Kelly’s Favorite Things

Now, when it comes to home and life organization, we’ve got some tips and tricks up our sleeves. Thing is, we wouldn’t be able to put these tips into practice without proper (and often ingenious) tools. Things like, say, drawer dividers, hangers that come in color-coordinated matching sets, bins to hold kids’ laundry or toys, shelf dividers to make stacking dishes easier…

These products are what make our ideas work. We depend on them in our work with clients — and in our own lives, as well. So here are some of our favorite things — specifically me, Kelly. As a Classic Freedom, I like things organized but I’m not a drill sergeant about it. In other words, I have my act together. But, I’m not nagging everyone in my household about getting their’s together (my way) either.

So below, we present to you ‘Kelly’s Picks’. This month, we start with the basics. Containers feature big here, as many of these items are perfect for pilers (Smarts and Organics) who need to contain those piles. But with every tool devised for Fun, Organic, or Smart, you can usually find it in white or black for Classic types, too. Thus, there is something for everyone. Happy Shopping!

Kelly’s Picks

Voot Boot Shapers– You know when you’re trying to keep your knee high boots neat at the bottom of your closet or on a shelf, and they keep drooping and flopping over? Not anymore!

These handy inserts not only keep your boots in great shape and upright, but when taken out of the boot, they can be stored flat, creating more storage space in your closet.

Huggable Hangers– These amazing hangers by Joy Mangano come in an array of colors, and have been mentioned on our blog a number of times, just because they are that good! Clothes never slip off, and they are strong enough to hold a lady’s blazer without collapsing. For Funs who want to color code their closets, these are a terrific option. For Classics who require matching hangers, they work just as well!

Poppin Trays– These come in all colors (even Blush!) and can be used to hold items like keys, jewelry, or notecards, pens, etc. They can be coordinated to fit with the decor very easily due to the range of colors that are available. Put them in your entryway or home office. But, frankly they work anywhere you need to contain something that’s threatening to cause the dreaded clutter we always talk about in our book.

3 Sprout Storage Bins– These are super for kid organization. They come with all types of animals on them, making them easy to categorize and make rules for. For example, Marisa’s toys go in the fox bin, Alex’s toys go in the crocodile bin, etc. They also come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are great for Classics and Funs. Use the more open models for Organics and Smarts.

Shelves That Slide– These are a must for any deep shelf. They make things easier to reach as well as being customizable to fit into any space. Imagine never having to bend over and reach into a deep, dark storage space in your kitchen, hoping to find the right top to the right pan, ever again!

Glasslock Containers– These are perfect for storing leftovers, and go straight from fridge to oven (uncovered, of course). Who wants to risk eating contaminated food or being exposed to carcinogens from plastic containers? Not us!

Interdesign Linus Organizers– These come in all different shapes and sizes and fit into all different types of spaces, like kitchen drawers, desktops, etc. They are clear, so when you open that drawer or cabinet, you know exactly what is where. These are perfect for kitchen drawers, vanities, bedside table drawers, desk drawers, and any other place where you want to contain stuff. (Organics and Smarts, we are looking at you!).

Shelf Risers– These are just plain useful when it comes to kitchen organization. Buy a bunch of different sized pieces and see which ones fit into your kitchen cabinets — then return the rest. It’ll make retrieval that much easier when you’re reaching for some plates in a hurry. It cancels out the 2-handed combat you have to do to get the correct amount of plates. Shelf risers will eliminate that entire process by separating your big stack into more manageable ones.

In Conclusion

While these won’t organize your home and life FOR you, they will certainly make it a bit easier. All it will take is a bit of effort and insight from you — reading our book would be a great start — and you’ll be well on your way to better and more effective organization — done in a way that works for YOU.