We all know how important storage is. It keeps your home neat and tidy, while protecting your possessions from damage.
But sometimes, certain items can feel really difficult to store. Whether they’re bulky, tangled, or just plain awkward, finding the right storage solution can seem almost impossible.
So, for the answer to all your storage woes, we spoke to professional organizers for their tiny tweaks to tackle even the trickiest items and storage ideas. Here’s what they had to say.
Tiny tweaks to make your home more organized
These tiny tweaks will instantly find a home for the most awkward household items, helping you swerve some common storage mistakes for a less infuriating space.
1. Water bottles
If you like being sustainable at home, chances are you have a kitchen cabinet stashed full of reusable water bottles. As handy as they are, they're a nightmare to store, which is why some organizational pros deem them a home item to stop buying.
But, what do you do with all the ones you already have – for work, the gym, or just using around the house?
Cara Palmer, founder of OrganizeEveryRoom, says, 'Water Bottles are awkward because their varying heights and widths make uniform storage difficult. Their cylindrical shape also means they easily topple over. They also tend to multiply quickly in households.'
For this reason, she suggests beginning by using a decluttering method to cull your collection, before investing in specially designed storage for the ones you can't let go of, Cara recommends the Medium Plastic Storage Bin with Handles, available at The Container Store, 'for premium organization, allowing you to pull out your entire collection simultaneously.'
All prices correct at the time of publication.
Available in both two or three shelf versions, this water bottle organizer is crafted from durable plastic with an adjustable shelf height, simply snapping together for easy, tool-free assembly.
While designed for wine bottles, Cara assures that this bottle holder works perfectly in pantries and refrigerators, with locking clips to secure stacked holders.
This stackable bottle organizer features a non-slip base to securely hold up to four bottles, with a slim design that frees up valuable space on countertops and in cabinets.
2. Food containers and lids
Taking a packed lunch into the office or school is a brilliant way to save money, but all too often cabinets and drawers filled with food containers end up mismatched and messy.
Professional organizer Di advises, 'If you don't have a system, these quickly become chaotic. A simple fix is using a lid organizer, such as iDesign Linus Large Lid Organizer available at The Container Store.
'Another trick is nesting your containers by size, and stacking lids separately in a labeled bin.'
To Ben Soreff, professional organizer at House to Home Organizing, the key to organizing plastic containers is by decluttering them first.
He says, 'Plasticware is only difficult to deal with if you don't deal with it. In other words, the review is super important.
'What doesn't have a lid? What lid doesn't have a base? What is stained or damaged? What is inexpensive or too voluminous?' These are all things in your kitchen cabinets you can get rid of right now.
'After the review, the manageable quantity should present itself and should be easy to store continues Ben. 'Over the years, plastic adds up and we keep shoving it into the cabinet, but that isn't organizing. We aren't collecting containers as a hobby.' Despite this, they're still probably one of the things you own too many of.
This lid organizer includes five removable tabbed dividers which can be labeled and customized, and holds lids up to 10 inches wide.
These durable epoxy-coated steel mesh organizers are suitable for use in the kitchen and bathroom, with tightly woven mesh to secure small items.
This lid organizer expands from 13 to 22 inches, fitting most standard drawers and cabinets with no tools required.
3. Spare hangers
In the world of online shopping and opposing trends of underconsumption, it's likely that your closet waxes and wanes as the seasons change. Extra space after a closet decluttering purge is a definite positive, but spare hangers can be a real pain to store.
As Di Ter Avest, professional organizer and founder of Diisorganized, says, 'They take up space, get tangled, and never seem to stay neatly stacked.'
Her solution? 'Instead of shoving them in a random corner, try a hanging organizer or slim bin inside your closet, such as the iDesign Linus Large Rectangle Storage Bin available at The Container Store, inside your closet to keep them contained.'
This functional organizer is quick and easy to put together, with all the necessary hardware included in the package, as a space-saving solution for storing spare hangers.
4. Cables and chargers
They often end up as one of the things to get rid of in your junk drawer, as random old cables have no use. But, for the ones you do need, keeping them from becoming a tangled, jumbled mess is no easy task.
As professional organizer Cara points out, 'Cables and Chargers are awkward because they tangle easily, are difficult to identify quickly, and often have bulky power bricks attached. Their various lengths make uniform storage challenging.'
These are Cara's top three picks for a struggle-free solution to organizing cables:
These 'neatly secure cords and prevent them from slipping behind furniture,' says Cara, using removable, water-resistant adhesive.
These 'are perfect for bundling longer cables and keeping them tangle-free,' says Cara.
'For a mobile charging station solution, this keeps chargers and cables easily accessible while hiding unsightly cords,' says Cara.
5. Serving platters
If you love to host and have a collection of large serving platters, you will know how much they can wow guests when you throw a dinner party – and just how awkward they are to store.
Professional organizer Ben says, 'Large platters used for entertaining at events like Thanksgiving are one of the largest offenders when it comes to finding good organizing solutions because they typically do not fit in kitchen cabinets.'
To get around this, Ben suggests storing these items in the basement (where space allows) or loose on shelves in the back of an awkward corner cabinet, as they do not get used often.
When stacking them up, felt protectors, such as the Pot and Pan Protectors available at Amazon can be used to protect against damage.
6. Bras
Organizing an underwear drawer is difficult no matter how much you try. Really, it's just the nature of reaching in and pulling items out every day, often without time to reorganize them before heading out the door.
As Cara says, 'Bras are awkward because molded cups can lose shape when crushed, straps tangle easily, and they require gentle handling to maintain elasticity.'
To successfully store them, Cara suggests using the Cambridge 8-Section Drawer Organizer available at The Container Store, which creates the perfect compartments for individual bras, preventing crushing and tangling.
This is designed to perfectly fit in your underwear or lingerie drawer, storing up to 10 bras and making it easy to see and access them without having to rummage through your collection.
7. Purses and tote bags
They're essential for carrying around your day-to-day items on the go, but storing tote bags and organizing purses is something even pros struggle with.
Professional organizer Di explains, 'These tend to get squished, lose their shape, or take up too much shelf space.
'Instead of piling them on top of each other, use purse hangers, such as the Acrylic Purse Hanger available at The Container Store, shelf dividers, or even magazine holders to keep them upright and in good shape.
'Stuffing them with tissue paper or small pouches helps maintain their form.'
For some celeb-inspired inspo, Laverne Cox's purse storage method is both functional and beautiful, championing display while keeping everything accessible.
This purse organizer is a versatile storage solution for purses of all sizes, to prevent deformation and maintain the shape of your bags.
These easily accommodate most bags of any size, material or strap width, and simply hang from your existing closet rails.
These inserts maintain the shape of your handbag while in storage, crafted from luxurious, soft quilted polyester to prevent creases and wrinkles.
Meet the experts
Whether you're dealing with easy or awkward items, there are plenty of underused spots in your home that are perfect for storage, that you might not have considered before. Don't write off stashing items under your bed, or above doors, say pros, and invest in customized solutions to make use of every inch
