Plus, utilizing vertical space is always a good idea. Hang some floating shelves in the bathroom to hold everyday toiletries or in the pantry to sort your spices.
Create an Organized Kitchen
As the busiest room in the house, the kitchen needs careful organization to rein in the chaos. Start by utilizing the space you have. Employ a freestanding storage unit to stand in as a pantry, or hang shelves within your pantry to optimize wall space. Use storage bins, clear jars, and labels for more organized storage within your cabinets and pantry.
Maximize a Small Bathroom
Give your small bath the star treatment by adding storage units, such as shelving, a vanity with plenty of drawers, or an over-the-toilet organizer. This is one of the best organizing ideas for maximizing space and making things easy to grab on busy mornings. Containers and labels go a long way in keeping items tidy in bathroom cabinets.
Employ Shelf Risers
Shelf risers are an excellent way to organize almost any room, though you usually see them in kitchen cabinets. Place one in a cabinet, especially if the height of the shelves is not adjustable, to double up as storage for plates, bowls, and mugs. Or add one under the bathroom sink to make more room for cleaning or beauty products.
Put a Lazy Susan to Work
Despite the name, lazy Susans are a hard-working invention. Use them to organize round items to get the most storage for the space. Like shelf risers, they’re often found in kitchens or pantries to corral oils, vinegar, and condiments. But you can also use them to organize hair or skin care products, craft supplies, or laundry products.
Divide Drawers
Use dividers to keep bathroom drawers from becoming messy. Compartments help small products, from cotton balls to contact lenses, stay separated. Look for individual containers that you can arrange to your liking or trays that fit the width and depth of the drawer.
Keep Your Closet Clutter-Free
One of the most personal spaces in your home—your bedroom closet—should be organized in a way that works best for you. Sliding drawers and storage baskets allow you to store foldable items and undergarments while sufficient vertical space makes room for hanging clothes. Floating shelves at the base of the closet provide extra shoe storage, making this one of the best organizing ideas.
Ease Paper Pileups
Use file organizers to store bills, receipts, or miscellaneous notes and arrange them in order of importance. Designating a place for random papers will prevent them from being scattered on your countertops. This also makes them easy to find in a pinch. Go through the organizers regularly so they don’t get overloaded.
Organize a Laundry Room
An organized and attractive laundry room can elevate a chore into a satisfying accomplishment. Start by corralling laundry products into containers, with the most often used within easy reach. Use as many divided or individual hampers as you need to prevent dirty items from littering the floor.
Hang Hooks
Try installing hooks on the wall or in your closet to hang a variety of bags, including tote bags, reusable grocery bags, and more. No entryway in your home? No problem. Simply hang hooks above a narrow table to create your drop zone.
Don’t Forget About Doors
Take advantage of the inside of cabinet doors. A cork-board insert turns an interior door panel into a handy storage system and message board to organize the whole family. Store keys, contact information, shopping lists, and more behind closed doors. Or utilize the space for favorite recipes, to-do lists, and cooking tips.
Utilize Trays
Not all home organizing ideas have to be complicated. Create a pretty and practical catchall by placing a serving tray atop a dresser, coffee table, or entryway console. Mix display pieces with everyday items such as perfume, the remote, or keys to maximize function. Using trays also makes cleaning surfaces significantly easier.
Create a Command Center
Store magazines, takeout menus, and other essential documents in wall-mounted magazine files. Label each file with a family member’s name to keep everyone’s belongings in order. Consider using a communal area like the kitchen or mudroom as the command center.