When we first moved into our new home, the previous owners left quite a bit behind in the laundry/utility closet, from light bulbs to buckets of paint. We decided to keep much of this, as we knew these things would come in handy (and they have). But it all felt cluttered to me, especially as we were storing our own belongings in the space as well. I wanted the closet to be more orderly, and so I used some strategies that I have learned from decluttering and organizing other closets in our home and in previous homes. These tips will work for most any closet or even drawer that you want to organize.
Before
Tip 1: Take Inventory and Declutter
Before you start buying anything to organize your space, it’s important to understand the scope of what you own. Go through everything that you have, and toss or donate anything you no longer need.
Tip 2: Discard of Packaging
Taking items out of their original boxes can save so much room. For instance, when working on this closet, I took all light bulbs out and placed them securely in a new basket. This strategy often makes sense when you are going to be using items over time and the package will often be partially empty. Condensing the items in a new container often saves space and makes items easier to store and find.
Tip 3: Find the Right Organizing Bins
First, see if you already have any spare boxes or bins to organize. Anything can work if you get creative; I have used shoe and clothing boxes to store a variety of items in other closets in our home. Otherwise, before buying anything, ensure you know the dimensions needed – it’s not fun to realize the new storage containers you bought are too big or too small. Here are the bins I used (simply click the image to shop):
Tip 4: Group Like Items and Label if Needed
I placed all the paint (and other) cans in one bin and the towels in another, then collected other similar items and put them together. I kept everything that we use regularly on the bottom shelf. Labeling the bins can help if you have quite a few of them; I did this in our pantry, and it has helped me stay organized months after first rearranging these cabinets. I didn’t feel it was necessary for me in this closet since I know where everything is kept.
Tip 5: Stay on Top of the Space
Hold yourself accountable for keeping the closet neat and tidy. Ensure that when you acquire new things, you place them in the correct spot. You haven’t done all this work for nothing!
After
Happy organizing!
P.S. My master closet clean-out and how I keep my drawers organized.
