If you’re like me, you spend half the day on a mission to find the second missing sock, torturing your family members with never-ending "have you seen" questions about this and that, trapping yourself in the eternal "lost and found" limbo. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way, so bear with us.
Bored Panda has compiled a list full of practical and super simple ideas that will give your home (and soul) some much-needed order. From making an "eat me first" bin in your fridge to making a magnetic organizer for your makeup to mount on the wall, this is something you wanna take notes on and thank us later.
At the end of the day, there’s enough chaos in this world already, so the last thing you want is having it at home.
This post may include affiliate links.
My Synesthesia Means That I Remember Books Better By Their Color Than By Title Or Author, So This Is What Happens When I Have Enough Shelf Space
Keep Matching Bedsheets And Covers Inside The Pillowcase
Showed My Sister The Joy Of Konmari! She Asked For Help With Her Linen Closet And I Think We Did A Great Job Even With Her Wanting To Keep A Little Too Much
For many, organizing their homes can be a truly daunting task. When you look around, it may become overwhelming and we’re stuck in a "to do" list limbo, unsure where exactly to start.
To find out more about organizing our homes like a pro, Bored Panda reached out to Erin Mursch, a certified KonMari consultant and founder of “Organized For Good.” Erin said that the first thing you want to do after deciding it’s time for a change is getting clear on your "why."
“It's one thing to acknowledge you're not satisfied with the status quo, it's another to have a clear vision of the life that awaits you after your space is completely organized.”
With Quarantine In Order, There Is Lots Of Time To Tackle My Craft Corner. It Took A While, But... My Embroidery Yarn Spark(Le)s So Much Joy Now
Oh boy does this take ages. I spent hours doing this when I used to cross stitch.
Hang An Office File Organizer On The Inside Of Your Tupperware Cabinet To Keep Up With The Lids
My Grandpa Uses The Actual Hardware For Labeling The Drawers
Great idea. Though I’d have to keep the original colour of the hardware (rather than painting it to match the colour of the drawer) as it would confuse my eyes.
The organizing expert suggested asking yourself questions like “once your home is tidy, what will your daily routine look like? What activities will you enjoy doing in your home?” They should help you to come up with a clear vision of the finish line, which “makes you much more likely to get there and keep your home organized for good.” Only once you feel connected to the vision in front of you, you may begin the physical work of organizing.
Erin said that despite the trend of Instagram-worthy pantries and playrooms of the rich and famous, you don't need to spend a lot of money to tidy your home. “Time and energy is really all it takes. One of the biggest mistakes I see is planning storage too soon. Buying containers, dividers, and other organizing products is usually not necessary when you begin by eliminating what you no longer use and love.”
An Easy Way To Organize Your Cables And Prevent Them From Getting Tangled
I use this sorting now, and there was sooo many cables that could be thrown out, because there was too many of a kind.
DIY Pantry Door Spice Rack
Attic Storage…fantastic Idea For Organizing Holiday Decor
The expert suggests always reusing storage containers you already have, or using simple boxes as dividers inside drawers. “For example, shoe boxes without lids work well to support clothing folded vertically inside drawers, and iPhone boxes are the perfect size to organize small items within drawers of bathrooms or office desks,” Erin suggested.
Erin explained that the key is decluttering and organizing thoroughly. “If you focus on keeping only items that support your ideal life, then your home will certainly stay organized longer, and you'll automatically become more mindful of what you bring into your home,” she said.
Old Book-Ends Keep My Shirts Tidy As I Approach Laundry Day And My Drawer Gets Emptier
I Konmari’d The Fridge. Each Bin Is A Dinner! I Put Together All The Ingredients So I Can Just Pull Out A Bin And Everything Is Right There
My Vertical Tea Station
That’s lovely! I will put something like this in my guest bedroom (already have an organiser thing in my kitchen).
However, Erin warns us to keep in mind that some things like like laundry or dishes will never be done, so mastering those habits is key. “Don't beat yourself up if things get out of place every once in a while, and 'don't let perfect be the enemy of good' is a Voltaire quote I find myself repeating often.” Start from a simple sweep, and return items to their space so things get back in order.
“The essence of being organized is having a home for everything and returning an item to its rightful home after each use. Toothbrush back in the drawer, coat back on the hook or in the closet, toys in the basket, books on the shelf. It is simple, but does require consistent effort,” Erin concluded.
If You're Moving, You Can Use This Method To Easily Transport All The Clothes That You Hang
Create Non-Slip Hangers With Hot Glue
Cut Dollar Store Pool Noodles Into Quarters To Keep Your Boots Upright In The Floor Of Your Closet
Wow, more impressive are the three types of boots in different colors
A Drying Rack That Rolls Out To Sit Over Your Sink
Label Your Cords
I Stole This One From My Mom
Thought You Might Like To See How I Store My Stud Earrings
This reminds me of the sheets of stick on earrings you'd get as kids (at least in the 90s and early 00s)
Mount Coat Hooks Near The Door To Create A Handy Shoe Rack
I Was Growing Sick Of Always Having To Lift All The Plates To Get To The Larger Ones
Lots of kitchens here in Spain have a drying rack above the sink in the cabinet. It's a similar idea to this but there is no bottom shelve underneath the rack so it can dry in the cupboard.
Stash Under-Bed Storage Bins In Your Deepest Cabinets To Make Everything Accessible, Even In The Back Of The Cabinets
Or even better, you can buy rolling shelves made of stainless steel at the Container Store and mount them inside your cabinets. They're sturdy enough that if you move or redo your kitchen you can take them out and reuse them.
Keep Cables Cleaned Up With Binder Clips
Create An "Eat Me First" Bin In Your Fridge Or Your Pantry (Or Both!) To Help Cut Down On Food Waste
You just need to remember to move them from the "regular" shelf to the "eat me first" one before the expiration date!
Two Dowels For Mounting Rolls Of Trash Bags Under Your Sink
Interesting idea, but my kinds of plastic bag rolls don't have a hole in them.
Hang Rain Gutter Shelves To Store Kids Books
We use IKEA spice racks for this. Paint them bright colours, put a chair underneath and you have a great reading corner.
Wrangle Your Freezer Bags With Binder Clips
Instead Of Tossing Out Your Old Egg Cartons, Try This Out
Store the squeeze bottles upside down in an egg carton. It not only keeps them organized and sliding around the fridge, but also helps you to squeeze them easily when you need.
No not with egg boxes they get skanky. Use an old ice cube tray and that way when a bottle leaks (as they’re prone to do) you can easily wash and reuse.
Group Together Books You Haven’t Read Yet
I do this. I have a shelf just for books that I have read and want to keep and a shelf for unread books. I donate the books that I have read and no longer want.
A Coffee Measuring Spoon That Doubles As A Clip For Your Bag Of Beans
I really need to stop reading the comments. Every single post has some idiot pointing out how the hack wouldn't work for their specific situation, as if the entire post was written for them. @KathrynBalis is the WORST.
So many great ideas, I absolutely love storage so this post is certainly useful.
Another tip: buy less stuff so there is less to organize (and you dont have to throw so much away)
I believe those hanging shoe organisers are being used for everything but shoes. XD
Having a bad day at work. Took a break and now I'm feeling better after looking at these postings. Order makes me happy and calms me down
As much as I love when stuff is organized, this post just reminds me to go the minimal lifestyle. So much unnecessary stuff!
So much plastic. Can't we have any other ideas than "Buy a plastic storage bin"?
Does anyone have real experience with the vertical Konmari clothes stacking thing? Is it really practical?
Clearing floors and tables once a month goes a long ways toward having a useful space. A table that is not completely clear at least that often will often be useless.
There were some great ideas in this post hours ago, but sadly they are deleted. Thanks for the BP stuff...
Some really helpful tips here Liucija - Thank you. And somehow you posted it on exactly the right day :-) :-)
I really need to stop reading the comments. Every single post has some idiot pointing out how the hack wouldn't work for their specific situation, as if the entire post was written for them. @KathrynBalis is the WORST.
So many great ideas, I absolutely love storage so this post is certainly useful.
Another tip: buy less stuff so there is less to organize (and you dont have to throw so much away)
I believe those hanging shoe organisers are being used for everything but shoes. XD
Having a bad day at work. Took a break and now I'm feeling better after looking at these postings. Order makes me happy and calms me down
As much as I love when stuff is organized, this post just reminds me to go the minimal lifestyle. So much unnecessary stuff!
So much plastic. Can't we have any other ideas than "Buy a plastic storage bin"?
Does anyone have real experience with the vertical Konmari clothes stacking thing? Is it really practical?
Clearing floors and tables once a month goes a long ways toward having a useful space. A table that is not completely clear at least that often will often be useless.
There were some great ideas in this post hours ago, but sadly they are deleted. Thanks for the BP stuff...
Some really helpful tips here Liucija - Thank you. And somehow you posted it on exactly the right day :-) :-)