Organize Like a Pro with These 5 Expert Tips
Organizing Solutions and Inspiration from Across the Globe
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Let’s Get Organized
My new book Organized Living is out one week from today (woot woot!), so it seemed like a perfect time to share some of the game changing tips I learned from the 25 organizing experts I interviewed for the book. Roll up your sleeves and get ready for some actionable tips you can use in your own home…
Unbox Your Board Games
Have your well-loved cardboard game boxes broken or fallen apart? Organizing expert Ashley Jones unboxes her games, storing game boards in a single drawer in her media cabinet, and game pieces in clear labeled canisters. Yes, that is her real handwriting and not a font. Mind blown.
Corral Your Cords
Tech organizing is a major groan but so is searching for that one charging cable you need when everything is a tangled mess. Jen Robin loves to repurpose a toiletry bag to organize her charging cords and cables, and Tania Lourenco opts for a drawer with dividers to keep things tidy. Bonus: add cord labels so you never have to play what-is-this-mystery-cord-for again!
Color Code Your Everything
Organizers love to create a cohesive aesthetic that’s easy on the eyes. Take a cue from Ashley Murphy, founder of Neat Method, who chooses organizing vessels and household utility items that match the rest of her home and interior style. Even her utensil drawer is on brand!
Transform a Closet into a Station
Organizers get very excited at the prospect of creating a station out of even the tiniest sliver of real estate, but I was especially impressed by Ryan Eisland’s clever small space solutions. She’s converted her small bedroom closet into a vanity, and her laundry nook into a beautiful cleaning station, just by adding wall shelves, cane baskets, and a few thoughtful accessories. When in doubt, maximize vertical storage by adding easy-to-install wall shelves. Ryan used the cost-effective Elfa system to transform her closets.
Get Crafty
I’m more of a delegator than a DIY person, but I picked up a ton of fun tips from the organizers I interviewed that actually seemed doable. Devin VonderHaar painted not just her walls, but also light fixtures and cabinet hardware, to elevate and customize her Portland rental. She also mounted magnetic spice containers to the side of her refrigerator to maximize space in her kitchen. Jean Gordon loves to trim pool noodles to make custom sized boot shapers, and many of the organizers I met created DIY art just by framing magazine clippings, postcards, or textiles.
By featuring these organizers, sharing their homes and highlighting their tips, tools, and ideas, my intention is both to inspire people to make positive changes in their homes and lives, and show that not only are there many different paths to get there, but many different versions of what there looks like. Happy organizing!
Photography Credit: Vivian Johnson for Organized Living
So excited for this book!