The Best Containers for Storage of Everyday Items (and Things You’ll Need Once a Year)
I preach a lot about the importance of having a solid organizational structure for your home, often relying on the guiding rules of the Organization Triangle (that similar items should be kept together and have a designated place) and Core 4 , which outlines the value of putting everything you own into containers. using a categorization system.
Although any containers will do, it is much more cost effective to choose the right ones. Here’s what to consider for different types of items.
If you store things in a closet
First, consider how you store things inside your closets and cupboards. These spaces are technically already compliant as designated areas for things, but without internal organization they can quickly become cluttered.
The best option is to purchase a set of small storage containers, ideally of the same size and shape. Uniformity is key, as is stackability. You want everything to fit together. Try something like this :
With their help, you can decorate a medicine cabinet, kitchen cabinet, drawer, or any relatively small space designed to store items of different categories while keeping them separate.
If you store items open on a shelf
If you have a visible shelf that could serve as useful storage space, you may want to avoid using it if you think it will look unsightly. This defeats the purpose of using a shelf at all, but it makes sense: plastic containers like the ones above don’t exactly fit on the cover of an interior design magazine. In this case, you still want uniformity, but you want it to be attractive, so anyone who sees it might think of it more as decoration than functional storage. Try these boxes :
If you store rarely used items
When I talk about items that are rarely used, I’m talking about cleaning products, tools, or other essentials that you use, but only in certain circumstances. These are probably the most important things to organize because you want them to be available when you need them. I recommend a wheeled storage container so you can take it with you when you use the contents. Something like that :
If you are storing seasonal or bulky items
When you store things you use every day, like spices or cosmetics , the goal is to keep it accessible and in good condition. But you’ll also have to store items you might not touch for months, such as seasonal clothing, linens, dishes and special occasion wear, and special tools. In such cases, you should try to store items away from higher-need items, so consider under-bed storage.
General recommendations for storage bins
No matter what containers you buy, try to match their sizes to the number of items you have in each category. Particularly avoid purchasing containers that are too large, as this may encourage you to continue filling them rather than organizing them. Generally speaking, you only really need one of everything, such as one flathead screwdriver of different sizes, one pair of hefty scissors, etc., so adding extra space to your toolbox won’t help you keep things organized. This is the final principle of another great cleaning and organizing method: Tidying at the Speed of Life . You can only store things you have space for, so plan accordingly.
I’m also a big proponent of really digging into your categories. For example, instead of a large box for hair accessories, try smaller boxes for headbands, claw clips, barrettes and ponytail holders. It’s easier to dig through a smaller basket to find what you need than to push a ton of stuff aside to find that one small item you’re looking for. The more clearly defined your categories, the easier it is to access what you need in the moment. Some storage containers like these have dividers inside, making them ideal for this type of strategy.