Finding the Hidden Space in Your Place: Organizational Options For Your Home

Whether you live in an apartment, trailer, or condo, finding enough places for your stuff can be a daunting task. With all the choices of containers and organizers, and even organizing books, how do you know what's right for you? Here's a quick review of the more popular options and great places and uses for them.

One of the best out of sight places for storage is under the bed. Purchased options include choices of hard boxes (some with wheels), or soft zipper closing bags. Home made options include using shopping bags or cutting down boxes to fit. If you're storing clothing under the bed, or fabric items, spend the money to get containers - plastic boxes or the vinyl bags. The choice is yours. Other items, such as books, papers, etc, don't always need to be covered. Containers would keep dust off. Which works best for you and your budget?

Another under-used spot for storage is the top shelf in the closets. Re-used boxes from purchased items make great cheap containers. Tape a piece of paper to them and label the contents. Consider also the floor space at the back of the closet.

If your closet floor is home to shoes galore, then invest in one of the hanging shoe racks - either the over the door kind, or the vinyl ones that will hang in the closet. Add your shoes and now you can layer some smaller boxes on the floor in the back of your closet. An extra bonus: no more hunting for the matching shoe.

The vinyl pocket shoe organizers offer many more uses besides just shoes. Bag's with small pockets (over the door type) can be used for stockings, pantyhose, socks. A smaller version in the bathroom is great for hair needs and makeup. The shelf type that hangs in the closet can also be used to stack sweaters, sweatshirts, even jeans.

In a child's room, those same shelf-type shoe organizers are great for small board games, toys, books and even stuffed animals. The pocket type can be hung on a wall and used for toy cars and fashion dolls.

Kitchen cabinets are often overstuffed and unorganized. At least they appear to be overstuffed. Most kitchens have that notorious corner cabinet - you know the one. Half is easy to get too, but the side that sticks back out of the way- where the door isn't located - is often the land of the lost. Shoe boxes stacked and labeled in this lost corner make a great solution. This hard to get to spot is good for storing seasonal items. Got fancy dishes you only use at holidays? Holiday cookie cutters? Do you only bake once or twice a year? How about that great big soup pot? You use it how often?

The key to the kitchen is to be objective. I have a horde of cookie cutters, cheesecake pans, etc. But I really only pull them out at Christmas. For a once a year thing, that back space is perfect.