Pro Tips to Help You Get the Storage You Need
Experts share their favorite guidelines and products for keeping homes organized
To keep your home tidy, it’s important to have the right kind of storage in the right place. We asked four professional organizers — Sophie Aroutcheff, Filipa do Carmo of Khôra: Space Sorted, Lesley Spellman of The Clutter Fairy and Caroline Dhaouadi of Homefulness — to share some of their most useful tips for planning effective storage in every room.
Choose a Simple System
It’s important to be realistic when it comes to devising storage. “Don’t micro-organize,” Spellman says. “We’re all blown away by organizing ideas we see on TV and online. However, make sure you create a system you’re able to maintain; otherwise it may fail before you’ve even started. It’s so much more important to be able to put things in the right place easily than to spend time and energy folding things perfectly.
“If you’re more messy than orderly, consider hanging, rather than folding, clothes,” adds Spellman, who points out that it’s relatively inexpensive to swap closet shelves for rods.
“When designing kids storage, make it accessible for their height, so it’s easy for them to grab their things,” Aroutcheff says. “Compartmentalize the toys in different containers or drawers, so they’re easy to find and tidy away.”
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It’s important to be realistic when it comes to devising storage. “Don’t micro-organize,” Spellman says. “We’re all blown away by organizing ideas we see on TV and online. However, make sure you create a system you’re able to maintain; otherwise it may fail before you’ve even started. It’s so much more important to be able to put things in the right place easily than to spend time and energy folding things perfectly.
“If you’re more messy than orderly, consider hanging, rather than folding, clothes,” adds Spellman, who points out that it’s relatively inexpensive to swap closet shelves for rods.
“When designing kids storage, make it accessible for their height, so it’s easy for them to grab their things,” Aroutcheff says. “Compartmentalize the toys in different containers or drawers, so they’re easy to find and tidy away.”
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Maximize Closet Space
Organize your closet carefully to make sure you’re using every available inch. Dhaouadi suggests hanging two rods, one above the other, to utilize wasted space.
“Look at adding [rods], shelves or drawers to accommodate all of your clothes and accessories in one place,” Aroutcheff says. “Make sure the doors open in a way that you see tops and bottoms at the same time, so it’s easier to choose your outfits in the morning.”
As for accessories, “add rails on the inside of your doors to hang scarves or belts, or install a corkboard for hanging jewelry,” she says. “This way, you’re more likely to wear what you have and not buy more.”
Think about the height of your items when planning shelves and rods, Aroutcheff advises. “Similarly, in a bathroom or kitchen, it’s a good idea to consider the height of bottles and jars,” she says.
Organize your closet carefully to make sure you’re using every available inch. Dhaouadi suggests hanging two rods, one above the other, to utilize wasted space.
“Look at adding [rods], shelves or drawers to accommodate all of your clothes and accessories in one place,” Aroutcheff says. “Make sure the doors open in a way that you see tops and bottoms at the same time, so it’s easier to choose your outfits in the morning.”
As for accessories, “add rails on the inside of your doors to hang scarves or belts, or install a corkboard for hanging jewelry,” she says. “This way, you’re more likely to wear what you have and not buy more.”
Think about the height of your items when planning shelves and rods, Aroutcheff advises. “Similarly, in a bathroom or kitchen, it’s a good idea to consider the height of bottles and jars,” she says.
Don’t Overlook the Door
“Using the insides of the doors in kitchen or bathroom cupboards isn’t only a great way to maximize the space, it’s also practical for storing items you use frequently,” do Carmo says. “Even a simple hook can be used to hang small everyday items.”
“The area on the back of a door is almost always overlooked as a way to claim vertical space,” Dhaouadi agrees. “An over-the-door shoe hanger, for example, can actually be used to store much more than just shoes.”
Aroutcheff suggests asking a cabinetmaker to cut pantry shelves shallower and then using the extra space at the front to hang easy-to-access spice racks on the doors. “This will also avoid you having to empty your cupboard to access items at the back of the shelves,” she says.
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“Using the insides of the doors in kitchen or bathroom cupboards isn’t only a great way to maximize the space, it’s also practical for storing items you use frequently,” do Carmo says. “Even a simple hook can be used to hang small everyday items.”
“The area on the back of a door is almost always overlooked as a way to claim vertical space,” Dhaouadi agrees. “An over-the-door shoe hanger, for example, can actually be used to store much more than just shoes.”
Aroutcheff suggests asking a cabinetmaker to cut pantry shelves shallower and then using the extra space at the front to hang easy-to-access spice racks on the doors. “This will also avoid you having to empty your cupboard to access items at the back of the shelves,” she says.
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Consider Cubes
“Storage doesn’t have to be all about plastic and ugly cardboard boxes. In fact, it should be quite the opposite,” Dhaouadi says. “There are all kinds of storage items on the market to match your home decor.
“Whether you’re using open shelves or storing your items inside a cupboard, just looking at everything should make you feel stress-free and happy,” she says.
“Cube storage is one of the most versatile designs out there,” Spellman says. It works brilliantly in living rooms, bedrooms, playrooms, home offices and craft spaces.
“Storage doesn’t have to be all about plastic and ugly cardboard boxes. In fact, it should be quite the opposite,” Dhaouadi says. “There are all kinds of storage items on the market to match your home decor.
“Whether you’re using open shelves or storing your items inside a cupboard, just looking at everything should make you feel stress-free and happy,” she says.
“Cube storage is one of the most versatile designs out there,” Spellman says. It works brilliantly in living rooms, bedrooms, playrooms, home offices and craft spaces.
Employ Boxes and Bins
“If you have a [closet] with more shelves than drawers, consider adding boxes that fill some of the spaces, so you can fold your clothes, pull out the box and see exactly what’s inside,” Spellman suggests. “It keeps things in order and accessible, and utilizes the full space.”
“Miscellaneous items are always better contained in a box than in a clutter-filled drawer that will most probably end up overflowing,” Dhaouadi agrees. “Try opening a cupboard and organizing its contents into boxes. You’ll be amazed to see that the cupboard seems much bigger.
“Clothes neatly folded will take up less space in a box than on a shelf,” she adds, since they won’t come unfolded and spread into the surrounding space, she adds. “And if you want to be able to see what’s inside each box, clear acrylic containers will work magic.”
Shop for storage bins and boxes
“If you have a [closet] with more shelves than drawers, consider adding boxes that fill some of the spaces, so you can fold your clothes, pull out the box and see exactly what’s inside,” Spellman suggests. “It keeps things in order and accessible, and utilizes the full space.”
“Miscellaneous items are always better contained in a box than in a clutter-filled drawer that will most probably end up overflowing,” Dhaouadi agrees. “Try opening a cupboard and organizing its contents into boxes. You’ll be amazed to see that the cupboard seems much bigger.
“Clothes neatly folded will take up less space in a box than on a shelf,” she adds, since they won’t come unfolded and spread into the surrounding space, she adds. “And if you want to be able to see what’s inside each box, clear acrylic containers will work magic.”
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Label Foods
“Store dry food, such as rice, flour and sugar, in glass jars,” Aroutcheff recommends. “Make sure the containers are big enough to hold a full new packet, so you don’t end up having lots of little ends of packets to store.”
She suggests writing on jars with glass pens to help you remember what’s inside. “You can wash it off if you change their use,” she says.
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“Store dry food, such as rice, flour and sugar, in glass jars,” Aroutcheff recommends. “Make sure the containers are big enough to hold a full new packet, so you don’t end up having lots of little ends of packets to store.”
She suggests writing on jars with glass pens to help you remember what’s inside. “You can wash it off if you change their use,” she says.
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Manage Cords
Besides the obvious items, there are things we often forget about, such as laundry detergent. “No space is too small to be used,” Aroutcheff says. “Add shelving or buy drawer storage, so you can keep your detergent to the side of your washing machine, for example.”
Do Carmo points out that electrical cords “can add a lot of visual clutter and tend to be a magnet for dust.” Be strategic when installing outlets around your home, she says, and keep cables and routers out of sight by storing them inside boxes. She also recommends allocating a drawer for cables, extension cords and plugs.
Besides the obvious items, there are things we often forget about, such as laundry detergent. “No space is too small to be used,” Aroutcheff says. “Add shelving or buy drawer storage, so you can keep your detergent to the side of your washing machine, for example.”
Do Carmo points out that electrical cords “can add a lot of visual clutter and tend to be a magnet for dust.” Be strategic when installing outlets around your home, she says, and keep cables and routers out of sight by storing them inside boxes. She also recommends allocating a drawer for cables, extension cords and plugs.
Divide Drawers
“If you have an opportunity to divide things in a drawer, you’ll find it easier to keep things orderly and categorized,” says do Carmo, adding that you can do this with shoe boxes or other containers or with a custom option.
“Store baking trays, lids and chopping boards standing up to save space in your cupboards,” Aroutcheff says. “Think about designing a cupboard with compartments to tuck them away easily.”
Tell us: How do you keep your home organized? Share your ideas in the Comments.
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“If you have an opportunity to divide things in a drawer, you’ll find it easier to keep things orderly and categorized,” says do Carmo, adding that you can do this with shoe boxes or other containers or with a custom option.
“Store baking trays, lids and chopping boards standing up to save space in your cupboards,” Aroutcheff says. “Think about designing a cupboard with compartments to tuck them away easily.”
Tell us: How do you keep your home organized? Share your ideas in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read other stories about organizing
Find a home pro
Shop for products
The key to good storage is to plan its location carefully. “Anything that comes into the house needs to have a dedicated home where it should always be put back when not in use,” Dhaouadi says.
Aroutcheff agrees. “Store things where you use them. For example: If, when the members of your household get home, the first thing they do is drop their shoes and coats in the hallway, think of adding hooks and shoe storage there, rather than hoping people will take them to their rooms,” she says.
“Even bits and bobs from everyday life should have a dedicated space somewhere in the house,” Dhaouadi adds.
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