One of the biggest challenges to keeping an organized home is figuring out how to create a home for stuff. Should you keep bed linens in the bedroom, or the linen cabinet in the hall? If you have extra body wash but no storage in the bathroom, where should it go? Zoning your home can help, as can finding unique storage spaces for the things you bought when the price was right. Finally, consider creating a map you can keep in a notebook so you can keep track of items you store in unusual or out of the way places.
Does everything have a place in your home?
It’s easy to buy more than you need when you find a great price or fall in love with a particular product line. Additionally, many people choose to rent smaller places than they actually need to save money. If you’re considering renting a storage unit because you’re drowning in your stuff, consider doing a bit of decluttering so you can designate a spot for the things you truly want to keep.
How do I find a place for everything in my house?
First of all, make sure you really want to keep everything in your house. A simple method of decluttering takes just three containers. Enter any given room with
• a cardboard box for the things you want to keep
• a white trash bag for items you can donate or sell
• a black trash bag for garbage
Start under the window and work counterclockwise. As you pick things up, act on them. Keep, sell or donate, and discard. Be very specific about these decisions. Don’t save anything for a craft project, think about who gave it to you, or stress about how much it cost. Be ruthless. When you get back to the corner, take the garbage bag to the dumpster and the white trash bag to your vehicle or your front door for a quick donation. You can use this process on dresser drawers and all your cabinets to create an organized home.
Now return to the box. Consider where these items should go. Books go in the bookcase, clothing either go in a hamper for washing or a drawer for use, toiletries go to the bathroom, and dishes go to the kitchen. Carry the box through the house and put everything in the box away.
What are the things we can store at home?
Off-season clothes can easily be stored at home. If you have boxes, use them. If not, consider investing in plastic bins that will fit under a bed. Not only will these be easier to slide in and out, but you can see what’s in the bin. Your other option is to label the box on the top and at least two sides for easy organization. If you do this, make sure that things go back in the same box at the next change of season. If you want a different aesthetic, you can buy home decor box where you can store some of your belongings.
Overstock or stock up and save buys can be stored at home. Clean out space under your bathroom cabinet for body washes, lotion, toothpaste and deodorant. If you have a pedestal sink, look for a picnic basket or pretty wooden box you can use for this storage. As a last resort, use a plastic bin.
Tools can be stored at home for security’s sake. If you don’t have a garage, put up a pegboard in your utility room so you can hang your hand tools for easy access. Go ahead and use a marker to draw in the shape of the tool so others can put things back in the right place.
Where can I store more stuff?
As noted above, the gaps under beds are great places to store things you need in the future and maintain an organized home. Also, make sure to consider storage in your furniture purchases. An ottoman is nice, but a storage cube with a cushion on top is a great place to keep furniture throws, game controllers and your remotes. Plus you can put your feet up!
Put a trunk with a sturdy lid under a window. Add some cedar balls or mesh bags inside, and you have a great spot to store sweaters, coats and other heavy season clothing. Sew or find a cushion to fit the top of the trunk, and you have a window seat for reading and relaxation.
Plastic bins are a great option and work well for useful storage. However, you’ll be happier with your home if your visible storage tools are pretty as well as useful. If you’re a crafty person and like to do needlework while watching a movie with your family, keep an eye out at thrift stores and junk shops for lidded baskets, pretty boxes and wooden sewing kits. You can keep your yarn project close at hand for a few more rows in the evening.
Bookshelves are great for books, but you can also use them as a spot for office supplies and hobbies if you add fabric bins to the shelves. If possible, store fabric bins on the high shelves so the mess within isn’t easily visible to guests or curious little ones.
Combine storage and decor whenever possible. If you have antique collectables, look for wall shelving units that include a cabinet drawer. You can display your grandmother’s teacups on the shelf and keep first aid supplies or stationary in the cabinet.
If you have a black hole cabinet in a kitchen corner, investing a long, flat plastic bin that you can load with holiday dishes or paper plates for the summer season. This cabinet can get seriously out of hand if you just stash stuff back there but aren’t sure what’s in the gap.
Conclusion
The key to effective storage is to have a good handle on what you own and get rid of what you don’t want. Try to keep similar items together to avoid chasing all over the house for an odd garment or pair of shoes. If you have all of your electronics in one spot for a charging station, invest in cable clips to save confusion and mess.