5 Organization Tips To Add and Improve Storage!
Aren’t we all on an eternal quest for order in our homes? Maybe these organization tips will spark your interest and inspire you to find some extra space in your home, too! You won’t regret getting organized…
1. DIY Organization -Wooden Drawer Dividers
Frustrated with one of those plastic drawer dividers, I decided to make my own custom wooden drawer dividers. Those plastic ones never fit quite right, do they? They slide around in the drawer and are just annoying. There’s always space that is not utilized efficiently…
For the dividers in the first drawer, I started by measuring how long my longest utensil is, added a half-inch, and that determined how long the 3 long dividers for knives, serving, and cooking utensils need to be. I created 2 smaller boxes in the front for shorter items like can openers, vegetable peelers, etc.
1/4″ x 2 – 1/2″ x 4-foot oak hobby boards can be found at the big box store. Measure the length of the drawer dividers and the box you intend to make to determine how many of these boards you need.
First, I measured across the back of the drawer and cut two boards that length. Then, I cut 3 boards the length I had determined the dividers needed to be. Two shorter boards cut the length of the tablespoons and the salad forks created a compartment for those and a nice size box for pate knives.
The Dividers
Next, decide where you want the dividers to be placed and mark where the two boards will come together. Drill two tiny holes through the horizontal board and into the end of the divider board.
Apply wood glue on the ends of the divider board and use tiny nails to secure the two while the glue dries.
It seemed wise not to cover the screw holding the drawer pull, in case we ever wanted to change out the knobs. It was easy to create a ‘U’ shape to fit on one side in the front and to attach it with nails to the big box and the side of the drawer. I cut one more board to help hold the drawer in place on the right side of the drawer, and I attached that with nails, also.
I love it and then, created custom dividers for two other drawers, too!
2. DIY Organization Tips – Add A Shelf…
As I was pulling a big stack of bowls out of the cabinet, I had an epiphany. If this cabinet had another shelf, how much better it would be. Taking a look at it, I realize all I need are some shelf supports and a shelf.
Why had I not thought of this before? The cabinets only came with 2 adjustable shelves. Adding another is surprisingly simple. Lowe’s has the locking shelf support pegs and the shelves, which match those in my cabinets! Just cut those to the right length, add the plastic supports, and place the shelf in place! Problem solved!
Now, platters fit nicely on the new shelf without wasting space and with little stacking, leaving a much more organized space.
If it works for one, then why not another? Actually, I added a shelf to almost every kitchen cabinet and now seem to have more space. It’s much easier to retrieve the dishes.
Add Another Shelf!
Maybe you have some more space in your home, which you didn’t even realize was there!
3. Organization Tips – How To Take Charge of Your Hangers
Imagine for a moment that you’re in the laundry room. The dryer is full of clothes that need to be hung and there are no hangers! Where are they? Geez!!!
Don’t you hate going from bedroom to bedroom looking for hangers? Where are all the hangers? Never knowing who had them and chasing them down drove me nuts, so I hit upon an idea to track those bad boys. I bought hangers in different colors and assigned each color to a person or bedroom. I also bought laundry baskets to match the hangers!
That may sound rather simplistic, however, sometimes the best things are. If I had to retrieve them, I knew where to go. If the kids were home, I knew who to call, “William, I need your hangers!”
“Jon-Michael bring your hangers down.”
It’s just a common-sense approach to organizing an everyday chore. When the kids were still living at home this was such a time saver!
4. Organization Tips For Plastic Bags!
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Tame your plastic grocery bags! A few years ago, when I first found Pinterest, I found a pin on how to fold your grocery bags. Brilliant!
We recycle our grocery bags by using them as our trash can liners. They fit perfectly in our kitchen and bathroom trash cans. I had already bought a bag holder, which is attached to the door under the kitchen sink.
We all know that wadded up paper or plastic takes up more space than flattened paper or plastic. Right? The bag holder, which was overflowing, quickly became tamed, neat, and surprisingly, there was so much more space!
The pin I originally found showed folding the plastic bags into fourths, but that created an even more compact package that didn’t fit as nicely in the holder. I found that folding the grocery bags into thirds created the perfect size for the bag holder. Department store bags are sometimes larger and I might need to fold those into fourths.
No, my family does not see the need for folding the bags and often teases me about it, but I love the order and now you also know this simple tip for taming your plastic bags! Isn’t this brilliant?
5. Organization Tips For The Bathroom
Searching for a place to use a long narrow basket, which I had been given, I hit upon another storage idea. It occurred to me that a better way of storing bathroom necessities is a great idea. How many times have you realized there was no paper, or washcloth, or towel handy?
This basket fits perfectly on the back of the toilet! (Yes, I did have to purchase two more for the other bathrooms but it is worth the cost…) Inside the basket, I placed rolled washcloths, an extra towel, tissue paper, some sample toiletries, and extra toilet paper.
Our linen closet is in the hall on the catwalk, so this actually works quite well for us and especially for guests in our home. Everything is very visible, which is another plus because I can easily see when I need to add another roll, a towel, or washcloth to the basket. It is not so easy to see if they are hidden in a closet or cabinet.
Add Another Basket
You know you have hit on a great idea when you repeat it. So then, the powder room on the first floor seems to get a lot of traffic and the lack of toilet paper was sometimes overlooked when it was stored underneath the cabinet. This has worked out so well! I easily notice if the basket is empty and if a new roll of paper needs to be placed in the basket.
Girls, you won’t believe it, but some of the male members of my family have even begun to restock the basket on occasion! Lol! How crazy is that?
For more ideas for basket storage,◄click here.
Guest Post
Enjoy the following infographic and 5 more organizational tips shared by a guest poster.
1. Make use of underutilized storage space!
When organizing, explore your home and consider all possible storage areas like under the bed, behind your door, and under your stairs. Though these areas are often forgotten, they’re perfect for hiding your belongings away!
2. Give everything a “home!”
From your spare comforter to your pens and pencils, everything in your home should have a place to be stored. Invest in a variety of storage containers and organizers to fit the needs of all your belongings, big and small.
3. Reconsider the flow of your space.
Your space may feel cluttered and disorganized because of the placement of big, bulky furniture. Improve the flow of the room by
keeping furniture at the edge of your space and allowing at least 3 feet of walking space
between each furniture piece.
4. Wall space is your friend!
Take advantage of your vertical space by installing floating shelves, metal bars, or organizers to your wall space. Wall organization can be both functional and stylish depending on which you choose.
5. Spice organizers help store any small items.
Don’t limit yourself to using spice organizers in only your kitchen or pantry. Instead, utilize it in a craft room or garage to store all those tiny bits and pieces.
Be Social!
If this inspires you to try some of these organizational tips, please post a picture of it on social media and tag us @myhumblehomeandgarden.
Follow me on Facebook and Pinterest so you won’t miss anything! I would love for you to share this post with your friends! They need great ideas, too! Pin it! It only takes a second…
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Great idea adding the extra shelves to the kitchen cabinets!
Thanks, Dee! It’s so easy, too!
Visiting again to say thanks so much for linking up with me at #AThemedLinkup 15 for Crafts and DIY, open April 15 to 25. All entries shared on social media if share buttons installed.
Thank you for stopping by again, Dee!
Thanks so much for linking up with me at #AThemedLinkup 19 for Cleaning and Organizing, open June 15 to 25. All party entries shared if social media buttons installed.
Thanks for hosting, Dee!
CONGRATS! Your post is FEATURED at #AThemedLinkup 20 for All Things American (red, white, and blue), from my previous linkup for Cleaning and Organizing, open June 27 to July 25. All entries shared if social media buttons are installed.
Oh!!! Thank you, Dee!