You Asked: Favorite Organizing Supplies

How has this topic not come up yet?  I am so surprised that this wasn't one of my very first posts.  In fact, it's a question I get frequently, "What are your favorite organizing supplies?  What supplies would you recommend for someone on a quest to get uber organized?"

So my friends, I thought I would put together a list of my top 10 favorite supplies and why {in no particular order}!

1.  Photo Boxes.  Love them.  Sure, they are wonderful for stashing away your extra photo prints, but I use them everywhere for EVERYTHING.  They offer a streamlined look in any space and are great for stashing away my coffee pods in the kitchen, cards and dice in the living room, craft supplies in my office and toiletries in our guest bathroom!  Anything on the smaller size of things can be corralled in these pretty yet simple boxes. 

2.  Shoe Pockets.  Again, a multi-functional product that doesn't just need to be used for shoes.  First, it allows you to expand your storage by utilizing door space vs. floor space which is always a plus.  Second it can hold anything from charging cables to hats and mittens to kitchen supplies.  Gotta heart when one product can offer so many solutions!

3.  Label Maker.  What kind of organizer would I be if I didn't love a good label maker?  I will say however, I don't use it as often as you would think, as I am more in love with handcrafting my own labels.  More on that in a bit.  Therefore, I didn't invest more than $25 on my label maker, but it is absolutely fantastic for labeling spice tins and folder labels and all those itty bitty things.  My biggest tip is to go with the clear tape whenever possible as it provides a much cleaner look.

4.  Scanner/Printer.  Back to making my own labels.  Many times a label maker is limited on changing up font sizes, graphics and colors, so I LOVE to make my own labels for around our home.  A printer helps me achieve this, and I typically always print on standard white cardstock since you can't see through it as easily as regular printing paper and it offers extra durability.  The reason I love to get a printer with a scanner is because it cuts down on the number of products plugged into the computer and allows you to scan in your memories and keep them digitally, which will allow you to free up valuable real estate in our home {think kid's artwork, greeting cards, receipts, old photo prints, etc....}

5.  Clear Storage.  By storing items in clear storage, it allows you to always get a quick visual inventory without having to dig.  This is hugely important in the kitchen to not only keep food fresher for longer, but to also allow you to see what you have before heading to the grocery store, and reducing the chances of over-purchasing things you already have.

6.  Bookcases.  These babies come in endless varieties of shapes and sizes but really can be the multifunctional furniture answer for many organizing dilemmas.  The best part is that it is a piece of furniture that you should always be able to find a use for, so if you move it out of a nursery, you can most likely put it to work in any other space in your home.  I love popping them in an entry for shoes, in a playroom for toys or in a living room for media and books!


7.  Laminator.  A laminator doesn't need to cost you more than $30 from your local big box store either.  They are fantastic for providing longevity in the labels you make, especially in kid's rooms where they will get crumpled and bitten on, or in a garage where it can quickly get dusty.  I typically partner my laminated labels with Velcro because it seems to hold the best and allow you to easily switch them out if necessary.  Of course as a mom I use it for many of the projects I do with the kids as well since again, it allows them to last much longer.

8.  Hooks.  These are one of the least expensive and most effective ways I have found to really maximize the space in a garage.  These hooks can be used to get bikes hung from the ceiling, yard tools hung on the wall and even sporting equipment bags up off of the floor.  Utilizing your vertical wall space in any room is a great way to free up space, but in the garage it is absolutely crucial.

9.  Binders.  Binders are such an inexpensive solution for managing paper clutter.  I use them everywhere to keep categorized items in one place.  Sure, I have one to manage all of our family's household documents, but I also use one for recipes and one for my blog management tools.  Pop an annual calendar in one and DIY your own daily planner.  They are a great solution for LEGO instructions and creating your own inspiration books.  The best part is they take up very little space when it comes to storing them as well.

10.  Decorative Paper.  This should be no surprise to anyone who has been reading this blog for awhile now, but I totally LOVE to add decorative paper to majority of my organizing projects.  This could mean wrapping paper, wall paper, drawer liner or scrapbook paper.  I dig it all.  It always adds color and gives a project a finished look.  I mount my labels on it to give them a matte, I line my drawers with it so I am more excited to keep them tidy and I cover old kleenex boxes and soup cans with it to organize on a budget while keeping things looking pretty.

So there you have it!  My top 10 favorite organizing supplies.  Of course, I have an obsession with baskets and bins as well, you can read more about those favorites of mine here.  Any surprises or Ah Ha's?  What is one item you couldn't live without, when it comes to getting organized?