5 Ways to Organize a Cluttered Home and Garage (VIDEO)
A cluttered home and garage will frustrate just about anyone. Clothes and shoes on the ground, and tools and junk all over the garage will make you scream but a recent trip to the hardware store inspired me to become more organized. I decided I needed to organize my very small and cluttered rooms and storage. Then I looked at the price tags. There was no way I could afford to spend $200 on a system of boxes, shelves, and cubbies.
1. Organize Your Home Like a Pro
What I like so much about places like Ikea is they offer an organizational solution for any item you can possibly have in your home. But upon further consideration, I realized I don’t need clear boxes for each pair of shoes; I need shelves. When I went home and looked for something that might serve as a shelf. I found one that fit perfectly in my closet. Unfortunately, I only had one, and I have a lot of shoes. I kept it in the back of my mind as I ran errands. I ended up at Target and found a matching shelf for only $14. Right now, it’s priced at $10.99 online. This will sure help with the cluttered rooms and garage.
2. You Don’t Have to be Spend a Lot to Organize Like a Pro
I had been inspired to set up vertical shelves to hold my folded pants, but I just couldn’t spend $200 on a wire shelving unit. I looked at Home Depot, but the prices were still high, and the results were so permanent. As I was sorting clothes, I found an old hanging sweater bag I’d bought during college. It’s identical to this one, only $14 at Ikea. I knew I’d kept it for a reason. I put it up and put away my pants. It works as well, if not better than a built-in shelf system to help with the cluttered clothes.
I know a lot of people used these in college so it’s good to ask to see if a friend or relative has one lying around unused. Target and even Bed Bath & Beyond have their own versions, too. If you go to Bed Bath & Beyond, don’t forget to check your mail for one of its $5 off coupons to bring along.
3. DIY Home Projects
Finally, I decided I did love those slim-line velvet hangers (no more clothes slipping off onto the floor!) and I just had to have them in my beautiful new closet. Sometimes you have to splurge, but wisely. I checked out Costco and got 30 hangers for $10 in-store (the deal doesn’t appear online). If you’re not a member, check out places like T.J. Maxx, for sets of 20 for $7. Amazon has 50 for under $25. Don’t spend more than 50 cents per hanger. You can find a better deal.
The total cost of the closet makeover was $24 for the shelf and hangers. If I had needed to buy another shelf and hanging sweater organizer, I still would have spent less than $60. If I had done the original makeover, I would have paid $30 for hangers, $37 for shoeboxes, and up to $250 for a vertical shelving system. Here are some other items I’ve re-purposed into functional organizational treasures.
4. Drawer Dividers
Instead of buying them, make your own. Cut up cardboard boxes to the right length with a pair of scissors or a utility knife. If you want to make the dividers pretty, wrap them in contact paper. Drawer dividers come in handy when you have a lot of clothes and not enough drawer space. Without drawer space, you are on your way to a cluttered drawer.
5. Decorative Storage Boxes
Instead of buying adorably decorated boxes to put around the home, make them out of old shoeboxes using either heavy-duty wrapping paper or contact paper. If you’re really crafty, you can paint the boxes to match your room, then store photos, reading material, or remote controls inside.