Organizing

Some storage spots are easier to ignore than others which means house clutter tends to accumulate and linger there far longer than it should. We give those spots the side eye (and ourselves a mental reprimand) every time we walk by, but we often need a nudge to actually deal with the trouble spot. Consider this post a friendly little prod in the direction of your bathroom sink, and all the stuff currently hiding beneath it.

Even the cleanest and most organized homes can get cluttered and super overwhelming fast. Because there’s one thing that piles up faster than a shopping cart in the final minutes of Supermarket Sweep. Unless you’re ready, and keep on top of it every single day, you’ll soon be buried under a suffocating mountain of stuff. This weekend, take the time to conquer this particular mess, and feel lighter almost immediately. Tame the Mail Mountain: Has your mail taken over your life?

Apartment Therapy Weekend Projects is a guided program designed to help you get the happy, healthy home you’ve always wanted, one weekend at a time. Sign up now for email updates so you never miss a lesson. Is there such a thing as being caught up on housework? I never have been. Even if your weekly chores have been completed and the laundry monster mountain has been defeated, there’s probably something around the house that’s been bothering you to get it done.

Get organized in style.

Get ready for some serious compliments come Turkey Day.

Waking up on Christmas morning as a kid was like, well… waking up on Christmas morning. Presents. Presents everywhere! But now as an adult, I know the old maxim to be true: It really is better to give than to receive. Nothing feels better than presenting a much-adored gift to a nephew, sister or friend that you love. Finding the right gift is all about knowing where to look. The number one strategy for giving great gifts is simply to know your giftee.

If you’ve got a small bathroom, you’re really making a fatal design and storage mistake by not including these five smart storage tools. These five items will give you more storage space, make your existing storage space more efficient and make using your small bathroom a lot more enjoyable. Hate opening your bathroom drawers to a jumble of toiletries? Create your own affordable drawer dividers to transform those junk drawers into spaces that make you happy to open and use every day.

In much the same way that properly fitting underwear is the foundation of any good outfit, a happy, organized closet is the foundation of a happy, organized home. Of course, this can be a bit of a challenge in a small space with correspondingly small closets. If you’re struggling with fitting everything into a tiny closet, or even just looking to streamline your storage so that finding your clothes is a more pleasant experience, we’ve got a few tips for you.

Sometimes I wonder if I was adopted. All the ladies in my family are hardcore bakers and make goodies that could put Chef Duff to shame. That’s why I’ve decided to fine tune my baking skills and start (trying to) make gorgeous cupcakes for this year’s summer birthdays. I know I need a stand mixer—but with limited space to store the big, heavy kitchen appliance, I hit the Web for inspiration.

Okay, so it’s the weekend and you’ve been busy — probably the last thing you feel like doing is cleaning and bringing in heavier bedding. We totally get it — but a clean bedroom and freshly layered bed create a domino effect whose benefits multiply. You’ll sleep better, and feel better getting up in the morning. All it takes is a little effort this weekend and you’ll be ready to reap the rewards. Go Clean Your Room!

Time to declutter.

With the holidays creeping up, it’s easy to feel like life has gotten away from you. But you don’t have to wait until New Year’s resolutions to get a grip on the areas of your life that are bogging you down. In fact, making organization a priority here in the home stretch of 2017 will set you up for success next year, with a snowballing plan to get your life in order. Here’s how to get it started… What area of your life is feeling the most chaotic?

They have so much more potential than just holding towels.

It's the organizer I never knew I needed.

I no longer waste products because of it!

Never let your food disappear/mold/rot again.

It's the ultimate Etsy find.

And it's part of the best-selling LACK collection.

The mood board featured dark tones, crystal chandeliers, and wood floors.

I found what works for me (and my wardrobe).

No more paper piles around the home!

These are some clever ways to display the priceless masterpieces.

In our previous apartment, the distance that we placed the sofa from the TV was essentially a nonissue — there was really only one spot where the placement of the screen worked, and it dictated the overall size of the TV. The sofa just went across from it, utilizing as much space as was available, no more and no less. But now, in our new place, everything is negotiable.

I've always admired her organizational skills.

And it requires almost no work on your part.

It didn't take much to transform this clutter magnet area from messy to functional.

Shoe racks, umbrella stands, and more.

It had reached max capacity and needed order to be restored.

Add style and personality to your space in an instant.

And make it feel like yours again.

Calling all mug enthusiasts! This one's for you.

Use fewer paper towels and save money.

"It almost felt like putting together a puzzle.” 

Try this instead of stacking your seasonal serveware.

For maximum productivity.

I finally wrangled my cord clutter problem.

Lesson one: Address your shame areas.

There’s an art to arranging trinkets, and these designers have the secret.

A pro organizer's effective method to declutter.

Keep all your essentials on display yet tucked away.

Stylish, effective, and affordable.

Safeguard those investments!

My kitchen is spacious by city apartment standards, but really lacks in storage. While an inexpensive tower shelf stored my cookbooks just fine, I found that I wasn’t particularly inspired to use them, and the positioning partially blocked doorway. So I decided to break out my favorites and display them with some reverence… by facing them forward. You may have already spied these cookbook shelves in my January Cure party post.

From disaster zone to decluttered area in just three hours.

Full Circle to the rescue, once again!

These teeny spaces are chock full of inspiration.

When it comes to stocking your first home, it’s easy to see why the bathroom could be an afterthought. After all, you’ve got furniture to add to your living room, and pots and pans and tons of tools and appliances to purchase for your kitchen. But bathroom essentials are every bit as important as the things you’ll need for other rooms of your home. Remember, not only will you use your bathroom multiple times a day, any guests that come to your house may use it as well.

A surprising yet helpful addition.

Make the most of unused fridge space!

Sail through the security line with these tips.

In just two days!

Your spices have never looked better.

While still honoring your ancestry.

It's basically a mini countertop pantry!

It'll make your dresser drawers more organized too.

It's completely unrecognizable.

You'll never guess the brand!

I’ve rounded up some of the best organizational finds around, for every budget, to help you get going.

Use it for your favorite pumpkin recipes and more!

It's extremely versatile, too!

It instantly doubles your storage space!

These have bubbled up to the top of my wish list as a cleaning and organizing editor.

And it's made with only items found in her pantry!

Say goodbye to flimsy plastic hooks.

See how this unfinished, messy space is completely transformed.

I've tested a lot of make-up bags but this organizer is the best.

Solutions for shirts, shoes, accessories, and more.

If you're in the market for sleek, stylish kitchen storage then you might want to check this out.

Say goodbye to half-empty bags.

A simple yet effective trick.

Finally — a chic (and collapsible) storage basket!

They're the best for low-profile storage.