Take control of your home’s clutter and learn how best to organize with our room-by-room guide. Our tips can help you prepare to show your home to prospective buyers—or give you the tools you need to maximize your new home’s storage potential.
In the Kitchen
Create Zones
Group items in your kitchen according to their function. In this kitchen, a stand mixer tucks in the corner by the refrigerator, and shelves above house mixing bowls and baking necessities. On the opposite side of the refrigerator, a breakfast prep zone has all your morning must-haves: shelves with bowls and glasses, coffee mugs and canisters of cereal
Swing-Out Storage
A clever option for those cavernous corner shelves, swing-out shelves make storage easy. Rails on the shelves keep items from falling off, and the tiers of shelves accommodate a pantry’s worth of dry goods. Plus, the swing-out function brings every item front and center.
Rethink Drawers
Typically, kitchen drawers are shallow and narrow, ideal for utensils and linens. But larger drawers can be a clever addition to a kitchen’s storage plan, and work well in spaces with open shelves or limited upper cabinet storage. These dresser-like drawers can house stacks of dishes or bulky pots and pans. Because they pull out, all of the contents are easily accessible, and the drawers limit overhead reaching. A pegboard and tall, sturdy pegs keep items in place and can be reconfigured to accommodate different-sized and -shaped items.
Wraparound Shelving
Make the most of kitchen corners with L-shaped shelves, which provide a continuous stretch of storage. Be sure the shelves are reinforced in the corners so that they can bear the weight of heavy objects, such as serving bowls, placed in the corners.
Wall of Storage
Turn an open wall into storage central. In this kitchen, custom built-ins along a wall in the breakfast area store kitchen items that aren’t used every day, such as special cookware and cookbooks. A buffet in the center functions as a bar or serving station. If built-ins aren’t in your budget, but you still have a blank wall to fill, consider freestanding options that will achieve the same function.