Organizing Your Storage Spaces

Posted Aug 3, 2022

A woman organizing clothes in a closet

There is always that one area of the house that can use some extra organization attention - the garage, basement, hall closet, even a junk drawer. Storage areas are so important, which makes the organization of those areas equally as important. 

When you designate a purpose for the rooms in your home and assign specific places to do activities, it takes the guesswork out of what to store where. 

Donate What You Don't Use
If you don't remember the last time you used it, or don't use it enough to keep it, it is a candidate for donation. Clutter costs you all the time you spend looking for things. It also costs you money if you end up buying the things you already have but can't find in the clutter. Donating or throwing away the things you do not use enough to keep is the best way to free up space in your home. 

Storage Secrets
When it comes to containers and totes, do not cheap out. If you’re storing clothes in a closet, you can get by with most basic containers, but if you’re storing them in an area where they will be exposed to the elements or changes in temperature, spring for the better-made versions. Plastic is best for long-term storage. Clear storage containers help you see inside the container without taking it out to search through, which saves time when quickly trying to retrieve an item from storage. A more decorative bin or basket is great for your living spaces like dens and bedrooms. Make sure you label these containers for easy retrieval later, especially if you’re using them in a storage space like the basement, attic, or in the back of a closet. 

When decluttering your home to prepare for an open house, renting a portable storage bin can be more practical. This option is also particularly helpful if you're in between moves or recently downsizing and are waiting to host an epic tag sale or estate sale. 

Choosing the Right Products
Measure your storage spaces (like the inside of a closet door) and write the measurements down before buying bins, trays, or racks. Storage products should fit your space, so they are easy to access. Buy products that nest or stack together so they will stay neat. 

Walking Through Your Home
Where do you go to start sorting through the items in your home? The best place to begin with is the first place you see when you walk in the front door: the entryway. Entryways are prime places for chaos with jackets, bags, and hats, but there isn’t always space for a closet to store your going-outside items. A simple system of hooks and a shelf goes a long way. 

Kitchen
Take a two-pronged approach to organization. Donate or properly dispose of any dishes, small appliances and other unused items that tend to accumulate on counters, if your kitchen has enough wall space, some shelves, and a magnetic knife rack may be an option. Hanging your pots from a suspended ceiling pot rack could also free up some space. Make the most of the kitchen storage that you do have by adding dividers and inserts to create separate spaces for different types of items. 

Office
Organization is key to keeping your work area as productive as possible. In a smaller workspace, a modular system - shelves with separators, drawers with dividers - is often the best solution. Having a floating cabinet - a cabinet on wheels - can also help keep the space tidy, while also still functional, moving the cabinet when you use it, and once you're done with it.

Living Room
Toys, blankets, and electronics can always contribute to clutter in the Living Room. To keep things organized, look for furniture that doubles as multi-compartment storage. This could mean a coffee table with hidden shelving where you can stow baskets for toys, remote controls, and other often-used items. Or, you can ditch basic living room wall shelving for a dresser.

Bathroom
If your bathroom lacks storage space, the best solution might just be to store your toiletries out in the open by making use of woven baskets and nice-looking containers. Decluttering isn't always practical when it comes to the bathroom, so creating aesthetically pleasing storage areas that can sit in plain view works best.

Bedroom
When it comes to your bedroom closet, decluttering isn’t always about donation – keeping seasonal items out of the way when they’re not in use can make your closet or wardrobe feel much more organized. To keep season-specific items (like swimsuits and shorts in the winter or gloves and coats in the summer) out of your daily rotation, make use of baskets.

Laundry
Laundry is rarely a fun task, even under the best of circumstances – but it’s much more complex and time-consuming of a chore when you’re in a super-cramped space. To keep laundry essentials like detergent, dryer balls, and clothespins organized. yet also easy to reach when you need them – look to the surrounding wall space for places to add a shelf or cabinet. 


Keeping a clean and organized home can not only help sell and stage your home, but it is a big aid in mental health as well. For more information on how to stage your home, or tips to organize your space that are specific to your home, your REALTOR® will have the right resources to help you.

Contact a Fully-licensed REALTOR ® today!

Looking for an experienced REALTOR ® that specializes in real estate across Windsor and Essex County? At Royal LePage Binder Real Estate, we are focused on helping you unlock your future.

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