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Professional organizers say everyone should own these under-$20 products
Calling order in the house! Conquer clutter with expert-approved trays, bins and other smart buys, starting at $1 — yep, $1.
It's that time of year — you know, when you start looking at the mountains of stuff in your house and resolve, once and for all, to get organized. But where to begin? We can all agree that keeping a house neat isn't always easy. Unless you're vigilant about decluttering or have a ton of storage space, things can quickly get out of hand.
I'm a longtime editor who tests housewares for a living, so I'm very familiar with the myriad storage solutions on the market. But I'm also someone who struggles with organization, which is why I reached out to the experts for pointers. What I discovered is that you don't have to toss everything you own — or spend a ton of money — to organize like a professional.
And let's be clear: I'm not recommending you buy more stuff just for the heck of it. These pro-approved organization products are thoughtfully designed to help you maximize your space and keep the belongings neat and easy to access. Scroll on for our under-$20 finds, then get to it!
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"These plastic shoe boxes are my go-to for every room in the home. Not only do I use them for shoes in a closet, because they stack evenly and can hold more than sandals or flip-flops, but they're also great for small toys like Legos, figurines and cars, as well as craft supplies, office supplies, cookie cutters, tools in the garage, makeup and much, much more." — Robyn Reynolds, owner, Organize2Harmonize
"I always recommend a lazy Susan to my clients for the kitchen. It's great for maximizing space in cabinets, refrigerators and shelves and making items more accessible. Its versatility makes it a must-have for any kitchen, and it's also affordable. This one comes in convenient sizes, and it has a nice lip edge to prevent items from falling off." — Ritsuko Nakajima, owner, After Declutter
"One of my must-have organizing products is purse hanger hooks. They are perfect for floppy bags that don't sit upright on a shelf. They can also be used in a coat closet for totes and sports bags. We even use them for organizing belts and scarves. Twelve hooks are $10, making these a major must-have!" — Katrina Teeple, founder, Operation Organization
"This $10 adhesive paper towel holder is a genius way to declutter your counters! You can even use them inside a cabinet door." — Jennifer Johnson, owner, The Orderly Space
"My favorite organizing item under $20 is an acrylic stackable drawer. You can find this product at Amazon, The Container Store and various other department stores. I love this product because of its multiuse function. I've used it in several spaces, such as under the kitchen or bathroom sink. I have also used it in linen closets to categorize the small items we own such as eye care, dental care and feminine products.
I just love how you can stack them side by side and the space looks great. I also love the upgraded look of labeling each drawer so my clients can find their things easier and also put things away much quicker." — Tamar Bazin, owner, Tidee Living
"Everyone has baseball caps, but could they be better organized? They're usually found on a shelf, stacked so high they look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. A game-changer storage solution for ball caps are these hat stands that will hold up to seven hats each. Better yet, they come in a pack of two, so you can fit 14 hats for only a $16 investment! They are acrylic, hold hats by the bill and make your baseball hat collection look chic, all while saving space!" — Teeple
"Paper organizing is one of my specialties, so I'm going to have to go with a desktop file box. Any kind of file box or plastic crate with rails can hold hanging folders and serve to organize your papers in lieu of investing in a filing cabinet or a desk with file drawers. But a desktop file box helps you organize a smaller subset of papers and takes up less real estate when you need to collate some essential items.
For example: In the kitchen, keep folders of clipped recipes, takeout menus, coupons, and those little manuals for kitchen appliances. On your desk, organize your action-item papers (like the paper forms you need to fill out and bring to the doctor's office or accountant), monthly bills, insurance policy papers and vital documents.
Opt for something pretty to make you more inclined to file away loose pieces of paper." — Julie Bestry, owner, Best Results Organizing
"Shelf risers are my go-to products for organizing kitchen cabinets! No matter what type of kitchen you have, they are simple and guaranteed to add more storage space and make it easier to access your mugs, plates and more." —Hannah Goetz, owner, Hannah Goetz Organizing
The Container Store
"Hooks are one of my top organizing tools because they're small, sturdy and wildly versatile. The classic Shaker peg rail can be hung in a closet, entry, mudroom, playroom or kitchen. Affordable and timeless, this workhorse item is perfect for hanging coats, hats, scarves, belts, bags, jewelry, oven mitts, aprons, brooms and more. Three cheers for this multiuse product!" — Shira Gill, author of Life Styled, Organized Living and Minimalista
