Design 101

Organizing With Bins

September 12, 2024

Walking into a messy room at the end of a busy day can feel maddening. If you're like many people, trying to keep the clutter in check is a never ending task, where every time you clean one pile, another seems to appear out of nowhere. 

Organizing with bins can save your space and peace of mind. Read through our guide to learn more about different types of bins and how to use them in your organizational system.

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Before Organizing With Storage Bins

Before you start buying bins and filling them with your household clutter, ensure you don't simply move your mess to a less visible location. This prep work will help you determine what to keep, what to throw out, and what you want to spend your time organizing.

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Declutter your space

If you want a better-organized household, you'll likely have to get rid of a few things. Pull out what you want to organize and make three piles: stuff you want to keep, throw out, or are unsure about. Discuss any "maybe" items with whoever may use them in that space before throwing them away or donating them.

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Section off your space

Determine your goals before organizing a room to make the process more effective. Each room is configured differently, and not all rooms can hold the same amount of bins or baskets. To maximize your room's potential, ask yourself the following questions: Who will use this room, and what needs to be stored here?  - What does someone need to be able to find quickly in this room?  - Where is the most accessible place for storage in this space?

For example, when organizing storage boxes in your children's bathroom, find a place for hair accessories, toothpaste, lotion, and other toiletries. If your children can't reach a high shelf, they may need an under-the-sink organizational system.    

Using labeling and color-coding could be helpful as well. Thinking through these potential scenarios can help you create a system that works well for everyone in the house.

Different Types of Storage Bins

Not all storage bins are created equal. Consider several storage container ideas and decide which would best fit your space.

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Baskets

Baskets can give a charming, rustic vibe to towel and linen storage. They're also great at holding kids' toys, laundry, books, and magazines. Because baskets don't typically scream "storage solution," they're more versatile than large plastic bins. You may gravitate toward baskets made of neutral fabric, wicker, or patterns.

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Fabric cubes

Fabric cubes are an excellent organizational solution for bedrooms, playrooms, and mudrooms where your family may keep shoes, coats, clothes, and backpacks. Many cube shelves and mudroom built-in shelving units already maximize storage space. Fabric cubes will help you go a step further to organize and contain your family's belongings. Plus, it's easy to find cubes that match your existing decor as they come in several colors and patterns.

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Plastic bins

Plastic bins are a mainstay of home organization as you can put just about anything in them. Holiday decorations, old clothes, bedding, and whatever else you desire can be wrapped up and placed into tightly sealed bins for outdoor or attic use. Indoors, you can find plastic bins for pantry storage. Smaller plastic bins work well for bathroom storage as they repel water.

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Stacked bins

Use this type of bin when organizing a serious amount of clutter and running out of space for extra furniture. Stacked bins might hold shoes in your closet, your kids' art supplies in the playroom, or winter clothes you're saving in storage.    A tall tower of several stacked bins could help you organize towels and other toiletries in the guest bathroom. Smaller stackable bins could hold makeup on a bathroom counter or items inside your refrigerator. While these bins are typically made from plastic, you can also find them in fabric and wicker.

Organizing Closets

Use large storage bins to hold off-season clothing and fabric cubes that slide into a hanging organizer to sort smaller items of clothes, like socks, underwear, and gloves. If you're running out of storage space, use stacking bins or drawers to hold folded shirts and pants.

Under the Sink Organization

Items that end up beneath the sink in the bathroom may seem contained and organized — until a pile of them gets in your way when you're searching for one very specific thing. Use durable, waterproof plastic bins to organize extra shampoo, cleaning products, and soap. You can do the same for products that stay under the kitchen sink.

Kitchen Cabinets

Clear storage containers enable you to quickly look inside your cabinets without rifling through items to find a stray lid or measuring cup. Once you implement an organizational system with bins, you and your family will get used to putting everything back in the same spot, making cleanup easier. 

Toy Storage

If you live with children, you understand how quickly toys can spread throughout a house. Use labeled or color-coded bins or baskets in your child's room or playroom to avoid losing small parts and help your kids learn to organize at a young age. 

If you live in a smaller space, consider using decorative bins for toy storage that blend in with your living area. Place fabric cubes at a level that's easy for your kids to reach, or consider using large baskets in the corners of the room to facilitate easy cleanup.

Garage Organization

Garage storage bins don't have to be pretty, but there's no reason they can't be well-organized. Store your holiday decorations, school paperwork, and other memorabilia that you don't want cluttering up your living space in these. Be sure to use airtight plastic bins that is weather and pest resistant. Stick a prominent label on each one so you don't have to search through them to find that last string of lights at the holidays.

Incorporating Storage Bins Into Your Home Decor

Storage bins have a reputation for being plastic, unwieldy, and unattractive — but they don't have to be. Treat your search for the right bins as an investment in your home's decor. Take time to find the size, shape, and material that works best in your space. 

Organizing with bins can create order from chaos in just about any room. Check out our products frequently, as we are always adding baskets, stacked bins, and more to help you create a beautiful, functional home.

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