Why You Should Keep a Dry Erase Marker in Every Room of the House
Your most on-top-of-it friends? I’ll let you in on their secret for staying organized: Write everything down. Your brain has to do a lot of day-to-day hustling, so anything that you can clear out of it and get onto paper is something you’re sure to remember when needed. But the thing is, you don’t need paper at all.
Dry erase markers can do a lot of heavy lifting around your home. And before you think you’re going to have to cover your walls with marker boards or that we’re going to link you to some dry erase wallpaper on Amazon or something, heed this simple tip: Almost anything can be a dry erase board.
There are tons of surfaces around your home that work just like any commercial dry erase product — letting you easily write and wipe away.
In Entryways, Hallways, Bedrooms and Bathrooms
You’ve already got plenty of dry erase boards at home. In fact, any glass surface is ripe for note-taking—including mirrors and picture frames.
The mirrors in your bathroom and entryway are perfect for leaving yourself daily reminders like “don’t forget the lunch you packed!” or “you have a big client meeting today so wipe off your chipped polish” (“YHABCMTSWOYCP” for short). And in the bedroom or hallway, you can leave messages for yourself on your already-framed art, making your favorite photos into endlessly customizable motivational prints.
Where to stash the markers: In a cute cup (like this one) on a counter or console top.
In the Kitchen
If you’re looking to get more organized in the upcoming year, one of the best things you can do is create a command station in your busiest room. But before you shop for something new, save your gift money and see if you can’t repurpose one of the surfaces you already have. Any picture frame will do, but instead of a photo or busy art, fill the frame with lightly patterned scrapbook paper to keep everything easy to read.
Where to stash the markers: On a narrow picture ledge.
On (and in!) the Fridge
Most refrigerator surfaces are perfect for temporarily marking up with dry erase markers (test it first… and sorry, luxe cabinet-fronted folks—but you win every other contest). You can scribble grocery lists right on the front of your fridge doors, or — and this might be the most clever tip here — write on the inside of your fridge or freezer to keep stock of what you have stored within. When you’re stacked double-deep to maximize space in your apartment-sized fridge, a little roadmap of what’s inside can go a long way to actually eating all the good groceries you buy.
Where to stash the markers: Glue them to craft magnets and leave them right on the fridge.