From your overflowing mail table to that unruly office desk, we have some great ideas on how to turn mess into success. Here are our favorite life hacks for a clutter free home:
Wall Space
While adding extra shelving above the bed or beside the fridge is always helpful, it’s also labor intensive and permanent, so here are some simpler ideas:
Pegboards
Pegboards are the sort of item that once you start using them, you’ll wonder how you ever got on without them. These boards are often made out of sturdy plastic or metal, and feature dozens of little holes for attaching hooks. These hooks can be used to store anything that hangs, from kitchen utensils to house keys. Try one by your vanity to hang long necklaces and earrings, or one by the front door for keys, umbrellas, hats, and more. Pegboards come in a variety of colors and sizes, and are easy to mount.
Magnetic Strips
Where pegboards may be too big, magnetic strips are here to the rescue. These space-saving miracle strips are very thin, and can safely adhere to most surfaces. They are especially useful in the kitchen, where you can hang knives without the need for a bulky knife block. In fact, restaurants have been using magnetic strips this way for decades to save space and provide ease-of-access. Magnetic strips are also great in the bathroom, where you can store clippers, tweezers, and all your other metal grooming accessories on the wall next to or even in the medicine cabinet.
Door Backs
When space is tight in your home, doors become premium real estate. A plain hook for your robe is handy, but we can do better than that. Try installing towel-rungs on the inside of the bathroom door, while multi-pocket shoe organizers make great toy chests on the back of a child’s bedroom door. For adult bedrooms, it’s time to ditch that bulky stand-alone mirror and invest in a slimmer, lighter version which can be mounted to your door.
Outdoor Space
Our yards can be strewn with toys, gardening and barbecue equipment, garbage and recycling reciprocals, and even vehicles. Here are the best ways to organize messy yards:
Screens
A simple screen can turn your unsightly backyard into a well-organized retreat. Install screens around your trash and recycling cans, as well as outdoor A/C units, generators, etc. Screens will hide these eyesores, and create a defined space for them to be kept and replaced. Screens around the barbecue area define the line between “free space” and “work space”, and kids are more likely to keep their toys contained when they have portioned-off area for their belongings.
Sheds and Steel Buildings
Big, open spaces are just begging for clutter. It’s difficult to give everything a “home” when there’s so much area. If you can relate, it’s time for a small shed to help you organize. Many people think a small garden shed or steel buildings are too expensive to be a viable option, but to the contrary, they can help save you money over time and can be affordable to install. Buying a steel building is a simple matter of finding a dependable contractor. There are both permanent and temporary buildings available, in sizes as small as a closet or as large as a barn. No matter the kind of storage you need, installing a shed will minimize your clutter.
Garage
Sick of seeing cars parked on the lawn or the drive way, alongside the lawnmower and the hose which never seems to get put back in place? A garage is a more affordable and simple option than you imagine. Additions can be made to your existing home, or can be made to stand alone elsewhere on your property. A solid garage will give your vehicles and gardening equipment a place to stay organized, and more importantly, protected from the elements. Steel buildings have variety of insulation options, too, so your garage will remain comfortable all year long.
Around the House
Still have clutter? We’ve got you covered.
Spice Racks
Lazy-Susan style spice racks have a multitude of uses outside the kitchen. Use them in the craft room to organize beads, thumbtacks, stickers, rubber bands, and all the supplies that could fit in a jar but instead end up scattered around the room. Spice racks are also great under the sink in the bathroom, where they can conveniently store bandaids, cotton balls, bobby pins, etc.
Hanging Garden Baskets
Many styles of hanging baskets, usually reserved for houseplants, are ideal for storing oft-used knickknacks around the house when used with a longer chain. Children especially love them, as they clear up space on the floor for toy storage, and are fun and easy to access. You can use one beside the couch for remotes and magazines, or in the bathroom to keep all your styling tools (and cords) in one place.
Plastic Bag Storage
Plastic shopping bags plague even the tidiest homes. To keep them organized and tucked away, use an empty cardboard soda box. The 12- and 24-count boxes work the best, holding dozens of bags, and can be covered with wrapping paper to make them more appealing. Use the perforated opening in the box as easy-access to the leftover bags.
Mail Station
Mail is another common problem for even well-organized individuals. The simplest idea is to create a box system (empty shoe boxes work great) for everyone in the house, including a small recycling box nearby so junk mail gets thrown out immediately. Keep the boxes by the door, so everyone has to pass them throughout the day.
