We all need good practical storage solutions for our homes, and if you're a minimalist, it's even more essential to find products that streamline your belongings, look fabulous and are not just adding clutter to your home.
Great home organization secrets are always needed and solutions that offer minimalists something practical and sleek, whilst serving their purpose well are key.
1. A clothing folder
There's nothing more perfect than a pile of beautifully folded clothes, is there? But unless you've worked in retail, it can be a frustrating thing to learn how to fold
Clare Kumar, professional organizer says, 'In my experience as an organizer for over 15 years, minimalists have strong aesthetic preferences and often care about taking care of their clothing. I co-created Pliio® Clothing Filers to help fold clothes and they never ever mess up.'
Portable and easy to use, the sturdy structure shows you how to fold clothes around it neatly and then place the item back into a drawer, or have as a neat pile.
Forget sleeves popping out and hems dropping out of your fold. This nifty clothes folder helps you create uniform folds in just a few simple steps.
2. Pan storage tools
With minimalism, it's about what you can't see as much as what you can, and this is where clever pan storage solutions need to be considered as you don't want to waste money on things minimalists never have in their kitchens.
You could have a stunning minimal kitchen design, for example, but open a drawer and its disorganization screams chaos!
Kitchen solutions such as pan organizers and storage are imperative. Head of Solved Punteha van Terheyden says, 'Keeping your pans organized will make cooking easier. Everyone hates having to stop prepping for dinner to find the missing lid of the one pan you need to use, or opening the cabinet and having to hold back a tsunami of pots and pans.'
The charcoal Peggy cookware organizer is one of those clever pieces you wish you'd bought years before. It has 18 pegs and extends to fit any cabinet space with its adjustable base. These design features mean you can store your cookware no matter how large, including pots, pans, lids, and baking sheets.
Glass storage jars are much better for you and the environment than plastic, and will last longer. These 16 oz jars have multicolored lids so you can color code what you use them for. This size is ideal for overnight oats, pasta, leftovers, and salads. They're also stackable, saving wasted vertical space in your fridge, shelves and cabinets.
This stylish slimline storage cart is perfect for minimalists – the Scandi style white and wood top teamed with modern design make it a great choice. It can slot into those awkward gaps found in kitchens, use for storing dried goods, wine bottles, herbs, coffee and tea bags.
3. Cable management
All the technology we enjoy and use in our homes comes with a negative snag – lots of cables in sight. From phone and tablet chargers to ethernet cables and USB cords scattered about, it's something we need, but don't want to see – especially in a minimalist space.
'Nests of USB cords with different shapes and bulky charging blocks can make it hard to access the outlets you need and create unnecessary clutter,' says Jonathan Palley CEO of Clever Tiny Homes. 'One of the simplest ways to cut down on this is to install wall outlets with USB and/or lightning plugins. These will eliminate the need for charging blocks in your home and create cleaner, clutter-free spaces for your devices.'
If you're not due a remodel or want to invest in new wall outlets then check out cable management products. One of our top choices is the Kikkerland hanging cable loft cord organiser from The Container Store, it has a sleek metal design that attaches to the back of your desk. Five grooves and six cable wrap points keep everything need and tidy.
Courtney Cummings, owner of The Stylish Organizer agrees and recommends color coding, 'Invest in self-gripping cable ties. Even minimalists have electronic devices with charging cables. Organize and color code your charging cords, cables, and more! For those who like a pop of color, opt for the rainbow pack of cable ties.' Check out Target's Wrap-It 20 pack multicoloured cord and cable organizers. Made from heavy duty nylon, they'll keep your chargers and cords wrapped up.
4. Jewellery holder
There are some personal items we want on show, or out for daily ease of access, even if our interior design style is minimalist.
Cara Palmer, organization, decluttering expert and founder of OrganizeEveryHome.com explains, 'As a professional home organizer, I've found that even the most dedicated minimalists need a practical solution for their essential jewelry pieces. The pickpiff jewelry stand holder organizer from Amazon is one product that perfectly aligns with minimalist principles while solving a common storage challenge.'
Once great about this design is it only holds so many pieces, Cara adds, 'The stand's open design also serves as a natural limit for collection size – you can only hang what fits, which helps maintain a minimalist approach to accessories.'
5. Buy a turntable or two
Turntables, also known as lazy Suzans, aren't just for kitchens. They actually work brilliantly in most spaces where you need some clever space-spacing storage.
'They also perform beautifully in your pantry for granola bars and kids’ snacks, in a bathroom setting for skin care products, or in a playroom to contain those craft supplies. Pro tip: Measure your cabinet or shelf to make sure you get the right size,' says Courtney.
For a super stylish looking turntable, the Copco non-skid storage turnable, 12 inch in white and aqua sky, from Amazon is our top pick.
6. Floating bookshelf
When you love a minimalist scheme, storage can be the biggest issue. You need it, but you don't want to see it, or, you want it to fit into your minimalist decor ideas.
This is where wall hanging products can come in especially in a living room or open plan space, they can organize and store at the same time.
Below we look at three great ideas that will transform your minimalist spaces.
New at Ikea is this sleek shelving unit that has a mid-century modern feel. Use it for books and vinyl in the living room or in the bedroom for folded up clothes or trainer storage. The BOAXEL range can be easily customized and also comes in anthracite.
Perfect for the home office, bedroom or living room, this oldie but a goodie invisible shelving is perfect as a home organizing investment. The six shelves will hold numerous books and makes full use of your wall space, whilst keeping things off the floor.
Recommended by Courtney, this vertical bike hanger is perfect if you live in an apartment yet want a modern clean aesthetic. It hangs neatly up off the floor and has a swivel option to accommodate a variety of spaces.
7. Slimline hangers
For everyone who wants to save space, but particularly those who love a minimalist approach too, look at the basics that you use everyday.
'The key is to use every inch of space to maximize storage,' says Jenny Dietsch, chief executive organizer at Getting It Done Organizing. 'Use slim hangers to fit more in your closet (Jenny loves the clear slim line suit hangers from The Container Store), and to keep things looking tidy, always make the hangers match. I also love using cascading hooks to combine similar items or to keep clothing sets together. You can get a pack of 10 for less than $10 at The Container Store.'
Swap out of your existing hangers for these and you'll love how much space you save!
Meet the experts
Even minimalists need home organizing products, they just need to be less intrusive visually yet still practical. These are the things minimalists never buy for an easier life.
