Fresh Start: 39 Ways to Organize Your Stuff
Jumpstart your year with great storage ideas from the Houzz community
Admittedly, most of my resolutions tend to fall to the wayside. But this year, I'm bound and determined to make one a reality: It's time to get organized. Houzz users provide plenty of creative ideas for getting a space arranged and in ship shape with ease. Here, a massive selection of tips and tricks for organizing around the home:
More: Clutter-Clearing 101
More: Clutter-Clearing 101
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by Ish and Chi
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| A row of clipboards keep important papers in order. Give them a perky facelift with decorative contact paper. Recycled glass jars can hold desktop necessities. See more ideas from Ish and Chi. |
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Follow Chez Larsson blogger Benita's lead: Keep laundry easily separated and ready to wash with a hamper each for whites and light and dark colored clothes.
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by SFGIRLBYBAY
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| A drawer full of office supplies gets jumbled in a hurry. Sort those items into pretty little catchalls (as blogger SFGirlbyBay did here), and they'll stay organized and easy to find. |
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A row of simple, uniform shopping bags can hold all manner of objects.
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| Think outside the filing cabinet: Here, a dish rack gets reimagined as a file and pencil holder by blogger Cozy Little House. |
by Atypical Type A
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True to name, blogger Atypical Type A uses this shoe hanger for a totally different purpose, keeping first aid supplies organized and accessible.
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A pile of funky shoes in the entryway is no way to greet a guest. Keep 'em stored and easy to grab with individual cubbies.
by Atypical Type A
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Ikea's Asker series makes quick work of an organizing project.
Tip: Not to get too Martha on you, but sticking to complementary colors with similar objects when possible (as shown here, with cleaning supplies) gives an organized look.
Tip: Not to get too Martha on you, but sticking to complementary colors with similar objects when possible (as shown here, with cleaning supplies) gives an organized look.
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Clear containers provide an orderly base for food in plain view. Arranging an area with one clear purpose (here, tea and other drink items) so everything you need for the task at hand is in one place.
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Organizing tip: Keep the stuff you'd like to see in plain view, and throw the stuff that's not so easy on the eyes in matching bins.
They make a huge difference in kids' rooms, where organizing should be as easy as possible to encourage young ones.
by Atypical Type A
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Putting those bins up and out of sight ensures the contents are only visible when they need be.
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Rethink your usable space. A microwave can go in a cabinet, freeing up your counters. Lesser used items like cookbooks and larger serving pieces can go on top shelves, with food (in easy-to-see containers) on more accessible shelves. See more of blogger Yvestown's kitchen here.
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So maybe you don't have time to scrapbook or digitize all your photos. Just make sure they're seen, and not stuffed in a closet somewhere. This easy solution from Sweet as a Candy keeps them in view and in order.
by Monica Ewing
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If a bookshelf or storage unit isn't in the budget, go DIY with an arrangement of painted reclaimed drawers, like this one from Monica Ewing of Crafty Nest. Each one can hold a different little collection of organized items.
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Arranging books by color might not be the most practical method of organization, but it sure is pretty.
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by Atypical Type A
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| If you horde magazines like me, you know the importance of magazine files. Cover them with fabric for equal parts form and function. |
by Atypical Type A
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Here's a close-up of the files.
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Keep activities organized with a helpful dry erase board.
Tip: Make your own, like blogger Just a Girl, by printing out a calendar from your computer. Insert into a ready-made picture frame and write and erase on the glass.
Tip: Make your own, like blogger Just a Girl, by printing out a calendar from your computer. Insert into a ready-made picture frame and write and erase on the glass.
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by Kaylovesvintage
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| Kay Loves Vintage groups similar objects to instantly create a harmonious, well-organized space. |
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Make your drawers work harder with built-ins that keep everything in place.
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| When everyone has their own designated spot for coats and bags, getting out the door in the morning is a breeze. |
by Ish and Chi
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Uniform skirt hangers can hold fabric samples, decorative paper, or other flat items. Tucked in a bureau, they're out of sight — and their color won't fade from sun exposure.
See more ideas from blogger Ish and Chi here>>
See more ideas from blogger Ish and Chi here>>
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| Create a designated space in your home for your hobby supplies. It doesn't have to be a whole room, either — a closet (like this one from Designs by Shoshana) can keep crafting equipment, a basket by the door can hold your yoga gear. |
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by Monica Ewing
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A little gold and a touch of humor turn mundane home office supplies into a fun and fully functioning display.
Find more on this project by Brooklyn Limestone here >>
Tip: Pegboard is an organizing workhorse. Try a coat of paint to customize it to your space.
Find more on this project by Brooklyn Limestone here >>
Tip: Pegboard is an organizing workhorse. Try a coat of paint to customize it to your space.
by Home & Harmony
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If stark white storage gives you the heebies, opt for this charming alternative from Home and Harmony. Hanging baskets mesh with a rustic style.
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by A Beach Cottage
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| ... As do these old patina-rich crates from A Beach Cottage. |
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by Ninainvorm
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| Ikea's Expedit bookcase is the best friend of any organizing project. As Ninainvorm demonstrates, those cubbies keep everything easily arranged. |
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... And they need not just be used for holding books. Keep a small personal collection together in one of each of the squares.
| A giant bulletin board keeps desks clutter-free, and holds inspiration, to-do lists, a calendar — even impromptu artwork. |
by Kasey Buick
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Hat boxes offer a quirky take on typical storage containers, from Lola B's.
by Atypical Type A
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This collection of vintage suitcases stores purses, scarves, and, appropriately, travel accessories.
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| Figure out what you'd like to showcase and what you'd like to hide. If you've got a stellar tie collection and wear them often, give them pride of place in the closet. |
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Running out of space? Look to your walls. They offer abundant room for hanging next to anything.
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Open shelving forces you to stay on top of clutter in the kitchen. Store items that work outside of their packages in baskets.
by Ninainvorm
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A well-appointed closet can be done without costly built-ins. Here, affordable metal shelving works wonders for this shoe collection.
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But if you've got the budget, it's hard to beat a closet customized just for your needs.
Products: Storage and organizing finds
Products: Storage and organizing finds
Ideabook updated on Feb. 10, 2012.
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Also, I like to store/display necklaces around gourd lamps, an idea I totally stole from Albert Hadley. Somewhere on this computer I have a picture of it but so far I can't find it.
http://twotulipstalking.blogspot.com/
lee
A blog that is chock-a-block full of organizational tips is http://www.simplify101.com/organizing-ideas-for-your-home.php. Hope this helps!
-- The USB flash drives are attached to the clip using jump rings & dollar-store keychain kits; the setup makes it much easier to take them with me for fixing people's computers (each has a bootable copy of Linux & useful tools). They're hanging just for the pic in a pair of magazine racks I use for notebooks & such.
-- I find locker shelves remarkably useful, and keep a pair directly to the right of my monitor. The light-blue wire one is holding two external drives (and keeping them cool) above my laptop; the dark blue holds items I use frequently and keeps my drink from getting knocked over. I had to turn the lamp off for the pic, but it's usually on; behind it is a small corkboard for info I haven't/won't enter into the computer.
-- The mini reference books are sitting in a letter/envelope holder. (They're for serious troubleshooting or dabbling, since Linux normally is all-graphical & I'm not a "true" geek.)
•MEN'S OVERDOOR/WALL ORGANIZER Great gift for a man in your life and one spot to drop it all and pick up on the way out.
Product Features:
• 23 Non slip coated tie rack hooks- holds up to 69 ties
• 4 Non slip coated multiple belt hooks – holds up to 20 belts
• 6 multiple purpose hooks used to organize watches, rings, keys, etc.
• Durable 6 partition plastic tray – can be used for loose change, cuff links, glasses, etc.
• 7 Compartment rack used to organize and store cell phones, iPods, Blackberry’s, chargers, wallets, etc.
• 10 top row multipurpose hooks for keys, rings, caps, etc.
They make womens and teenager organizers also.
Just great to have it all in one spot and open display.
http://www.longstem.com/mens_organizer.html