Organizing

Plus, it’s rust-proof!

My sheets have never looked neater.

Decluttering these items gave her so much space.

I’ve sworn by it for years.

I live in a relatively small apartment with multiple roommates, so I’m always on the lookout for ways to improve the storage situation in my living space — particularly in the kitchen. Shelves, drawers, bins, and boxes can take up a surprising amount of space, so I have a soft spot for multifunctional pieces — especially ones that also look nice on a kitchen countertop.

I cook at home regularly, which means I’m often using my groceries up and buying more just as quickly. As my schedule gets busier, I’ve streamlined my grocery shopping and have more go-to staples I buy frequently. However, some of the groceries I rely on don’t easily fit in my cabinets due to their bulky shape or awkward packaging. That’s why this pantry organizer hack using just a plastic Dollar Tree office organizer caught my eye. Here’s how it works.

These game-changing tricks can help you fake more square footage.

I remember the relief I felt when my husband and I became homeowners — in part because we had so much more storage. And boy, did we proceed to use every last closet, corner, and cabinet. And just like that, we’ve spent nearly a decade in our home. I’m pretty sure that some of the things in the far corner of our coat closet have been there since we moved in. Decluttering is hard — especially when it comes to sentimental items.

It’s like having a catch-all dish on my wall.

It's so whimsical!

In my teeny New York City apartment, figuring out how to extract every square inch of space sometimes feels like performing a magic trick. I adore cooking and baking, but making space for all of the ingredients and gadgets can be quite the feat. Through trial and error, I’ve found that using vertical space helps enormously, as it clears the counters and takes advantage of otherwise wasted square footage.

As someone who takes vitamins and prescription medications daily, I’m always trying to figure out the best hack for fitting them into my routine. A few weeks ago, I was on a streak — I would place the pill bottles out on my counter at night to take in the morning before heading to the gym. But on some days, I’m so bleary-eyed pre-coffee, I couldn’t remember if I took them or not. I would also forget to leave the bottles out at the end of an especially hectic day.

These off-the-shelf products can really make a difference in your home.

It looks incredible.

When you’re done decluttering your home, you’re not only left with a much more organized space, but also a bunch of stuff that needs to go or find a new place to live. Whether that’s trash or items to donate, giveaway, or sell, here’s how you’re going to deal with everything you’ve just decluttered. Below, find out how to donate, sell, or give away decluttered items.

It's so smart.

These tips work for every space.

There usually comes a point in the decluttering process when you can’t decide if you really want to get rid of or keep a certain item. If you’ve ever faced this dilemma, there’s a brilliant strategy that can help you make a decision.Enter: the “box and banish” method. Here’s how it works.The “box and banish” method is a decluttering strategy where you fill up an empty box with items you’re unsure about keeping or letting go.

I always find it very satisfying when I’m able to give things like a sauce jar or a butter dish a second life in my home — especially if it’s something I was considering getting rid of, or something I never really had a good use for. But my interest in organizing hacks isn’t just about reusing items that already exist: I also like seeing how regular organizers can be used in unusual ways.

Decluttering items with sentimental value is no easy feat. These possessions were once loved and can represent people, places, and experiences that mean a lot to us, so letting them go can often leave you feeling guilty. But letting go of an object doesn’t mean letting go of the person or memory attached to it, and if something no longer feels meaningful or worth keeping then it’s OK to consider parting with it.

It completely changed how my living room looks and feels.

It transformed a dead space.

Frequently decluttering your home is a great way to keep your place looking clean and organized. But it’s not a complete fix for future problems. For that, you’ll need to look at your current organizational systems and see how you can improve them to stop clutter before it starts. Here’s how to prevent clutter from taking over your home.For today’s assignment, we’ll be doing just one thing to help prevent clutter. (Future you will be so thankful!

They're small but effective.

The way you organize your bathroom can make a big difference in how well the space functions. That’s why regular decluttering is so important.Here’s how to give your bathroom a quick refresh with our go-to decluttering strategy.Today we’ll declutter the bathroom as efficiently as possible. Set aside some dedicated time (15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, or whatever timeframe works for you!) to complete this task, and only work on the areas that apply to you.

I live in a small New York City apartment with roommates. I also love to meal prep and freeze leftovers for later, so those two facts mean that my freezer is often overcrowded and disorganized. On top of that, I also don’t have great freezer storage options. My freezer-safe food containers are awkwardly shaped, and small ice cube trays without a lid have made freezing things like soups and stocks a challenge.

As the place where you start and end your day, your bedroom should feel peaceful and tidy so you can rest and recharge with ease. But if it’s currently a mess, that can directly affect both of those things. That’s why it’s so important to declutter and organize your bedroom. Here’s how to declutter your bedroom, including where and what to look for.

It’s so simple!

When you think about the items cluttering your home, you might immediately think of the mail pile by the entryway, the “clothes chair” in your bedroom, or even hidden messes, like the ones behind drawers, cabinets, or closet doors. But there’s another type of clutter that’s just as important to address, even if it doesn’t feel as visible or physical as the rest.

I don’t know about you, but bread boxes aren’t exactly a part of my life. In fact, I don’t know if I’ve ever lived somewhere that had one — even when I was a young kid. The concept of a box just for bread never struck me as necessary, but I’ve since learned that there’s so much more you can do with a bread box, which makes this rustic-yet-elegant new find from IKEA all the more exciting — because it’s secretly a storage superhero.

When I lived in a studio apartment, anything I brought into my home had to have a really good reason to be there — whether it was a shoe rack that doubled as an entryway table, a storage bed that allowed me to store luggage underneath it or extra bedding in the two drawers it had, or even something as simple as vacuum bags that allowed me to minimize the amount of space off-season items took so I could free up more room for other things.

Clutter can sneak up on you if you’re not regularly decluttering your home and implementing organizational systems that actually work for you. One minute you’ll be tossing just one shirt onto your dedicated “clothes chair,” and the next there’s an entire wardrobe sitting there. Clutter can be even harder to tame when it’s hiding in a spot you’re not checking often.

It doubles as a colorful work of art.

They serve as functional decor.

Paper clutter is often one of the hardest types of clutter to sift through because it’s a blend of practical items you hold onto “just in case” (like receipts, bills, and bank statements) and sentimental things that you might feel slightly guilty about getting rid of (such as birthday cards, photos, and ticket stubs). Plus, it’s often spread out in piles across your home (think: a junk drawer, the entryway, or a closet).

It instantly elevated the space.

When it comes to closet organization, decluttering your clothes is essential. Whether it’s taking stock of items you no longer love, that don’t suit you, or that are beyond repair, it’s important to regularly declutter one of the main spots where you store your wardrobe. Here’s how to declutter your clothes like a pro organizer to give your closet the refresh it deserves.Before you start decluttering, think about why your closet gets so cluttered in the first place.

I wish I'd done it sooner.

As one of the most-used spots in your home, the kitchen is prone to getting messy — from the cabinets to the drawers and everything in between. That’s why it’s so important to regularly tidy and declutter this busy spot to prevent clutter from taking over. The best way to get your kitchen organized is to declutter one spot at a time. Here’s how to do it.

I’ve lived in my apartment for six years, have had my fair share of roommates, and cook at home often, so trust that I’ve accumulated a lot of spices. I use what I can and toss anything that’s truly old, but I still have quite a collection that needs organizing in my kitchen cabinets.Even my two wall-mounted spice racks can’t contain it all!

I just love this!

Junk drawers are home to far more than just “junk.” Yes, the odd or random item can end up here, but most of the time they’re filled with necessary items, like pens, rubber bands, scissors, charging cords, or even receipts for something you intend to return. Because they’re a spot where miscellaneous things gather, junk drawers can often get super messy. Fortunately, a quick decluttering session can snap yours back into shape.

Decluttering can be mentally demanding, as it requires you to make a lot of decisions about items that may have meant a lot to you at one point or another. So before you can actually physically declutter anything, you have to make sure you’re emotionally prepared for it. To get ready for all the decluttering you plan to do, start by choosing a guiding principle and setting some ground rules. Here’s how.

So much extra storage!

When it comes to decluttering your home, there are a few steps you have to take before you can actually get rid of anything. The first one is extremely important and requires you to set up three boxes — that’s it! It sounds simple, but it’ll lay the groundwork for a truly productive decluttering session. It’s also the first task of Apartment Therapy’s Decluttering Cure, a completely free 14-day program that’ll help you declutter your home (sign up now!).

Good bathroom storage is a must — especially if you live in a small apartment like I do. When your priority is practicality, it sometimes feels like you have to compromise on aesthetics, which is exactly why I get so excited when I find home decor that delivers on storage and style while still being affordable. IKEA is definitely a reliable place to find such gems, and there’s a new towel rack in town that will give your bathroom an easy glow-up.

Its design is so functional.

Even if you declutter your kitchen thoroughly, it’s important to implement systems to keep it organized, and that includes having designated spaces — and containers — for items to go in. Below, we gathered the very best storage solutions (as featured in Apartment Therapy’s 2026 Organization Awards!) for every spot of your kitchen — from the fridge to the cabinets to the pantry — so your tidy kitchen stays neat and organized.

Here’s what my dad downsized after 30 years of living in his house.

I use paper towels every day. They come in handy so often, I try to keep a roll practically in every room. However, I don’t always have a good place to keep them, which means paper towels tend to occupy more counter space in my house than they should. It doesn’t have to be this way. It turns out that I just need the power of vertical storage and $9 to keep my paper towels off the counters and free up the space for good.

My fridge has never looked so clean.

It’s so pretty.

I stole this hack from my hairdresser.

I can’t imagine what it’s like to keep a dedicated chest freezer organized. Given that it takes a lot of bending over and digging through them to find exactly what you need, it can be easy to end up with lots of forgotten food.If you are looking to better organize your chest freezer, then you’re in luck — because these stackable wire baskets could be your frosty saving grace.

This storage item proves you don’t have to sacrifice style for function.

It’s perfect for small spaces and multi-use rooms.

There’s something very satisfying to me about repurposing an older or unwanted object into something useful for your home. For example, I sometimes buy yogurt that comes in little glass containers, but instead of just recycling the glass when I’m done with them I realized I could use them around my house to store things like paintbrushes, bathroom toiletries, or even travel-sized hand creams.

I’ll never look at extra dresser drawers the same again.

I wish I'd known it sooner.

As someone with ADHD, I have a tough time keeping track of everything in my apartment. That’s not because everything’s a mess, but rather because I can easily forget about something if I don’t see it. That means when something is placed inside a drawer, container, closet, or even on top of a crowded countertop, it very well may become invisible to me. Labels and lists can help, but, ultimately for me, visible storage is best.

Her tips transformed the space.

It’s so gorgeous.

It’s so simple, yet so smart.

It tripled my closet space.

Finally, a place for all the stuff.

It’s no secret that Apartment Therapy editors have been longtime fans of the IKEA TROFAST storage line. It’s so beloved, in fact, that the three-by-two set was awarded the best overall storage system for Apartment Therapy’s 2026 Organization Awards. There’s a lot to love about this versatile line: The number of colors, materials, and configurations the system comes with make it one of the most useful storage systems there is, and it can be used anywhere.

It's solid!

The way your closet is organized can sometimes matter more than its actual size. You could have a huge walk-in closet, but if nothing is stored in a system that works for you then things will just end up in a pile on the floor. Alternatively, if you have a small closet and you’re not maximizing your storage then you’re sacrificing precious real estate. That’s where smart organizers come in handy.

They saved me so much space.

I love snuggling up in a big blanket pile when it gets cold out, but when it warms up I have to find somewhere to put all these plush blankets. This can be a challenge for my small apartment (which doesn’t have much closet space).  Vertical storage can be a lifesaver, and Aldi has once again restocked a super-smart and popular blanket storage solution at a very affordable price point.Part of this week’s crop of Aldi Finds, the Sohl Blanket Ladder ($24.

It saves money, too.

It made the process so much easier.