Sometimes you just don’t know what to do with some household items… so here are some Organization Tips to help you out!
Many of the items you use daily are easy to put away. Boxed cereal slides onto the pantry shelf, toilet paper fits into an overhead cabinet and dishes stack neatly in the kitchen. However, some items are difficult to know what to do with. You need them, but there’s really no good place to store them.
Sometimes that’s because they’re a strange and unwieldy shape, such as bicycles. Other times, you just can’t find a suitable solution for storing them in your home. You may have limited closet space or rooms with no storage at all. Here are some creative solutions for items you don’t know what to do with.
1. Ironing Board
A full-sized ironing board can be tricky to store — it’s long, skinny and has a funny shape. One good solution is to slide it between a wall and a tall cabinet. You can also keep ironing boards inside a closet or leave them permanently unfolded in a craft area or laundry room. Some creative homeowners may even hang them on the wall or store them in racks along the ceiling. The best solution for you will depend on how often you use it. If you’re constantly reaching for it, leave it out in the open. If not, hide it away in a closet.
2. Tax Documents
Paperwork is notoriously hard to organize. If you’ve accumulated pounds of papers of the years, you can opt to store documents digitally, scanning anything that comes in the mail and backing it up on a hard drive. Always shred material you plan to throw away. Invest in an accordion file if you want to keep some physical papers. You can color-code these flexible organizational tools and place them in a cabinet or on the top shelf of a closet for easy access.
3. Kitchen Towels
Every kitchen is different, but they all need a place to store towels. Some homeowners stack them in their pantry, while others put them in drawers. You can also store rolled towels in a box tipped sideways for easy access. The best storage solutions keep your towels accessible, tidy and clean, so a cleaning rag or fresh hand towel is always available.
4. Wrapping Paper
Wrapping paper is one of those things that you only use a few times a year. However, it’s vital to know where it is and how much you have when you need it. Gather all your wrapping materials, tape and cards into the same container — preferably with a lid. Having related items, like tape or ribbon, with it rather than in a separate drawer will make the process of gathering materials easier later on. You can store it in a creative space, like a closet, home office or craft room. Make sure you clearly label the box so you know what’s inside.
5. Holiday Decor
Those who enjoy holiday decor probably have different seasonal items on display year-round. Find a container large enough for your most-celebrated holiday and use it to store all the things you switch out. For instance, you can keep your summer, spring and fall items there over the winter. An excellent place to store seasonal items is in the attic, basement or a deep closet you don’t frequently use. If you have smaller items, try a container that can slide under a bed to save on closet space.
6. Litter Box
Every homeowner with a cat has experienced the struggle of where to put the litter box. It’s unsightly and smelly, despite constant cleaning. The best place for it is an out-of-the-way room with good airflow. Some good options include your laundry room, mudroom or bathroom. If you’re concerned about losing floor space in a small room, you can put shelves on the wall above the litter box to create more storage space.
7. Batteries
You should always recycle old batteries, but people rarely do. Instead, they get thrown back into the drawer with new ones. Then, every time you want a battery, you have to test several before discovering you’re out of the right type. Solve this problem by creating separate places to store old and new batteries. A shoebox or empty plastic container will do the trick. Then, set a time and date to take your stash of depleted ones to a local recycling center.
8. Pots and Pans
Kitchen cabinets can quickly become jumbled to the point where you can’t find what you need. The banging cymbal noises as you shuffle things around only make the situation more irritating. Soothe your woes by paring your pots and pans down to a few essential items. Then, store them on wire racks that slide out so you don’t have to reach deep into the cabinet to find what you need.
9. Winter Coats
Coats are hard to store because they’re often bulky. You can leave them in a coat closet if you have one year-round. However, homeowners with limited space may need to pack away heavy jackets with other seasonal wear. Consider putting them in garment bags or allocating a box for outdoor winter gear in the attic. Just make sure you can find them again come fall.
10. Bicycles
Bicycles are difficult to store because of their shape and size. They can take up a lot of floor space, and a slight bump will send them crashing over. Try hanging them on the wall instead. Whether you put it in the garage, basement or mudroom, it will be out of the way and ready to go when you need it.
One Item at a Time
Many everyday items are difficult to store neatly in your home. However, there’s always a way to organize your house so you can use and enjoy your belongings. It may sometimes be unorthodox, but unique items and living situations call for creative solutions.
Use these 10 suggestions to tackle challenging items to store in your home. Remember that most organizational solutions aren’t permanent. You can move things around over weeks or even months until you find your ideal storage system.
Cora’s passion is to inspire others to live a happy, healthful, and mindful life through her words on Revivalist – wholeheartedly convincing them that everyday moments are worth celebrating. Cora has spent 5+ years writing for numerous lifestyle sites – hence her sincere love for both life and the beauty of style in all things. Keep up with Cora on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook.
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