18 Container Store Products Professional Organizers Use in Their Homes
Updated: Jan. 25, 2024
Have you ever wondered which products professional organizers use to keep their homes tidy? Organizing expert Jamie Novak is here to reveal the products that are so good experts rely on them and you're going to want them too!
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Containers and beyond
There is no other retail outlet with a name that delivers as accurately and efficiently as the Container Store: yes, it is a store, and boy, do they have containers. But they also have so much more! The real Marie Kondos out there can’t pass this stuff up!
Note: Prices listed were accurate as of press time; pricing fluctuations may occur.
Clutter corralling trays
Everyone needs a place to drop stuff—even professional organizers. Place everyday things, like car keys, on a tray to keep them from getting misplaced. Opt for trays with sides like this Premium Acrylic Paper Tray so items won’t roll off and get lost. If this one is too large for your space, they also sell a small one for $19.99.
Oversized trash can
Professional organizers don’t let rubbish build up; they’re always tossing out the trash. Therefore, oversized trash can like this Umbra Pewter Venti is a must. The swing top lid lets you drop waste in without ever touching the can. And a secure bag fastener means no more bags slipping to the bottom and making a mess. These organizational tools from Amazon will help you become neater than ever before.
A basic timer
Instead of leaving tasks open-ended, professional organizers set time limits to help motivate themselves to begin and finish projects. A portable timer, with a large display, like this Polder Mini Digital Timer, is just the thing to help you get through a long to-do list. Set the timer for a short window, like ten minutes, then see how far you can get before the buzzer sounds.
To-do lists
Everyone, including professional organizers, gets a deep sense of satisfaction from crossing completed tasks off their to-do list. Grouping tasks on this Poppin Jumbo Weekly Task Pad lets you see your week at a glance, so you know what needs to get done.
A place for thoughts
Try to avoid scribbling on random scraps of paper. For quick notes, do what professional organizers do: Use a dry erase board like this U-Brands White Square Dry Erase Board. Hung in a convenient location, this board is the best place to list the menu for the week, write a phone number, or jot down a reminder.
Neaten up the shower
Bottles and bars of soap resting in shower corners are a no-no for professional organizers. We prefer things up and out-of-the-way in easy to reach shower storage, so this Rockford Shower Caddy fits the bill. The two-shelf caddy hangs from the showerhead with enough space to store shower essentials.
Cleaning caddies
Caddies are a professional organizer’s best friend! Toting everything you need to get the job done means fewer wasted steps backtracking to grab something you forgot. Store this caddy under the sink for easy access or on the laundry room counter if the white and natural wood matches your decor.
A tidy trunk
Things don’t roll around loose in the trunk of the car when a professional organizer is at the wheel. Everything, from umbrellas to bags of groceries, has a home in these Collapsible Crates with Handles. To make space for larger cargo, you can easily fold the crates down. And it has comfortable handles, so you can carry it.
Under-sink storage
Always make the most of that awkward space under the kitchen or bathroom sink by inserting an adjustable organizer like this Iris Expandable Under-Sink Organizer. Professionals use one with shelves and pull-out bins, so stuff isn’t shoved into a cavernous hole. Plus, it’s adjustable to fit around plumbing; the best part is the no-tools assembly.
Double the hanging space
Don’t settle for the basic closet configuration of a single rod. The quickest and easiest way to double space in your closet is to simply hook an Umbra Dublet Adjustable Closet Rod Expander over the existing closet rod, and in seconds, you have more hanging room. Read up on the 12 biggest closet organizing mistakes (and their super simple fixes).
Versatile cubes
Storage is key in every room of the house. Professional organizers prefer flexible storage that can change as your needs change. These White 4-Cube Cubby Shelving work in almost every room of your home and can store everything imaginable. Use the cubes in the entryway for shoes, the hall closet for seasonal items, the clothes closet for stacked sweaters, the pantry for bulk goods, the garage for car-care items, the craft room for tools, the office for paper storage, the dining room as a sideboard, or the living room for blankets and television remotes.
Outdoor activity storage
Your outdoor and sporting equipment comes with some of the most awkward and oddly shaped items—bike helmets, tennis rackets, soccer balls—that need to be stored. Professionals recommend mesh bags like this a Heavy-Duty Triple Storage Bin, so the storage can mold to fit the item. Plus, these breathable bags allow damp equipment to dry.
Paperwork system
Paperwork is always an issue, even for the most diligent professional organizer. Staying on top of the incoming mail has never been easier than with this Iris Open-Top File Box. Add a few hanging file folders, and you have the perfect place to file bills-to-be-paid, receipts, and so much more. The open-box feature means the file labels are easily readable, so you won’t forget where you put that paper.
Contain plastic bags
Plastic grocery store bags are handy, although storing a bunch of bags inside another bag can get messy. Professional organizers corral their bags in a dispenser like this Simplehuman Stainless Steel Grocery Bag Holder. Insert bags through the large opening on top and pull them out, as needed, from the slot on the bottom.
“>spring-cleaning secrets from professional organizers.
Replacement battery storage
Finding the correct size replacement battery has never been easier than with the InterDesign Linus Battery Organizer. This storage container lets you neatly store all size batteries in a box with a hinged lid. No more searching for a spare battery they will all be sorted and stored safely upright.
Drawer dividers
Finding a place for everything and keeping everything in its place is a breeze with this Clear Expandable Drawer Divider. Forget about jumbled drawers; these customizable dividers let you create a spot for all the stuff you want to store in your drawers. There is not a drawer on this Earth that is organized well enough. Be sure to avoid these organizing mistakes that make your kitchen look sloppy.
Small stuff storage
Modular Flip-Out Bins are the best way professional organizers know how to contain all the little pieces and parts that would otherwise get misplaced. From picture-hanging hooks and screws to craft pieces and jewelry, these little bins let you keep all the little stuff from getting lost. Thrifty, tidy, and cool! Triple threat alert.
Divided storage
Efficient storage, like this Design Ideas Tray Divider, is an organizer’s dream. No more un-stacking then re-stacking a tower of trays. This divider creates multiple vertical slots in your kitchen cabinet to store cake pans, baking sheets, muffin tins, cutting boards, serving trays, and more. Keep your trays from fighting! Next, check out these 26 secrets professional organizers would never tell you for free.
Originally Published: March 11, 2021
