Is your household organized? Or, do you have to dig through mountains of clutter in order to find things? In an organized home, everything has a place. If you could use a little help organizing things around your house, why not consider using shelves? Shelves are great tools to help you organize the items in your house. They can be used in any room and not only do shelves serve as a functional organizing tool, but they can look great as well!
Types of Shelving
Shelving is available in every color and style imaginable. Make sure to look for shelving that matches the decor of the room that you will be using it in. In addition, plan ahead so you know exactly how much shelf space you will need in each room. You can purchase freestanding shelf units or shelving that mounts to the wall. If you have young children, you may prefer shelving that is up and out of the way– just make certain it is secured tightly to the wall. You can buy plastic shelving or wire shelving units for closets. Corner shelves
are another great option for tight spaces and small rooms.
Room by Room: How to Organize using shelves
Kitchen Your kitchen will benefit nicely from the use of shelves. If your pantry does not have wire shelving– install some. If you need more space, you can also purchase wire shelves that attach to your pantry door. Are your kitchen cupboards a mess? Purchase small shelves to stack your spices and other kitchen items on.
Family room. Place shelves near your television set to store frequently used videos, DVDs, and CDs. Organize your cherished family photographs by framing them in inexpensive frames and then displaying them on a shelf on the wall. You can also use a bookshelf unit to organize all of your family’s books and magazines. A large shelving unit can be a great way to house all of your children’s toys as well. Use attractive baskets to put the toys in (especially toys that have lots of small pieces). Voila! An instant organization that looks great.
Bathroom. A small shelving unit in your bathroom can be a decorative way to store towels, washcloths, and extra toiletry items. Install shelves over the toilet to save space in your bathroom.
Bedrooms. No child’s room should be without a shelving unit of some kind. Purchase small, inexpensive bookshelf units for your children to store all of the books, toys, and stuffed animals that they keep in their room. If your child is very young, make sure to anchor the shelving to the wall so he or she cannot pull it over.
Laundry room. Install wire shelving above your washer and dryer for easy access to laundry detergent, fabric softener, and cleaning products.
Craft room or playroom. If you are lucky enough to have an extra room or a finished basement, shelves can do wonders to help you make the most of that extra space. If you have a family full of crafters, organize all of your craft supplies with shelves. You can purchase inexpensive plastic boxes to store items in, and then organize the boxes on shelves. Make sure to label the outside of the plastic boxes– even if they are see-through, labels make it much easier to keep items organized. Use shelves in lieu of a toy box in your playroom– your children will be able to get to their favorite toys more easily.
Closets. Make the most of your closet space by installing extra shelving. A low shelf is a good way to organize shoes or to store folded jeans and other casual pants. Install a high shelf in closets to store board games or other items that have a lot of pieces. You will be amazed at how much more organized your closets will be with the simple addition of extra shelving.
Basement. Shelves are perfect for use in the basement because items can be stored off of the floor (this is especially important if you have occasional water problems in your basement). Purchase heavy-duty shelving to store cans of paint, household chemicals, and tools. Use shelves to house plastic bins full of holiday decorations and other items that are stored in your basement.
Garage. If you want to keep your garage space free for parking your car, install wall shelving that is up and out of the way. Use it to store tools and seasonal items that you need easy access to.
Where to buy. Check home improvement stores, discount stores, or specialty shops for the shelving that will work best for your home. Do your research ahead of time and then get ready to get organized!
