The Art of ‘Organized Clutter’ and Clever Storage Solutions
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Many aspire to the minimalist trend, but some don’t want to throw away all their stuff. Besides, you aren’t a hoarder! You just care about everything you have and worry you may need those cable cords someday! I get it. While I obsessively get rid of things, my husband is the opposite. He is more sentimental than I am and doesn’t part with things as easily, so I have had to compromise a lot in our marriage regarding what I throw away and keep. I have learned to have organized clutter; in his defense, keeping things has come in handy more than once.
Here’s a list of items we use in our home to maintain ‘organized clutter.’
EVERYTHING HAS A PLACE
While I encourage you to declutter items you no longer use, the key rule in our home is that everything must have a designated place. Whether it’s an item you might need in the future or something with sentimental value, as long as it has a place to go, we consider it organized clutter.
STORAGE CABINETS
Adding furniture to your home will help give you more places to put your belongings. Storage cabinets are a great way to do this because they not only hide the things you don’t want to look at regularly but also add pretty and decorative pieces to help make a house feel warm and cozy. Don’t make the mistake of throwing everything in the cabinet without an organized system. Clear acrylic totes (Amazon) will help display items so you remember what you have!
STORAGE BINS
By now, everyone knows storage bins are the way to keep your home organized! You usually see these items in the kitchen and bathroom, but don’t forget about the office! Organizing my husband’s clutter consists primarily of office cords. I don’t know why we need so many electronic cords, but here we are. Creating an organized system for him allows him to know that anytime he needs something, he can go straight to the clear bins set up in the office and find what he needs. For someone who has more things, using bins in your home is essential. Otherwise, your belongings get lost. You don’t want the wise decision to keep your stuff if you might need it to be in vain because you can’t find it!
COUNTER TRAYS
Also known as trinket trays (Amazon), these are great for storing keys, wallets, lighters, or anything else that would otherwise be set loose on the counter. It is extremely helpful when someone is looking for the dog leash, and you can tell them it is in the tray, on the counter, next to the back door. My kids know that when they are done with the leash, it goes back to its spot in the tray to prevent losing it!
BATHROOM STORAGE
There is an Amazon option called “subscribe and save,” where you can set up a monthly subscription to receive items you use regularly. I will be the first to admit that I can’t help but save a few dollars by subscribing to everything I know I will repurchase! These items are typically stored in the bathroom because they include hair color, foundation, and feminine hygiene products. Baskets and Lazy Susan organizers (Amazon) are perfect for bathroom storage. What would look like clutter if left unorganized can be tidied up with simple organizational solutions, and you don’t have to worry about things getting lost in the back of the cabinet.
BLACK TOTES
I think of sentimental items and mementos when considering a few things that would be regarded as clutter. To many people, Grandma’s china plates are not garbage, but they don’t have a space to display them. If this is the case, the black totes with yellow lids (Amazon), typically found at Costco or Home Depot, are the best for storing fragile belongings because they are heavy-duty! We recently moved out of an office space and needed to store monitors and computers, so we grabbed these black storage totes to keep them safe until we know what we want to do with them. I also use them for storing holiday decor, seasonal decorations, and other rare items I only use for special occasions.
NIGHTSTANDS WITH DRAWERS
If you have limited closet space in your home, nightstands with drawers can help you organize your bedding, books, towels, and other loose items. Adding additional storage wherever you can is a functional solution to keeping your extra valuables put away until you need them. The next time you are looking for a nightstand, try looking for one with drawers.
