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I love looking at all the organizing tips on Pinterest (can you tell I'm a Pinterest addict?). And a lot of times, on the surface, they look awesome. But then... when you really think about them, they don't make a lot of sense.
Here's a pin on "52 totally feasible ways to organize your life">. It says: "Time to get your life together! These are the quick, cheap tips that don't entail remodeling or custom-building expensive furniture pieces to gain precious storage space." (emphasis mine)
But are they? Are they really? Let's go down the list.
1. Use a Rail in Your Sink Cabinet for Cleaning Products/Use a Magnetic Rack to Store Knives
Doable, and cheap(-ish). I find it's easier to only have one, maybe two cleaning products, though, and I really hate the way the magnet knife holder looks. There are much prettier (but more expensive) under-cabinet storage options
2. Use Tension Curtain Rods as a Divider for Cupboards
Not cheap, not always doable. The picture shows 6 tension rods at maybe $5 each? AND you have to have just the right cabinet/shelf for that to even work.
3. Store Foil, Saran Wrap, and Wax Paper Rolls Inside of a Magazine Rack
How is this helpful? I keep mine in a drawer, works way better
4. Use a Magazine Rack to Store Pot Lids/Short curtain rods work, too.
Not exceptionally cheap, either way, and I don't know about you, but mu cupboards just don't look like that. You have to make sure there's room to close the door, and my stuff is packed in there. (I did find a completely-not-cheap but AWESOME pot organizer I want from Home Depot, though!)
5. Hang Pots and Pans on the Ceiling
Okay, I don't want a "repurposed" sled hanging from my ceiling, and pot racks are definitely not cheap. Plus, all that grease and steam in the air when you cook? All over your pots. Yes, yes, vent fans and all, but they really don't work that well.
6. Attach Magnetic Spice Racks to the Side of Your Fridge
What a pain in the butt that would be - you know spices would stick to the lid and you'd get flakes everywhere when you opened them, PLUS there's no perforated lid to shake out "about yay much" into a dish. And if you get the ones big enough to store the entire container of spice, they're not going to be cheap (if they are, I bet you the lids won't fit that well and you'll end up with spices all over the floor).
7. Utilize Wall Space to Hang Utensils
You really think that organizer is cheap? Plus, again, anything hanging out in the open is going to get dirty. And I don't know about you, but one thing my kitchen does not have is wall space. And any kitchen I had that had wall space, it was a place you walked by and you'd constantly be brushing up against those things and knocking them down.
8. Use a Deep Kitchen Drawer to Store Utensils Vertically
One, I don't have deep kitchen drawers, but if you do... ever get crumbs and stuff in your drawers? You want to try to clean those tiny cubbies out? Or better yet, let the "in-your-mouth" end of your silverware rub up against all the grime?
9. Supplement Your Fridge Storage
I... fail to see how this helps anything, just gives you more bits of plastic to clean (oh, look, more things to buy!).
10. Keep Bulk Items in Stackable Bins/Drawers
What a novel idea! Wait... I have that. They're these things called... canisters. Been around for ages...
11. Attach Undershelves in a Cabinet to Take Advantage of Vertical Space
Least you think me just being mean-spirited, while I don't think this is a good idea for coffee mugs (I've has some of those wire storage racks, not that sturdy), it is a decent idea for a lot of things - like spice/gravy packets in a pantry, for example. The wire wracks aren't hugely expensive (I guess it's all in how you interpret "cheap" here).
12. Hang boots with pants hangers.
I can't imagine that's good for the boots. Also, do people have that many boots?!
13. Hang Shoes on the Wall Using Crown Molding
How low are those ceilings? As a short person, not at all a good idea if I don't want to need to keep a stool in the closet to get my shoes down. Also, I have no wall space in my closet. And crown molding isn't at all cheap.
14. Label Your Hangers
Holy crap... wait, you're serious?! I'm just going to leave this one alone...
15. Turn Your Hangers to Find Out What You Really Wear
Not so much an organization tip as a "how to purge" tip, but it's a workable one, at least!
16. Use Divider Shelves to Store Sweaters
Why do you need the divider shelves? I find just the stacks work perfectly well. Cheaper, too!
17. Hang Belts and Ties on a Sliding Rack
Not one I have much use for, as I don't really have belts (or ties), but I can at least see it working for some people.
18. Hang Eyewear on a Hanger/Or make a sweet little display with a sturdy ribbon and a headscarf.
Err... sweet little display? Okay... I'd rather make a Muppet glasses holder, but that's just me.
19. Use Shower Curtain Hooks to Hang Handbags
This seems to assume you have more closet rod space than, say, shelf space... and that you have bags you routinely swap in and out of. Neither applies to me, but then, I'm probably odd in that I think I own 3 purses in total.
20. Use Command Hooks to Hang Jewelry on the Inside of a Closet Door
I think this looks horrible, and that there are much better jewelry organization tips out there.
21. Store Shoes with One Facing Forwards and the Other Facing Backwards
I measured this. It gains me 1/4" per pair of shoes. Assuming I have, say, a dozen pairs of shoes and they average to this, that saves me 3" of closet space. Enough for almost a single extra shoe. Effectiveness of this will vary on shoe size and style, probably. But I can't see it freeing out huge amounts of space, and it can't be used in conjunction with any of the other she storage techniques (like the crown molding one).
22. Cut Up a Pool Noodle and Place in Boots to Keep Them Upright
It's the description that gets me on this on - to keep them from flopping over and taking up valuable floor space! Because setting them next to each other wouldn't hold them up. Actually, the first time I saw this tip it was to keep from accidentally creasing and ruining the leather, which makes more sense. And, again, how many boots do people have?
23. Store Matching Sheets Inside of Their Pillowcases
It will never look like that, trust me. Who can perfectly fold a fitted sheet? And, honestly, when I fold my sheets they end up a lot smaller than a pillowcase, which would not fit un-folded on my linen closet shelf. Folding them in a neat stack is just as "organized", can be tailored to your shelf depth, and takes a lot less time being finicky.
24. Attach Tweezers to the Inside of a Bathroom Cabinet with a Magnet
Okay, this is brilliant, and I have done it.
25. Use a Magnetic Rack to Store Hygiene Tools
Kind of a repeat of #24.
26. Store Your Hair Appliances with PVC Pipe Attached to the Inside of a Cabinet/Or use a magazine rack.
...but make sure you don't put them away while warm! I don't use a curling iron, so I can't speak to this. Again, though, when attaching things to the insides of doors you have to remember that you can't fill that cabinet space. Also, I like the magazine rack way more because fiddling with getting the cords coiled up in the little pipe? No thank you.
27. Make Bathroom Wall Storage out of Mason Jars and Picture Hangers
Do not like the way that looks, but the idea of sticking containers to the wall is valid, if you have more wall space than counter space.
28. Use Glass Bottles to Store Bracelets and Ponytail Holders/Or you could use a paper towel holder if you're paranoid about glass falling and breaking.
Which is great until it's the one on the bottom you want. Again.
29. Put All Your Makeup into One Magnetic Palette (Palette is $29 from Unii.)
Not really cheap, but I can see the appeal of this one. Though I'd probably want more than one pallete, different ones for eyeshadow and blush. And, apparently, getting the makeup out of the original cases isn't that easy and you might end up destroying several of them (from comments on the "how to make your own" tutorials).
30. Put a Shelf Over Your Bathroom Door for the Stuff You Don't Need Regular Access To
Possibly plausible, though not as cheap or easy as it seems. Hanging shelves rarely is.
31. Hang Baskets on Rails to Store Towels and Shower Supplies
Why baskets? Why rails? How does this take up any less space than shelves?! And it looks a lot... odder.
32. DIY Magnetic Makeup Board
This one kind of confuses me, because most of the organization tips are about getting things hidden and out of the way. This just looks... messy. Though I can see how it would be convenient. IF you have the wall space.
33. Make a Pressing Surface to Replace Your Ironing Board
How is this better than an ironing board? It has no tapered point for sleeves, it has to be set on something (I know I'm short, but my washer is too high to comfortably iron on, and my laundry room is tiny, plus, you have to leave the washer closed the whole time then). If you want to get rid of the "unruly" (which... is it really? I always thought it was kinda handy and mobile and collapsed for easy storage) get an ironing board that folds up into the wall.
34. Use a Shoe Organizer to Store Cleaning Supplies
Or, have fewer cleaning supplies. You really don't need that many.
35. Put Washer and Dryer on a Shelf
Only if you have a front-loader (I can barely reach over the edge and to the bottom of my washer as it is!) and this is NOT going to be cheap.
36. Hang a Ladder from the Ceiling for Air Drying Clothes
I don't get the appeal of "reclaimed" everything... I have a wire shelf/closet rod in my laundry room that does the trick. Door frames also work for hangers, if you want really cheap, and it will get you to put your clothes away as son as they're dry!
37. Use Cables to Store Balls
I'm guessing that doesn't work as well as they'd like you to think, nothing is keeping that soccer ball from escaping, not really.
38. Hang a Pegboard with Movable Hooks to Organize Kids' Sports Gear
Pegboards aren't cheap, but they are great for all sorts of storage. We have them in the garage for tools. If you don't mind the not-so-pretty look, they're a very good solution.
39. Separate Nails, Screws, Batteries and Other Small Items in Jars
I've never liked the way this looked, but it's a workable solution is you have a lot of little bits. I've seen in done a lot with baby food jars, since they tend to be shallower and wider.
40. Store Bins on the Ceiling
...unless you have a garage door that's *not* 3' below the garage ceiling. I have about 6" between the door and the ceiling. Not ideal.
41. Coffee Canisters to Store Yarn
Again, how is this better than a shelf? The round of the coffee cans takes up MORE space, and your yarn will smell like coffee. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing...
42. Use the IKEA Grundtal System to Organize Crafts
I'm going to guess that by the time you add up all those pieces, it's not exactly "cheap". Plus, I've never seen a real, used craft room look anything like these model pictures.
43. Display Supplies on a Pegboard
As if, any real crafter has that few supplies that would fit that neatly.
44. Choose an Ottoman with Storage
That seems a fine idea, if you have an ottoman at all.
45. Put Unsightly DVDs in Boxes
So... DVDs are "unsightly", but you want me to stick my half-used makeup to the wall with magnets? I don't understand you. Again, shelves work just fine, and it's a heck of a lot easier to find things!
46. Label Your Cords
I have no beef with this one, but I've never done it - I suppose I don't have that many cords I need to identify that often.
47. Store Vinyl in a Bench or Window Seat
Provided you 1) have vinyl records (we do, they are in a bookcase) and 2) have a place for a window seat that is near where you'd use the vinyl (we do not).
48. Get a cable organizer./You could also hang a kitchen basket under a shelf or a desk.
I like keeping cords organized, but if they're tucked out of sight I find winding them up and rubber banding/twisty tying them in bundles is just dandy. And really, really cheap.
49. Mark and Label Everything!
How many times are you going to rub that chalk off when you grab the container? And I'm pretty sure I wouldn't write that neatly with chalk. Pretty in theory, I don't know how it would hold up to real-world use.
50. Cut Up Shoe Holders and Attach to the Inside of Cabinets for Extra Organization
I like how they call this not attractive. But! For little odds and ends, I can see this working well. I'd probably prefer slightly smaller pouches, but I think this is doable - of you keep them small enough it's not too much of an issue closing the door.
51. Organize a Junk Drawer with Altoid Tins
I like this idea. I'm not sure I'd ever be that organized, but I like it. Possibly because it uses tins, and I love those tins.
52. Repurpose! Reuse paint cans, tins, mason jars, and plastic containers to store small things. There are so many creative ways to repurpose them.
I've not found *most* repurposing either attractive or practical. But if the idea is simply to look outside of the box, maybe use something not quite in the way it was intended, I can get behind that. At the end of the day, an old plastic food container is still going to look like a cheap old plastic food container, though. Try to repurpose wisely.
So, that took me two days to get around to finishing and was completely pointless. But there you have it. I did at least get one cool thing out of it! My tweezers now have a home.
Here's a pin on "52 totally feasible ways to organize your life">. It says: "Time to get your life together! These are the quick, cheap tips that don't entail remodeling or custom-building expensive furniture pieces to gain precious storage space." (emphasis mine)
But are they? Are they really? Let's go down the list.
1. Use a Rail in Your Sink Cabinet for Cleaning Products/Use a Magnetic Rack to Store Knives
Doable, and cheap(-ish). I find it's easier to only have one, maybe two cleaning products, though, and I really hate the way the magnet knife holder looks. There are much prettier (but more expensive) under-cabinet storage options
2. Use Tension Curtain Rods as a Divider for Cupboards
Not cheap, not always doable. The picture shows 6 tension rods at maybe $5 each? AND you have to have just the right cabinet/shelf for that to even work.
3. Store Foil, Saran Wrap, and Wax Paper Rolls Inside of a Magazine Rack
How is this helpful? I keep mine in a drawer, works way better
4. Use a Magazine Rack to Store Pot Lids/Short curtain rods work, too.
Not exceptionally cheap, either way, and I don't know about you, but mu cupboards just don't look like that. You have to make sure there's room to close the door, and my stuff is packed in there. (I did find a completely-not-cheap but AWESOME pot organizer I want from Home Depot, though!)
5. Hang Pots and Pans on the Ceiling
Okay, I don't want a "repurposed" sled hanging from my ceiling, and pot racks are definitely not cheap. Plus, all that grease and steam in the air when you cook? All over your pots. Yes, yes, vent fans and all, but they really don't work that well.
6. Attach Magnetic Spice Racks to the Side of Your Fridge
What a pain in the butt that would be - you know spices would stick to the lid and you'd get flakes everywhere when you opened them, PLUS there's no perforated lid to shake out "about yay much" into a dish. And if you get the ones big enough to store the entire container of spice, they're not going to be cheap (if they are, I bet you the lids won't fit that well and you'll end up with spices all over the floor).
7. Utilize Wall Space to Hang Utensils
You really think that organizer is cheap? Plus, again, anything hanging out in the open is going to get dirty. And I don't know about you, but one thing my kitchen does not have is wall space. And any kitchen I had that had wall space, it was a place you walked by and you'd constantly be brushing up against those things and knocking them down.
8. Use a Deep Kitchen Drawer to Store Utensils Vertically
One, I don't have deep kitchen drawers, but if you do... ever get crumbs and stuff in your drawers? You want to try to clean those tiny cubbies out? Or better yet, let the "in-your-mouth" end of your silverware rub up against all the grime?
9. Supplement Your Fridge Storage
I... fail to see how this helps anything, just gives you more bits of plastic to clean (oh, look, more things to buy!).
10. Keep Bulk Items in Stackable Bins/Drawers
What a novel idea! Wait... I have that. They're these things called... canisters. Been around for ages...
11. Attach Undershelves in a Cabinet to Take Advantage of Vertical Space
Least you think me just being mean-spirited, while I don't think this is a good idea for coffee mugs (I've has some of those wire storage racks, not that sturdy), it is a decent idea for a lot of things - like spice/gravy packets in a pantry, for example. The wire wracks aren't hugely expensive (I guess it's all in how you interpret "cheap" here).
12. Hang boots with pants hangers.
I can't imagine that's good for the boots. Also, do people have that many boots?!
13. Hang Shoes on the Wall Using Crown Molding
How low are those ceilings? As a short person, not at all a good idea if I don't want to need to keep a stool in the closet to get my shoes down. Also, I have no wall space in my closet. And crown molding isn't at all cheap.
14. Label Your Hangers
Holy crap... wait, you're serious?! I'm just going to leave this one alone...
15. Turn Your Hangers to Find Out What You Really Wear
Not so much an organization tip as a "how to purge" tip, but it's a workable one, at least!
16. Use Divider Shelves to Store Sweaters
Why do you need the divider shelves? I find just the stacks work perfectly well. Cheaper, too!
17. Hang Belts and Ties on a Sliding Rack
Not one I have much use for, as I don't really have belts (or ties), but I can at least see it working for some people.
18. Hang Eyewear on a Hanger/Or make a sweet little display with a sturdy ribbon and a headscarf.
Err... sweet little display? Okay... I'd rather make a Muppet glasses holder, but that's just me.
19. Use Shower Curtain Hooks to Hang Handbags
This seems to assume you have more closet rod space than, say, shelf space... and that you have bags you routinely swap in and out of. Neither applies to me, but then, I'm probably odd in that I think I own 3 purses in total.
20. Use Command Hooks to Hang Jewelry on the Inside of a Closet Door
I think this looks horrible, and that there are much better jewelry organization tips out there.
21. Store Shoes with One Facing Forwards and the Other Facing Backwards
I measured this. It gains me 1/4" per pair of shoes. Assuming I have, say, a dozen pairs of shoes and they average to this, that saves me 3" of closet space. Enough for almost a single extra shoe. Effectiveness of this will vary on shoe size and style, probably. But I can't see it freeing out huge amounts of space, and it can't be used in conjunction with any of the other she storage techniques (like the crown molding one).
22. Cut Up a Pool Noodle and Place in Boots to Keep Them Upright
It's the description that gets me on this on - to keep them from flopping over and taking up valuable floor space! Because setting them next to each other wouldn't hold them up. Actually, the first time I saw this tip it was to keep from accidentally creasing and ruining the leather, which makes more sense. And, again, how many boots do people have?
23. Store Matching Sheets Inside of Their Pillowcases
It will never look like that, trust me. Who can perfectly fold a fitted sheet? And, honestly, when I fold my sheets they end up a lot smaller than a pillowcase, which would not fit un-folded on my linen closet shelf. Folding them in a neat stack is just as "organized", can be tailored to your shelf depth, and takes a lot less time being finicky.
24. Attach Tweezers to the Inside of a Bathroom Cabinet with a Magnet
Okay, this is brilliant, and I have done it.
25. Use a Magnetic Rack to Store Hygiene Tools
Kind of a repeat of #24.
26. Store Your Hair Appliances with PVC Pipe Attached to the Inside of a Cabinet/Or use a magazine rack.
...but make sure you don't put them away while warm! I don't use a curling iron, so I can't speak to this. Again, though, when attaching things to the insides of doors you have to remember that you can't fill that cabinet space. Also, I like the magazine rack way more because fiddling with getting the cords coiled up in the little pipe? No thank you.
27. Make Bathroom Wall Storage out of Mason Jars and Picture Hangers
Do not like the way that looks, but the idea of sticking containers to the wall is valid, if you have more wall space than counter space.
28. Use Glass Bottles to Store Bracelets and Ponytail Holders/Or you could use a paper towel holder if you're paranoid about glass falling and breaking.
Which is great until it's the one on the bottom you want. Again.
29. Put All Your Makeup into One Magnetic Palette (Palette is $29 from Unii.)
Not really cheap, but I can see the appeal of this one. Though I'd probably want more than one pallete, different ones for eyeshadow and blush. And, apparently, getting the makeup out of the original cases isn't that easy and you might end up destroying several of them (from comments on the "how to make your own" tutorials).
30. Put a Shelf Over Your Bathroom Door for the Stuff You Don't Need Regular Access To
Possibly plausible, though not as cheap or easy as it seems. Hanging shelves rarely is.
31. Hang Baskets on Rails to Store Towels and Shower Supplies
Why baskets? Why rails? How does this take up any less space than shelves?! And it looks a lot... odder.
32. DIY Magnetic Makeup Board
This one kind of confuses me, because most of the organization tips are about getting things hidden and out of the way. This just looks... messy. Though I can see how it would be convenient. IF you have the wall space.
33. Make a Pressing Surface to Replace Your Ironing Board
How is this better than an ironing board? It has no tapered point for sleeves, it has to be set on something (I know I'm short, but my washer is too high to comfortably iron on, and my laundry room is tiny, plus, you have to leave the washer closed the whole time then). If you want to get rid of the "unruly" (which... is it really? I always thought it was kinda handy and mobile and collapsed for easy storage) get an ironing board that folds up into the wall.
34. Use a Shoe Organizer to Store Cleaning Supplies
Or, have fewer cleaning supplies. You really don't need that many.
35. Put Washer and Dryer on a Shelf
Only if you have a front-loader (I can barely reach over the edge and to the bottom of my washer as it is!) and this is NOT going to be cheap.
36. Hang a Ladder from the Ceiling for Air Drying Clothes
I don't get the appeal of "reclaimed" everything... I have a wire shelf/closet rod in my laundry room that does the trick. Door frames also work for hangers, if you want really cheap, and it will get you to put your clothes away as son as they're dry!
37. Use Cables to Store Balls
I'm guessing that doesn't work as well as they'd like you to think, nothing is keeping that soccer ball from escaping, not really.
38. Hang a Pegboard with Movable Hooks to Organize Kids' Sports Gear
Pegboards aren't cheap, but they are great for all sorts of storage. We have them in the garage for tools. If you don't mind the not-so-pretty look, they're a very good solution.
39. Separate Nails, Screws, Batteries and Other Small Items in Jars
I've never liked the way this looked, but it's a workable solution is you have a lot of little bits. I've seen in done a lot with baby food jars, since they tend to be shallower and wider.
40. Store Bins on the Ceiling
...unless you have a garage door that's *not* 3' below the garage ceiling. I have about 6" between the door and the ceiling. Not ideal.
41. Coffee Canisters to Store Yarn
Again, how is this better than a shelf? The round of the coffee cans takes up MORE space, and your yarn will smell like coffee. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing...
42. Use the IKEA Grundtal System to Organize Crafts
I'm going to guess that by the time you add up all those pieces, it's not exactly "cheap". Plus, I've never seen a real, used craft room look anything like these model pictures.
43. Display Supplies on a Pegboard
As if, any real crafter has that few supplies that would fit that neatly.
44. Choose an Ottoman with Storage
That seems a fine idea, if you have an ottoman at all.
45. Put Unsightly DVDs in Boxes
So... DVDs are "unsightly", but you want me to stick my half-used makeup to the wall with magnets? I don't understand you. Again, shelves work just fine, and it's a heck of a lot easier to find things!
46. Label Your Cords
I have no beef with this one, but I've never done it - I suppose I don't have that many cords I need to identify that often.
47. Store Vinyl in a Bench or Window Seat
Provided you 1) have vinyl records (we do, they are in a bookcase) and 2) have a place for a window seat that is near where you'd use the vinyl (we do not).
48. Get a cable organizer./You could also hang a kitchen basket under a shelf or a desk.
I like keeping cords organized, but if they're tucked out of sight I find winding them up and rubber banding/twisty tying them in bundles is just dandy. And really, really cheap.
49. Mark and Label Everything!
How many times are you going to rub that chalk off when you grab the container? And I'm pretty sure I wouldn't write that neatly with chalk. Pretty in theory, I don't know how it would hold up to real-world use.
50. Cut Up Shoe Holders and Attach to the Inside of Cabinets for Extra Organization
I like how they call this not attractive. But! For little odds and ends, I can see this working well. I'd probably prefer slightly smaller pouches, but I think this is doable - of you keep them small enough it's not too much of an issue closing the door.
51. Organize a Junk Drawer with Altoid Tins
I like this idea. I'm not sure I'd ever be that organized, but I like it. Possibly because it uses tins, and I love those tins.
52. Repurpose! Reuse paint cans, tins, mason jars, and plastic containers to store small things. There are so many creative ways to repurpose them.
I've not found *most* repurposing either attractive or practical. But if the idea is simply to look outside of the box, maybe use something not quite in the way it was intended, I can get behind that. At the end of the day, an old plastic food container is still going to look like a cheap old plastic food container, though. Try to repurpose wisely.
So, that took me two days to get around to finishing and was completely pointless. But there you have it. I did at least get one cool thing out of it! My tweezers now have a home.