Guest Picks: New Year's Organization
Believe it or not, I do not like wrapping presents. But judging by the amount of wrapping supplies that I own, you would probably think I was lying. I love this storage solution for gift wrapping supplies. It makes more sense than the plastic containers sold at big-box stores. I can slide this under my bed. Out of sight, out of mind — until it's time to wrap a present.
The storage space in my home is lacking. When my husband converted a portion of our garage into a laundry room, we added a few shelves for extra storage. I would love to replace those shelves with this covered shelving unit. The cover zips down the middle and across the top for easy access. I like the idea that items on the shelves and rod will be protected yet still easy to access.
I asked for a pot rack years ago for Mother's Day, and it has been the most used and most loved gift I have ever received. My kitchen is small, and cabinet space is at a premium. I love that the pot rack frees up cabinet space and displays pots and pans nicely. Every kitchen should have a pot rack.
When it comes to home organization, one place that tends to get overlooked is the refrigerator. I love the idea of using trays and bins to keep the refrigerator tidy and neat. Plus, if anything opens or spills, these will keep the mess contained.
I have three words for those of you with walk-in closets in your master bedrooms: I. Am. Jealous. My husband and I share one long closet (with bi-fold doors). Needless to say, there is not much storage space. Also, the wire closet system that was installed in our home over 20 years ago is less than sufficient. We need a new closet solution, and I think this kit will do the trick.
Do you have a spice cabinet? I do, and it is a mess. It has tiered racks, but they are insufficient. It is also full of bottles of different sizes, making organizing a tedious task. I like the idea of having the spices in smaller, similarly sized containers that can stick to a magnetic board. The magnetic board could be mounted to the inside of a cabinet door, freeing up the shelves for other items.
I subscribe to a couple of different magazines, and I like to hold on to the issues for a few months. Right now the magazines get piled into a basket, but this method of organization is not the best. Until I purge all of my magazines, I need to find a few good magazine files to hold my favorite issues.
This is not your ordinary key rack. It looks like a mirror when it's closed, but open it up, and there are hooks for your keys, shelves for odds and ends, and a place for your mail.
I do not have a dedicated crafting space, but if I did, then this item would be in it. I love that the design is simple and that it has room for a little bit of everything. No, you won't be able to display all of your wrapping paper, ribbons, etc., but you'll at least have the items that you use regularly close at hand.
I have a junk drawer in my kitchen. OK, I have two of them. To say that those two drawers are in great need of an expanding organizer is an understatement. This bamboo one would help me get the odds and ends organized in such a way that I will no longer need to dump out the drawers just to find one thing.
My sock drawer is a mess. The mates are paired together, but the socks are just tossed in. This 32-compartment drawer organizer will make finding a pair of socks easy — and not as frustrating as it is now.
I tried to organize my pot and pan lids once, and I was unsuccessful. This pull-out system seems like the answer to my prayers. I like that it can be mounted in the cabinet. And judging by the picture, it works for any item you need to store, not just lids.
I love the look of this over-the-door shoe organizer. It has deep pockets that will fit most shoes. And it does not look as flimsy or as cheap as other similar options.
This storage cart is perfect for a small bathroom. Store all of your necessary supplies in the bins, and keep your hair dryer, flat iron, etc. in the storage cups. When you're done primping, just roll the bin away.
Milk crates take me back to my college days when I had a milk crate "bookshelf" underneath my loft bed. Mine were boring and white, but I love the fun colors of these. Use them for outdoor storage, or keep them in a playroom to keep toys tidy and neat.
Right now the ironing board has taken up permanent residence in the bedroom. Clearly it needs a new home, and this laundry room kit would work well as the ironing board's new space. I like that the kit also has room for other things like mops, hangers and laundry supplies.
I love the idea of having a cabinet in the entryway for storage. I have a small bench in mine, but it has seen better days. I love this cabinet from Target. It's not too big, but it's not too small.
Hangers? Yes, hangers. One way to easily organize a closet is to change out the hangers so that they all match. My hangers are a mishmash of wire, wood, plastic and these Huggable hangers. One day I'll have a closet filled with these, as they are nonslip and don't leave funny dents in the shoulders of my shirts and sweaters.
One of my biggest organization issues is my desk. It's a neat freak's nightmare — seriously. My paper shredder gets a good workout, but I still have papers everywhere. I need a system that will keep my desk neat and clutter-free. This desktop organizer might do the trick — for now.Next: Top 10 Unsung Organizing Tools
My Christmas decorations are stored in their original boxes. Those boxes are stored in a big rubber tub with a lid. This system was a good idea, say, seven years ago, but now the ornament boxes are falling apart and the rubber tub has seen better days. I like this storage solution for ornaments. Just one or two boxes would hold all of them.
Q