Home Organization Products That Will Help You Declutter

August 11, 2022

Use a Vintage Suitcase to Store Seasonal Clothes

Not only will using a vintage suitcase give you a place to put all your bathing suits, scarves, hats, etc, but it can also serve as a piece of unique decor in your home. Feel free to jazz it up with anything from stickers to paint and really make it a focal point in a room.

Choose Wicker Baskets for Stray Items

Magazines, blankets, throw pillows: this is just the beginning of what you can hold in wicker baskets. Instead of buying these items at the store, though, you can pick up baskets of different sizes for much less at a thrift store like Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley.

Bonus tip: while you certainly can scour the store for baskets of the same size, consider how you can play with the variance between baskets as a way to set off your decor. For instance, you can set baskets of different sizes and colors on a floating shelf above the couch as a way to add some fun and function to the living room.

Use Shoe Organizers for Toys, Crafts, Toiletries, etc.

If you’re on the hunt for the best home organization ideas, shoe racks and plastic organizers can be used for any number of purposes besides storing footwear. Some people will use them to hold all of their craft supplies (including wrapping paper, yarn, bows, ribbons, etc.,) so they don’t have to go searching through their Tupperware every time a birthday rolls around.

Others might want to lay out all of their children’s clothes on a shoe rack the night before, giving them a designated changing station (which might also cut down on the number of fights that parents and kids engage in about what to wear).

You can even hang a shoe organizer over the door in the bathroom and store hair styling tools, lotion, shampoo, etc. It’s a great way to make extra space in a room that’s usually strained for storage as it is. Or consider how it can help in the kitchen. Hang it on the back of the door and keep everything from spices to utensils in the pockets. Separate your items without adding to the clutter while you’re cooking.

Think Outside the Magazine Rack

Magazine racks can hold anything from files to water bottles, depending on their dimensions. If you find yourself constantly going through file cabinets or kitchen cabinets trying to find what you’re looking for, you can use magazine racks to keep it all together. At Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley, we’ve seen plenty of shoppers take on magazine racks as exciting projects. They might take an old, battered one, spray paint it, and then decorate the outside for a funky and practical organizational tool.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: Put It All in Bowls

A small bowl on a table near the main door of the house may seem like an obvious solution, but consider how many people spend their time searching for their keys and wallets. This concept can extend to more than just your keys too.

Use bowls to store everything from extra batteries to costume jewelry to loose change to pastry tips. They’re also perfect for bathroom drawers as they can be used to hold all of your smaller makeup bottles or tools. At Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley, you’ll find a number of bowls in various shades and sizes. If the colors don’t match, you can always brighten them up, tone them down, or give them a new design altogether.

Repurpose a Cabinet

Desks, mudroom benches, shoe storage, dart board holders, wine racks: old, mismatched cabinets can go onto hold any number of things. Consider how cabinets can be stacked and stained to create a uniform look, or how they can be pulled apart to create an office desk. Stash gear in different cupboards or display it proudly if you want to show off a collection.

Additional Tips

Here are a few extra tips for any other stuff that might be piling up:

Carabiner: If you’re tired of opening up drawers that are spilling out with rubber bands or ponytail holders, these clips are an easy way to gather everything together and give yourself easy access when you need it.
Drawer organizers: These are inexpensive and they can be a life-saver when it comes to keeping everything in a separate place. For instance, you can keep monthly bills on one side of the drawer and tax documents on the other side.
Bulletin Boards: You can make a bulletin board from everyday items and then use it to pin up your mementos or time-sensitive items. It’s a chance to give yourself a visual reminder of what you need to do while freeing up some space in the house at the same time.
Lazy Susans: Deep cabinets can be handy, but they’re also an invitation to let things start to pile up one after another. A Lazy Susan is a type of turntable that you can keep spinning until you find what you’re looking for. Stop all the rustling when you’re looking for anything from face moisturizer to a baking pan.
Ice cube trays: If your desk is awash in paper clips or your dressing table is covered in earring studs, an ice cube tray is a clever way to give each item its own ‘cup’. If there are more items than there are spaces, snip the tray down and recycle the excess or separate it and use it in a different room.
Tension rods: A tension rod held up between your cabinets makes a convenient place for all of your spray bottles. You can also hang small baskets and fill them with toys, travel bottles, etc. This is a great way to ensure that you keep everything together, so you don’t buy what you already have.

Shop at the Right Spot

Buying brand-new home storage items might be tempting if you’re looking to declutter your home, but consider how much more affordable it will be if you buy used. Not only will you find cheap organization tools at Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley, but you’ll also be able to put your own spin on whatever you buy.

Personalization projects don’t just add more personality to your home, they can give you a sense of pride in your space. Put your creative skills to the test and go on a treasure hunt for the best home organization products.