Clutter is a sure sign that you need some smart solutions to your home storage and organization problems. Home storage provides a place for everything, so it's easy to put things away when you're not using them. This reduces clutter and makes your home look and feel a million times better. There are lots of innovative home storage solutions out there to choose from and once you find the right ones for you, you'll be able to whip your home into shape in no time. From kitchen storage, pantry storage and food storage to garage storage and closet storage, this home storage buying guide will help you figure out how to buy home storageand organizational solutions that will best meet your needs.
Closets, garages, workshops, home offices and kitchens are the areas in many homes that accumulate the most clutter and need the most help with storage and organization. If your home is in need of some organization and storage solutions, you're not alone. Most homes need a lot of help in this department. Let's start at the heart of the home, the kitchen.
Clutter in the kitchen is most often caused by small appliances and insufficient cupboard space. There are lots of things you can do to create more space in your kitchen for storage and keep things organized at the same time. For a more comprehensive look at kitchen storage solutions, take a look at our Kitchen Storage Buying Guide.
Small appliances: An appliance garage is a great idea for reducing the clutter of small appliances on your counter tops. An appliance garage sits on your counter top and keeps your small appliances neatly tucked away until you need them. Another option is to install a lazy Susan in one or two of your cupboards. A lazy Susan can be easily installed in any cupboard and makes everything in the cupboard easily accessible with a rotating mechanism to move items from the back of the cupboard to the front.
Pots and pans: A great way to free up cabinet and cupboard space is to move your pots and pans out of the cupboard and up to a hanging pot rack. Pot racks not only look great in a kitchen; they are also extremely convenient while cooking.
Pantry and food storage: A good pantry storage system is especially important if you love to cook and bake. Keep your pantry and food storage supply organized with space-saving shelves, storage canisters, cookie jars and storage containers to keep your food storage fresh, accessible and organized.
Wine storage: Many kinds of wine racks are available. If you have the space, you can add a large wine rack like a bakers rack, large display rack or a buffet wine rack. If you don't have a lot of space in your kitchen, there are small counter top or wall and ceiling-mounting wine racks in every style you can imagine, or you can add large wine racks to your basement storage or dining room.
Closets are a major clutter area in most homes. Whether it's your bedroom closet, your kids' closets, your guest room closet or your hall closets, there are lots of ways to keep them organized and clutter free.
Shoe organizers: Getting your shoes under control is a huge step toward a clutter-free closet. There are lots of options when it comes to shoe organizers. You could get a free-standing cabinet with doors to keep your shoes out of sight. Or you could opt for hanging organizers to hang on your closet door or a small floor rack for inside the closet.
Closet systems: Closet storage systems can make any closet look like a professional custom built walk-in closet. Closet systems are also perfect for open floor plans and loft spaces that don't have a traditional closet. With a closet system, you can design the perfect organizational solution for all your clothes and shoes with shelves and multiple clothing rods. Closet storage systems can also be used in kids' closets to keep books, toys, clothes and shoes organized and put away.
If your home office is littered with piles of mail, receipts, files, printouts, cords, chargers and coffee mugs, you need some good home office storage. If you are having a hard time getting anything done in your home office, a little organization will clear your desk and clear your head.
Desktop organizers: Small, modular desktop organizers and storage units like charging stations, decorative organizers, storage boxes and stackable cubes are a great way to keep office clutter in check. Desktop organizers are typically both decorative and functional, so your office stays looking professional and sleek.
Although organizing the garage or basement is a big project, you can make it easier with the right tools. Whether you have a basement storage area, garage storage area or both, keep them clean and organized with utility shelving, storage bins, tool organizers, tool carts and storage boxes.
Flow walls: Whether you use your garage and/or basement for a home workshop, gardening shed, laundry room or craft room, a pegboard or flow wall can keep things easily accessible and organized. You can use a flow wall to hang everything from ironing boards, brooms, mops, footstools and shelving to bikes, kayaks, camping gear and sports gear.
Pegboards: A pegboard can be used for creating your own shelving. Pegboard shelving can be adjusted infinitely according to your needs. With a peg hook kit and a pegboard, you can create the organizational system for your garage or basement storage that makes the most sense for you.
Boxes: For long term or seasonal storage items, moving boxes are a simple and inexpensive storage option. Holiday decorations and seasonal clothing can be packed neatly in boxes, clearly marked and stored in a closet, attic, shed or garage. There are boxes of all sizes to accommodate anything you want to store. Wardrobe boxes, for example, are perfectly suited for storing your winter or summer clothing.
How can I optimize storage in a small apartment without extra closet space or a basement?
If you have a small apartment without sufficient closet space or other storage areas, consider decorative ways to store things in the open that won't make your apartment look like a store room. Decorative organizers are the perfect storage solution for storing things in the open. Stackable cubes, decorative boxes, an open closet system or a closed storage cabinet with doors all do double duty as storage as well as decor. You can use shelving to store decorative bins or woven baskets instead of cardboard boxes. A trunk can be used as a combination storage container and footrest or coffee table. In short, be creative; don't settle for brown cardboard boxes or piles of clutter.
How do I keep track of all my storage items and where they are?
If you have a lot of storage boxes, it can become difficult to find the things you need when you need them. But you can make it easy to find stored items if you take just a couple extra steps while you're organizing. All it takes is a little planning and a notepad. Number your boxes and write down what's in each box in a notepad, or if it's easier for you, type it up in a spreadsheet and keep it on your computer.
Store your valuables
Aside from storing camping gear, seasonal clothes and holiday decor, you may also want to store your valuables. Valuables include important paper documents, jewelry, collectibles, photographs or digital information and photo files. While you're shopping for storage cabinets and boxes on Overstock.com, take a look at our selection of safes and electronic storage devices. Pick up the things you need to secure and back up your valuables. Overstock.com has low prices on personal safes and blank storage media like blank CDs and DVDs, USB flash drives, external hard drives and more.
Home improvement
Make your storage and organization project a home improvement project with kitchen carts, cabinets and islands or new bathroom vanities and cabinets from Overstock.com. Design your ideal kitchen and bathroom around your specific needs for storage and organization. Overstock.com's low discount prices make home improvement projects affordable, so having the home of your dreams is easily within your reach.
Don't forget Worldstock!
Some of the most common home storage items include jewelry boxes, storage shelves and storage baskets. All over the world, artists are creating exquisite examples of these objects. These artists rarely get into the US market because they are small businesses in small villages producing small lots and just don't catch the eye of modern mass-market distributors.
The Worldstock Handcrafted store creates jobs in the poorest regions of the world and brings Overstock.com customers handcrafted clothing, jewelry, ceramics and handcrafted kitchen storage items that they can use, wear and display proudly. Find the most unique home storage items at fantastic Overstock.com prices when you shop online at home with the "O."
