Raise your hand if you struggle with apartment storage.
asserted
you → raise → storage
When I moved into a one-bedroom in NYC two years ago, I sacrificed significant space so that I could stay on budget.
uncertain
I → move → budget
Although I got lucky with decent-sized closets, I needed to be creative if I wanted to maximize the area, especially when my boyfriend moved in with me one year later.
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boyfriend → get → me
To successfully keep things clean, we needed closet dividers, small armories in the bedroom and thin hangers (not holding onto the clunky ones the dry cleaner gives you).
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cleaner → keep → you
I binge-watched “The Home Edit” over the pandemic and learned the importance of editing, categorizing, maintaining and containing when organizing the space.
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I → watch → space
Cleaning expert Christine Bou Kheir confirmed that decluttering is a key step before buying new organizers.
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decluttering → confirm → organizers
“Start with duplicates, things you don’t use, and items you’re keeping ‘just in case,'” she recommended.
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she → start → case
“You don’t want to spend money or time finding storage for things you no longer need.”
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you → want → things
Kheir called out the gap above mugs inside a cabinet, the back of a door and the space under your bed.
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Kheir → call → bed
“Keep everyday items easy to reach, and put seasonal or rarely used items higher up or under the bed,” said Kheir.
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Kheir → keep → bed
“The goal is a system you can keep up with, rather than fitting something into every inch.
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you → keep → inch
A system that works on a busy week is the finish line of the whole process.”
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that → work → process
Below, we gathered some of the top organizers that make for quick and simple home improvements, per cleaning experts.
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that → gather → experts
Sneakers, boots and slippers are all fair game this fall and winter — but how do you store so many options?
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you → store → options
Professional organizer Alexis Lombardo recommends keeping those you don’t need every day under the bed, and she even encourages her clients to take photos so they remember where they’re located.
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they → recommend → photos
“These under the bed shoe organizers from Wayfair have handles on all four sides, hold a variety of shoe types and have a clear lid, which makes it easy to see what’s inside at a quick glance,” she explained.
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she → have → glance
This small shelf requires no assembly and can hold up to 11 pounds of weight, whether you seek to store pots, shoes or pantry items.
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you → require → pots
“Many closets have storage space up high that feels unusable.
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that → have → space
This is where a shelf riser, like these stackable shelves, is priceless,” explained Lombardo.
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Lombardo → explain → shelves
“It creates more shelf space, which is good for items you don’t need every day.
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you → create → items
The back of the door is a storage solution that often goes unnoticed.
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that → go → door
This wall rack includes two small baskets, two large baskets, one standard basket and a set of over-the-door hooks — all in one.
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rack → include → one
Lombardo suggests the product for kids’ rooms, laundry spaces, bathrooms, closet doors and kitchens.
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Lombardo → suggest → rooms
In my opinion, kitchens are one of the toughest spaces to organize.
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kitchens → organize → spaces
Snacks pile up, expired items go unnoticed, and you catch yourself collecting one too many spices.
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yourself → pile → spices
Kheir says to use the empty height inside the cabinet to create another level for mugs, bowls or pantry items, making them easier to reach without building tall stacks.
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them → say → stacks
This organizer extends and overlaps, making for an efficient kitchen system.
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organizer → extend → system
Finally, a place where you can keep beauty products tidy, not collecting dust on a single shelf.
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you → keep → shelf
This product is easy to glide around the house and has four tiers of storage (although it can also be adjusted to two or three shelves).
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it → glide → shelves
“A narrow rolling cart can turn an otherwise unused gap into storage for small kitchen or bathroom essentials.
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cart → roll → essentials
I like that you can pull it out to access things,” said Kheir.
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Kheir → like → things
I can’t count the number of times my clothes have gotten stuck behind a drawer, resulting in me fishing them out with a hanger.
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me → count → hanger
Placing your items into bins helps items remain tidy while also keeping you in check (an overloaded bin is a sign to do a closet clean-out).
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bin → place → out
“Pull-out baskets are useful for deeper cabinets where items disappear at the back.
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items → pull → back
I like this approach because you bring the contents toward you instead of moving everything in front to reach one item,” said Kheir.
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Kheir → like → item
These gliding, slide-out drawers make it easy to access shoes, clothing and accessories that aren’t necessarily for everyday use.
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that → glide → use
If you have extra clothing, kitchen or bathroom supplies lying around, cleaning up is made simple with a compact drawer solution.
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cleaning → have → solution
“These customizable drawer sets are incredibly sturdy and will last you through all of your changing needs,” said Lombardo.
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Lombardo → last → needs
“They can be small enough to fit under your bathroom sink, or large enough to be placed in a closet to ‘offload’ sweaters, socks, workout clothes-whatever isn’t fitting someplace else.”
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They → fit → sweaters
Sometimes, all it takes are extra hooks to remove some of the junk off the floor.
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it → take → floor
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
