Simple Organizing Solutions
Get a list of simple organizing solutions and take your home from messy and cluttered to neat and easy to keep that way.
Having a tidy home is an essential part of any Guide to Simple Living. Learn the easy way to simplify your home and love where you live.
Have you tried to get organized but find yourself stuck in the same cycle over and over? You dream of a tidy space, but no matter what you do, it just doesn’t stick.
You keep searching for storage hacks and organizing tips, but once you try them out, you realize they don’t fit your home or match your vibe.
And what about all those books, magazines, and blog posts that promise to transform your entire house in just a weekend—or worse, in 24 hours?
Does it all leave you feeling more overwhelmed than inspired?
Have you ever noticed how all those promises of easy and fast fixes seem way too good to be true? That’s because they are. You see those glossy photos of perfectly neat rooms, bookshelves lined with pretty boxes, each one adorned with flawless labels.
It looks stunning—because it’s supposed to.
And you think, “If my home looked like that, everything in my life would fall into place.”
That’s where the real problem is because a clutter issue can’t always be solved with a stack of picture-perfect boxes. The truth is those boxes might look nice, but they’re not always practical.
We need organizing solutions designed to tackle our specific messes, not just something that looks good in a magazine spread.
Keep Organizing Solutions Simple so They Stick
It’s important to remember that organizing is not a one-size-fits-all solution. What may work for one person, may not work for someone else. That’s why it’s helpful to find solutions that are simple and practical for your specific needs.
When it comes down to it, simplicity is key to maintaining an organized home. The more complicated the system, the harder it will be to maintain in the long run.
So, instead of trying to fit into someone else’s idea of organization, focus on what works best for you and your lifestyle. This could mean using clear storage bins so you can easily see what’s inside or creating designated spaces for different categories like clothes, books, or kitchen items.
Designate Specific Spaces
Give everything a home!
When you decide exactly where each item belongs, you create a simple system that keeps your space tidy with little effort. This strategy works well whether you’re tackling a big area like your garage or a smaller spot like your fridge. When everything has its place, staying organized becomes so much easier.
Life is busy, and we all wear quite a few hats during our days and if things are difficult to do, guess what? We are not going to do them.
It’s just as simple as that.
What does organizing mean?
Organizing means designating specific homes for the things we use in a space. Once the home is set, our job is to put things away when we are finished using them. If you can do this for each room in your home, you will remove the clutter and transform your entire space.
Focus on One Room at a Time
Rather than trying to do everything at once, it is easier to break your home down into areas and focus on one area at a time. Follow these steps for an actionable game plan.
Step #1. Determine the Purpose of Each Room
Every room in your home should have a specific purpose. This will help you determine what items belong in that space allowing you to more easily designate specific homes for them.
A purpose also shows you what needs to go, the clutter and unnecessary items that can be tossed, donated, or put away in another space.
Step #2. Declutter
Before you can organize, you will first need to declutter. Let’s break it down into a fast action list.
- Toss the trash.
- Put away what has a home in the room you are working on.
- Gather up anything that belongs in another room.
- Continue working until the clutter is gone.
Step #3. Organize
With the clutter gone, you can now organize the area.
- Designate specific homes for items based on their purpose and frequency of use.
- Use simple storage solutions such as bins, totes, baskets, or shelves to keep things contained.
- Label your storage solutions so everyone knows what belongs where.
- As you find duplicates put them in the donation bin.
Remember to regularly revisit and maintain the organization in each room so that it remains clutter-free.
Step #4: Develop a System
Having a system in place will help you stay organized in the long run. This could include daily habits like putting things back in their designated homes after use, or doing regular decluttering sessions every few months.
Find what works best for you and stick to it.
Simple Organizing Solutions for Each Room
Now that you have a plan in place, let’s take a look at some simple organizing solutions for each room in your home.
The Kitchen
- Use drawer dividers to double up your storage space.
- Add in floating shelves for cookbooks and recipe tins.
- Use turntables to hold oils and spices.
Set of 4, 10 Inch Non-Skid Lazy Susan Organizers – Turntable Rack for Cabinet, Pantry Organization and Storage, Kitchen, Fridge, Bathroom Makeup Vanity Countertop, Under Sink Organizing, Spice RackBAYKA Wall Shelves for Bedroom Decor, Floating Shelves for Wall Storage, Wall Mounted Rustic Wood Shelf for Books,Plants,Small Wall Shelf for Bathroom,Kitchen,Living Room(Black,Set of 3)
Utoplike 4 pcs Bamboo Kitchen Drawer Dividers Large, Adjustable Drawer Organizers, Spring Loaded, Works in Kitchen, Dresser, Bathroom, Bedroom, Drawer, Desk
The Living Room
- Use an ottoman with hidden storage for extra blankets and pillows.
- Utilize a TV stand with built-in shelves or drawers for media storage.
- Incorporate decorative baskets or bins to store remote controls and other small items.
SONGMICS Storage Ottoman Bench, Foot Rest with Legs, 15.7 x 43.3 x 15.7 Inches, End of Bed Bench, Storage Chest, Load up to 660 lb, for Living Room, Bedroom, Entryway, Dark Gray ULSF088G01JUMMICO TV Stand for 65 Inch TV, Entertainment Center with Storage Cabinets and Sliding Barn Doors, Mid Century Modern Media TV Console Table for Living Room Bedroom (Bright White)
OIAHOMY Large Blanket Basket, Rectangle Woven Baskets for Storage, Nursery Blanket Basket Living Room, Toy Basket with Handle, Large Baskets for Organizing-22”x17”x12”-Gradient Yellow
The Bedroom
- Use under-bed storage containers for out-of-season clothing or shoes.
- Install a closet system to maximize space for clothes, shoes, and accessories.
- Place a hanging shoe organizer on the back of your door for easy access to everyday footwear.
Supowin Underbed Storage Containers Bin with Lids (Set of 2) Large Under Bed Storage Organizer Box with Handle, Foldable Under the Storage Bags for Organizing Clothes, Shoes, Blankets, Pillows-GreyAheaplus Closet System, 4-9Ft Closet Organizer with 4 Wooden Drawers, Wood Closet Organizer System with Tower, Walk-in Closet Organizer Wardrobe Clothes Rack with 4 Hanging Rods, Garment Rack, White
MISSLO Clear Over the Door Shoe Organizer Large Deep Pockets Hanging Shoe Rack for Closet Fit 20 Pairs Shoe Holder for Sneakers Boots Storage,Grey
The BathrooM
- Utilize stackable bins or baskets in cabinets to organize toiletries.
- Hang towel racks or hooks on the back of your door for extra towel storage.
- Use drawer organizers to separate makeup and hair products.
EUDELE Adhesive Shower Caddy, 5 Pack Rustproof Stainless Steel Bath Organizers With Large Capacity, No Drilling Shelves for Bathroom Storage & Home DecorVtopmart 44 PCS Clear Plastic Drawer Organizers Set, 4-Size Versatile Bathroom and Vanity Organizer Trays, Non-Slip Storage Containers for Makeup, Jewelries, Bedroom,Kitchen Utensils and Office
SPACELEAD Slim Storage Cart 4 Tier, Storage Organizer Rolling Utility/ Mobile Shelving Unit Slide Out Storage Cart for Office, Bathroom, Kitchen, Laundry Room & Narrow Places, Black
The Home Office
- Invest in a desk with built-in storage or add shelves above your desk to maximize space.
- Utilize file folders and trays for paperwork organization.
- Incorporate a corkboard or hanging wall organizer for important notes and documents.
With a few simple organizing tweaks, you can transform any cluttered room into a space that’s not only functional but also feels like a breath of fresh air. The key? Regularly tending to the systems you put in place and being open to adjusting them when life changes.
Stay consistent, stick with it, and you’ll start to see the difference.
An organized home does more than just look good—it creates a space where you can focus better, feel less stressed, and truly enjoy your surroundings. Imagine waking up each day to a home that promotes productivity, peace, and a sense of calm.
I have found that no matter how many systems or storage solutions you have everyone in the home must help in some way or it is useless to try. I can no longer do everything alone and I am tired, very tired.
Hello Betty,
I am so sorry that you are having a hard time getting the family on board. I too have that struggle from time to time. I learned to give my boys their rooms to do with what they wish. Meaning, if they want to be slobs or clutter bugs…so be it. I keep the door closed and I let that go and try not to worry about it. In exchange they have learned to live by my rules in the rest of the house. I set up systems to make it easier for them to do. Multiple hampers for dirty clothes. Catch all baskets in each room to keep items from cluttering up. It does take time and it does get frustrating. Try not to look at the big picture and focus on small victories.
I will be writing more on my systems to help, so stop back often.
Hugs and Best of luck
Tracy Lynn
My sister’s name is Tracey Lynn, too! I have the same issue as you! My biggest issue is having too many things and not enough space for it all. I lost my cabin and family moved it to my house and left it to me. Unfortunately, I became overwhelmed. Then I tried digging out and was finally getting it clean and then mom passed away. Family brought more stuff. I am so ashamed. I don’t let people come over. I work 2 jobs because my son’s company outsourced his job and by the time I get home, I’m too tied to clean it.So, I told myself that it didn’t get messy in a day and am taking baby steps to deal with one pile a day. And I’m trying to instill good habits similar to your system to help myself overcome this task.I have to sometimes remind my son I’m expecting him to do his part. Hopefully, this will work!! If you have any advice, I’m open to suggestions.
Hello Wendy,
Wow, that is a lot to deal with especially working two jobs. If you are looking for help and support, sign up for my FREE Declutter and Simplify eCourse. Included is access to my Facebook group that is full of others trying to do the same thing. The support, advice, and tips will help you through the tough times. Baby steps is my motto as well and how I dug out from under a house full of things.
Welcome! Tell your sister I said hello. 🙂
Tracy Lynn