Decorating & Design
January 11, 2021
30 Ways To Be More Organized In 2021
Improving home organization is a common design resolution, especially after 2020 when many homeowners were forced to make their spaces work harder than ever. Whether you’re considering a custom storage solution or a quick fix, here are some solutions to help boost order in every room of the home.
This savvy mudroom also functions as a laundry room, where well-equipped zones keep clean laundry separate from muddy shoes, and wet or stained garments can go directly into the wash. In the laundry area, closed cabinets hide detergent and cleaning supplies, while on the mudroom side, rows of hooks and benches make it easy to grab a coat or tie laces. A central counter-height cart bridges the two sides (the height is ideal for folding), and a lower shelf and bins can store shoes or corral lone socks.
Make the most of niches! In this dining room, everything from firewood to artwork has its own place (with extra points for a dramatic dark background). This wall works extra hard with a floating shelf for even more display, which makes it easy to move around the picture frames.
Here’s a smart way to max out every square foot of room in a small apartment, and turn a living space it into a quick-change guest room. Custom built-in sofas are a clever use of space and double as beds.
Don’t get boxed in by bad storage. “Our old pantry was a similar size, but everything was always falling over and it was dark,” explains homeowner Alison Mazurek. “We knew pullout shelves would make it really functional. Our ceilings are nine and a half feet high, but the cabinets are a traditional height, so there was unused space on top of the pantry and closet. We added another two feet to store seasonal items or additional pantry supplies.”
See shelving in a new light, as Alison does in her daughter’s room. “I wish my kids had a desk, but I rationalize that they can use our dining table, or a shallow seven-inch Ikea shelf instead,” she says.
Small closets are typical in older homes, but here’s a fix when the mitts start overflowing. In this West Coast mid-century home, a stately vintage wardrobe in an entryway is the perfect place to hang jackets and coats. The deep drawer and interior shelves also make a great spot for stowing hats, mitts and shoes.
Not everything has to be stashed away! Enhance the farmhouse vibe with crocks, cookie jars and old-time apothecary jars. They are a pretty way to display foodstuffs, so ditch the boxes (and add a tin scoop for good measure).
Carving out a workstation where none existed before is a common ask in 2021. In this kitchen, a tucked-away mahogany table with brass legs is just 24″ deep, but pulls out to be 48″ to serve as the home office when needed. Plus, take a look at the matching canisters on the open shelving — can you say #organizationgoals?
Consider stacking the washer and dryer laundromat-style to leave more room for efficient floor-to-ceiling storage that keeps cleaning supplies out of sight.
If there isn’t room for cabinets, there are lots of opportunities for freestanding storage and organization. An antique glass-fronted cabinet keeps culinary essentials within easy reach and it helps skirt the problem of drilling into the stone walls to secure cabinets. We also love the Shaker-style pegs that are mounted on the left wall, and the racks to tuck in dishes in front of a window.
In this Vancouver apartment, a mix of open and closed storage beneath the bed is a smart way to keep things from looking too busy.
Divide and conquer! The drawers inside this kitchen island are divided inside, so the owner can meticulously organize baking supplies.
Don’t underestimate the power of a pretty pink set of curtains on the bottom of a bunk bed to close off clutter. They also serve as a way to create a fun hideaway to play with all those cuddly stuffies.
The hook for the 2020 Spring Princess Margaret Showhome mudroom by Sarah Baeumler? Take your pick. As a mother of four, Sarah knows how much gear kids can accrue. The answer is a mix of dedicated solutions: cubbies, drawers, hooks and a wraparound bench that lets everyone get ready for hockey practice at the same time.
Large baskets are an inexpensive way to remedy a lack of storage. Here, H&H design editor Kai Ethier placed a trio of bins beneath the sink to store extra towels and free up counter space.
Is a shower update on your reno wish list this year? Consider a shallow inset shelf to keep soaps and shampoos off the floor.
For bathrooms where greater storage is required, take a cue from designer Sam Sacks and repurpose a vintage armoire for a functional unit with a one-of-a-kind look. Casually draped hammam towels give a spa vibe.
Former J.Crew menswear designer Frank Muytjens opted for a custom closet solution in his own principal bedroom, creating a wall-to-wall storage unit with pull-out shelves and metal baskets for stashing smaller clothing items away.
Keep a box or tray near the door and fill it with ornamental ceramic bowls as catchalls to hold keys, trinkets and more.
For a built-in storage solution, a shallow shelf with drawers affixed to the wall is great for keeping on-the-go items at the ready.
Shoes are often a tornado of clutter at the door. In her own home foyer, designer Erika Floysvik opted for a console table with flip-down doors to free up floor space and keep her shoes neatly stored.
Designer Élaine Fortin took advantage of a tall backsplash and installed rustic open shelves to balance the look of modern tile and keep kitchen essentials at hand.
Designer Sam Sacks put an unused wall to good use when redesigning this high-contrast kitchen. A new pantry unit (background, left) provided her clients with the extra storage they craved, while an open bookshelf helped to break up an expanse of white cabinetry.
Keep plates sorted and out of sight with dividers that fit into deep drawers. Likewise, custom cup slots make grabbing a glass easy and accessible.
Narrow vertical drawers are perfect for storing spices, but that’s not the limit of their value. Use this space to store baking trays and cutting boards for quick and convenient access.
Make the most of space behind a sofa or chair to corral items, like a record collection, as designer Sophie Burke did in her West Vancouver home.
Aim for large-scale coffee tables with lots of surface and storage capacity, like this simple square one in Kristin Andersons’s home, which makes the most of style and function.
For bedrooms with limited closet space, forgo bedside tables in favor of a storage unit that makes the most of vertical and horizontal space around the bed.
Use the open space above storage cabinets to keep baskets that can store out-of-season accessories.
Keep a mess-prone kids’ bedroom organized with picture rail shelves. Not only do they help reduce floor clutter, but they provide a sweet and accessible space for display.