01of 25
Corral the Yard Tools
The next time you receive a large shipment to your house do not throw away that wooden pallet. They make for great storage for all of your lawn tools. Simply secure the pallet against your garage wall and place your landscaping tools inside for easy access and great organization. To elevate the look, you can stain the pallet your favorite wood tone color.
02of 25Leave Room in the FridgeKonmari Media; GettyExpert:Marie Kondo, star of Netflix’sSparking Joy with Marie KondoTo keep the refrigerator tidy, keep 20 percent of the shelf space empty for unexpected additions like leftovers or takeout containers.
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Leave Room in the Fridge
Konmari Media; Getty
Expert:Marie Kondo, star of Netflix’sSparking Joy with Marie Kondo
To keep the refrigerator tidy, keep 20 percent of the shelf space empty for unexpected additions like leftovers or takeout containers.
03of 25
Give Everything a Home
DOMINIK BINDI/WIREIMAGE; Courtesy Nate Berkus
Make sure everything has its place—and that you know where that place is! In my closet I label the top of each drawer and the edge of each shelf with what belongs there.
Note: Berkus uses a label maker, but you can also write on washi tape!
04of 25Maximize Open ShelvingLucy Call(2)Expert:Shea McGee, designer and star of Netflix’sDream Home MakeoverI use clear storage for dry goods that look pretty in canisters, and bins and baskets for hiding away my kids' snacks or other items I don’t want on display.
04of 25
Maximize Open Shelving
Lucy Call(2)
Expert:Shea McGee, designer and star of Netflix’sDream Home Makeover
I use clear storage for dry goods that look pretty in canisters, and bins and baskets for hiding away my kids' snacks or other items I don’t want on display.
05of 25
Show Off Special Items
Michael Giragosian; Courtesy Taniya Nayak
06of 25
Elevate Workbench Storage
Astrid Stawairz/Getty; Istockphoto/getty
Install magnets on the bottom of upper cabinets in your garage. You can attach any metal-lidded jars you use to store nails, screws and other small items, clearing off your workstation.
07of 25Contain Your WiresAllie Reiser; Getty(2)Expert:Ría Safford, creator ofRíorganizeReuse the plastic fastener from a bread bag to hold together your cables. You can even label the tabs with a Sharpie so you’ll remember what device they go with.
07of 25
Contain Your Wires
Allie Reiser; Getty(2)
Expert:Ría Safford, creator ofRíorganize
Reuse the plastic fastener from a bread bag to hold together your cables. You can even label the tabs with a Sharpie so you’ll remember what device they go with.
08of 25Create a Smarter Storage SystemJenny Mann Photography; Getty; Shutterstock(2)Expert:Ryen Toft, owner ofSimply LuxeWhen stowing seasonal clothing, label the front of a plastic bin “winter” and the back “summer.” When you swap the items twice a year, just spin the bin around so the correct label is facing out.
08of 25
Create a Smarter Storage System
Jenny Mann Photography; Getty; Shutterstock(2)
Expert:Ryen Toft, owner ofSimply Luxe
When stowing seasonal clothing, label the front of a plastic bin “winter” and the back “summer.” When you swap the items twice a year, just spin the bin around so the correct label is facing out.
09of 25Keep Sheet Sets TogetherVALORIE DARLING; TargetExpert:Jen Robin, founder ofLife in JeneralStore the flat and fitted sheets inside one of the matching pillowcases so the pieces don’t get lost in the linen closet. (This printed cotton percale set is from Target’s Opalhouse collection and starts at $29.)
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Keep Sheet Sets Together
VALORIE DARLING; Target
Expert:Jen Robin, founder ofLife in Jeneral
Store the flat and fitted sheets inside one of the matching pillowcases so the pieces don’t get lost in the linen closet. (This printed cotton percale set is from Target’s Opalhouse collection and starts at $29.)
10of 25Round Up Wrapping PaperPerla Maarek; Getty(2)Expert:Eryn Donaldson, founder ofThe Model HomeYou don’t need to buy a specialty storage product. A standard wastebasket is the perfect size to hold 8 to 10 rolls.
10of 25
Round Up Wrapping Paper
Perla Maarek; Getty(2)
Expert:Eryn Donaldson, founder ofThe Model Home
You don’t need to buy a specialty storage product. A standard wastebasket is the perfect size to hold 8 to 10 rolls.
11of 25Keep Tall Boots in ShapeCallie Mcphail; Getty; ShutterstockExpert:Trish Hodson, founder ofBee Organized SF BaySkip the fancy boot hooks! Simply cut cheap foam pool noodles to size and place them in your boots to help them stand up in the closet and prevent creasing.
11of 25
Keep Tall Boots in Shape
Callie Mcphail; Getty; Shutterstock
Expert:Trish Hodson, founder ofBee Organized SF Bay
Skip the fancy boot hooks! Simply cut cheap foam pool noodles to size and place them in your boots to help them stand up in the closet and prevent creasing.
12of 25
Stack Your Shoes
Courtesy Janelle Cohen(2)
Clear, plastic drop-front boxes are modular and stackable, making them perfect for vertical shoe storage. For a free version, hold on to your original shoeboxes, take a photo (a Polaroid works great!) of the pair inside and stick it on the front so you can find your favorites instantly.
13of 25
Save Shoe Shelf Space
Aneha Anekeahapobh; Getty
Note: It also makes it easy to ID the shoes and check the heel height without taking them out!
14of 25Hang Tie-able ItemsGetty; Courtesy LA Closet DesignExpert:Lisa Adams, founder ofLA Closet DesignOne of our favorite solutions for scarves in a closet is to display them hanging on wall-mounted rods. Similarly, you can tie your scarves, ties and pashminas to a towel bar. It’s such a simple repurposing of a standard household item that will add so much functionality to an unused wall in your closet.
14of 25
Hang Tie-able Items
Getty; Courtesy LA Closet Design
Expert:Lisa Adams, founder ofLA Closet Design
One of our favorite solutions for scarves in a closet is to display them hanging on wall-mounted rods. Similarly, you can tie your scarves, ties and pashminas to a towel bar. It’s such a simple repurposing of a standard household item that will add so much functionality to an unused wall in your closet.
15of 25Start a Donation StationIbrahim Ali Martins; GettyExpert:Natalie Ron, founder ofSwoon Spaces (formerly Liberate Your Space)When you bring items into the house, remove stuff at the same pace. Find a space out of the way —behind a door, in the laundry room, etc. — to keep a donation bin at all times.
15of 25
Start a Donation Station
Ibrahim Ali Martins; Getty
Expert:Natalie Ron, founder ofSwoon Spaces (formerly Liberate Your Space)
When you bring items into the house, remove stuff at the same pace. Find a space out of the way —behind a door, in the laundry room, etc. — to keep a donation bin at all times.
16of 25
Perfect Your Pantry
Christina Anstead/Instagram
Labeled bins in the pantry help kids know exactly where all their favorite snacks are without tearing through drawers and bags and keeps the chaos to a minimum. All of the snacks for my kids are located at accessible heights, so they’re easy for them to grab.
17of 25Fold With a TuckCourtesy of Tania LourencoExpert:Tania Lourenco, creator ofHomganizeWhen putting folded clothing in a drawer, stand items on end, rather than stacked flat so you can see what you have. To get even more advanced, try envelope folding: a trick where you tuck in the ends of each piece so they stay folded no matter what. (See a video how-to here.) This way even if you throw your underwear in the air, they will surely keep form.
17of 25
Fold With a Tuck
Courtesy of Tania Lourenco
Expert:Tania Lourenco, creator ofHomganize
When putting folded clothing in a drawer, stand items on end, rather than stacked flat so you can see what you have. To get even more advanced, try envelope folding: a trick where you tuck in the ends of each piece so they stay folded no matter what. (See a video how-to here.) This way even if you throw your underwear in the air, they will surely keep form.
18of 25
Decorate With Extra Family Photos
Getty (2)
We love creating gallery photo walls with all of our family photos. Use the same size for your photo canvases and make sure to first map out your pattern design on the floor before hanging them on the walls. To make it super easy — and a great tip if you are renting — is to use peel-and-stick photo hanging adhesives so they don’t ruin the wall. We likeCommand Photo Strips(about $3 package).
19of 25Charge in One PlaceGettyExperts:Clea Shearer & Joanna Teplin, stars of Netflix’sGet Organized with The Home EditUse a mail sorter and large USB port to create a docking station where your daily electronics (phone, laptop, iPad, etc.) can be charged at the end of the day.
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Charge in One Place
Getty
Experts:Clea Shearer & Joanna Teplin, stars of Netflix’sGet Organized with The Home Edit
Use a mail sorter and large USB port to create a docking station where your daily electronics (phone, laptop, iPad, etc.) can be charged at the end of the day.
20of 25
Always Be Ready for Guests
Getty; Christopher Shane Photography
Expert:Nikki Boyd, founder ofAt Home With Nikki
Grab all the essentials— like a towel, toiletries, bottled water, a snack or two and even a bottle of wine — and throw them all in. It’ll make guests feel like your blow-up mattress is the Ritz Carlton!
21of 25
Master Kids' Masterpieces
Getty; Inset: Aspire Organizing
Expert:Tasha Saavedra, owner ofAspire Organizing
22of 25Stick Jars of All Types in Their PlaceAmazon; Courtesy of Neat MethodExperts:Ashley Murphy and Marissa Hagmeyer, cofounders ofNeat MethodSpice drawer liners (likethese) are great for the kitchen, but you can use them in your bathroom drawers too to keep products from rolling around — this will make it easier to see their labels, as well!
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Stick Jars of All Types in Their Place
Amazon; Courtesy of Neat Method
Experts:Ashley Murphy and Marissa Hagmeyer, cofounders ofNeat Method
Spice drawer liners (likethese) are great for the kitchen, but you can use them in your bathroom drawers too to keep products from rolling around — this will make it easier to see their labels, as well!
23of 25
Customize Your Cabinets
Getty; Inset: Courtesy Tiffany Brooks
Take a cube storage shelving system and fill it with a variety of cool baskets to store clothes, toys or other miscellaneous items. This is an easy way to make a storage solution appear more customized than a typical, closed cabinet.
24of 25
Make Making the Bed a Breeze
Want to have cute accent pillows on your bed but sick of taking them on and off each day? Use heavy-duty safety pins to connect the backs of the decorative pillows on your bed together so you can take them off in one single piece at night. Then you just pick up the pillow unit and put it back on the bed the next morning!
25of 25
Reuse Bandage Tins for Mini Travel Cases
Courtesy: Welly; Holly Blakey
Expert:Holly Blakey, owner ofBreathing Room Organization
source: people.com
