Tips for Creative Home Organization

Odds & Ends 
From markers and craft paper to batteries and envelopes, we all have a long list of items that get lots of use. In lieu of the usual plastic bins or overflowing kitchen drawers, stow everyday odds and ends in boxes, bins or baskets that are covered in a soft fabric or woven texture.

• Softer storage: With lots of colors, patterns and materials to choose from, these upholstered options lend a softer—and more decorative—look to your room. Plus, they’re easy to pull out and then stow away as needed on a shelf or beneath a side table.

Dishes, Towels & Linens 
For items you use frequently—like dishware, hand towels and linens—instead of stowing them away, consider openly displaying them in eye-catching ways in areas you may not have considered before. If you’re pressed for space, simply replace non-functional knick-knacks or rarely used dishware and appliances with these more functional ways for better home décor and home organization:

•  Out in the open: In the kitchen, work with what you have and add a punch of color by lining brightly-hued dishware and artistic pottery pieces along open shelves or in a large hutch without doors. Simple changes like grouping glass goblets or a collection of metal bowls along a shelf adds a light-catching silhouette to your space.

• Simply stacked: Apply the same design principle in your bathroom, neatly stacking towels, linens and soaps in plain view on shelving, in a glass-front cabinet or on a small end table. Or try tightly rolling hand towels and piling into a woven basket.

Tip: When you’re using your bath and kitchen items as display pieces, it helps you keep them neat and in place on a daily basis.

Jewelry, Scarves & Accessories 
Showpieces like necklaces and bangles don’t simply bring an outfit to life—they’re gorgeous as accessories for your room as well. Put these fun colors and textures on display with a project that’s inexpensive and truly dimensional.

• Neat knobs: Use doorknobs and drawer pulls in various sizes and styles to form a decidedly different wall décor in your bedroom or bathroom. Simply mount the pieces in an artistic composition over a dresser or side table, and then hang necklaces, bracelets, even hand towels, linens, handkerchiefs and scarves, from the knobs.

Tip: For extra flair, paint the wall in a dark, dramatic hue that contrasts the colors of the knobs—it will create a whimsical floating effect.

Groceries 
After your weekly trip to the supermarket, shelf and drawer space in the fridge or pantry can fill up fast. Next time you unload your grocery goods, pause and examine the shapes, colors and textures of your foods.

• Bowls of beauty: Pile ripe, brightly colored fruits and vegetables like green apples, oranges, lemons or artichokes into a bowl and place on your counter, kitchen island or use as a centerpiece for your table. Make a bold statement by grouping together several of the same items, or play with mixing and matching.

• Clear visions: Pour smaller items like nuts, dried pasta and beans into clear vases or glass canisters for a home storage solution that brings color, shape and aroma to your space. Place your canister collection along the top of your cabinets, on top of a hutch or group on shelf over the sink or stove.

With an organized eye and a creative sensibility, stowing objects can be fun, easy and inexpensive. By treating your everyday objects as sensory treasures, you unlock their artistic potential and create home organization that’s clean and brimming with beauty.