Organizing hacks for every room in your home

Did you make a New Year’s resolution to organize your home? Or recently move into a new place and want to maximize your space? Whatever your reason, the key to organizing is to start small. Focus on one area first and allow yourself plenty of time to finish the job. Take a break, reward your inner Monica (you know, the hyper-organized Friend), then move on to the next area using ideas from this room-by-room guide. 

Linen closet: Divide and conquer 

Using shelf dividers for closet organization maximizes vertical space and prevents towers of towels or piles of blankets from tumbling over when you try to grab one. Because everyone who has spent a winter in Utah knows the softest, coziest blankets are also the slipperiest. 

After folding flat and fitted sheets, tuck them inside the matching pillowcases for storage. This allows you to quickly locate complete sets when it’s time to change the sheets.  

Storage bins are also convenient for linen closet organization. Small articles such as washcloths can easily be stored inside and pulled out as needed. Look for clear bins or those with label holders so you're never guessing what’s inside. Bonus points if they are stackable.

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Coat closet: Storage shoe-ins

Footwear, schmootwear. Over-the-door shoe holders work great for keeping mittens and gloves together. No more rummaging around to find mates! (If only the same could be said for socks in the dryer.)

Matching hangers are a must. Using different styles of hangers takes up more space and makes your closet appear disorganized. Wooden hangers work well for outerwear, but you may prefer the sleek look of slim velvet hangers instead.

Utilize the shelving above the rod by storing items like hats, goggles or compact umbrellas in stackable containers. Rather than putting like items in the same box or bin, consider color coding containers by family member to prevent gear from getting mixed up … and siblings from getting riled up. 

Bedroom: Waste not, want not

Start by cleaning off the flat spaces on top of a dresser or nightstand. Look for creative ways to utilize wasted space to stash that stuff. Any drawer, for example, can quickly be converted to a charging station. Simply drill a single hole for a cord, use Velcro to affix a USB power strip to the back of the drawer and plug it into a wall outlet. Voila! No more unsightly cords and devices. 

Don’t air your dirty laundry. Invest in a stylish hamper with a lid to contain your clothing. Nuff said.

As for your clean clothing, use a vertical folding method rather than a horizontal one to maximize space and make it easy to spot what you’re looking for. Drawer organizers allow you to group your garb by similar shapes and sizes, preventing a jumbled mess. Similarly, stackable/expandable drawer trays can be used to organize jewelry in dresser drawers. 

Living area: Double duty

Pet toys. Kid toys. Books. Blankets. The list of things that accumulate in your primary space  — whether an open-concept great room or a closed-off living room — and cramp your lifestyle is longer than the lines at Costco during the holidays. Look for furniture that serves two purposes. Ottomans with hinged tops that open to reveal storage space are perhaps the most useful. Or find a basket that can slide beneath an open side table to store loose items. 

Chic armoires stylishly conceal your television, video game console and other electronics when not in use. But if you prefer to keep your television out in the open, a cable zipper sleeve controls the cord chaos that so often ensues.

Turn ordinary, everyday items into art. Group books by color or arrange them by height and size on shelves. If you have collections of hats or bags or anything else that takes up too much space in that armoire, hang them up and create a gallery wall.

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Kitchen: Clear solutions

Clear off those countertops. Your space will instantly look cleaner and larger. Replace a traditional knife block with a magnetic knife bar that hangs on the wall or relocate them to a drawer. 

Add an appliance lift to a cabinet to keep stand mixers, food processors or other small appliances hidden when not in use. Yet they’ll still be easily accessible when you need them. 

If you’ve already tackled one of your closets, organizing your fridge or pantry will go more quickly. Clear, stackable storage bins in varying sizes are what you need to bring calm to the chaos.

Keep your New Year’s resolution or achieve everyday home organization goals with these easy, inexpensive projects. You’ll enjoy your abode more than ever. But if you still need more space, browse thousands of listings for sale or rent on KSL Homes to find one that fits your lifestyle better.