Get Organized with these 10 Products
Anyone else spending more time cleaning and organizing their home lately? I don’t know what it is, but an organized home makes me so happy. In the last two months, I’ve been going through our apartment and decluttering everything — the cabinets, the linen closet, our closet, our dressers, and even under the kitchen and bathroom sinks.
Throughout the process, I found myself needing an organization system of some sort. I did some research, compared different websites, and tested out everything I got to ensure that the quality was worth the price. Since things can add up quickly and some organization items are expensive (like food storage containers), I decided to put together some reasonable items I found during my research. Most of these items I have and love, so why not share right? Happy organizing!
Storage Baskets
Storage baskets are multi-purpose and work for every home. Whether you are using it to organize your closet, your kid’s toys, or your towels. I use these baskets for pantry organization (specifically for snacks and sauces) and under the sink for the cleaning supplies. The ones I have are plastic and come in a set of 6 from Amazon (for $21). If you’re just looking for a couple and don’t need all six, try this one from Target. For something a little cuter, this set of 3 from Zulily seems like a great option. You do have to sign up/have an account to use Zulily though.
Tea/Coffee Organizer
Where are all my tea and/or coffee lovers at? For the longest time, I just tossed all my tea packets and pods into a drawer and would have to rummage through it to find whatever flavor I was looking for. I finally invested in this set of 2 drawers, which fit perfectly in my kitchen cabinets. The best part is that the middle liner is adjustable so you can customize it to fit whatever you need or take it out altogether.
A larger alternative would be this Linus tea storage box from The Container Store goes on sale ever so often (I believe it’s $17.99 now). It makes everything easy to see and is also stackable.
If you have the Nespresso Vertuoline like me, then may I suggest this pod organizer? I’ve had it for a year now and love it. Plus it’s only $25, so that’s a steal.
Kitchen Cabinet Organizer
Maximize your cabinet space by utilizing the vertical space with a cabinet organizer. There are several options at The Container Store, such as this one. Most of the ones I’ve seen look just like this but I wanted something that wasn’t made of vinyl-coated wire. So instead, I opted for this expandable shelf organizer. It is a bit pricer but you get two and while you can use it as shown, I decided to use them separately. The larger one is for my mugs and the smaller is for my snack shelf. For lighter objects, Target has one that is made of plastic for $7.
Compartment Tray Organizer
Say goodbye to messy drawers! We have a junk drawer that was driving me nuts so I caved and got a few of these bamboo ones. I purposely chose bamboo ones to match the aesthetics of my kitchen, hah. However, there are plastic ones from The Container Store you can get as well. For your cosmetics, there is this expandable one that may work for you, however, it’s a bit more expensive.
Shower Caddy
Keep your shower clean and spacious with a shower caddy. There are a few types you can go with, depending on your shower. We initially had one that hung over the shower head but found it to be annoying. I found this corner one from watching one of the Lone Fox’s makeovers on Youtube. We placed in the back corner of our shower and love that it’s out of the way now. It was super easy to install and is renter-friendly.
For those who want to hang it over the showerhead instead, this one from Target has two tiers and a place for your soap and loofah. If you’re going for something a little more aesthetically pleasing, you can count on Urban Outfitters (with the Urban Outfitters pricing).
Storage Cube
The easiest way to hide clutter? Throw it into a cube or storage bin! We have these storage bins from The Container Store for our linens, towels, and leftover throw blankets that don’t fit on our ladder.
I also use these cube ones for closet items such as swimwear, socks, and any other pieces that aren’t being hung or fit in our dresser. They are a set of 6 from Amazon for $20. They are a bit flimsy, but if you’re just using it to store lightweight things, it’s fine. They also collapse so it’s easy to store away when not in use.
For under bed storage or if you simply prefer bins with handles, The Container Store has these stripe ones in different sizes available.
Food Storage
Is it me or are food containers expensive? If you’re going to commit to an organized pantry, the ones I personally love are Rubbermaid, as I find their seals the best. I have two of these containers but it may be cheaper for you to invest in the set.
If you’re just looking to store pasta, this one is only $8 from Target. Tip: use a whiteboard marker to write the expiration dates on the back of containers so you can keep track of them.
Don’t need a whole set but want more than one? This 2-piece set is a deal for $20.
Shoe Rack
Shoe obsessed? All my heels and sandals are actually in a storage bin but my sneakers are organized in a shoe cubby that fits perfectly in my closet. I got this one from The Container Store (currently 25% off) in natural wood. You do have to assemble it, but it’s super easy. Depending on your shoe size, it can fit between 5 to 7 (women) sneakers. However, if you’re doing sandals/heels, you can probably fit between 8 to 10, if you’re utilizing the top.
An alternative is this one, which can be used for men and women. You can fit about 8 pairs of women’s shoes or 6 pairs of men’s shoes. Again, light assembling required. Currently 25% off as well.
If you’re looking for something to put by the door or in the hallway, instead of your closet, these two cabinets from Target are great for displaying shoes. One is a splurge, as it has a mid-century look to it, but it’s my favorite between the two. The other is stackable and is an open rack.
Blanket/Towel Ladders
Okay, so this isn’t a necessity to organizing but it helps if you need a place to display your towels nicely and/or want to keep your throw blankets out.
I have two ladders, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. The one in the living room is discontinued (as I got it 6 years ago) but here’s a similar one from Urban Outfitters. The one in the bedroom is smaller but fits perfectly into the corner. I found it on Etsy and it arrived pretty quickly. You do have to put it together but no tools together. If you’re debating between the two, I’d go with the Etsy one as it’s cheaper and also you’re supporting a small business at the same time.
Baskets
Not any different from using storage bins but these baskets tend to come in an array of sizes. There are also made of different types of materials and have a variety of styles. I got the one above from The Container Store with a 30% off coupon, so it was only $20. As a general rule, I try very hard to not spend more than that on a basket, especially because you can find so many for cheap when you thrift. Speaking of which, make sure to follow and check out my favorite thrift account - The Gilded Lily Thrift Store. I’ve bought a few things from her recently and because she hits up estate sales often, there’s always new inventory on her stories.
What do I use my baskets for? If you don’t have a blanket ladder or place for towels, you can use a basket. I use the one in the bedroom for our clothes specifically. I’m currently looking for another one, a larger one, to place by the front door for guests to put their shoes in.
Another good place to find baskets? Etsy. Of course inventory is more limited, but there are some really good deals on there too.
