5 Smart Storage Solutions for a Clutter-Free Home

Let's be honest—no matter how hard we try to keep our homes clean, clutter can sneak up on us. One minute everything is in its place, and the next, you're tripping over shoes in the hallway or shoving random items into drawers to get them out of sight. As someone who runs a house cleaning business, I’ve seen firsthand how clutter can creep in and take over, even in the tidiest homes. But here's the good news: you don’t have to live in a cluttered space! With a few smart storage solutions, you can keep things organized and create a home that feels calm, open, and clutter-free.

In this article, I’ll share five of my favorite storage solutions that have made a big difference in my own home and in the homes of my clients. These ideas are practical, easy to implement, and will help you stay organized without a ton of effort.

1. Use Multi-Functional Furniture

One of the easiest ways to tackle clutter is by investing in multi-functional furniture. In smaller spaces, this is a game-changer! Pieces that serve more than one purpose not only save you space but also give you extra storage for things that might otherwise end up on the floor or cluttering your shelves.

What to Look For:

• Ottomans with storage. These are fantastic for living rooms. They serve as extra seating, a footrest, and a place to hide blankets, magazines, or toys.
• Bed frames with drawers. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve suggested this to clients with small bedrooms. A bed frame with built-in drawers is perfect for storing extra linens, seasonal clothes, or shoes.
• Coffee tables with shelves or lift-up tops. My personal favorite is the coffee table with a lift-up top—it doubles as a workspace and has hidden storage for remote controls, books, and other items you don’t want cluttering up the space.

2. Take Advantage of Vertical Space: Up, Not Out

Most people forget about the space above their heads when they’re organizing their homes. Using vertical storage is one of the best ways to maximize your square footage without crowding your floor space.

Vertical Storage Ideas:

• Wall-mounted shelves. These work in just about any room. In the kitchen, they’re perfect for storing spices, cookbooks, or small appliances. In the bathroom, they can hold toiletries and towels.
• Over-the-door organizers. These are great for keeping shoes, cleaning supplies, or even pantry items out of the way. I personally use an over-the-door organizer for cleaning products in my laundry room, and it keeps everything neatly in one place.
• Pegboards. These are fantastic for garages, craft rooms, or home offices. You can hang tools, supplies, and other items on pegboards, keeping them off the counters and easily accessible.

3. Baskets and Bins

When in doubt, grab a basket! Baskets and bins are one of my favorite solutions for quick, easy organization. They help keep things contained, especially in high-traffic areas like living rooms, bedrooms, and entryways. Plus, they can be as stylish as they are functional.

How to Use Baskets and Bins:

• For toys. If you have kids, you know how quickly toys can take over a room. I always recommend keeping a few large bins or baskets in the living room or playroom for easy clean-up. Teach the kids to toss their toys in at the end of the day—it’s a simple solution that works.
• For entryway clutter. A basket by the door can be a lifesaver for things like shoes, keys, mail, and other items that get dumped as soon as people walk in.
• For bathroom storage. Use small baskets or bins under the sink to organize toiletries, cleaning supplies, and extra towels.

Pro Tip: I once worked with a family who had three kids, and their living room was a toy explosion. We added a few large wicker baskets with lids in the corner of the room, and clean-up time became a breeze. Even the kids loved it because it was so easy to toss their toys into the bins!

4. Declutter Your Closets with Hanging Organizers

Closets are one of the easiest places for clutter to build up. We all know what it’s like to open the closet door and feel like an avalanche of clothes or shoes is about to come tumbling out. That’s why I’m a huge fan of hanging organizers—they take advantage of the space that often gets wasted underneath hanging clothes and create a more organized, accessible closet.

Best Hanging Organizer Solutions:

• Hanging shelves. These are great for storing folded clothes, shoes, or even handbags. They attach to your closet rod and keep everything neat and visible.
• Hanging shoe racks. If you’re short on floor space, hanging shoe racks are a must. They free up room on the closet floor and make it easy to see your shoe collection at a glance.
• Hanging storage bags. These are perfect for small accessories like scarves, belts, or hats. They help keep everything off the floor and organized.

5. Drawer Dividers

We all have that one drawer—the infamous junk drawer that seems to swallow everything from batteries to paper clips. Drawer dividers are a simple yet effective solution to keep your drawers organized and prevent them from becoming a jumbled mess.

How to Use Drawer Dividers:

• In the kitchen. Keep utensils, measuring spoons, and other small tools neatly separated so you can easily find what you need.
• In the bedroom. Use dividers in your dresser to organize socks, underwear, and accessories.
• In the home office. Tame the clutter of office supplies with drawer dividers that separate pens, notepads, and other essentials.

Pro Tip: I had a client whose kitchen drawers were so chaotic that she couldn’t find anything when she needed it. We added some simple drawer dividers, and suddenly everything had its place. She told me later that it made cooking so much more enjoyable because she wasn’t constantly digging through cluttered drawers.

Keeping your home clutter-free doesn’t have to be a struggle. With the right storage solutions, you can create a space that feels open, organized, and calming. From multi-functional furniture to vertical storage and handy drawer dividers, these smart storage solutions can make a big difference in any home. And trust me, once you’ve put them into place, maintaining that clean, clutter-free space becomes so much easier.

Happy organizing!

‍