Happy Thursday! This month is already flying by, but I’m so happy to get an extended weekend due to the holiday.
As mentioned in my last post, I’m spending January working on decluttering my home. I’ve been following the tips, and it’s been extremely successful. One thing about decluttering and organizing that I love is buying all sorts of fun organizational items (I LOVE the Container Store). The thing is, all of those little trinkets and things start to really add up to some major $$$, and it’s easy to get carried away. My goal was to declutter and reorganize using only items I had on hand, and I think I’ve succeeded.
My stipulation for selecting items was that they 1) made my life easier, 2) looked neat, and 3) could be used for multiple things. Without further adieu…
Cheap Solutions for Organization
1) Shower Curtain Hooks
All I can say is: I’m obsessed. I first considered using them because I didn’t really have a convenient way to organize my belts. Let me tell you, these work for so much more than belts.
I also used them for my most worn necklaces and scarves so that I can grab and go. The thing I love the most though? It makes it easy to hang back up again. My issue is that I don’t particularly like putting things away. I’m good at keeping clean, but once one jacket/scarf/sweater is on the ground, it all goes downhill from there. The hooks make it super easy to just put it all back in place. I think they would also work great for camis, jeans (hanging by the belt loops), or even purses.
You could most definitely use the cheaper plastic rings, but these are some I had in storage at home and are prettier. I think I paid $10-15 for, but the plastic ones can be as cheap as a few bucks for an entire set. Here’s how my closet looked after donating 3 bags of clothes, putting hooks in place, and organizing.
2) Fun Shoe Boxes & Plastic Trays
My bathroom drawers were getting out of control with make-up, various samples, nail polishes, hair ties, clips, and the list goes on and on. I needed help ASAP. I had a few shoes boxes laying around that had really fun colors/prints on them, and they fit perfectly inside of my bathroom drawers. For the extra spaces, cheap plastic trays or old check boxes did the trick. I got the plastic trays for about a buck at the Container Store. And then my nail polish collection outgrew my trays, so it looks like it’s time for another.
3) Apothecary Jars
For more visible areas, I love apothecary jars. They’re functional for so many things, but I like them best for my Q-tips and cotton balls. You could also put hair accessories, nail files, or just any about anything that needs to be spruced up with a nice container. I got these for less than $12 a piece (also from the Container Store and a steal compared to other places).
I’m sure there are so many more cheap or free ideas out there to quickly organize your home, but here are just a few to get you started.
Question of the Day: Do you have any cheap or free tricks for getting organized?
I’m completely envious of all your closet spot, that is all.
I love cool shoeboxes and giftboxes as well and use them for all kinds of storage. I love those 3M removable hooks. I put some in the bathroom to hang my flatiron, blow dryer, etc. I use them on the back of doors to add hooks for purses, jackets, etc. I use them for hanging jewelry but that’s getting too insane so I need a different jewelry system soon.
IKEA has these great “skubb” boxes that are fabricy that you can zip into shape. They’re cheap and when you don’t need them you can unzip and flatten them.
IKEA also has a nice rolling basket system you can customize called “algot” that I love. their closet organization systems are much cheaper than container store’s elfa and still gets the job done.
I love the magazine Real Simple (content much like your blog actually!) and they have their own line of organizational items at BBB that are great. Personal fave are the slim hangers. They have a hook so you can cascade your clothes 2-3 layers on one hanger to save even more space.
I just bought a bar addition to the closet that adds a row under shorter items.
As for staying organized, real simple has great checklists for one thing you can do everyday to keep your place clean little by little.
These posts are so needed right now!! I’m really trying to be better about my organization. May have to steal the apothecary jar idea
Yay I’m kind of excited about switching things up. Is that weird? haha
I just went to the container store for the first time before Christmas!! I had no idea — I always thought it was a lame store. Haha. But I’m far from organized. My 12-year-old sister organized my pantry when she visited. I’m more into controlled chaos. lol
Love these ideas! The only one that I’ve used – and stuck with – is the stuffing plastic bags in empty paper towel rolls instead of having a drawer full of bags
The shower hooks to hold belts/scarves = genius.
My mom was huge on totes. We had totes for everything…and I’ve aquired that addiction. We have a storage space off our balcony that has about 8 totes of winter gear, summer gear, random household stuff, board games we rarely play…makes moving a lot easier too!
My friend showed me the shower curtain ring trick too! I need to get them ASAp because my belts and scarves are way out of control! I turned my extra den into a closet and it’s still not enough space.
I’ve been decluttering as well and it’s great cus you realize how many things you don’t use anymore or don’t need… usually the things that get pushed to the back of the closet. Haha! I’ll definitely be trying the shower curtain hooks trick!
P.S – did you get to try the 2 ingredient pancakes yet?
I try to keep my mind organized and then the material things seem to stay a bit more organized too!
It’s like you read my mind. We have been on the same mission. Love the shower curtain trick. I’ve been going by the motto of if I haven’t used it in 6 mo. to a year then I must not need it. Good luck!!
Ahhhhh I desperately need this Lena!!! haha, it’s so nicely organized and you did a great job. I’m the same way in that once things start to come off the racks and whatnot, things can easily go downhill. Fortunately I’ve never actually been the type to just throw things on the floor