Searching for misplaced items annoys me, takes time and can be stressful. Therefore, to reduce clutter and to help me stay organized, I have designated place for everything so that when I need it, I know exactly where to find it and don’t waste time searching in dozen of counters. In this post, I will share with you some great tips and smart hacks on how to find space for your things, even if you don’t have much space. You can start using some of them immediately, so let’s dive in.

A place for everything and everything in its place.

How to find a place for everything at home?

If you are not a fan of the one in, one out method and can’t part with your belongings but they create a lot of mess, then you should try to find a proper “home” for them. That is especially valid for the things that don’t need to be out 24/7 and the extra supplies that you may keep.

I’ve picked some inspirational ideas about storage but before you get to them, let’s make an action plan. After all, we don’t want to just read about order, we want to really organize our stuff, right?

Action Plan

♦Pick a concrete room, area, closet or cupboard that needs organizing.

♦Then, start with tossing everything that you don’t need – garbage, plastics, old clothes, outdated items, old cosmetics, etc.

♦Organize things of the same category together – for instance, all toiletries in one place, all cosmetics and makeup in one place, all plates in one place, all socks in one bag, etc.

♦Put duplicates and extra supplies together with their main item so you don’t buy more of them.

Choose how and where to store your things.

♦Everyone’s belonging go to their rooms. This one is very important. Everyone needs to have their own designated place in the home, even if that means the kids who share a room to have their own dresser and toy box for their own belongings. Each partner should have their own drawers and shelves and their part of the closet.

♦Use appropriate containers, (boxes for storing things, storage bags, baskets, organizers, etc.) to start organizing your things. The counter organizers can really help you have some order in that overloaded drawer and find things easy while the hooks and hangers can keep your clothes, accessories, and some kitchen stuff in place.

♦Add some shelves and extra counters if needed.

• • Use vacuum bags to store fluffy winter bedding and out of season clothes to save space in your wardrobe.

• • Use an open basket with a handle for cleaning products.

• • Use a covered container for things that can spill.

• Use a Ziploc bag for things that need to be kept clean.

♦Store frequently used items in the most convenient areas so you can grab them easily. For instance, keep the bath towels on a shelf or a hook near the shower, your night cream on the nightstand, etc.

♦Make it easy to take your things wherever you go.

• • If you travel often, keep a separate grab-on case with most needed cosmetic. 

• • If you frequently walk in the park, keep your sunglasses, a fill-in water bottle, a hand-sanitizer and your hat at handy.

 Smart Water Bottle – glows and reminds you to stay hydrated

• Keep a small first-aid kit in your car.

♦Empty the contents of your handbag. Now, this is for all the ladies who always keep something needy, but in the other bag. I change bags often and what I’ve found as a hack to “it’s in my other bag” problem is to empty the contents of my bags in one designated counter (you can use a box or a basket, etc.).

This way, every time I put my outfit and decide which bag to take with me, I go to the counter and collect my items, such as keys, purse, small cosmetics kit, wet wipes, etc. and other things that I may need with me. Keeping the smaller things in a zipper case that can fit in any bag makes it easier to take and put back things without losing them in different pockets.

♦Use vertical storage for extra space. You can get tons of ideas online on that.

The 15 Minute Pick-Up.

This is a quick tactic which can help with putting things back to their place and preventing clutter build up. I oftentimes use it when the day has been busy and I didn’t put a few things on their place.

For that, I just establish a designated time (you can set a timer on your mobile if you wish) for strictly picking things up and putting them back in their designated places. Normally, it doesn’t really take me more than 15 minutes to go around the house and collect my stuff and I also do it for my workspace.

Click here to get more ideas on how to organize your workspace.

In fact, this 15 Minute Pick-Up tactic is great for all the family members and especially for children. It can also be made super fun if you make a contest who will pick up and put in place the most items in a set amount of time. And then you can reward the winner (or yourself) with a dessert of something nice. Just make sure you tidy up at the end of each day to prevent a build-up and a mess.

How to prevent accumulating unnecessary stuff?

Be creative and use one item in several ways to prevent excessive clutter. Instead of buying a special measuring cup, just use a normal mug to measure. Use a fork to whisk instead of a special whisk. Use your coffee table as a surface to iron, etc.

Bring your items to another area of use. Bring your cosmetic basket from the bedroom to the bathroom mirror. Use your spice box in the kitchen for use with food preparation and then transfer the spice box to the table for use while dining.

Use storage containers that you already have. For instance, use your old fruit bowl from the kitchen to store magazines and remotes in the living room. An old glass jar can serve also as a vase. That purse that you don’t use anymore can do for a jewelry case while the suitcase with the broken wheel can fit your shoes under the bed.

Marie Kondo, the organizing expert, has this to say:

“Clutter is caused by a failure to return things to where they belong. Therefore, storage should reduce the effort needed to put things away, not the effort needed to get them out.”

Learn more decluttering methods in Marie Kondo’s book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.

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