A colorful wall makes a design statement, while strategically placed shelves hold hard-to-store items and clear space in cabinets. iStock
Cleaning and maintaining organization can be fun and easy with colorful storage options and accessories. Courtesy IKEA
Kitchen
A cluttered kitchen is a recipe for frustration, but often the solution lies in space customization. Don’t be limited to the spaces or proportions your kitchen offers now, with the addition of some hooks, shelves and risers, and a touch of bravery, your kitchen can offer a lot more storage and organization opportunities than you think.
A Clear Counter
Keep counter clutter to a minimum by installing a paper towel dispenser and mug hooks under cabinets.
Double the surface area
Risers offer a stackable solution to a cluttered countertop or cabinet.
Put Walls to Work
Strategically placed shelves can put wasted wall space to good use and highlight your prettiest items such as wine glasses, bowls of fruit or matching mugs.
Think Vertical
A mail organizer hung on the wall utilizes vertical space and creates a home for mail, keys or things you drop when you come in.
Closet
To ensure that a space meets your specific needs, do not be afraid to alter it. A closet should be as personal as the clothes they house. Take stock of your clothes, shoes and whatever else lives in your closet and determine what your specific needs are.
Edit
The first step to any re-organization project is to examine the items being organized. Examine clothes, shoes and purses for quality and style. Unless it’s a keepsake item, if you haven’t worn it in the last year, donate it.
Rearrange
Put special items in hanging garment bags and store near the rear of your closet, put the clothes you wear most often toward the front. Organize the rest by use: work clothes, weekend wear, and statement pieces.
Store
Store special shoes in boxes. But for shoes you wear daily, instead invest in a shoe rack or small bins. Bins allow you to keep most-worn shoes together and near the front of the closet for easy access, and racks keeps pairs together and give delicate or expensive pairs their own space.
Customize
Should your scarves, purses and hats be cluttering the space, install a series of hooks on one interior wall or a hanging accessories organizer like this one from the Container Store. If you have more pants than dresses, a drop bar doubles the hanging space.
Kid’s RoomsFun and function are the two most important attributes for a child’s room.
Pre-spring CleaningToys, clothes and projects all need a storage area of their own. Before you tackle putting things away, sort through toys, shoes and clothes. Pack toys no longer played with, shoes that no longer fit and out of season clothes. Throw out anything that’s broken.
Keys to Storage Before items are stored in toy boxes or closets, make an effort to pair socks and shoes, and put pieces of toys all together. Don’t make boxes catch all for loose toy pieces.
Zone the RoomOrganize the room in zones for each activity: dressing, sleeping and playing and store items according to zone. Plus, having an area for each activity helps children learn to keep items in their space.
Mask Potential MessesAvoid open shelves and opt instead for closed door or curtained cabinets that can hold toys, books and crafts.
Convertible OptionsConvertible furniture is a great option for kids’ rooms. A crib can turns into a bed with enough space underneath for storage, and a changing table can become a bedding cabinet.
Kitchen
A cluttered kitchen is a recipe for frustration, but often the solution lies in space customization. Don’t be limited to the spaces or proportions your kitchen offers now, with the addition of some hooks, shelves and risers, and a touch of bravery, your kitchen can offer a lot more storage and organization opportunities than you think.
A Clear Counter
Keep counter clutter to a minimum by installing a paper towel dispenser and mug hooks under cabinets.
Double the surface area
Risers offer a stackable solution to a cluttered countertop or cabinet.
Put Walls to Work
Strategically placed shelves can put wasted wall space to good use and highlight your prettiest items such as wine glasses, bowls of fruit or matching mugs.
Think Vertical
A mail organizer hung on the wall utilizes vertical space and creates a home for mail, keys or things you drop when you come in.
Closet
To ensure that a space meets your specific needs, do not be afraid to alter it. A closet should be as personal as the clothes they house. Take stock of your clothes, shoes and whatever else lives in your closet and determine what your specific needs are.
Edit
The first step to any re-organization project is to examine the items being organized. Examine clothes, shoes and purses for quality and style. Unless it’s a keepsake item, if you haven’t worn it in the last year, donate it.
Rearrange
Put special items in hanging garment bags and store near the rear of your closet, put the clothes you wear most often toward the front. Organize the rest by use: work clothes, weekend wear, and statement pieces.
Store
Store special shoes in boxes. But for shoes you wear daily, instead invest in a shoe rack or small bins. Bins allow you to keep most-worn shoes together and near the front of the closet for easy access, and racks keeps pairs together and give delicate or expensive pairs their own space.
Customize
Should your scarves, purses and hats be cluttering the space, install a series of hooks on one interior wall or a hanging accessories organizer like this one from the Container Store. If you have more pants than dresses, a drop bar doubles the hanging space.
