Keeping your home organized can feel like an uphill battle. Between clutter accumulating, things getting messy, and trying to find storage solutions, getting and staying organized takes effort. But having an organized home is worth it – it can save you time, reduce stress, and make your home feel calmer.

Implementing some creative organization hacks can help you get your home in order and make it easier to maintain. From repurposing common household items for storage to streamlining systems, there are many innovative ways to tackle every area of your home. Read on for 9 creative and clever tips to organize your home.

Utilize Wall Space for Extra Storage

Wall space is prime real estate for extra storage, especially for items you don’t use often. Install shelving, wall units, peg boards, and organizers to take advantage of vertical space. Some creative ways to use wall space:

Install shelving above doorways to store extra toilet paper, cleaning supplies, or linens. Use pretty baskets to corral items.
In the kitchen, mount a knife strip, pot lid organizer, and spice racks on walls to free up cabinet space.
Use wall mounted racks in the bathroom to store rolled towels vertically. Install wall cabinets over the toilet for more storage.
In the garage, utilize pegboards to neatly hang tools. Outline tools with painter’s tape for an easy visual organization system.
In kids’ rooms, wall mounted bins and organizers allow toys to be stored up and out of the way.

Maximizing wall space with storage solutions can double your storage capacity without taking up valuable floor space.

Repurpose Household Items for DIY Storage

Don’t throw away old household items – repurpose them into DIY storage solutions! Reusing old items is an eco-friendly way to organize your home on a budget. Here are some ideas:

Turn pots, pans, colanders, and muffin tins into organizers for cabinets. Use them to corral pots lids, foil boxes, spices, snacks, and other items.
Hang a shower caddy or crocheted basket inside cabinets to hold packages of food, small appliances, or cleaning supplies.
Braid old t-shirts together and sew into a sturdy rope basket for an office or bathroom.
Stack crates or empty glass jars to make desk organizers for office supplies. Paint or decoupage them for a cute look.
Cut the bottom off of large plastic bottles to make vertical spice organizers and brush holders for countertops.
Old toolboxes and fishing tackle boxes are great for storing craft supplies, toys, and electronics accessories.

With a little creativity, you can give everyday items new life as functional and cute storage containers. Reduce waste while organizing your home on a dime.

Design a Command Center

A command center or control station in your home acts as mission control for your busy life. Centralize calendars, papers, schedules, bills, schoolwork, and supplies in one spot to coordinate everything in one place. Here are some tips for creating your own:

Choose a central, high traffic area like near the front door or in the kitchen.
Install bulletin boards, dry erase boards, chalkboard paint, peg boards, and shelves to post, pin, and store everything.
Use a large calendar and write schedules, appointments, and deadlines on it. Hang next to a small desk or table for a planning station.
Store important papers in magazine files and holders. Use colored folders and labels to categorize bills, school work, and activities.
Corral writing supplies like pens, tape, stapler, and scissors in cute cups and jars.

Having one well-organized spot to manage everything makes staying on top of schedules and paperwork much easier. Set up a command center that works for your family’s needs.

Organize Kids’ Spaces with Creative Solutions

Organizing kids’ spaces like bedrooms and playrooms can be challenging between constantly changing ages and interests, accumulation of toys, and clutter. Tailor smart storage solutions to your child’s age, hobbies, and habits to make their space functional.

For Young Kids:

Use toy bins and baskets so little hands can easily grab playthings. Labels with pictures help pre-readers.
Store toys by type, like blocks in one bin and stuffed animals in another. Rotating toys keeps things fresh.
Mount shelves low for easy access to favorite books, toys, and treasures.
Add chore charts and reward systems to gain cooperation. Make it fun!

For Older Kids:

Let them dictate what stays accessible and store other items out of reach. Frequently rotate to refresh.
Add personalized bins and baskets for hobby supplies, school work, electronics, and sports equipment.
Install storage like cubbies, shelves, and under-bed storage for clothes and gear.
A desk organizer and bulletin board helps establish workspaces for studying.

Giving your child storage spaces of their own fosters responsibility and makes cleaning up easier. Organizing their space together teaches valuable skills.

Categorize Closet Contents

Tackling a crowded closet can seem overwhelming. Make it manageable by categorizing the contents to determine the best storage solutions. Break it down into:

Everyday clothes: Install shelves and bins for folded jeans, t-shirts, socks, and other items you use frequently. Keep this in reach.

Seasonal clothes: Use storage containers under beds or shelving units to neatly store off-season clothes.

Shoes: Mount a shoe organizer or shelving unit on the wall or door to vertically store shoes.

Accessories: Use hooks, hanging shelves, or over-the-door storage to neatly store purses, belts, scarves, and hats.

Linens: Fold towels, sheets, and blankets into cubes or use fabric bins on closet shelves.

Infrequently used: Use top shelves or bins for formalwear, maternity clothes, memorabilia, and other rare items.

Categorizing makes it clear what storage solutions suit your needs. Regularly purge unused items and donate to keep your closet neat.

Make a “Launch Pad” Entryway

The entryway sets the tone when you come and go. Make this high traffic zone tidy and functional with a “launch pad” to handle your daily coming and going.

Hang hooks low enough for kids by the door to drop backpacks, coats, and bags. Baskets catch shoes.
Add a small shelf or tabletop caddy to hold keys, sunglasses, wallets, and other pocket items.
Stow gloves, hats, and scarves in baskets or cubbies during winter months.
Install a charging station to power up devices as you head out.
A mirror lets you grab a quick final look before going.
Trays and bins corral outside items like sports gear when you return home.

Creating a daily routine to put items in their launch pad spots makes leaving and returning home smooth. No more frantic searching for lost keys!

Organize Paperwork with a Sorting System

Important paperwork and documents pile up easily, especially for those running busy households. Avoid bureaucracy buildup with a tactical sorting system.

Action: Folder or bin for documents like forms, bills, and school notices that require attention and response. Schedule time regularly to tackle.
File: For documents like medical records and sentimental kids’ artwork to store long term. Use color coded files.
Toss: Shredder bin for junk mail, flyers, and expired documents to discard.
Pay: Tray to collect and process bills and schedule payments. File paid bills after.
Review: Holding folder for miscellaneous reading materials to either file or discard later.

Sorting papers immediately into these categories keeps important documents organized, papers flowing through the system, and counters clutter.

Purge Regularly

Organization systems fare better with less stuff. Regularly clearing out unused items keeps your home tidy. Make purging a habit:

Twice a year, do a deep clean and purge. Be ruthless – if you haven’t used it in a year, it’s unlikely you need it.
When adding new items, evaluate if you need to remove something similar to avoid accumulating duplicates.
Follow the “one in, one out rule” – for every new item added to a space, something must be given away, recycled, or donated.
Go through kids’ toys and clothes frequently as interests and sizes change. Pass hand-me-downs to other families.
Clear kitchen cabinets and home storage areas yearly to donate or trash expired food, broken appliances, and other old items.

Regular purging keeps your organization systems from becoming overloaded. A more minimalist approach makes cleaning faster and your home feel refreshed.

Label It

Labels transform disorganized chaos into orderly systems. They instantly communicate where items belong, eliminating guessing games. Some label tips:

Use clear or brightly colored labels on storage bins, shelves, drawers, and boxes. Match a color scheme.
Label the lids of storage containers, not the sides. Lids are visible when stacked.
For kids’ spaces, use pictures – either pre-made icons or photos of actual contents – for pre-readers.
Write legible labels with permanent marker on washi tape, mail labels, or vinyl for a polished look.
For pantries, label shelves by food type like “Canned Goods” or “Breakfast Items”.

Consistent, clear labeling helps corral like items together and makes tidying up simple by showing exactly where everything goes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Organizing Your Home

Organizing your home often brings up common questions about the best approaches and systems. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

Where should I start when organizing an entire home?

When organizing an entire home, begin with areas visible to guests, like the entryway, living room, and dining room. Next organize the kitchen and bathroom which are used daily. Bedrooms and home offices can come last. Tackle one self-contained area at a time for a sense of achievement.

Start by purging unused items, then categorize what remains into logical groupings. Finally, designate or install storage solutions for the categorized contents. Work top to bottom in each space, ending with floors, and room by room for whole home organization.

How should I organize and store seasonal decor?

Designate clear, labeled storage bins or tubs for each holiday or season. Pack decorations neatly right after use. Store bulky decorations like trees and wreaths in their original box in attics, basements, or garages. Keep a minimal amount of core decor and rotate other special pieces from year to year.

Group daily use seasonal items, like winter scarves and summer beach towels, together in accessible bins labeled by season. Swap bins when the season changes. Sticking to one bin per season eliminates accumulating too many unused items.

What are the best storage solutions for small spaces?

Maximize every inch in small spaces! Use storage that stands vertically to take advantage of vertical room like shelves, hanging racks, and stacked drawers. Dual-purpose furniture like storage ottomans, beds with drawers, and tables with shelving save space. Install multi-level shelving and racks on walls, doors, and even inside closets. Lastly, keep only essential items and regularly purge excess for cramped quarters.

How can I organize my pantry?

A well organized pantry makes cooking and meal prep easier. First, take everything out and purge expired or unneeded items. Next, categorize remaining foods into groups: canned goods, baking supplies, snacks, cereals, etc. Then, label shelves or bins for each category.

Arrange foods by category and use expiration dates to rotate older items to the front. Store larger items and appliances on lower shelves and smaller foods and spices up top. Keep daily use items most accessible. Optimizing your pantry layout and restocking with a plan keeps it tidy.

What are good ways to organize toys for young kids?

Toy organization for little ones is about creating accessibility. Store toys in clear plastic bins or fabric cubes labeled with pictures. Shelving units with bins allow kids to easily see contents. Limit toy bin options to avoid overwhelming kids. Rotate toys by season or interest to refresh play. Establish a place for everything so cleanup is simply returning toys where they belong. Add hooks for dress up clothes and a bookcase for easy book access. Organizing toys for young kids is key for independent play and cleaning up.

What are some tips to keep my home office organized?

An organized office minimizes distractions when working from home. First, purge unused office supplies and papers. Next, sort remaining items into categories like supplies, files, and electronics. Designate homes with storage furniture like file cabinets, trays, and desktop organizers. Reduce desktop clutter by stashing pens and supplies in drawers and using wall space for calendars and memos.

Design digital filing systems on your computer and back up files regularly offsite. Minimize papers and process immediately. Schedule regular times to sort mail, pay bills, and file. Maintaining organization systems makes your home office a source of productivity.

Conclusion

Organizing your entire home can feel like a monumental task, but break it down room by room and take it step-by-step for less stress. Begin in public living spaces before private bedrooms. Start by purging unused items, categorizing what remains, then installing tailored storage solutions. Be patient with the process.

Creative solutions maximize storage space, especially in small areas. Repurposing household items for storage saves money. Regularly purging clutter is imperative – your organizational systems will overflow if not contained. Lastly, maintain your tidy home with consistent routines and diligently returning items where they belong. Organizing your home takes effort but brings great rewards of reduced stress and greater ease in your life.

9 Creative Organization Hacks for Your Home