The colder winter months often see us spending more time indoors, mostly at home. If you’re tired of looking at clutter laying around, this could be the perfect opportunity to invest some time in tidying up. And with that, we bring you 20 creative “getting organized” tips.
1. Shelve Container Lids.
Love your Tupperware or plastic storage bowls but can’t stand the haphazard mess of the lids strewn in your kitchen cabinets and drawers? Invest in a three-tiered rack. You can get a simple plastic one fairly cheaply. Label each level and store your lids on the appropriate shelf. Now they have a place of their very own.
2. Stash Rolls.
Aluminum foil, wax paper, plastic wrap…the awkward-sized boxes aren’t usually easily stored…until now. Grab a magazine rack and line each one up inside on its tall end. Voilá!
3. Get in Command.
Command hooks, that is. They’re great for so much more than hanging photos and other wall décor. Put them on the backs of cabinet doors and hang everything from kitchen measuring tools to oven mitts. In your bedroom, you can hang them on the backside of a wardrobe to store necklaces. Have a cord that always comes unraveled on an appliance? Affix a Command hook organizer and wrap it up and out of sight! So handy.
4. Cart Control.
Too much stuff and not enough drawers in your bathroom or bedroom? Get a utility cart. You can even purchase one in a fun shade or spray paint it the color of your choosing. It’s the perfect tool for storing personal care accessories or even books, magazines, music and other bedside items.
5. Out of sight.
If the bed in your bedroom is raised, you’ve got a perfect space for storage. But do not just throw things underneath at random. It’s easy to get a few bins and put away seasonal clothing pieces and more. Even better, get a set with lids to keep dust bunnies away. Best of all, you could get bins with wheels, or add them, and then access becomes a breeze.
6. Drawer inserts.
Have trouble finding the pair of socks you’re looking for? Are your undies and bras a scattered mess? Invest in honeycomb adjustable inserts for your dresser drawer and you can stash a pair nicely and neatly in each designated space.
7. Totally tubular.
Have a “junk drawer” where you stash various cords until they’re needed? Think: phone chargers, USB cables, HDMI ports and the like. Avoid struggling through a tangled mess by utilizing toilet paper rolls. Line them up in the drawer and give each cord its own space for storage. Take it a step further and label each cord with a bread tab you’ve saved. Name it “iPhone 6” for example, and fasten it to the cord itself.
8. Clear your desk.
Instead, create a command center. Hang bins and hooks on a wall, affix your calendar, and even mount a dry-erase board for your to-do list. The bins can hold folders, bills, mail and even pens and pencils, leaving your desk area for just the tasks at hand.
9. Shred it.
Hanging onto bills and other miscellaneous paperwork? Invest in a shredder and safely dispose of it. Here are some guidelines: after a month, discard deposit and withdrawal slips, utility bills and receipts for non-tax-deductible items; after a year, shred monthly bank and credit card statements, pay stubs, expired insurance records, medical records and bills, and mortgage statements.
10. Start a recipe binder.
Love to cook but have your recipes strewn about here and there? Grab a three-ring binder and some divider tabs, and you’re in business. You can make your own template pages or find some handy ones here: https://justanothermummyblog.com/how-to-organise-your-recipes-free-download-recipe-cover-and-template.
11. The Little Things.
We’re talking about those small items you’re always misplacing. Think: batteries, hair ties, paper clips…that kind of thing. Consider installing a magnetic strip by your bathroom counter and you can affix bobby pins, barrettes, nail clippers and more. Reusing Altoid mint tins is a great way to keep paper clips, hair ties, extra buttons and more in their place.
12. Get crafty.
Are you a craft enthusiast? Creations can result in mess and clutter rather easily in crafting spaces. Get yourself some mason jars and store glitter, beads, rubber bands and more in them. Label the top of each with a marker signifying the contents.
13. Never lose an earring again.
How? If your jewelry box is full — or doesn’t have secure space for small studs — use an ice cube tray! Try setting it inside a slightly larger box to hold it in place and to give it a flat, solid surface. Even a mini muffin tin would work!
14. Baskets and bins.
These are key for tidy storage, especially in the laundry room. Fold and store wash cloths, hand towels and bath towels in their own individual bins within your laundry cabinet. Bins can also help to hold items in the laundry area like toiletries, detergents, cleaners and much more.
15. Utilize Utility Totes.
Sure, they hold things, but when you plop them on the floor of your home or in a closet, the clutter continues. The solution is easy enough – grab some hangers and elevate them!
16. Shoe organizers aren’t just for shoes.
Consider hanging one in your bedroom near a makeup stand and storing your favorite cosmetics in the see-through pockets. No more rooting through a make-up bag to find that favorite tube of lip gloss hidden in the bottom. Or if you need a handy place to reach your cleaning supplies, hang one in your laundry room or behind a door, and they’ll be there when you need them.
17. Bench it.
Have some room in your living room or bedroom? It’s the perfect space for utilizing a storage bench. Place it near a window and you have a cozy reading space.Open it up and stash your favorite cozy blankets and pillows.
18. Everything electronic.
Is your bedroom home to a cluster of random electronic devices as you lie down for the night? Think: e-readers, iPads, tv remotes and smartphones. Just affix a caddy with pockets to the side of your bed and tuck them away.
19. Love your lists.
Making to-do lists is a habit of highly organized people. Grab whatever will help you adopt this habit if you’re looking to stay on task. It can be as simple as a paper tablet and pen, or you could paint a chalkboard wall in an area of your home.
20. Discard trash.
In this case, your trash can, recycling bin and even your local donation center are your best friends. The best way to stay organized is by recognizing what you do and do NOT need. If something has become useless, trash it. If it can be recycled – send it on its way. And if it’s usable but you have no place for it in your home, donate it. Your local Goodwill is a great place to start.
Here’s to a fresh, clean start for 2020!
