Organizing & Storage

The master bedroom of Nikkia and Daniel’s two-bedroom apartment had an especially perplexing and inefficient closet situation: two tiny closets side by side, each with a single shelf and hanging rail, and a tiny door that made accessing the closet’s contents a challenge. So as part of their apartment renovation (which included a very smart kitchen update), they combined the two tiny, poorly designed closets into one big, super-efficient one.

Imagine for a moment that you’re an infallibly practical person. The idea of filling a wall with framed artwork…well, it would be such a waste, wouldn’t it? Sure, there’s value in surrounding yourself and decorating your walls with pretty things. But useful things can be beautiful, too. A cork wall treatment acts as a big mood board, perfect for a study, home office or any room that welcomes constant visual change.

No closet? No problem. You know how Edward Sharpe says “Home is wherever I’m with you”? Here’s your new motto: My closet is wherever I keep my clothes. Let’s just grab a sturdy garment rack (or make one from scratch) and set up shop in the living room or bedroom. It can look great, with the right inspiration. Flank a garment rack with a dresser on each side, like shown above in Jeanette & Mikul’s Airy, Sunny and Minimal One-Room East Bay Loft.

Closet too small? Join the club. It’s called “everybody.” But good news! There are two ways to battle a too-small clothes closet: One is to get rid of some of your stuff (in that case, you’ll want to check out this three-part capsule wardrobe series). The other is to get smart about storage. It doesn’t take a lot of time or money. In fact, all you need is one fifty-dollar bill, some sofa cushion change, and an afternoon at your local superstore.

We do a lot of talking about how to organize the big storage spots in the home — from your closet to your kitchen counters to the pantry and more. But what about those smaller but still vital storage spaces in your home? The stand-alone furniture pieces like dressers, credenzas, storage cabinets and more? If you’re anything like me, these vital storage spots can sometimes get overlooked and become messes.

Take inspiration from these five real-life apartments, whose residents found smart ways to store everything with no closet in sight.

There is nothing like the start of a new year to kick yourself into gear and make changes that last. And no, I’m not talking about resolutions, which have a sneaky way of fading along with the holiday glow. I’m talking about taking just one month and investing some effort (21 do-able assignments in total throughout January) toward a cleaner, more organized and more peaceful home.

We recently featured a House Tour of Joe and Alana’s 160-year-old Newport home. Alana works for a commercial production company and a creative agency, both in New York City, while Joe is the founder and president of a company based in Warren, Rhode Island. To be together, they travel between the Big Apple and the Ocean State, an arrangement which requires them both to work remotely at times.

I live in a one-bedroom apartment. Being an Interior Designer and pillow shop owner, I have a lot of different things to do on a daily basis. I sew everyday, sketch room designs, pull together fabrics for client projects and new pillow designs, and do various computer tasks for my business and blog. So, I was forced to use my dining room to store all my business stuff. There was clutter everywhere and no room for a large enough table to both sew and eat on.

If you’re a crafter, you know how quickly things start to pile up. Yes, I do need that many different types of scissors and that many colors of ribbon! If you have a designated craft area either large—lucky!—or small, it’s nice to (at least try to) keep it organized, especially if it’s in a part of your home that’s not off-limits to guests.

Jamie & Byron’s Elegant Art Canvas You spend a huge chunk of your life in your bedroom, but if you’re like me, it’s one of the rooms you give the least consideration, in terms of decor. Usually there are a few central pieces of furniture to think about, and beyond that, it seems like a matter of keeping linens clean. But there are plenty of ways that you can easily and cheaply refresh your bedroom, even if you only have 30 minutes to spare.

There’s a war on stuff lately. Minimalist manifestos abound, both inspiring decluttering and shame. If you’ve gotten the impression that to be an organized person you can’t own more than one of a particular object, we want to assure you that yes, you can have a healthy love of stuff and collecting and still manage to have an organized home. Here are are best tips to have the best of both worlds. We all have one, and it’s individual to each and every one of us.

I moved into a small, 500 square foot apartment with real wood floors, tall charming ceilings and a spunky little kitchen that can’t be more than a few feet wide. Yes, WIDE. We’re talking can’t-open-the-oven-unless-you’re-standing-on-the-side small. But I managed to fit everything I needed in my kitchen snugly, in a way that functions well enough that I can easily pull things out as I need.

Looking for easy things you can do to make your kitchen better, look nicer and feel more comfortable? You want it to be an inspiring space you want to use. There are lots of improvements you can make; these four things are easy and work with any size or style of kitchen. What are those things you use everyday? The things you’d have to open a door or drawer to get to (or maybe even dig out of some container)?

We’re more than halfway through the Cure (Assignment #6, so only 4 more to go, woo) and today is your final day of sorting (can I get an amen?). You’ve already done the heavy lifting when it comes to paring down, and I tried to save the fastest, easiest-to-sort stuff for last; the things that are often easiest to let go of and to replace: lingerie/underwear, workout wear, pjs, socks and tights. Be ruthless!

Don’t have an actual entryway? You’re not alone. Small space dwellers and those with modern homes that didn’t build an entryway into the floor plan all suffer from being dumped right into a living room and not having a proper introduction to a home (not to mention a spot to store day-to-day items you need easy access to).

I love shoes. You love shoes. Everyone loves shoes. Which is why maybe we just might own too many pairs. (Shocking, I know.) And, I’m pretty sure that some of you might be in the same boat when it comes to bags. These are the fun, fashionable yet practical items that are so easy to add to your wardrobe, they seem to magically multiply on their own. Well, it’s time to channel your inner sorting superhero and stay strong: today is the day to tackle the hard-to-let-go-of shoes and bags.

Happy Monday! After a very ambitious and busy start to the Closet Cure (and with plenty more to come), today is a well earned day away from all the sorting and decision-making – and a chance for anyone who is feeling behind to get caught up with the assignments.

Many of us strive for a more simplified life, in which what surrounds us are things we either truly love or truly need, preferably both. To arrive at — and to maintain — such a lifestyle, we have to get rid of things, whether it’s in one fell swoop or in small doses. While it feels like a big mountain to climb, getting rid of things ultimately feels sooo good. Here’s why. Physical space and mental space go hand-in-hand.

If you’ve been reading Apartment Therapy and participating in the Cure, you know all about the power of a well-organized entryway to help catch clutter and keep your home looking beautiful. But did you know the things you decide to keep by your front door can also save you time every day?

One of the our biggest emotional blocks against reducing clutter is nostalgia! We want to keep remembering the great things that happened to us while wearing that sweater or the time in our lives when we loved those plates, so we hang on to stuff that we no longer need. But guess what? You don’t need the actual items to keep those great memories at the front of your mind. Try these ideas.

Lots of small space strategies are about so much more than just making it work in an itty bitty box; they’re smart ideas that everyone can use in any space. Try these on for size. Roll your eyes all you want, but remember, clutter can take over and make you crazy. Although we often hear this advice in reference to small spaces where every inch counts, no one in a home of any size should be hanging on to too many things they don’t need.

My dad recently gave me this tool tote and, organizing fanatic that I am, I immediately started looking beyond its intended use and wondering what unexpected uses I could come up with. This little thing is handier than you might think, so read on for four uses, as well as some suggestions for similar totes, in case the red and black look isn’t your thing… Kids’ Tote: Keep the things that keep your child entertained handy.

A broom closet of varying depths and without any built-ins was collecting Carla’s random stuff. She decided it might serve better as a place for paperwork and projects, and we love how she made this strange small space fit her needs: From Carla: My husband uses the downstairs as an office, which I didn’t think I needed for my business.

Sam spotted this dollhouse on the street, and even though she had no homeless dolls, she decided to rescue the shelter and turn it into storage. From Sam: I didn’t really want a house-shaped storage cabinet, so after a lot of hammering from my (lack of) arm muscles, my project was starting to take shape. Next step was to give this baby a good coating of white paint. It’s crazy how big of a difference a bit of paint can make! Next step: pizzazz.

After three years of living in this “builder basic” house, the homeowners hired Krista to help personalize it. On the agenda was adding some style to this blank 2-story wall. Now that fireplace is really a focal point: From Krista: The homeowners decided when buying their custom home to hold back on upgrades until they lived in the space which allowed them to truly understand how they lived in it and what they would need.

Making a little extra space in your closet doesn't have to involve a lot of hand-wringing and soul-searching.

“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?” Albert Einstein once famously asked. Conventional wisdom holds that it’s easier to work, and to create, in a space that’s neat and tidy — but what if the opposite were true? A recent study by psychologist Kathleen Vohs, at the University of Minnesota, tested the effects of different kinds of working environments on human behavior.

If you want to know about rhinestones and country music, ask Dolly Parton. For insight into small spaces and storage, go straight to boat owners and people who live year-round on houseboats. They’ve got tons of solutions to suit even the tiniest spaces, and we could all stand to pick their brains for a minute or two. Here are seven products you regularly find on boats that even land lovers can put to good use at home.

How you spend your days, as the saying goes, is how you spend your life. And because work takes up such a huge chunk of many of our lives, it’s worth examining the other chunks — the small moments in the evenings after work — to see how one might improve that time so you’re not just living for the weekends.

We can all use a little organizing reminder every now and again; I know I do. I always start out with the best intentions, and then they fall by the wayside shortly thereafter. I’ve gathered 10 tips used by professional organizers— just to scan over — whenever I need a little help getting back on track: 1. Get Ready The Night Before.

What’s the difference between collecting and clutter? I ask myself that question often as I’m guilty of buying multiples of (too) many things. You can avoid clutter status by putting your beautiful collections on display. Here are 16 examples of great collections—including my own tea cup collection!

What do you do with a perfectly good, sturdy piece of furniture that has potential but is a bit heavy visually on the eyes? If you’re Kim, you give it a fresh paint job and add some design details that make this piece one-of-a-kind! From Kim: I’ve long since coveted a sleek mid-century modern media credenza.

A friend of mine was recently burglarized. Their place was completely ransacked in the process and several valuables were stolen. Fortunately, a few of the most precious items were left unscathed because they were hidden away in a small storage safe disguised as a book, hidden in a pile of other hardbound copies.

As every parent of school-age children knows, they come home with a lot of paper!! Whether it’s the tenuous-but-determined pencil scratches of the letter M or the (very detailed) drop-off and pick-up instructions, these papers will pile up — and very fast — without a plan for managing them. Here’s how I try to stay on top of all the papers that follow my preschooler and my kindergartener home. Anything you know you don’t want to keep, recycle right away.

Organizing words of wisdom from a pro.

What do you do when a wood sideboard — covered in deep scratches and other marks — needs a makeover but you’re not looking to brighten it with a coat of white? You could go with a color, or you could skip straight to something dramatic and do what Suzanne did. From Suzanne: This vintage sideboard was in need of a makeover. It had many deep scratches along the top and other marks and scratches.

Mallory from Classy Clutter had been itching to make over her coat closet since she the day she moved in. She found that no one in her house, including herself, wanted to hang up their coats when they had to untangle hangers and fiddle for a spot to hang their coat. She decided it was time to remove the hangers and closet bar, and replace them with hooks and bins.

From Samantha: I chose to paint it grey. But when we put the sideboard inside, hubby looked at it and said “its too boring, too serious.” So I decided to do something different! We just love how you personalized this piece you found for free to fit into your home with your personality! Thank you Samantha!

Recently, for the first time in my life, I moved to a space with a basement. After spending so many years without one, I’ll admit that at first I was hard-pressed to figure out what should go there. Thanks to having more tools, holiday decorations, and some extra kitchen supplies, I now have that covered, but it definitely got me thinking about what I did before I had all the extra storage space.

Thinking of turning a spare closet or nook into an office or craft room? Check out these 10 examples for inspiration. TOP ROW: 1. Studio Renovation from Cardboard Sea 2. Home Office from Natalme 3. Closet Turned Home Office from A Cup of Mai 4. Tiny Closet Office from Design Addict Mom 5. Jason’s Closet Office from Apartment Therapy BOTTOM ROW: 6. Melissa’s “Cloffice” on a Budget from Shoestring Magazine via Apartment Therapy 7.

Small space dwellers have a whole set of issues that folks who live in more spacious homes could never understand. Take this one, for instance: in a perfect world, your (incredibly spacious) closet is conveniently attached to the bedroom or even the bathroom. But what do you do when your closet is in a weird place? Or you have a tiny closet? Or no closet at all? Well, you start getting creative.

For years I’ve coveted pantries, and now that I have one… it’s kind of a mess. Keeping a well-stocked pantry user-friendly is definitely a challenge, but the wisest minds online are here to help… From across the web, here are some of the best ideas for keeping your pantry organized. You’ll never spend 15 minutes digging around for the sugar ever again. Open + Industrial Perhaps the best way to keep your pantry looking its best? Make it public.

There’s something about the new year that puts me into declutter mode. So, it’s not surprising that Thursday morning, the New Year’s Eve hangover now thankfully a memory, there I was, donation box in hand, tossing, tossing, tossing, starting with my favorite gotta-goes, the multiple multiples.

Ready to organize those stuffed animal collections for the new year? Some parents recommend purging until you don’t need a storage solution, but some kids love their stuffies so much that they’d love to keep them all. If you agree to house a bunch of these toys, you might want an aesthetically pleasing way to store and display them. We’ve rounded up some simple and clever ideas for keeping plush toys corralled and displayed so that, hopefully, everyone is happy. 1.

Renting almost guarantees you’ll be living and working around compromises, and perhaps nowhere more so than when it comes to planning a home entertainment setup. Awkward layouts can prove a challenge, especially when you can’t move or tear down walls like a home owner.

Does the sight above look familiar? With the array of mobile devices found in the average household, it’s increasingly common to keep many or all of these portable devices within arm’s reach.

My bi-fold pantry door is an eyesore. It has a fake woodgrain and blocks the left side of the shelves when it’s opened. But it’s an unusual size, so finding an off-the-shelf or salvage replacement has been impossible. I thought about converting it à la Jason’s closet-door hack, but then I stumbled upon Ashley’s attractive solution. While she didn’t have a bi-fold to begin with, her door replacement would work for just about any ugly door, including mine.

TOP ROW: 1. Stylish Wall Storage from Mamamekko 2. Doortop Stash from Make 3. Beck Marks the Spot for Secret Storage 4. Secret Storage Sofa from Ana White 5. Hidden Jewelry Box from Design Sponge BOTTOM ROW: 6. Hollow Stash Book from Vivid Please 7. Hidden Bookcase from Imgur 8. Floating Secret Drawer from Stashvault 9. DIY Hide-a-Key from Zakka Life And, if all else fails, just go buy this and stick it in your fridge: 10. Iceberg Lettuce Safe Do you have a secret hiding spot?

Who hasn’t opened their pantry or cabinets to a mess and thought — there’s not even any “real food” for dinner? Kimberly’s pantry needed a clean out and some order. If this ‘before’ photo looks familiar to you, check out what some labels and dollar bins did for her: From Kimberly: I decided I’d just take one shelf at a time one night a week and organize everything. That idea lasted until I finished the first shelf.

I love before and after projects that involve a good afternoon of organization — no paintbrush, no tools… just some motivation, a vision, and some hard work.I recently came across this mudroom makeover and thought it was a great example of how a before and after doesn’t have to be a super-expensive or super-involved affair. It’s encouraging to see how little changes can have a big impact!