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Seven Exceptional Organization Ideas

Article Summary: How many instances have you had to turn your home upside down for you to find your car keys? Or found one thing that has been lost for a length of time somewhere you didn't expect it to be? These things can all be traced to clutter—the one big enemy of all rooms, be they big or small. If you often find your possessions just lying around, you should probably make use of some extra room to help get rid of the mess.

How many instances have you had to turn your home upside down for you to find your car keys? Or found one thing that has been lost for a length of time somewhere you didn't expect it to be? These things can all be traced to clutter—the one big enemy of all rooms, be they big or small. If you often find your possessions just lying around, you should probably make use of some extra room to help get rid of the mess.

Every time you think of storage space, you're probably thinking of huge shelves, kids’ toy chests, and that bulky closet located at the end of your hallway. No wonder few people bother to invest in good storage—it’s just not that “chic”. But due to all the storage designs now available, there are a hundred more ways to get organized without having to waste time worrying about these clashing with your home décor. Here are seven wonderful storage ideas you might want to try for yourself.

1. Baskets. Although more popular with country-style homes, woven baskets have a warm and homey feel that will go well with any theme. Utilize them for the storage of magazines, jewelry, pens, as well as other small items. In large, high-traffic areas like your living room, you can put one large basket or a number of smaller ones on or near your table. If you are going to choose the latter, buy baskets in various sizes and weaves to add a little more interest. For saving space, put your baskets on a wall rack or an end table.

2. Dividers and shelves. Room dividers are great for breaking up large spaces, but they have a tendency to take up a lot of space—space that can be utilized for storage. If your room needs a divider, think about making use of a small bookshelf or display rack instead. This way, they will function both as a dividing element and a storage space. Look for an open-backed shelf so that it will be presentable on both sides, or make use of two slimmer shelves and put them back to back.

3. Linear racks. Wall storage is a must for little rooms, and the trendy way to do it is by using linear storage racks. These racks consist of a vertical trunk which has some holders installed along it. It’s a wonderful way of organizing small things in your office, bedroom, or bathroom. And since it’s mounted on the wall, it takes up no floor space and will work well for tight spaces. You can even make your own—simply polish an old wooden slab then nail on some L-shaped brackets on the front.

4. Niche displays. Don’t have enough space to display your collection of antiques? Try putting it on top of a closet or shelf. These areas are almost always ignored and have a tendency to be dark and dusty, but if utilized the right way, they can make excellent corner displays. The space is perfect for those special memorabilia which you would otherwise put away in a box. Install an up-light or slide lights in order to add focus and draw attention to the display. Limit yourself to just three pieces for each display for playing up their value and form.

5. Nested trays. So you’ve got a large basket for all your cosmetics, but you still find yourself digging for your favorite perfume each morning? Avoid this situation by keeping your storage small, or by dividing your containers into smaller spaces. Try organizing your toiletries in nested containers, with the most commonly used items in the largest tray and the less important ones in the smaller compartments. This will provide you quicker access to everyday items while keeping the rest just within your reach.

6. Recessed shelves. Mounting shelves on walls saves lots of floor space, but since the shelves protrude from the wall, they still add to that cramped ambiance common in small rooms. A good alternative is creating your shelves inward, so the rims are right on the same level as the rest of the walls. This works particularly well with corner bathroom sinks. The side walls have easy-to-reach storage space for bathroom essentials such as towels and toiletries. Be sure to plan it well, though, as you can’t simply uninstall these shelves as you would a conventional shelf.

7. Old kitchen items. Old kitchen items such as pans, cups, and bowls can be recycled into trendy storage tools. Organizing your jewelry? Get an old muffin pan and place a different kind in each cup. You may also utilize a mug or an old cup as a pen holder, or a large bowl to store figurines and small toys. You can even make use of your old kitchen cabinets and rebuild them into pull-out trays, creating a space-saving dresser drawer. Almost any old thing can be recycled, so do not be scared to experiment.
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About the Author:
Courtney James
Courtney James is a writer of various household organization and interior design articles who has over 15 years experience in this industry. She also happens to be a Certified Interior Designer as well as a regular interior design writer for redeco.org. Courtney spends much of her time making uncommon and personalized home organization and home décor solutions for her clients and readers.