10 Best Organizational Systems for Your Home 2023

Home organization systems not only help you get organized but stay decluttered. Find out which systems PropertyNest ranked among the best and why. Learn which are right for you and your organizing and cleaning needs.
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To keep your home organized, the type of organizational tools you use are very important as they should help make things convenient and save time while providing easy access to what you need.

Below are a few of our favorite systems to help you get organized.

Best Organizing Systems for Your Home

  • Container Store’s White Elfa Reach In-Pantry: Best for Kitchen Pantries

  • Knape & Vogt Undersink Basket: Best for Under the Sink

  • NewAge Products Bold Series Garage Storage System: Best for Garage

  • IdeaWorks 3 Tier Slide Out Storage Tower: Best Versatile Organizing System

  • Simplehuman 4-Tier Stainless Steel Tension Pole Shower Caddy: Best for Bathroom Organization

  • Shoe Rack Entryway Organizer by BrandonBuilt: Best Looking Shoe Organizer

  • Honey-Can-Do Kids Toy Organizer and Storage Bins: Best Organizing System for Children

  • Moon Phase Metal Over-the-Door Multi-Hook: Best Over-the-Door Organizing System

The Container Store’s White Elfa Reach In-Pantry: Best for Kitchen Pantries

White Elfa Reach-in Pantry

A well-organized kitchen makes it a breeze to find ingredients in a pinch. Whether you have a large or small kitchen, you can always benefit from a clean, well-organized pantry.

A pantry that is in order can help save time, money, and may inspire you to cook more frequently.

A pantry is also a huge space saver as it helps keep containers, jars, etc. off of your counters.

It is important to constantly go through your non-perishables to keep your storage area clutter-free.

The Container Store’s White Elfa Reach In-Pantry helps you easily spot what you need.

All of the components of these ventilated shelves are adjustable, so they can accommodate almost any item.

While this specific product is suggested for space at least 21” wide, the Container Store is willing to design one that fits your needs.

Container Store’s White Elfa Reach In-Pantry Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Adjustable
  • Customizable
  • Has 5 stars out of 28 reviews on their website
Cons
  • Vented shelving may not be appropriate for all kinds of storage

Cuisinart ® 14" Two-Tier Sliding Cabinet Organizer: Best for Under the Sink

Knape & Vogt Undersink baskets 2

One of the places that can easily get messy is underneath your sink.

Keeping your most used cleaning products nearby saves time and is efficient.

Organizing the area underneath your sink can especially be beneficial in the event of a spill, plumbing emergency, etc.

These under-sink baskets are durable and easy to clean.

They have an offset design to avoid running into any plumbing and the upper baskets are removable.

Cuisinart ® 14" Two-Tier Sliding Cabinet Organizer Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Removable accessory baskets
  • Makes efficient use of space
  • Top basket clips directly onto base basket
Cons
  • Costs more than other organizational baskets
  • Only comes in one color

NewAge Products Bold Series Garage Storage System: Best for Garage

NewAge Bold Series Garage Storage 2

Garages are notorious for being messy and cluttered, making it a hassle to get something when you do need it.

A good storage system creates a safe atmosphere by preventing tripping hazards and keeping dangerous items out of reach.

NewAge Products Bold Series' storage system helps keep young ones away from harm with lockable doors.

This system can also be wall-mounted to keep the cabinets secure.

This garage storage system has a sleek design that can automatically boost the look of your area.

Their powder-coat paint helps the cabinets resist scratches and stains and the bamboo worktop provides ample space to work on your next project.

NewAge Products Bold Series Garage Storage System Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Can be wall mounted
  • Built in workplace
  • Scratch & stain resistant
Cons
  • Pricey

IdeaWorks 3 Tier Slide Out Storage Tower: Best Versatile Organizing System

IdeaWorks 3 Tier Slide Out Storage Tower

Finding a versatile piece is a bonus as it can serve different purposes, saving money and space.

A versatile piece should come in a neutral color so that it can easily blend into the room’s surroundings.

It helps if the item can be moved effortlessly from room to room if needed.

This three-tier system is convenient since it can be used in different areas of the house or apartment.

It can be used as a moveable spice rack in the kitchen, a cleaning tower for the laundry room, and additional storage in your basement.

Organizing systems should be slim and narrow when possible as they should be a space saver, not a taker.

The 3-tier storage tower is thin enough to slide between your refrigerator and counter or behind the bed.

IdeaWorks 3 Tier Slide Out Storage Tower Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Can be used for a variety of purposes
  • Easily transportable from room to room
  • Thin and easy to store
Cons
  • Not for storing heavy items.

Simplehuman 4-Tier Stainless Steel Tension Pole Shower Caddy: Best for Bathroom Organization

SimpleHuman Tension Pole Shower Caddy

It is important to keep your shower clutter-free to prevent falls and for easy access.

Stepping over five different bottles just to get into your shower is unsafe and a nuisance. Placing them in the four corners of your bathtub can also look very unsightly.

Simplehuman’s stainless steel shower caddy provides a space to put all of your shampoos, soaps, loofahs, shaving supplies, and more.

The stainless steel design makes this product look sleek, while the various open-air baskets, hooks, and hangers provide multiple uses.

Simplehuman 4-Tier Stainless Steel Tension Pole Shower Caddy Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Stainless steel
  • Rust-resistant
  • Receive a 5 year manufacturer’s warranty
  • Comes in 3 adjustable heights
Cons
  • May be harder to adjust for showers with higher ceilings
  • Some reviews mention rust

Shoe Rack Entryway Organizer by BrandonBuilt: Best Looking Shoe Organizer

BrandonBuilt Shoe Rack

Having a clear entryway is one of the best ways to leave a positive impression on a visitor.

A foyer full of shoes and items strewn over the floor is bound to cause an injury.

Help your family stay organized by designating an area for them to put their shoes on.

This unique shoe rack combines function with beauty, doubling as a statement piece.

Depending on the size of the rack you choose, each one can hold about 3-5 shoes and range in size from 2-5 ties.

Pros
  • Customizable options
  • Doubles as a decorative piece
Cons
  • Company does not offer exchanges or refunds
  • Since reclaimed wood is being used, the rack may have imperfections such as holes or cracks

Best Office Desktop Organizer - Pier 1’s Rose Gold Six Compartment Desk Organizer

Pier1 Rose Gold Desk Organizer

Since most people are working from home these days, it is important to make sure your office area is clutter-free.

This helps you find things efficiently and saves you from looking all over for a specific document.

Pier 1’s rose gold desktop organizer adds a fun modern spin on the remote office atmosphere.

This organizer includes a pen/pencil holder, a pull-out drawer, and compartments to separate your files.

This desktop system is more expensive than most but is very stylish and neat looking.

Shoe Rack Entryway Organizer by BrandonBuilt Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Comes in a modern rose gold color
  • Has several compartments
Cons
  • Not flame retardant
  • More expensive than other brands

Rubbermaid Configurations Closet Kits: Best Organizing System for a Walk-In Closet

Rubbermaid Closet kit

A closet kit keeps items such as purses and shoes off of the floor and helps you find things easily.

It is portable and convenient for those who have small spaces.

When researching for kits, look for one that offers a good amount of storage.

Rubbermaid’s closet kit is perfect for a walk-in/reach-in closet depending on measurements.

For those on a pice budget, there are three different options to chose from--starter, classic, and deluxe.

All of the mounting hardware is provided so it is easy to install.

Rubbermaid Configurations Closet Kit Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Easy to install
  • Fits any all in or reach in closet
  • Sturdy
Cons
  • Quality Issues

Honey-Can-Do Kids Toy Organizer and Storage Bins: Best Organizing System for Children

Honey-Can-Do Kids Toy Storage

The key to getting your child to adopt helpful habits is to teach them early on so it naturally becomes a part of their routine.

If you want to get your little one more interested in cleaning, a toy organizer in a bright color may help.

Place the bin near your child’s play area to encourage them to clean up after.

Honey-Do Kids’ Toy Organizer comes in three fun different colors and contains 12 plastic totes that run 5” inches deep.

The depth of these totes makes these perfect for collecting small toys, sports balls, books, games, and more.

The colored trays help keep items color-coded and can develop organizational skills.

Honey-Can-Do Kids Toy Organizer and Storage Bins Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Can help develop organizational skills
  • Has 12 brightly colored trays in different sizes
Cons
  • Some reviews report issues with quality

Estique 5-Hook Over the Door: Best Over-the-Door Organizing System

Estique-15.2'-5-Hook

An over-the-door hanger keeps hats, bags, and light coats up off the floor.

Since they fit right over most doors, they do not take up much space.

These types of hooks are best for hanging up items that you grab frequently.

Over-the-door hooks are convenient because no hardware and installation are needed.

This one by Umbra utilizes a simple design that would look great almost anywhere.

Estique 5-Hook Over the Door Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Wipe clean
  • Neat clearn design
  • No hardware or installation is required
  • Inexpensive
Cons
  • Hooks may stand out more with doors that are not white

How We Decided

There were five main factors we looked at when deciding on the top organizing systems for different parts of the home. These were convenience of use for customers, design and versatility, the size, and finally how well the product performed.

Convenience

Organizational systems providing convenience and ease ranked high on our list. Those not requiring assembly were favored although it didn’t disqualify a product if it needed installation.

However, if a product did require to be set up, preference was given for reviews acknowledging an easy install.

Ease of use was also important to consider. We tried to stay away from anything too advanced or with too many compartments to help you find what you need quickly.

Ratings included the following criteria:

  • Minimal, if any, assembly
  • Easy to use

Design

Items that were pleasing to the eye and could double as a decoration received additional points. While it was important that the object performed its duty, we didn’t want the appearance to scream “cleaning item.”

If a product was going to be out in the open and not hidden in a closet or under the sink, we were stricter on appearance. Unique details, colors, and shapes were looked at when picking items.

We also looked for features such as sturdiness, how the product was constructed, and easy-to-grab handles.

If looking for an item for a specific location such as under the sink or the home office, it was important that the design made sense when compared to its surroundings.

Ratings included the following criteria:

  • Style
  • Structure

Versatility

Objects that could serve a multi-purpose or could be swapped easily from room to room was what we were looking for. Versatility makes pieces convenient and useful while keeping costs and clutter to a minimum.

The more use an item could serve, the better. If the product was for a location specific category such as the garage, we looked for ways in which the item itself was versatile. For instance, the garage organizing system we chose can also be used as a workstation.

Ratings included the following criteria:

  • Easily transportable from room to room
  • Has multiple uses

Size

Items that were slim in size and could be stored easily were preferred. We wanted the size large enough where things could be comfortably stored, without being in the way.

For the children’s category, we wanted various-sized containers to give little ones more options when putting their things away. To help make clean-up easier, we looked for products that had a wide opening for kids to toss their things into.

Ratings included the following criteria:

  • Large enough to store numerous items
  • Not bulky enough to be in the way
  • Containers having a large, wide opening

Performance

It is important that the product does what it’s supposed to, which is to organize an area. Products with rave customer reviews on performance were considered first as did those with warranties or guarantees. Warranties/guarantees show that the company in their product and will make things right as per the contract.

Ratings included the following criteria:

  • Organizes efficiently
  • Provides warranties
  • High customer ratings

How to Make Your Organization System Work for You

The hardest thing about cleaning your home is maintaining it.

A good organization system can save frustration and time and will help you tidy up naturally.

It may take you a few tries until you figure out the system that works best for you. Below are a few tips to help your system reach its best potential.

Go Through Your Storage Spaces and Containers Frequently

If you own fewer objects, then there is less to move around, clean, and ultimately means less clutter.

Make it a frequent habit to go through items you own and donate, sell, or discard the items you no longer use.

It is a good idea to get rid of one piece you own each time you buy something new.

Have Your Kids Join In

Having kids may make cleaning tough, but teaching your children the importance of cleaning early may benefit you.

Make cleaning up a daily or nightly ritual so it becomes a habit, and one less thing to check off your list.

Consider purchasing storage pieces in different sizes and fun colors to pique your child’s interest.

The containers should be big enough that the child will notice them and want to use them.

Visibility is Important

After a day of cleaning, it can be hard to remember where you placed everything.

Clear bins and baskets are great for busy families as you can quickly see what’s in a box.

Large and easy-to-read labels also work well when staying organized.

Color coding is a great idea, especially if you have kids or would like to color code for certain days of the week.

Color coding can help you find specific things in a pinch, but be sure to keep a list of what the colors mean.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I organize my home without a lot of money?

Sell, donate and recycle items that you no longer use. Then, find inexpensive storage options such as plastic bins or old boxes to store your smaller items.

What is the best organizing tool for under the sink?

The best organizational system for under the sink is the Knape & Vogt Undersink Basket with Removal Upper Basket.

How do I start decluttering?

Schedule a decluttering weekend, clear off a counter space, pick a shelf or drawer, place all items on counter, choose 5 items and find places for them, then repeat.

Should I clean or declutter first?

Declutter first. You will spend less time organizing and cleaning this way.

What are some easy ways to organize the house quickly?

The cheapest organizing tip ever is to simply get rid of stuff. In addition, you can use containers and dividers, and have a designated space for each item you use.

Where do I begin when I am overwhelmed with clutter?

Focus on food and clothes first. Choose one task to do each day. Don't worry about perfection, just do something!
Jackie Maroney
About the author

Jackie Maroney is a writer for PropertyNest and works in real estate and property management. She currently resides in Long Island City.