With everyone on the Marie Kondo kick (thanks, Netflix), more and more people are clearing their spaces and ditching their possessions.
However, despite incessant donation drives, some possessions will still remain. And if you don’t know what to do with what you own, you’ll find yourself perpetually drowning in stuff.
Here are some quick and easy hacks that will help you to organize the main areas of your home so that, even if you aren’t on board to live minimally, your home will look clean and clear.
Fridge and Pantry
All too often, various food items like to make it to the back of the fridge never to be seen again. More than once I have cleaned out my fridge only to find some forgotten mystery meal shoved back to the land of the lost.
Small plastic baskets are a great way to keep your fridge contents organized and easily accessible. Pulling out a basket to access food is far easier than doing the ol’ squat and reach. You should also keep older items in the front to ensure they are used before new items are accessed.
In the pantry, label your shelves and containers for super simple categorization of items. For instance, designate a specific shelf space solely for baking supplies. That way, when it’s time to whip up a batch of goodies, all your supplies are in one spot.
Toys and Games
If I didn’t know better, I would say children’s toys and games are automatically rigged to explode and deposit themselves all around the house. No matter how many times toys are returned to the playroom, they always seem to make their way back out to the living room.
Remedy this issue, first of all, by investing in some hidden storage. Wicker baskets with covers are a stylish way to remove toys and games from sight – and they make for a quick and easy cleanup.
For those smaller toys, and game pieces, store them in zipper-lock plastic bags. This makes it easy for your child to see the contents without dumping everything all over creation and helps to prevent game pieces from going on the lam.
Laundry and Clothing
The words “mountain” and “laundry” are commonly synonymous – and for good reason. It seems that as soon as you wash, dry, fold and put away one load of laundry, seven more piles take its place.
It’s a Laundry Hydra.
Keep up with laundry by doing loads throughout the week instead of waiting until one big laundry day. And if you live in a two-story home, places baskets on each level to catch stray clothes that can’t seem to make their way to the proper laundry hamper. I, for one, am guilty of whipping off my socks as soon I get home. As such, I actually have a sock basket downstairs so they don’t get missed or, worse, go missing.
When it comes to clothing, stay on your purge game by placing a garbage bag in a hamper or basket. Keep it in your closet and toss in clothing destined for donation. Once it’s full, tie it up and send it on its way.
To maintain space in your dressers and closets, invest in totes to store off-season clothes. Pack away heavy sweaters and flannel jammies in the summer and swap out once the temperatures drop.
Shoes and Coats
Typical entryways are perpetually in a state of post-tornado. The last thing anyone wants to do when they get home is put coats on hangers and shoes on shoe racks. Coats and shoes are usually peeled and tossed wherever they land.
Fight the coat pile by installing hooks. It makes hang-up time quick and easy without fighting with hangers and closet space. Use storage baskets to catch shoes or winter accessories.
If you don’t have an entryway, a bookcase makes for perfect shoe storage.
Bathroom
For those who are blessed with bathroom counter space, keep the area clear by placing trays and containers to store items that are used on a daily basis. Clear up the walls as well by using towel hooks instead of towel racks.
Take advantage of prime real estate on the cabinet door by adhering plastic holders for toothbrushes or hooks for hair dryers and straighteners.
