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If you feel like you’re drowning in stuff and can’t find anything you need, there’s a box (or basket) for that
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Look around your house and be honest: are you drowning in stuff? I know I am. Between a toddler, one on the way, two cats and a personal inability to throw out junk “just in case”, it’s rare I see the actual surface of my floor or countertops.
Without a home organization system that works for you, the sheer amount of objects you have accumulated throughout the years can quickly overrun your home. Many of us tend to put away stuff “for now”, only for our closets and cabinets to fill up, preventing us from seeing what we own. “If you can’t find something, it can feel easier to order another one than to spend 20 minutes searching,” Amy Berryhill, a professional organizer and owner of Spiffy Chicks, said.
The best way to make space for everything you need is to make intentional – and stylish! – choices about how you organize your home. “We like to think about organization as an extension of the design process, finding ways to give everyday items a designated home without sacrificing beauty,” said Audrey Scheck, an interior designer and founder of Audrey Scheck Design.
Corralling the chaos can feel intimidating enough of a feat as it is, but ensuring it actually looks good is a task for the pros.
The storage solutions that work for your bedroom might not work in every room of your house. In the bedroom, Richards recommends a storage bed “to provide a huge amount of hidden storage”.
Hydraulic-lift beds have storage beneath the mattress, but they do require a bit of elbow grease to lift, so they’re best for things such as backup bedding or seasonal clothing. If you need more regular access, a bed with built-in side or front drawers can work nicely. Instead of a traditional bedside table, Richards said: “Wide nightstands with drawers or low dressers can give you much more functionality.”
When I was bed shopping last year, this bed was one of the top contenders, in part because of how well the front drawer integrates into the design.
When I was bed shopping last year, this bed was one of the top contenders, in part because of how well the front drawer integrates into the design.
It may be a little bigger than your standard bedside table, but this compact dresser serves as a practical nightstand with its generous drawers. Vintage-inspired spindle legs give it an inherited look and because it’s lifted off the floor, it’s easy to clean around.
Use a similar strategy for your living room and look for coffee tables with drawers or built-in storage or spring for a sofa with hidden storage beneath its cushions. (I have a Cozey Atmosphere sofa and it’s ideal for stashing throws, blankets and toys.)
For overstuffed closets that give you agita each time you open them, Richards has an easy fix. “Wooden hangers immediately make the space feel more considered,” she said. Berryhill bought her wooden hangers 25 years ago, “and they still look great today”.
