practical tips for staying organized this year:

Today I’m sharing with you my Organizing Tips For Your Home! If you follow me on Instagram, you know I spent the month of January getting my home organized (it is saved to my highlights if you are interested.) After it was organized, it was feeling like a new space and I was loving it! So, below, I’m documenting what I’m doing and using to stay organized this year!

optimize kitchen storage:

To me, there is not much better than an organized kitchen! It is a space that I (along with I’m sure most of you) use a lot, so staying organized in this space is so very helpful. I don’t have a large kitchen, so I have to be mindful of what I bring in, how much of something I have, and where I store everything. I use a combination of baskets, bins, canisters, boxes and glass jars to ensure everything in my kitchen has a place.

functional kitchen decor:

One of my favorite tips for an organized kitchen is to use functional decor. I have these Target Glass Canisters out on my countertop. They are affordable, and a super space-saver. I have them filled with items I use daily like flour & oatmeal.

I have these McGee & Co. Wood Cutting Boards displayed under my range hood. They are an investment, but I have had them for several years, and they are still my very favorite thing in my kitchen. Buying items that can be displayed out on your countertop helps you stay organized by not having to search for an item, but also lessens the storage space you need!

If I had open shelving, I would take advantage of the extra space for storage as well. I love this Basket, this Metal Bread Bin, as well as this Basket. All look pretty and serve a storage function! Baskets in the kitchen are the perfect place to store extra table linens, napkin holders, snacks, dishtowels, and more!

kitchen storage bins:

In my pull-out pantry drawer, I use these Container Store Rectangular Canisters to stay organized. I have them filled with everything from tea, raisins, rice, snacks, baking items & more. It just feels so much better to pull out a pantry drawer and have everything neatly stacked. These Etsy Labels help everything stay organized!

I use these Affordable Target Bins to corral a variety of items. I have one for my daughter’s snacks, one for bread products, one for my daughter’s lunch items, one for baking items, etc. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a tidy kitchen.

even more kitchen storage:

I have several of these Refrigerator Bins in my refrigerator. Again, it is so much easier to stay organized if everything has a place. They are perfect for storing drinks, yogurt, produce, snacks, soda, eggs & more.

This Expandable Bamboo Silverware Tray is the best! I’ve had it for years, and it still looks great. I also have and love these Bamboo Drawer Dividers. Perfect for separating areas of your drawers to stay organized. For example, I use them in a drawer to separate cutting boards from our knives, and I have another to separate cooking utensils I use daily/ cooking utensils I use less often. That way, it is easier to find the spatula you are looking for when you open the drawer.

These Storage Bins are perfect for keeping your under-sink kitchen cabinet organized. They come in a variety of sizes. I have one for items I use daily, one holds extra bags, one for back-stock of cleaning supplies, and one for lesser-used items. Makes it so easy to keep what could be a messy area nice and tidy!

organized office supplies:

I’m fortunate enough to have a lot of hidden storage for my office supplies. That being said, everything I’m going to share would also look nice out on open shelving, a desk or a bookshelf.

functional office decor:

These Hyacinth Storage Bins With Handles are super sturdy, and come in several sizes. They are perfect for office supplies, books, craft supplies, kids’ school supplies & more. They look great out on display, and work behind closed doors just as well.

I’m in love with the entire Marie Kondo Rattan Collection at the Container Store! I particularly like this Rattan Photo Box, Rattan Document Box, and Rattan Letter Box. Something about storage with a lid that feels so much more organized!

I have several of the Stockholm Office Storage Boxes, and they are the best. As you can see from above, I use them for papers I need to save, extra office supplies, envelopes, pens, paper & more. The color I have is an older pink.

more office storage:

A Simple Metal Tray is perfect to corral a tape dispenser, stapler and remover, label maker, and whatever else you may frequently use. I also like to have a Magazine Holder for each family member to hold important items. For example, I have one for important papers I need to hold on to for immediate use, and my daughter uses her for extra school supplies, art books, and any important papers she may need in the near future.

other containers & bins:

In my linen closet I have these Affordable Plastic Storage Bins. I have one for my daughter, one for me, a first aid one, one for all of our medicine, and one for everything teeth related (extra brushes, toothpaste, floss, etc.) It makes it so much easier to put items away, and find an item you are looking for, when they are organized this way.

I recently ordered this Wrapping Paper Organizer and it is a game-changer! I LOVE it. I got rid of a huge wrapping paper bin, and two large totes and still have room for more in my new tote. Highly recommend!

laundry storage:

The laundry room is another space where I’m a huge fan of functional decor. In my laundry room, I use glass jars, metal bins and baskets as both decor and storage.

These White Plastic Bins with these Wood Lids give a similar look to what I have stacked on my laundry room counter holding all of my cleaning rags. This White Bin With Wood Lid is another great option.

Baskets and bins are such a great way to store things in a laundry space! In my laundry room, I have a bin for extra towels and rags, a basket for socks that are missing their pair, a basket for miscellaneous laundry items such as lint rollers, needles & threat, etc. It just feels so nice to have a spot for everything. These Fabric Baskets are the perfect solution for all of the above!

I save the pretty baskets for countertop and open shelving. I store our extra face masks in this Maize Woven Basket on my open shelves, for example. I also love pretty spray bottles stored in baskets out on display as well. These Etsy Spray Bottles inside this Affordable Target Basket displayed out on your countertop is a great option.

This Metal Laundry Powder Bin holds my dryer balls. I also am loving this White Metal Laundry Bin for out on display.

Lastly, this Classic Glass Canister holds my laundry pods out on my countertop, and looks pretty doing so. Decor doing double duty is my favorite kind of decor!

bathroom storage:

I LOVE the Container Store Elfa Extra Narrow Cabinet Drawers. My daugher has one under her sink as well. They store a lot of items, while keeping you organized at the same time. Inside my daughter’s Elfa Cabinet Drawers, I used these Affordable Target Bins to help keep her even more organized. They fit perfectly inside each drawer.

I use these Container Store Drawer Organizers to keep my makeup and product organized.

baskets that multitask:

Now for my favorite piece of functional decor- baskets! I love them because they add texture and interest to a space, but I also love them for their organizational purposes. I have them in every single room in my home!

In my entryway, I have the two Studio McGee For Target Oversized Baskets shown above. They look pretty, but they also hold extra pillows and blankets that I’m not using for the season. I don’t have a large house, so it is nice to have oversized baskets to store extra items when not in use. These are definitely my favorites!

In my mudroom/laundry room, I have this Studio McGee For Target Basket next to our bench. It is perfect for hats & mittens this time of year

In my daughter’s room, we have this Serena & Lily Basket holding stuffed animals. It looks pretty but also holds a BUNCH of animals!

I have this Amber Lewis For Anthropologie Basket on my coffee table, and love it! A basket is the perfect solution for organization and an added piece of decor. It holds our remote controls, coasters, a pretty candle and some greenery. This Studio McGee For Target Basket is another great (and more affordable) option!

Lastly, I wanted to mention other spots in your house where baskets are great for decor & extra storage: I love baskets for books & magazines next to a couch or chair; for storing extra sheets in a bedroom; for umbrellas or shoes by the front door; extra linens in a bathroom or dining space; on a bedside table shelf for storage; firewood by a fireplace. I really could go on and on.

I hope you enjoyed these practical tips for staying organized this year. If you missed my last blog post, you can find it here: Where To Buy Artwork For The Home

Shop all of my favorites for Keeping Organized In 2021 here: