Housekeeping Storage & Organization 25 Smart Storage Ideas to Combat Clutter Cut down your clutter with these easy tips designed to help you streamline your storage, get organized, and destress. By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on January 11, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Lincoln Barbour Photo Open your closet. What do you see? You might need to check out these streamlining storage ideas if the answer is a jumble of stuff with no rhyme or reason for each item's location. We're here to help you transform that closet—and the rest of your house—with 25 easy strategies for decluttering and organizing your home's problem areas. Don't be surprised if some of your mental tension evaporates as the clutter clears. 21 Ways to Use a Storage Bench for All Your Organization Needs 01 of 25 Measure Before You Buy Brie Williams If your first storage idea for getting organized is buying baskets and bins, reconsider your decluttering priorities. "Too many people shop for containers first, figuring that will make it easy for them to get organized," says Sharon Lowenheim, a New York City organizer. "But it's rarely true. All they end up with is more clutter because their empty containers are taking up space." Determine what items you need to store, measure how much space they'll take up, and the size of the space where they're going to be stored. Then buy storage containers accordingly. Get Organized with the 14 Best Storage Containers of 2024 02 of 25 Shop Dollar Stores for Storage Ideas Marty Baldwin Head to dollar stores for inexpensive storage bins and baskets, and buy a bunch in the same color. Monochromatic plastic or cloth bins look restful and organized when displayed in multiples. Plus, they offer tons of storage for a range of hard-to-organize items, including toiletries, accessories, toys, and sports equipment. 03 of 25 Ask the Honest Closet Questions David A. Land Resist the "I might wear it eventually" mentality. Instead, take a hard look at your wardrobe. "Fluctuating waistlines, happy memories, and sentimentality keep us holding on to items longer than we should," say Sarah Welch and Alicia Rockmore, authors of Pretty Neat ($10, Amazon). Their simple solution: Place a large cloth bag on the floor of your closet. Each day, ask yourself three questions about one piece of clothing: (1) Is it flattering? (2) Do I love it? (3) Does it represent who I am today? If the answer to any of these questions is "no," toss the item into the donate bag. 04 of 25 Make Storage Accessible for Kids Steven McDonald Lots of bins may seem counterintuitive when decluttering, but in some cases, the more, the better. For example, in kids' rooms, having several smaller bins designated for specific types of toys makes it easy for kids to find that one little item more quickly. Translation: This storage idea can keep them from dumping a large container of miscellaneous toys when they're on the hunt. 18 Creative Storage Ideas for Small Spaces to Get Organized 05 of 25 Organize Your Junk Drawer Did you know it's smart to have a junk drawer? It serves as a catchall for those little odds and ends you know you'll need at some point. But junk doesn't have to mean chaos. Watch and learn storage ideas to keep your junk drawer organized. 06 of 25 Declutter Your Nightstand David A Land Make your nightstand a clutter-free zone. Limit yourself to a reasonable number of books (stacked neatly!), and add a tray to hold change and jewelry. If you have open space below, slide in a basket for blankets or magazines. Not only will your bedroom look more beautiful, but you won't wake up to a mood-wrecking mess. The 13 Best Nightstands of 2024 for Your Bedroom 07 of 25 Create Calm in Your Linen Closet Lincoln Barbour Photo Is your linen closet overflowing? Pare down your stockpile to three towels and washcloths per person, two sets of sheets per bed, plus a set of each for guests, suggests Laura Wittmann, author of Clutter Rehab. Baskets and bins are good storage ideas for smaller items, like sewing and laundry supplies, to prevent clutter from piling up in your linen closet. 08 of 25 Schedule a Seasonal Closet Cleanout Kimberly Gavin Do CPR on your closet each spring and fall: Categorize, Purge, and Rearrange. Carefully consider each item in your closet. If it doesn't make you feel wonderful or look fabulous, it's time to pass it on. Put it in your donation box, and put that box in your car ASAP. 09 of 25 Corral Instruction Manuals Jason Donnelly What do baby swings and blenders have in common? Thick owner's manuals. File away these instruction books and warranty information in the same room as the item, and if you have many to organize, use a magazine holder for a clever storage idea. Staple the receipt and warranty to the cover of the manual. Or go paperless. Editor's Tip Visit the manufacturer's website for a product to view or download the instruction manual (have the model number handy). 10 of 25 Designate Kitchen Zones Adam Albright Create a list of all the tasks you regularly do in your kitchen, whether baking or making lunches. Then create a zone for each, says Kathi Burns, author of How to Master Your Muck. Designate a shelf for all essential supplies, including nonperishable foods and special tools or utensils, so you can quickly grab what you need for the job. 11 of 25 Digitize Favorite Recipes Brie Williams Are your cookbooks gathering dust? Scan and print the one or two recipes you use the most often, then donate the book, suggests Lorie Marrero, author of Clutter Diet. The same goes for recipes in magazines. Tear out the relevant pages, then recycle the rest. Slide the recipes into clear plastic pockets in a three-ring binder for a customized recipe storage idea with plenty of room to grow. Another option is to scan and save all your favorite recipes to your phone using a digital app. 12 of 25 Trim Down Your Paper Piles Ann VanderWiel Wilde Papers do multiply, but you can limit their tendency to take over. "Designate a place where papers will go—on a tray, in a magazine rack, or in a basket—and when they no longer fit, it's time to move them to the recycling bin," says Stacey Platt, author of What's a Disorganized Person to Do? Remember to shred any mail with personal information before discarding it. 13 Under-Desk Storage Ideas to Tidy Up Your Office 13 of 25 Improve Cleaning-Day Efficiency Jason Donnelly Think like a housecleaning professional. Cull your cleaning-product collection to five basics: all-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, wood polish, abrasive cleaner for bathroom and kitchen, and floor cleaner. Then, place one of each type into a caddy that you can carry around the house on cleaning day. 14 of 25 Target Problem Areas Stacy Zarin Goldberg Storage ideas that are a natural extension of your habits are easier to adapt to than those that force dramatic change. So, set up solutions right where clutter collects, such as a labeled rack for each family member's shoes or a bookshelf by the door with trays for each person's sunglasses, keys, and other small items. 40 Mudroom Ideas for Spaces Small and Large 15 of 25 Make Organizing a Family Affair Kim Cornelison Reserve one Saturday morning for a family cleanout every three months or so. Set a timer for 30 minutes, and task everyone with bringing things from their own spaces to donate or throw away. Box up donations and drop them off that day, then reward yourselves with lunch at a favorite restaurant. 16 of 25 Set Storage Criteria Carson Downing Designate the dividing line between "keep" and "toss" before sorting. For example, if you're weeding through a lipstick collection, make this rule: You'll keep the ones you wear most often, or that are less than two years old, then toss the rest. That way, there's no "analysis paralysis" to slow your decluttering. 17 of 25 Utilize the Area Behind Doors Marshall Johnson Look to the backs of doors and cupboards for bonus storage ideas. Shallow shelves, hooks, and over-the-door organizers make convenient spots for items without an obvious home. Lids for pots and pans, gift-wrapping materials, and shoes are all prime candidates for behind-the-door storage. 18 of 25 Regularly Donate Unwanted Clothing Anthony Masterson Keep a donation hamper in your closet, suggests Peter Walsh, organizing expert and author of Enough Already! Every two weeks, select an item of clothing you haven't worn in the past six months and throw it in. When the hamper is full, take it to a local charitable organization. 19 of 25 Create a Sheets Storage Idea Kritsada Panichgul Organize sheets for each bedroom into designated bins. That way, finding the right linens for a specific room is a snap. Place a coated metal pan rack inside the bin to separate sets so you can easily grab one when it's time to refresh the beds. 5 Bedding Storage Ideas to Organize Sheets and Blankets 20 of 25 Set Up a Command Center Cameron Sadeghpour Hang an indoor mailbox in a central location—and commit to sorting through it regularly. That means opening everything, paying bills, filing important correspondence, and recycling junk mail. Create a dedicated spot for frequently accessed papers, such as takeout menus, sports schedules, and phone directories. 21 of 25 Remember Reusable Bags Adam Albright Never forget your reusable grocery bags again. As soon as you unload your latest haul, put the bags back in your car or hang them on a designated hook by the door. This storage idea reduces clutter and saves you time when hurrying out the door. 22 of 25 Play a Decluttering Game Edmund Barr Make clutter-busting a family game. Write tasks on slips of paper and put them in a hat or basket. Each person chooses one, completes the task, and then returns for another. After 30 minutes, whoever has the most slips of paper earns a prize, like a no-chores day or control of the TV remote. 23 of 25 Designate a Donation Box Marty Baldwin Practice organizational layaway. Set aside a box for things you're considering donating but aren't sure you're ready to give up. When the box is full, write the date on it and stow it in a closet or the garage. After one year, if you haven't needed or missed anything in the box, toss or donate its contents. 24 of 25 Be Honest About Usefulness Kathryn Gamble Lozier Appeal to your practical side when considering organization and storage ideas. Claire Kurtz of The Well-Organized Woman suggests asking yourself three questions when deciding whether to keep something: "Do I love it?" "Do I use it?" "Could someone else use it?" If you no longer use or love an item, determine whether the item should be recycled, donated, or discarded. 18 Recycling Storage Ideas That Make Going Green Easier Than Ever 25 of 25 Sort Coupons with This Storage Idea Greg Scheidemann Invest in a tabbed expanding file folder to contain receipts and coupons. This puts everything you need for shopping at your fingertips. Label the tabs how you like—by store, date, or category—and regularly clean out expired coupons or receipts you no longer need. Get Outdoor Spaces Organized 18 DIY Outdoor Storage Ideas to Organize All Your Backyard Essentials The 10 Best Outdoor Sheds to Keep Your Backyard Organized 9 Potting Benches with Storage for Outdoor Organization 3 Clever Under-the-Deck Storage Ideas That Are Totally Hidden 17 Shed Organization Ideas to Keep Your Outdoor Supplies Neat and Tidy Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit