I get most of my blog post ideas from questions that I repeatedly receive, and this blog post is no different.
One of the most popular questions that I receive is about how to make a home more organized and tidy.
Since home organization is at the top of many people's new year's resolutions, I decided to write about the actual products that I use to help organize my home, as well as some interior designer organization tips and tricks.
I have used many different storage containers over the years successfully and unsuccessfully, however I am very happy with the ones I am currently using.
(Disclaimer - This website contains affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission for purchases made through the links that offsets the fees associated with publishing this blog, however you will not pay any additional cost)
Decorative Storage
My favorite way to display items in a decorative and organized way is to put them in a glass jar, and my favorite glass jars are the Heritage Hill glass canisters from Anchor Hocking #ad.
These canisters come in many different sizes, so you can find the size that works best for the items you wish to store.
I do NOT suggest using them for unwrapped food since these canisters are not air tight.
There are many different types of items you can put on display in these canisters, such as buttons in a sewing room, coffee pods/tea bags or other pre-packaged foods in a kitchen, markers or office supplies in a home office, clothes pins or powdered laundry soap in a laundry room, marbles or other small toys in a child's room (making sure the glass will not get broken), travel sized toiletries in a guest bathroom, wrapped candy or pocket change in a bedroom, or commemorative matchbooks or seashells in a living room.
The canisters can be used alone or in multiples.
Unfortunately, these canisters do not come in a smaller size that I prefer for a bathroom countertop.
For decorative glass storage on a bathroom countertop, I prefer 24 ounce glass apothecary jars #ad because they are a perfect size for Q tips, cotton balls, hair ties, dental flossers, and more.
They come in a set of 6, so I split the set and put 3 canisters in 2 of my bathrooms.
Refrigerator Storage
I use 2 types of storage containers to keep my refrigerator organized - clear plastic containers without a lid and glass containers with plastic lids for food storage.
Clear plastic containers
I like to use clear plastic storage containers #ad for my refrigerator in order to group similar items together. I don't typically label these containers because the items in my refrigerator change regularly. I can slide the container out to see what is in the back of my fridge so items no longer get lost. They are great for containing spills that can be easily cleaned without having to clean the entire refrigerator.
Glass food storage containers
Like most people, I previously used plastic storage containers for left over food. These containers were always a hassle to store, I could never find the correct size lid, and they were often stained (especially with red sauce). I have not used plastic food storage in over a year and could not be happier with my decision. I have only a few different sizes of glass storage containers that stack together easily when not being used. They clean well and I can also cook in them (without the lid). These glass containers look very neat, tidy, and organized in my refrigerator, and it is easy to see what is inside each container since it is clear.
One of the main reasons why these containers work so well is because I changed the way that I put away leftover food. I previously packaged each food item separately (all the meat together, all the rice together, all the vegetable together, etc). The problem with that method is that it was a hassle to get everything out when in a rush to grab lunch quickly. Also, my teenagers would eat all of a side item and leave the adults missing part of the meal.
What I now do is package leftovers like a TV dinner. Each container has a complete meal of each item that has been divided perfectly between all containers so nothing goes to waste. The container can be put directly into the microwave (without the lid) and used as a plate, so there are no extra dishes to wash.
For packaging up individual meals with leftovers, I use Anchor Hocking 4-3/4 cup clear glass square containers #ad. I own 10 of these containers.
For little food items, such as sauces or garnishes, I use Anchor Hocking 2 cup round glass containers #ad. I own 6 of these containers. These small round containers are multipurpose because I also use them for serving individual dipping sauces on each person's plate (ketchup, BBQ sauce, pancake syrup, etc).
For storing larger food items or baking smaller dishes, I use Pyrex Simply Store Value Pack #ad that has 3 different sized containers. I own 1 set of these containers.
Pantry Storage
For my pantry, I use plastic storage containers with and without a lid, a can dispenser rack, a wall mounted spice rack, and air tight storage containers.
Open top container (also used under my kitchen sink for cleaning supplies)
I use the open top containers for taller items used daily or weekly - olive oil, cooking spray, peanut butter, honey, pre-packaged snacks for school lunches (removed from box), etc. These containers are not particularly attractive (they are actually Sterilite 8 quart dish pans #ad),but they serve their purpose. They are easy to clean and readily available online or at Walmart for a reasonable price. If you want more attractive open top pantry containers, I would suggest using the clear plastic containers that I use in my refrigerator (see above).
Stackable container with lid
These stackable containers with lids #ad are very similar to a shoe box in size. Since they have a lid, the boxes are stackable, so they are a very efficient use of space. I prefer these containers over other containers because the lid is clear (which looks nicer), the sides are not angled (does not waste space), and the overlap on the lid is minimal (does not waste space). I use these containers to store items that I do not use every day - toothpicks, bamboo skewers, extract, food coloring, chocolate chips, baking soda, artificial sweetener packets, cocoa, baking powder/soda, cornstarch, cupcake papers, pudding/gelatin boxes, sprinkles, microwave popcorn packets, hot chocolate packets, tea bags, restaurant sauce packets, etc. All of these boxes are labeled using a label maker so my family knows where each item is located since we do not access these items regularly.
Can dispenser rack
For my canned goods, I like to use a can dispenser rack #ad. This rack stores the cans efficiently and makes my pantry more organized. I own one rack currently, however I am considering purchasing a second one.
Wall mounted spice rack
For spices, I like to use a wall mounted spice rack #ad. The spices in the spice rack are organized alphabetically so I can easily find the spice I am looking for.
My previous pantry did not have any wall space, so I used a tiered spice rack #ad instead.
Air tight containers
I previously stored unwrapped food items on my countertop in tall cylindrical glass containers, but I recently changed to storing these items in my pantry to allow more countertop room. At first, I only stored baking products in these new air tight containers #ad,such as flour, sugar, marshmallows, coconut, pancake mix, biscuit mix, etc. Since those containers work so well, and my kids are not great at closing bags to keep food fresh, I have added to my collection of containers to store crackers, nuts, pretzels, chips, coffee, and cereal. These containers can be a financial investment if you decide to purchase many of them, but I have found them to be worth the money since they keep food from going stale, allow me to easily see what food I have, and look very organized. 
Storage for Larger Items
For storing larger items such as linens, Christmas decor, and family mementos, I like to use the same clear plastic box throughout my home - the Sterilite 58 quart clear storage box #ad with a white lid.
I like it because it is well made, is a minimal cost, and has been readily available at Walmart for many years so I can pick one up as needed (or I can buy them online).
Once filled, it is usually not too heavy to lift over my head to place on a high shelf or lift into the attic, unlike larger boxes.
Designer Tips and Tricks
1) Label your containers to help you and your family members keep your home organized. I like to use a label maker #ad because it looks tidy. The labels from my label maker are very easy to remove so labels can be changed as needed.
2) Don't forget to purge often. Just because you have room to store the item does not mean that you need to keep it. Make room for new items by donating ones that you no longer want or need.
3) Square containers are almost always more space efficient than rounded containers. Also try to get containers without an angled side or oversized lid to maximize storage space.
4) Try to limit the types of storage containers that you use. Using many different types, shapes, and colors will make your home look cluttered and messy. When in doubt, purchase the storage container that is the most basic and has been available for a long time so you can add to your collection as needed.
5) Plan for the items you are going to put in the space before buying containers. If you want to store little items, use little containers. For bigger items, use bigger containers.
6) Review your organizational containers regularly to make sure you are using them effectively. Move items around to different rooms or different shelves to make the storage more efficient and effective. By using the same containers throughout your home, you can move the containers from room to room and they all still match.
7) If you want a designer look in your pantry or closet, try to allow a few inches of open space between your storage containers. The open space makes your pantry or closet feel larger and more organized.
8) Creating a well organized home does not necessarily mean that you get extra room to store more items, but that your items are arranged in a way that they can be easily located while looking neat and tidy.
