Designers know that organizational solutions are an integral component of any home, but they’re also skilled at sourcing products that are equal parts functional and pretty. There’s no need to sacrifice aesthetics while getting your space into shape.
Here, three experts highlight six products that they use time and time again to streamline the homes they design. You’ll wonder why you haven’t implemented some of these clever solutions sooner.
Matching Hangers
Imagine a more streamlined alternative to opening your closet door and being greeted with a hodgepodge of wooden hangers, plastic ones, and wire ones from the dry cleaner.
Margie Kaercher, the founder of Hearth & Honey Homes, always likes to use matching hangers in the closet. Doing so, she says, “instantly gives your closet a uniform look and boutique-like feel, creating visual order and making the space feel curated, rather than chaotic.”
Who knows, maybe upgrading to matching hangers will make you more motivated to put away your clothes, too, rather than letting them pile up on a chair in the bedroom.
Wicker Baskets
Kaercher appreciates woven baskets for both their functionality and their appearance.
“The natural texture of wicker baskets instantly warms up a space, hides clutter, and creates cohesion on your shelves,” she says.
Better yet, woven baskets can serve a purpose in practically any room of the house—Kaercher will place them in pantries, closets, entryways, bathrooms, and beyond.
While some styles of wicker baskets can be expensive, keep in mind that you can also purchase these secondhand, given that they’re known to hold up well over time. Keep an eye out for wicker baskets of all kinds at your local thrift store or while shopping at estate sales in order to save some cash.
Glass Canisters
Instead of looking at a mix of boxes and bottles, decant what you can into glass containers. Jody Jones, the founder of Blue Indigo Designs, will often use these in kitchens, laundry rooms, and craft spaces.
Whether they’re holding dry pasta, laundry pods, or markers, glass containers are also useful due to the fact that they are see-through, so that you can easily determine how much of a given item you have left with just a quick glance.
Shoe Trays
Rather than buy a bin to hold your shoes, make like Peggy Haddad, the founder of Peggy Haddad Interiors, and purchase a simple tray instead. A tray can keep everyday footwear nice and organized yet is easy to tuck out of sight; Haddad likes to slide them under benches when possible.
“It’s a discreet, functional solution that adds polish to an entryway or mudroom,” she says.
The one seen here is practically invisible, given how closely it blends in with the dark wood flooring.
Bath Trays
When designing bathrooms with freestanding tubs, Jones can’t get enough of a wooden bath tray.
“They can hold candles, a book, or a glass of wine while you are relaxing in the space,” she says.
When not in use, they’re easy to fold up and tuck in the corner of the room. Haddad likes to use these in her own bathroom projects, too, agreeing that they make it easy to house necessities in a stylish manner. Plus, the addition of a tray will help to create a luxe, hotel-like look, perfect for elevating your nighttime bath routine.
Cork Boards
While so much of today’s world is digital, there’s nothing like a good old-fashioned corkboard to keep track of invitations and mementos, display children’s art, and more.
Jones likes to add a walnut border to the ones she installs for a more elevated look. Try adding one of these to your kitchen, laundry room, or mudroom.