Creating an organized home doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By implementing smart strategies and adopting efficient habits, you can streamline your daily routines and maintain a clutter-free environment. We’ve consulted professional organizers to bring you practical tips that will help you conquer chaos and restore peace of mind in your living space.
Meet Our Organization Pros
1. Kathy Jenkins
Come to Order, Mechanicsville, Va.
With two sons, Jenkins specializes in creating organizing systems for families and students.
2. Amanda LeBlanc
The Amandas, Birmingham, Ala.
LeBlanc and her husband have two daughters. They live in a 3,200-square-foot Tudor-style house.
3. Cynthia Lindsey
Its ARRANGED (formerly Organizing Ease), Nashville
Lindsey specializes in whole-house decluttering. She recently cofounded Its ARRANGED with Amy Delaplain to combine their experience with professional organizing, move management, and project management.
4. Julie Morgenstern
Julie Morgenstern Enterprises, New York, N.Y.
Morgenstern is the author of three best-selling organization books. She lives in a 900-square-foot city apartment.
5. Helene Segura
LivingOrder, San Antonio
Segura, a former teacher, is the author of two organizing books, one of which is geared toward teachers and their classrooms.
6. Amy Tokos
Amy Tokos Productivity, Kansas City, Mo.
A background in engineering led Tokos to a career in organization with a focus on efficiency. She and her husband have four kids.
Organizing Tips for Entryways
1. Entryway: Furnish the Space
The entryway sets the tone for your entire home, so it’s important to keep it organized and functional. Jenkins uses a Victorian-era dresser to organize her entry. “The drawers hold gloves, hats, and other outdoor accessories, and the mirror on top gives us a place to do a spot check before we leave,” she says. For a more modern approach, consider using cube storage systems with fabric bins for each family member’s gear. This allows for easy access and personalized organization, making daily routines smoother for everyone.
2. Entryway: Map It Out
Thoughtful placement of items in your entryway can make organization a no-brainer. Tokos advises, “Put sports equipment or school bags on the way to the car or very nearby. Then kids can grab them as they’re headed out the door and put them right back as they return.” This strategic placement reduces the effort required to maintain order, making it more likely that items will be returned to their designated spots. Incorporate hooks and open shelving to streamline access and storage.
3. Entryway: A Place for Everything
To maximize the efficiency of your entry storage, assign specific spaces for different groups of items. Morgenstern emphasizes the importance of labeling: “If a shelf or a cabinet or a drawer is marked miscellaneous, it’s easy to put things into but impossible to retrieve things from. ” Create clear categories for your belongings, such as “outerwear,” “shoes,” and “daily essentials,” to ensure everything has a designated home. Consistent use of labels helps maintain this organization over time.
4. Entryway: Peg Rail
A simple yet effective solution for entryway organization is a Shaker-style wood peg rail. Installed near the door, these pegs provide convenient hanging spots for hats, scarves, and even leashes. This versatile storage option allows for quick access to frequently used items while keeping them neatly off the floor and out of the way. It also adds a rustic, charming touch to your decor.
5. Entryway: Charging Station
With everyone in the family having one or more electronic devices that they need to take on the go, a charging station in the entryway can be a game-changer. Create a dedicated space for powering up phones and tablets by repurposing a wood mail sorter. Drill holes in the bottom to thread cords through, and give it a fresh coat of paint to match your decor. This not only keeps your devices organized but also ensures they’re fully charged and ready to go when you leave the house.
6. Entryway: Magnetic Bowl
A magnetic bowl, originally designed for storing nuts and bolts, can be repurposed as a stylish and functional catch-all for keys, loose change, and other small metal items. With a quick coat of spray paint, you can transform this hardware store find into a charming and practical addition to your entryway organization system.
7. Entryway: DIY Drawer Dividers
Customize your entryway storage with DIY drawer dividers. Use dentil molding inside the front and back of drawers to create slots for wood-slat partitions. This adjustable system allows you to adapt the storage space as your needs change, ensuring that your entryway remains organized and efficient over time.
Bathroom Organization Tips
1. Bath: Corral the Goods
Bathroom organization is essential for maintaining a clean and functional space. Jenkins suggests using acrylic trays on top of the vanity to hold frequently used toiletries. “That way it’s easy to lift a whole tray to clean underneath,” she explains. Size the trays to hold specific groups of items, leaving no room for extra clutter.
2. Bath: Divide Right
The key to organizing bathroom drawers is proper division. Start by cutting a piece of paper to the exact size of the drawer’s interior. Take this template with you when shopping for small bins and containers. This method helps you piece together the perfect combination of organizers that maximize the drawer’s space while keeping everything easily accessible.
3. Bath: Go Vertical
Maximize the storage potential under your sink by utilizing vertical space. Segura recommends using tiered shelf inserts that follow the contours of the pipes. Many of these organizers are adjustable, allowing you to customize shelf spacing to match your specific needs. This clever solution can effectively double the amount of functional storage in your bathroom cabinet. Vertical solutions can also be applied to wall storage systems for items like towels and toiletries.
4. Bath: Use Hooks
When it comes to towel storage, think vertically. Tokos suggests using hooks instead of towel bars, especially for children’s bathrooms. “Putting bath towels back onto bars is tough for kids’ little hands,” she explains. By using individual hooks spaced far enough apart, wet towels can dry properly, and children are more likely to hang them up after use. Additionally, this setup can accommodate more towels in the same space.
5. Bath: Keep Extra Stock Elsewhere
To maintain a clutter-free bathroom, store surplus supplies in a different location. Create a labeled bin for extra soaps, shampoos, and other toiletries, and keep it in a closet elsewhere in the house. This approach also works well for bulk purchases of tissues and toilet paper. By keeping only what you need in the bathroom, you’ll create a more spacious and organized environment.
6. Bath: Magnetic Strip
Make use of vertical space in your medicine cabinet by installing a magnetic knife rack on the back of the door. This clever hack provides a convenient storage solution for small metal items like tweezers, nail clippers, and lip balm tins. It keeps these essentials easily accessible while freeing up valuable shelf space for other items.
7. Bath: Lazy Susan
Enhance the functionality of your under-sink storage with a stainless-steel lazy Susan. This rotating organizer makes it easy to access items stored at the back of the cabinet without having to rummage through everything in front. It’s particularly useful for storing cleaning supplies, hair products, or other frequently used bathroom items.
8. Bath: Tool Caddy
Streamline your bathroom cleaning routine by assembling a dedicated cleaning kit for each bathroom in your home. Store supplies in a handled container that’s easy to grab for quick touch-ups or deep cleaning sessions. This approach keeps cleaning products organized and readily available, encouraging more frequent tidying and maintenance of your bathroom spaces.
Kitchen Organizing Tips
1. Kitchen: Pare Down
When it comes to kitchen organization, less is often more. Tokos offers a practical rule of thumb for food storage containers: “If every single one was full, would it still fit in the fridge? If not, you have more than you can use.” For items used infrequently, consider storing them in labeled boxes in the attic or basement. If you don’t use something for a year, it might be time to let it go.
2. Kitchen: Keep Things Close
Efficient kitchen organization is all about strategic placement. Lindsey shares her personal approach: “I’m right-handed, so I store frequently used herbs and spices to the right of the stove, where they’re easy to grab and put away. ” Group the rest of your spices and seasonings by category, such as baking spices or ethnic cuisines, to make meal preparation more streamlined.
3. Kitchen: Give Yourself a Boost
Make the most of vertical space in your kitchen, especially if you have high ceilings. LeBlanc recommends using rolling can racks on tall pantry shelves to improve accessibility. These racks work best for multiples of the same item, dispensing one can at a time. For a variety of canned goods, consider installing pull-down shelves to bring items within easy reach.
4. Kitchen: Lose the Junk Drawer
Transform your junk drawer into a purposeful space. Segura suggests reframing it as a “utility drawer” instead. She explains, “This is where I put things like scissors, tape, batteries, and screwdrivers. When I go to put something in there, I ask myself, ‘Is this something that will help me fix a problem?’ If not, it goes somewhere else—or maybe into the garbage.”
5. Kitchen: Make a List
Avoid overbuying and maintain an organized pantry by keeping a running list of items as you run out. Post this list in a visible spot in your pantry or on your refrigerator. This simple habit ensures you always know exactly what to pick up at the store, preventing unnecessary duplicates and reducing clutter in your kitchen storage spaces.
6. Kitchen: Keep a Clean Slate
Maintain a clutter-free kitchen by limiting what you keep on the counters. Morgenstern advises, “If you keep things out, you’re just inviting yourself to leave more things there.” Stick to items you use every day—like a coffee maker or toaster—and put everything else away after use. This practice not only keeps your kitchen looking tidy but also makes it easier to clean and maintain.
7. Kitchen: Stackable Canisters
Maximize pantry space with stackable food storage containers. Clear glass jars with flat tops like the ones shown here from Weck Jars make it easy to see what’s inside while allowing for efficient vertical storage. This solution is particularly useful for dry goods like flour, sugar, pasta, and grains, keeping them fresh and easily accessible.
8. Kitchen: Spice Box
Organize your spices by grouping them according to use or cuisine. Store them upright in a bin that you can easily pull out when needed. Label the lids of your spice jars to make identification quick and simple. This method not only keeps your spices organized but also makes it easier to take inventory and restock when necessary.
9. Kitchen: Cookware Racks
Optimize your cookware storage with vertical organizers. Use risers to store skillets and pans vertically, allowing you to grab a single size without disturbing the entire stack. For baking sheets and muffin tins, repurpose a plate rack to keep them neatly filed and easily accessible. These solutions make the most of cabinet space while keeping your cookware organized and in good condition.
10. Kitchen: Cup and Spoon Hooks
Make measuring cups and spoons easily accessible by hanging them from labeled cup hooks on the inside of a cabinet door. This simple organization hack keeps these essential tools within reach and prevents them from getting lost in cluttered drawers. It also frees up drawer space for other kitchen utensils.
11. Kitchen: Utensil Crock
Keep frequently used cooking utensils close at hand with a stylish utensil crock near the stove. A weathered, heat-resistant terra-cotta pot can serve as both a functional and decorative storage solution. This approach allows you to quickly grab the tools you need while cooking, streamlining your meal preparation process.
Bedroom Organization Tips
1. Bedroom: Shelve Your Clothes
Jenkins suggests storing clothing on closet shelves rather than in a dresser. She explains, “When you shove things in a drawer, you end up constantly wearing the stuff on top because you don’t want to dig down to the bottom.” Shelves make it easier to see and access all your clothes, promoting better wardrobe rotation and organization.
2. Bedroom: Get Behind Bins
Utilize bins effectively in your closet organization strategy. Morgenstern recommends open bins for frequently used items and lidded containers for less-used belongings. “Just remember to label what’s inside,” she advises. This approach allows you to maximize vertical space while keeping your closet tidy and easily navigable.
3. Bedroom: Consider the In-Between
Segura introduces the concept of “clirty” clothes—items that aren’t quite dirty but not clean enough to put back with fresh laundry. She suggests setting aside 6–8 inches of rod space or installing a valet hook for these in-between items. This prevents them from ending up on chairs or at the foot of the bed, maintaining a neater bedroom environment.
4. Bedroom: Remove Temptation
Limit storage where it’s not necessary to prevent clutter accumulation. “The nightstand in my bedroom used to be a junk drawer for anything we didn’t have a spot for.” says Tokos. “We’ve switched to a simple round table with no drawer, and now we only keep things there that we really use.”
5. Bedroom: See Your Success
LeBlanc emphasizes the importance of visual consistency in maintaining organization. “If you create a streamlined look, like using all the same hangers in the closet, you’re much more likely to maintain it,” she explains. This visual harmony not only makes your space look more organized but also motivates you to keep it that way.
6. Bedroom: Under-the-Bed Bin
Make use of under-bed space for storing off-season linens or extra blankets. Choose bins fitted with casters and lids for easy access and dust protection. A cloth lining can help protect fabrics from damage.
7. Bedroom: Tiered Hanger
Optimize closet space with tiered hangers for accessories like scarves and wraps. To prevent items from sliding off, consider painting the rails with rubberized paint. This simple hack can significantly increase your storage capacity while keeping accessories organized and easily accessible.