USEFUL ORGANIZING PRODUCTS FOR AN EASIER LIFE AND PRETTIER HOME
Note: I am not affiliated with any of these companies or websites, and I do not receive any incentives.
These are just products I discovered while researching for my own needs so I am passing on the ideas.
FOR THE KITCHEN
I like this Soda can organizer because it allows you to use the space above it to store more items, without disturbing your soda cans. There are other open top models that I do not recommend because the space above would be wasted.
I found this one on Amazon and it complements the look of the item below, which is also for your fridge. |
This Refrigerator organizer is great for your leftovers, or take out foods containers. They take up lots of space in your fridge, and sometimes make a mess when you try to stack them.
This makes use of your vertical space leaving more room in your fridge for other things. The three shelves allow you to store up to four plates in the fridge and they are adjustable to fit various container sizes. It is also dishwasher safe. I think this is a great addition to any fridge. Although I would suggest covering the food. This one I found at Organize-It |
I love the simple design and the look of this Over the Cabinet Kitchen Towel Holder.
It just gives your kitchen an elegant and classy touch, while keeping your hand towel close by and ready to use. Keep it on a cabinet near the sink and the dishwasher for easy access. I found this at Wallmart among other useful organizing tools. You don't have to spend a fortune to organize your home. |
This is a Slim Kitchen Slide Out Rolling Cart that can fit in a tight space between your fridge and wall, or other tight spaces your kitchen might have and you can put to use.
Originally these were created as pantries on wheels for those without one, they were then used as storage for spices so as not to occupy too much space in your cabinets, you can use them for whatever items you like. I chose this one because it seemed a bit sturdier, although there are many versions, even a plastic one at Wallmart. |
When I do Home organizing one of the issues I often encounter is the best way to organize all those wraps, wax paper, and ziplocks we all keep in the kitchen. While there are many organizing options, if you are tight on space use door organizers to increase it. This one is available on Amazon but there are many more models to chose from. What is important is that this will allow you to grab what you need quickly, and will save you drawer or cupboard space. Make use of all the doors in your kitchen to add organizing solutions and save valuable space elsewhere. Maximizing your storage is key.
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Another issue we encounter when organizing kitchens is what to do with all the soft pouches, they fall over, they are hard to stack and they take up space. This is an inventive way to store them, keep them from falling, and save up space, you can organize them by type or size and clasp them together wherever you have space available. All you need are some Binder Clasps and some small command hooks.
Here are some binder clasps from Staples and some Command hooks with clips from Target. |
Small kitchen organization is harder and require some creative thinking, in order to use whatever space you have optimally. Most of you will have some wall space above your counter, that can be put to use to Organize your kitchen. This wall rack will make use of that space, items will be easy to grab and put away. The best feature is that it can be angled in various ways, so you can hang it UNDER a shelf as well, if you have the option. It requires no holes in the wall, so even if you are renting this is a great option. It's not limited for kitchens alone, feel free to add it wherever you might need additional storage options.
I found this at Wallmart but feel free to look for more options.
I found this at Wallmart but feel free to look for more options.
I love Drawers Dividers, especially if they are adjustable to your drawer size.
The majority of the time drawers are messy because items keep shifting no matter how gently you open and close your drawers. To avoid having a jungle of a drawer where nothing can be found, or if you do find it you have to untangle it first, I use dividers. There are many styles and material choices to chose from, these are plastic but I like the adjustable option. I am sure they can be found at many places, these are from Wallmart. |
This is a Lazy Susan, well...one of many. They are all the rage nowadays and you can find them online in various colors, sizes, styles and even two tiered, the choice is yours.
I like this one from the Container Store because it is sectioned, so you can use the compartments to separate different items, and yet keep them together, and with a slight spin you have access to the items in the back as well. It is not limited to make up only, it can be used in the kitchen as well, for condiments, spices, baking supplies, or even cleaning products. |
FOR THE BEDROOM AND THE CLOSETS
Another problem area I often encounter during Home Organization sessions is Closet shelves that are spaced far from each other thus wasting lots of space. When space is not sectioned it is hard to make good use of it, unless you have very bulky or large items. A solution is to add extra shelves or sections in order to maximize storage space. This is a shelf component from Closet Maid that can be added on top of an existing shelf and used to store pants, sweaters, purses, etc. Look how much more space it creates! If this one does not fit find something similar that fits your space. Home depot, Ikea and the like might be good places to look at.
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This is a specialty Hanger that is wonderfully suited for your Tank tops, Spaghetti strapped camisoles, sports bras, even bathing suits.
I have used it even for sundresses depending on their length. It is a space saving option for those with limited hanging space and not enough drawer space, plus hanging is less time consuming than folding and trying to fit in a drawer. Think about how much space you would need with multiple hangers. There are many variations of these with a quick online search. This one is from Amazon but feel free to look around. If you cannot find this type you may also use a "Tie or a Belt Hanger" they have multiple hooks and can accommodate tank tops. "See my BLOG POST" about different types of hangers. Another Option would be to place one of the Ikea VOXNAN Towel holder with swivel arm that rotates left and right. It can be placed flush against the wall to save space and rotate when you need access to the garments. It will hold quite a few tank tops, scarves, or anything with straps and it an be placed in any corner or little space you may have available. You can get this at IKEA |
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If you, or any family member has a CAP collection this is a very good option to save space and keep it all organized. The CAP organizer is versatile, it attaches with a Velcro strap on any hanger you may have or any other type of rod. It's not confined to a hanger.
It's a good idea to keep all your CAPs in one location and easy to find. I found this on Amazon as well but feel free to look around. |
PHOTOS AND PAPERS ORGANIZING
Photos Organizing Box with clear compartments.
I believe in keeping photos well organized and protected, after all they are memories to preserve for us or future generations. If you are keeping old photos there is a reason, so why keep them bunched up in a plastic bag, bent and oftentimes ruined because they stick to one another? Store them properly. This box is visually appealing so it can be displayed on an open shelf, its plastic containers within allow you to sort your pictures by topic, occasion, person etc. It will be super easy to find what you are looking for and they will be well preserved. This is just one model found on Amazon, but there are plenty other styles at various stores and for all budgets. |
Either you work at home or not, chance is you have a desk where you pay bills, work on your pc, and process papers. Lots of my clients have paper issues, and their desk is one of the areas we address often. To keep your desk surface clear add one of these organizers, to corral your papers and sort them by type. These drawers are stackable so you can use as many as you need, 3 or 6 choice is yours. If you label each drawer it will be easy to sort, process and retrieve all active paper. Once done you can archive for long term elsewhere. This is for incoming papers, active documents, actionable papers or outgoing ones. Even for "to read" pieces, or "to remember" items. As always this is just one of many solutions I found at Staples, find whatever suits your needs best.
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Portable Filing cabinet.
I often help clients with paperwork and filing/creating a filing system is part of the process. Depending on the size of your paper/documents pile you may require different size. This is best for those with minimal amount. Not for businesses. The plus side is that is it portable and easy to store anywhere. All you will need is hanging folders in various colors and some patience to organize your papers in categories that make sense to you and are easy to remember. Having 1 location to store all your long term documents is key, it will save you time and headaches when you are looking for an important piece of paper. I found this at the Office Depot, it seemed the most affordable options but similar items are available elsewhere. |
File organizer
Once you have processed your document/letter if there is a need to keep it for long term storage it can be archived with similar items in a larger filing cabinet if you have one, if you don't, you can store them in file organizers and keep them on a shelf. These come in various colors, materials and prices. You may use what you like best, I prefer white ones. The important thing is that they are grouped by subject and LABELED. Note: as times pass even long term archives can be purged. This particular File organizer can be found on Amazon but do your research and find what fits your needs. |
GENERAL ORGANIZING SOLUTIONS
Recently I was helping a client unpack and move into her new apt, when we went to hang her new curtains and realized they were all too LONG!!
Neither one of us own a sewing machine or is skilled at sewing in general so we had to brainstorm on what to do. Luckily I found this "iron-on hemming tape"at IKEA!!! d it can be used to shorten curtains, probably other items as well, without the need for a sewing machine, as the name imply you just need an iron and voila`, perfectly sized curtains :-) It has tons of great reviews in case you have any doubts. This is where you can get it: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/sy-iron-on-hemming-tape-50078746/ |
Another Ikea item I like is this plastic spray bottle, mainly because of 1 feature... it has flattened sides!
I usually organize under the sink spaces where cleaning products are kept and I find round bottle kind of hard to fit in bins and baskets because their shape. These bottles because of the flat sides will sit flush next to each other and will be easier to fit. They also have a level indicator on the side for those that like to mix their own cleaning solutions. All in all I think it's a good investment and it can be refilled over and over. It works well a a spray bottle for plants since it nozzle is adjustable and it locks in place when not in use. You can find this here: https://www.ikea.com/om/en/p/pepprig-spray-bottle-30499535/ |
OFFICE AND DESKS ORGANIZING
Monitor Riser with storage
If you scrolled through the items on this page you might have seen the plastic stackable desk drawers to organize your active papers and keep your work surface clear. Usually there is more than just papers on cluttered desks, namely an assorted variety of gadgets depending on the individual, so the addition of a little drawer space might help keep them under control and leave your desk clutter free. There is also enough space below to keep your keyboard hidden when not in use. In the event you also have a laptop for example. This stand is available at IKEA here: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/elloven-monitor-stand-with-drawer-white-50474770/ |
Pivoting electrical power strip
This is another issue I often encounter, too many cords to plug and oftentimes they have large or rectangular shaped bricks, making it hard to plug them next to each other, thus forcing you to leave some outlets unused. This particular power strip allows you to rotate the individual outlets to make room for awkwardly shaped chargers so you can make use of all outlets. It sits flat against the wall, but they also have other styles. You can find it here: https://www.echogear.com/power/white-on-wall-surge-protector-with-6-pivoting-outlets-echo-asw61/www.echogear.com/power/white-on-wall-surge-protector-with-6-pivoting-outlets-echo-asw61/ |