50 Insanely Clever Organizing Ideas

I have received many e-mails from readers who are struggling to keep their home organized. This seems to be a common problem with many people (me included) so I have scoured the internet to bring you 50 of the best organizing tips and tricks around.
Enjoy!!

Use a wire shelf to organize rolls of wrapping paper. If you don't have a wire shelf a simple piece of scrap wood or even stretching a bungee cord across the area would work just as well.

photo source

Attach jar lids to the underside of cabinets or shelves to organize all of the little things. Perfect for craft items, nuts and bolts, girls' hair accessories, or any other small items you have laying around the house.
photo source

Keep cords off the floor and out of sight by attaching a couple binder clips to the back of your desk or entertainment center. 

photo source

Add a board and wheels to the bottom of a basket and you have yourself a rolling storage cart. This would be great for books, yarn, craft material, toys, or just about anything you can think of.

photo source

Pin your plastic bags to the wall inside your pantry. Not only will our bags be easily accessible but it will free up some space on your shelves.
photo source unknown

Use a dish-drying rack to organize a child's art center. Stack books or blank paper between the prongs. Store markers, crayons, and pencils in the utensil caddy.
photo source

Using PVC pipe and some rope you can easily add a second clothing bar to you closet. Perfect for small apartments or if you have little kids that can't quite reach the top bar. Another idea would be to use a spring-loaded shower curtain rod allowing you to adjust the height as needed

photo source

Use frames to organize and store thread, twine and rope. Not only will they be easily accessible but they look pretty too. 

photo source

Recycle drawers by adding some wheels and use for under-the-bed rolling storage.
photo source unavailable 

Using command hooks (or screw hooks if you don't mind the holes), hang wire baskets on the back of your closet door to store purses, scarves, and other accessories. To save money, search garage sales for older baskets and spray paint them to match your decor.

photo source

Attach a drying rack to the top of a basket to organize all of those pesky food storage lids.
Just thread fishing line through the holes in the basket and over the top of the drying rack to hold it in place.
photo source unknown

Use toilet paper rolls to organize your cords then decorate with washi tape to beautify them?

photo source

Hang baskets on curtain rods to take advantage of unused wall space. The baskets can be attached with zip ties or  S-hooks (I think that's the proper name for them). This is a perfect idea for storing extra hand towels in the bathroom, organizing kids' toys, keeping craft items together, or even storing items in the garage.
photo source unknown 

Install a shelf above the door for extra bathroom storage. This would also be great in the garage, bedroom, or even storing items in a toddlers room that you need to be out of your child's reach.

photo source

Carve a few nooks into your medicine cabinet shelf and you have hidden storage for your tooth brushes.

photo source

These shoe organizers are great for ANY door or cabinet. You can hang them in the laundry room for cleaning supplies or the kids bedroom to organize toys. Also perfect in the craft room for yarn, fabric, or other craft items. You could even hang one inside your shower to store bath supplies (just make sure there is a way for water to drain out of the pockets).
photo source unknown

Keep your cell phone off the floor or counter while it's charging by carving an empty lotion bottle into a nifty cell phone holder. (If you attempt this make sure your holder is resting on the plug and not the metal prongs which could cause a fire.)

photo source

Glue some clothespins or use screw hooks on a strip of wood for a creative way to organize belts and necklaces. You could also use the clothes pins to hang a small box or basket for chunky bracelets or other items that wont fit the clothespins.

photo source

Use shower curtain rods to hang and organize your purses. If you don't have any room on your clothing rod try using a small tension rod in an unused nook or even inside a cabinet.

photo source 

Use screw hooks to hang a basket under your desk to keep cords hidden and off the floor.
photo source unknown

Glue an envelope to the inside of your journal or a notebook to store all of those little keepsakes or current projects.

photo source

Use crates to make a coffee table with lots of storage. Just attach the crates to a large board and add casters.
photo source

Place your kitchen items inside a plastic tub before storing them in your cupboards. No more digging for stuff in the back. (This would also work great in the bathroom or garage.)
photo source

Glue old book spines to a box for hidden storage. Leave the front cover on one of the books and the back cover on another to use as the sides of your box. This would be perfect for spare remotes, cables, router, or anything else you wish to keep out of site but accessible.
photo source 

Use bungee cords to corral balls in the garage. Another idea would be to use a similar concept with a section of a book shelf to store stuffed animals or other toys in the playroom.
photo source

 

Add a magnetic strip to the inside of a medicine cabinet or cupboard to store bobby pins, nail clippers, and tweezers.

photo source

Glue magnets to the back of your kids drinking glasses to keep them within your kids reach and to keep you from washing several glasses every day.

photo source

Make a simple ribbon dispenser using soda bottles. Cut the top off of two bottles, squish the two bottom halves together and cut a slit in the side. Use rubber bands to hold the bottles together and to keep the ribbon ends in place.

photo source

Organize hair ties with a carabiner. Attach a hook to the inside of a cabinet to keep your hair ties easily accessible.

photo source

This is a great idea for those in need of two office spaces but don't have the space. Cut a table in half and attach it to a book shelf. You could hang a cork board or calendar to the back side for additional organization or even use two book shelves back to back.
photo source

Attach small side tables to the wall. Not only does it raise the height of the table so you can reach it easier but you can also place a basket underneath for additional storage.
photo source

Add shelving to the inside of closet doors to organize books and games. This would also be perfect in the pantry for spices and boxed items.
photo source

Add a wire basket under you deck for additional outdoor storage space. What a great way to hide garden hoses, outdoor dog toys, or sport equipment.
source unknown

 Stay on top of the laundry with this DIY laundry system. Assign one basket to each family member and keep them accountable for their own clothes.
photo source

Use wire hangers to organize your shoes and keep them off the floor. Just bend the hangers like the ones in the photo above and decorate with paper or fabric.
photo source

 Organize your outfits using soda pop tabs.
photo source

 Add dividers to any box to organize cords and chargers. Include labels so that you know what each cord is for then put the lid on and place the box on a book shelf or someplace that is easy to reach. 
photo source

 Keep coupons and receipt organized with a ribbon memo board. Use duct tape to attach the ribbon to some foam board then hang it inside a cabinet.

photo source

Use adhesive hooks to hang lids on the back side of the cupboard door. No more digging around in the back of the cupboard to find the lid you need.
photo source unknown

 Cut hanging file folders in half and drape your fabric over them then store inside a filing drawer or file box. This makes it so much easier to find the fabric you are looking for.
photo source

Screw eye screws into a wooden hanger to organize earrings and necklaces.
photo source

Recycle baby wipe cases to store game pieces. So much better than using the bulky boxes that the games originally come in. You could also spray paint them to match your decor.
photo source

 

Use moulding on a wall or in a closet to organize your shoes and get them off the floor.
photo source

 Organize all of those little items with labeled Altoids tins.
photo source

Hang cork board to the inside of kitchen cupboards to keep track of all your important notes.
photo source unknown

For long road trips, stick shower baskets to the window to organize markers, snacks, and other fun items for your kids.
photo source

Keep kids art work from getting out of control by making this fun art display. The clipboards allow you to easily change out your child's work as needed.
photo source

Using a repurposed door on top of cube organizers makes for a simple craft table with lots of storage.

photo source

Use shoe boxes to organize your drawers. This makes to so much easier to find what you need and keeps items from getting lost in the back of the drawer.
photo source

Use Velcro to keep drawer organizers from sliding around whenever you open or close the drawer.
photo source 

What about you? Do you have any great organizing tips and tricks you would like to share?

If you enjoyed this post you may also enjoy my Ultimate Life Planning System (FREE organizing printables)

Do you have any diy tutorials, organizing tips, or recipes that you would like to share with DIY Home Sweet Home readers? 

If so, please fill out the 'Get Featured' form for a chance to be featured on this blog!