30 Essentials You Need to Buy to Keep Your House Organized
It's always a good time to give your home a thorough decluttering and reorganization. From the linen closet to the bathroom vanity and from the playroom to the basement, each is a job in itself. These home products can make tackling those organization tasks easier without breaking your budget.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
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$38 from Amazon
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Many gals (and some stylish guys) have more shoes than they know what to do with. Some lucky ones have walk-in closets with designated slots; the rest of us struggle with pair after pair spilling out of the closet and onto the floor. Avoid all that with a 36-pair over-the-door shoe rack, which offers 12 rows of organizational bliss.
Related: Where to Buy Shoes and Boots That Are Made in America
$32 from Amazon
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When the bedroom chair is so full of clothes you can no longer sit down, it's time to stop the laziness. Buy some quality hangers (don't just reuse those metal hangers from the cleaners that can damage your clothing) and pledge to hang up your things every night. These hangers can hold up to 10 pounds and are extra thin, which helps save closet space.
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$14 from Macy's
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For sock drawers that look like the cat just finished playing in them, opt for the Honey Can Do drawer organizer. Easy snap-together pieces create up to 32 compartments and can be cut to customize the shape to fit most any drawer. You'll never have to wear mismatched socks again.
Related: Declutter Your House With These Essentials From Costco
$5 from B&H
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Yes, digital photography rules these days, but many families have boxes full of old snaps. It's fun to pull out those photos every so often, so be sure they stay in good condition by transferring them to archival-quality storage. The Pioneer Photo Albums photo storage box holds more than 1,000 4-by-7-inch photos, has a metal plate for labeling and divider index cards, and, best of all, it is made of acid-free materials.
Related: 11 Cheap Ways to Print and Display Your Photos
$40 from Amazon
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For those who have dozens of earrings strewn across the dresser top or tangled in a decorative dish, there is hope. The stylish Glenor Co. jewelry box has a black faux-leather finish, a snap closure, and 50 sections to keep earrings (and more) in lovely order.
$25 from Amazon (set of 4)
An elegant solution for stacks of towels that keep falling over in the linen closet: mDesign shelf dividers. These heavy-gauge steel dividers slip over the shelf and help create cubby-like spaces for neat piles of towels, sheets, and more.
$17 from Target
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If each craft project starts with a search for supplies, know there is a better way. While there are plenty of fancy and expensive solutions, you can create a craft station with a Sterilite three-drawer cart. It's mobile and sturdy and holds scissors, glue, paper, and all the other necessities in one organized space.
Related: Decluttering Projects You Can Easily Tackle in Less Than 30 Minutes
$10 and up from Cabela's
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Desktop (or top drawer) messes, be gone. But don't splash out for a coordinated set of desk accessories from a department store (the ones meant to find a home in the executive suite). Instead, be creative and fill the adjustable compartments of a utility box — a staple for fishermen that has a thrifty use on dry land — sold in sets of four.
$9.50 from Target
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Don't toss bills to the side where you may forget to return to them in time. A file organizer features an indexed pocket for each day of the month, so you can file bills away and keep on top of those finances once and for all.
Related: 16 Steps to Get Organized Before Tax Season
$18 from Ikea
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While many people opt for a quick text or email to send birthday greetings, congratulations, or invitations, there's something charming about a handwritten missive. When the urge hits to take pen to paper, have all the supplies at the ready. Gather cards, paper, stamps, and some pens in the Pallra mini-chest with three drawers.
Related: How to Create a Home Office From Ikea Under $200
$3.59 from Staples
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If you have coupons in your wallet, coupons in the bottom of your purse, and coupons stuck to the fridge with a magnet, it's time to gather all those little money-savers into one organized space. The zippy little C-Line 13-pocket expanding file does it with flair. This cute plaid wallet could pay for itself in no time with savings from the coupons.
$5 from Target
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A car-wash caddy in the corner of your garage will make car washes a breeze. Gather sponges, soap, wax, and cloths into a bucket, and you just might be tempted to wash your car at home more often. The practical Made By Design bucket is a good start.
Related: 18 Car Expenses That Are Really Worth the Money
$8 and up from World Market
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Could a designated basket for exercise gear help keep your exercise regimen on track? Put freshly laundered T-shirts, yoga pants, socks, headbands, etc., in an attractive bin such as these rectangular seagrass baskets to make the "nothing to wear" excuse a thing of the past.
Related: 20 Fitness Accessories Under $25 to Supercharge Your Workout
$6 from Amazon
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Spend a few minutes (or more) cleaning out the medicine chest top to bottom. Check all expiration dates and keep only what you really use. When putting everything back in, use a few small bath accessories, such as an acrylic cotton swab dispenser, to keep things neat from now on.
Related: How to Safely Spring Clean Your Medicine Cabinet
$50 from Walmart
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Is the playroom such a mess that you just want to scream? There is an easy, bright, and affordable solution: a Delta toy organizer with bins. It might even encourage the kids to pick up after themselves.
Related: 11 Tips From Marie Kondo for Getting Kids Organized
$13 from Joann
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Instead of buying a clichéd basket or vertical file, why not contain magazines in a simple crate? The ArtMinds wood-crate carryall is a study in simplicity, although the unfinished pine can be painted or embellished to match any decor.
Related: Mobile Caddies and Other Storage Ideas For Your Home 'Office'
$74 from Pottery Barn
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When a coffee table is strewn with a remote control, books, and candles, it can make the room feel cluttered. Create a focal point with a statement-making tray, gathering all the objects into a stylish vignette. An elegant silver tray such as these fits nicely on a side table or coffee table and lends a touch of grace.
$16 from Amazon
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Coffee bags don't just look unattractive when left out on the counter; improperly storing coffee shortens shelf life. Protect your beans with sealed canisters like these. They're easy to grip and its large labels mean there's no mistaking decaf for regular when you're still half-asleep.
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$50 from Walmart (set of 2)
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Who hasn't had the lights go out and had to fumble for a flashlight? Unpredictable winter weather can cause power outages and more. Keep your family prepared with a designated box filled with emergency essentials such as flashlights, batteries, candles and matches, and a transistor radio. These plastic Sterilite Footlockers are a wise choice for preventing water damage to important items.
Related: 16 Hurricane Essentials You Don't Want to Be Without
$36 from Amazon
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Could you quickly find your birth certificate, passport, car title, or Social Security card if asked? Unfortunately, not everyone can say yes, and it's best not to risk the headache of replacing such important documents. Avoid that scenario by placing them in a fire-retardant, steel security box. It comes with two keys, in case one gets lost.
$145 from Target
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Many people have designated containers for Christmas decorations, but what about the rest of the holidays? Easter table accents, Fourth of July flags, and a Thanksgiving cornucopia are around ... somewhere. The ClosetMaid Pantry Cabinet can store centerpieces, holiday linens, and more in a corner of the laundry room, basement, or attic.
$310 from Amazon
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If you have a lot of garden tools but no garage or full-size shed, consider a Rubbermaid outdoor storage shed. The compact but roomy unit is made of maintenance-free resin and offers 18 cubic feet of storage space for garden tools or pool supplies.
$38 from Amazon
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When the sky has opened up and you're already late for work, the last thing you need to do is spend another 10 minutes searching for an umbrella. Solve that problem with a most retro touch: an umbrella stand placed by the door or in the closet. While thriftier models are available, practicality meets style with this piece that adds a pop of color.
$7 from World Market
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Keep all your chargers in one basket and be ever ready to juice up your phone, iPad, camera, and other electronic devices. There's no need to overspend. Simply pick up a scooped, oval willow basket.
Related: 100 Tech Products That Will Make Your Life Easier
$35 from Amazon
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When it's time for old-school movie night (DVDs, not Netflix) you don't want to have to rifle through the back of the closet to find "Pretty in Pink." This Atlantic Onyx media tower holds 65 DVDs or Blu-ray discs. With a neutral gunmetal finish, it's a sleek alternative to having a movie collection scattered throughout the house.
$67 from Amazon
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Metal baker's racks moved out of the kitchen long ago when people discovered how handy they are for storing stuff in any room of the house. They’re handy in the office, garage, basement workshop, or kitchen.
Related: Expert Decluttering Tips for Your Pandemic-Inspired Purge
$110 and up from Amazon
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If all you have in your bedroom closet is a rod spanning the length, you're leaving valuable storage space unused. This Rubbermaid closet organizer's rods, shelves, and drawers can be customized and expanded to make the most of your space.
$16 from Amazon
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If you know someone who's handy with tools, this MagnoGrip magnetic wristband will help them keep drill bits, screws, and other hardware handy while they're working on their next project. It looks pretty cool, too.
Related: 20 Gifts for Disorganized People
$30 from Amazon
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Consider these Amazon Basics wire storage cubes to be the modern-day version of those plastic milk crates people used to tote off to colleges and offices to organize papers, records, and goodness knows what else. These cubes are stackable and expandable.
$15 from Amazon
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"A place for everything..." includes storage space for your most-used cleaning tools, such as a broom or a duster. This Berry Avenue broom holder is sturdy and stylish, with room to store five brooms, mops, rakes, or other tools, plus handy hooks for hanging, and a 35-pound maximum weight capacity.
