Easy Ideas to Declutter Your House

We’re not talking about sorting stuffed animals by size, or shoes by color. The HGTV Magazine experts are talking about real-life solutions: the boxes, baskets, and pockets you need to store all your stuff!

By: Caitlin Moscatello

The first step to getting organized is to toss or recycle useless stuff such as: Wire dry-cleaner hangers, socks with no match, old florists’ vases, broken umbrellas, last year’s holiday cards, old makeup, used notebooks, dried-up cans of paint, pens that are out of ink, dead batteries, and old spices.

For more great ways to declutter, check out how HGTV stars stay organized at home.

Stash Your Stuff: Baskets and Bins

Organization Baskets and Bins

Various Baskets and Bins for Home Organization

Baskets and bins are perfect for gardening tools, throw blankets, hair accessories, remotes, trial-size toiletries, books on your to-read list and so much more. Whether they're woven, rope, wire or plastic, storage containers are an easy accessory for getting organized.

Photo by: Philip Friedman/Studio D

Philip Friedman/Studio D

We love baskets and bins for: Gardening tools, throw blankets, hair accessories, remotes, trial-size toiletries, books on your to-read list

Some picks (left to right, top to bottom):

  • Nate Berkus 14 1/4"H x 17 3/4"-diameter water hyacinth and raffia basket, $35, target.com (available February 16)
  • I Could’ve Bin a Container Things 12 3/4"W x 3 1/2"D x 4"H iron binin lime, $10, landofnod.com
  • 10"H x 14 1/2"-diameter wire basket in blue, $52, rejuvenation.com
  • Square Color Block 4" x 13 1/2" plastic bin set in red, $20, containerstore.com
  • Dog Toys 8" x 12" hemp storage bin in black, $38, harrybarker.com
  • Woven 16 1/2"W x 12"D x 9 3/4"H felt basket, $39, westelm.com
  • Rope 10" x 10" cotton basket in yellow, $39, companykids.com
  • Alaterre Furniture Links 8" x 13" wooden fiber and polyester-blend basket in red, $29 for a set of 3, wayfair.com

Hang Your Stuff: Pockets

Pockets for Home Organization

Hanging Organizers and Pockets for Home Organization

Pockets are great for craft supplies, toys, makeup, packaged snacks, laundry supplies, coupons, takeout menus, decks of cards and more. Wall hangers provide easy storage without taking up space.

Photo by: Philip Friedman/Studio D

Philip Friedman/Studio D

Pockets are great for craft supplies, toys, makeup, packaged snacks, laundry supplies, coupons, takeout menus, decks of cards and more. Wall hangers provide easy storage without taking up space.

We love pockets for: Crafts supplies, toys, makeup, packaged snacks, laundry supplies, coupons, takeout menus, decks of cards

Some picks (left to right, top to bottom):

  • The Macbeth Collection 20-pocket 53 1/2" x 22" polyester shoe organizer in margarita, $20, bedbathandbeyond.com
  • Urbio Magnetic Modular polypropylene system, from $15 per piece, containerstore.com
  • Wall Pocket 16" x 20" cotton and canvas organizer in gray chevron and orange, $65, casualhomedecor.etsy.com
  • Touch Tone 24" x 28" cotton canvas wall hanger, $29, landofnod.com
  • Hanging 46 3/4" x 12" cotton organizer in water lily dots, $24.50, landsend.com

Hang Your Stuff: Hooks

Hooks for Home Organization

Various Style Hooks for Home Organization

Hang your dog leashes, keys, grocery tote bags, umbrellas, headphones, backpacks or jewelry on a hook that fits the style of your home. Hooks allow for easy access storage and can also add a small decorative touch to a room.

Photo by: Marko Metzinger and J. Muckle for Studio D

Marko Metzinger and J. Muckle for Studio D

Hang your dog leashes, keys, grocery tote bags, umbrellas, headphones, backpacks or jewelry on a hook that fits the style of your home. Hooks allow for easy access storage and can also add a small decorative touch to a room.

We love hooks for: Dog leashes, keys, grocery tote bags, umbrellas, headphones, backpacks, jewelry, bike helmets

Some picks (left to right, top to bottom):

  • Schoolhouse numbered cast iron hook, $15, pottery barn.com
  • Hop powder-coated steel hook, $7, cb2.com
  • Anchor cast iron double hook, $12, westelm.com
  • Umbra Expansia 10 1/4" x 14 1/4" steel jewelry hook, $25, containerstore.com
  • Painted Heart iron hook, $28 for a mixed set of 4, worldmarket.com
  • City steel and aluminum hook in industrial yellow, $38, schoolhouseelectric.com
  • Dazzle Branch cast iron and acrylic hook, $12, pier1.com
  • House powder-coated sheet metal hook in blue, $24, luezdesign andplay.com
  • Upper Deck Ltd. Ready for Takeoff metal hook, $35 for a mixed set of 4, modcloth.com
  • Triple powder-coated steel hook in red, $60 for a set of 2, roomandboard.com
  • Every Which Way 20"-long powder-coated metal magnet hook strip in light green, $20, landofnod.com

Hide Your Stuff: Ottomans

Storage Ottomans for Organization

Storage Ottomans in Varying Sizes and Patterns for Organization

Ottomans can second as an easy way to declutter and store home items. Conceal extra bedding, photo albums and DVDs to open up shelf space.

Ottomans can second as an easy way to declutter and store home items. Conceal extra bedding, photo albums and DVDs to open up shelf space.

We love storage ottomans for: Extra bedding, out-of-season clothes and shoes, photo albums, duffel bags, DVDs. gift wrap supplies

Some picks (left to right, top to bottom):

  • Storage 19"W x 17"D x 19"H cotton ottoman in mani terra-cotta, $249, zgallerie.com
  • Easton 40 1/2"W x 18"D x 20 1/2"H leather bench in dark red, $249, grandinroad.com
  • Skyline Furniture 39"W x 19.5"D x 21.5"H cotton ottoman in diamond blue ikat, $196, allmodern.com
  • Gannon 28"W x 22"D x 19"H Sunbrella canvas ottoman in orange, $549, roomandboard.com
  • Kent 51 1/2"W x 19"D x 17"H polyester ottoman in modern deco yellow/taupe tile work, $250, angelohomestore.com
  • File Storage 24 1/2"W x 18"D x 20"H cotton canvas ottoman in athena mineral, $379, ballarddesigns.com
  • Safavieh Amelia 20 1/4"H x 19 1/2"-diameter linen ottoman, $155.50, wayfair.com

Hide Your Stuff: Boxes

Home Organization Boxes

Various Colored Boxes for Home Organization

Boxes can declutter a home and add a decorative element. Box containers are perfect for when you want to completely conceal what you're storing, creating an even more polished look.

Photo by: Marko Metzinger and J. Muckle for Studio D

Marko Metzinger and J. Muckle for Studio D

Boxes can declutter a home and add a decorative element. Box containers are perfect for when you want to completely conceal what you're storing, creating an even more polished look.

We love boxes for: Desk supplies, holiday decorations, batteries, lightbulbs, candles, greeting cards and stationery

Some picks (left to right, top to bottom):

  • Way Basics zBoard 13" x 13" box storage cabinet in blue, $27, overstock.com
  • Brushstroke 10 1/4"W x 7 1/2"D x 5"H glass jewelry box, $79, westelm.com
  • Allure 16"W x 12"D x 8"H fiberboard box in flora blue, $20, containerstore.com
  • Pallra 6"H x 8 ?3/4"-diameter cardboard and polyester box, $10, ikea.com
  • White Collapsible 15"W x 10"D x 12"H chipboard and plastic box, $12, poppin.com
  • Working Class Studio Re-Gift Collection 4" x 8" and 6" x 12" fabric boxes in flora/teal and lattice/teal, from $16 each, both shopscad.com

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