How to Solve Your Organizational Problems with These Simple Hacks

How to Solve Your Organizational Problems with These Simple Hacks
As a minimalist, life is simpler. It’s easier to give things a home where they belong. When you need something, it’s usually so much easier to find.
Unfortunately, organization struggles will show up from time to time. The more family members you have, the more things you will still need to manage.
For example, one trouble spot that usually needs some attention is the entryway. You can read about an easy solution to organizing entryway clutter (shoes, coats, backpacks, keys, incoming papers) in a previous post.
You can also read a round up of other useful family organization tips, and what to do about the common drinking glass dilemma and the ever-growing laundry pile as well.
But there are several other trouble spots that may surface.

Additional organizational problems you might face

  • Random things piled on the floor in the bedroom or living room. Sometimes this is even more prevalent for minimalist families who let go of dressers, end tables, nightstands, and bookshelves as they purge. Suddenly, they find themselves without homes for the treasured items they’ve decided to keep.
  • Things being shoved into cabinets, drawers, or shelves when they are put away, instead of set neatly in their “spot.”
  • Tangled, unsightly cords and wires
  • The tendency for the car to become a trash bin, particularly when extra activities creep into the schedule

Declutter first, then assess your need for organizational tools

Of course, it’s not recommend that you rush out and buy organizational items thinking they will solve your problems before decluttering a space, which is often the first instinct when stuff is out of control! More bins, boxes, shelving units, and other organizational tools are not going to fix everything if you have too much stuff.
Once you’ve fully decluttered a space to your preference, you may find that you really don’t need most of that stuff. It’s just more clutter!
However, there is nothing wrong with purchasing the “right” item to give your loved possessions a specific home or with trying out different hacks.
You might find that you even enjoy finding organizational tips and tricks now that the possessions in your home are down to a reasonable number.
An added benefit: the easier you make it for family members to contribute to keeping order, the more likely they will participate.

Clever organizational hacks for trouble spots

No need to rush out and “fix” things that aren’t broken “just because.” But if you find yourself with an organizational struggle that’s driving you nuts, check out these clever hacks:
Tangled computer/television/gaming system cords and wires: Simply use Velcro tape to keep your cords and wires under control.
Multiple electronics to charge (laying on floors and counters): Create a charging station to solve the problem. Here are 13 simple charging station ideas to get your creativity flowing.
Storing extra cords (that are truly needed): A simple hack is to use toilet paper or paper towel rolls decorated with washi tape to keep them separated. Now, don’t go saving toilet paper rolls on the off chance you’ll have extra cords to wrangle 😉 but if you have some cords you need to keep, this is a simple way to keep them untangled and organized. The washi tape is optional, of course, but if you have some to use up, why not make them pretty?
A trash solution for your vehicle: Use a plastic cereal container as a trash bin for your car. No need to even use liners if you prefer to forgo the plastic.
Pans and cutting boards getting shoved into cabinets? Try a desk organizer like this to give them a proper home, and keep them separated.
Tension rods or shower curtain rods: These are useful in closets, drawers, and cabinets, and in so many surprising other ways.
Tired of losing nail clippers, bobby pins, and tweezers? Check out this trick: a magnetic strip inside the cabinet, vanity, or even on the side of the drawer should make them easy to put away and find next time you need them.
Display useful items instead of decorations: Instead of decorations, vertically display things you use and love.

Go vertical: When you start thinking vertically, the organizational possibilities are endless. Minimalism doesn’t have to mean a lone mattress on the bedroom floor, with nothing left to organize at all, which is often the visual image that comes to mind when thinking of minimalism. Don’t forget about vertical options when you are organizing your remaining possessions!
What organizational tips and tricks do you have up your sleeve? Is there a purchase you’ve made that was worth it?

About Rachel Jones

Hi there! I’m Rachel Jones, and I founded Nourishing Minimalism in 2012 at the beginning of my minimalist journey. If you're looking for encouragement in your journey, I created a FREE Facebook Group - feel free to join me there: Nourishing Minimalism Facebook Group and I share videos each week on YouTube

4 Comments

  1. Jessica on 07/13/2017 at 2:15 am

    I love my laundry sorting hamper. It means I don’t have to sort my laundry or carry heavy baskets full.

  2. Pam on 07/21/2017 at 7:09 pm

    Great ideas and articles! I really liked the grain-free recipes you posted, I have to eat like that as well, along with less sugar. Thank you so much, and keep on encouraging us with your ideas and articles.

  3. Margaret A Cleary on 07/22/2017 at 11:16 pm

    Thanks for the tension rod article!

  4. Caron Case on 07/27/2017 at 1:58 pm

    I just conquered my final frontier, my storage bins. I was tired of moving them out from the closet and back in again. Unless they were storing seasonal clothing or tax returns, why were my things in storage? I wanted to get rid of them, but now they are storing the things my daughter needs for her weekend activities (historical reenacting). At least the bins are in the garage now, not the closet! Now cleaning out my home office. My storage bins are going to be taken out of there too. You are correct, organizational tools are no help at all, they just seem to add more places to store clutter. I do use file cabinets and cork boards which I purge every so often while watching a movie on the computer. Also, thanks to you, I finally ditched the china cabinet. I was proud of myself for using it for storage instead of china, but I was just kidding myself. It was a junk collector! Now I have a big empty, no, not empty, beautiful space!

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