These Clear Storage Bins Keep My Bathroom, Kitchen, and Closets Organized
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We have a Carrie Bradshaw–type walk-throughclosetthat connects our bedroom with the bathroom, but it’s not nearly as glamorous as it sounds. It has a lot of shelves and rods for hanging clothes but only six small drawers. Open shelving is nice in theory, but unless you’re meticulous about folding your clothes and keeping everything neatly stacked (we’re not), it’s messy.
For a while, I tried stuffing all my underwear, socks, workout clothes, swimsuits, and pajamas into three drawers (my husband got the other three), but pretty soon, they were overflowing and I had to move some stuff to the shelves. Because smaller, thinner items are hard to keep folded, they would end up in a jumble on the shelves and look so untidy. Then I remembered what Susan Orlean told me when we discussed her obsessive closetorganization:“You need to containerize.”
I was already usingclear acrylic storage bins everywhere else in the house. In the kitchen, I had long bins for storing breast milk in the freezer when my kids were nursing that now hold snacks in the pantry, smaller bins for organizing yogurts in the fridge, and a tea caddy. In the playroom, lidded boxes held small animal figurines and loose LEGOs. In the bathroom, toiletries and cleaning supplies. Everything was in its right place, and I loved how I could see all the contents organized therein. The bins were sturdy, and the clear plastic just looked nice.
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For breast-milk pouches — and snacks.
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I use these for small kids’ toys and other knickknacks.
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The perfect size for organizing the bathroom (and small accessories).
I realized I could use them for storing clothes too. I already had my favorite brands — mDesign, iDesign, and ClearSpace — but it took some trial and error to find the right size for my closet shelves. They had to be large enough to hold a variety of garments but also fit side by side. I settled on these extra-large bins from ClearSpace that come in packs of eight. I also bought a set of four that come with lids, which is helpful if you need to stack them.
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Here’s how I organized everything: My general rule of thumb was that if it couldn’t be folded and stacked neatly, it had to go in a bin. Jeans, sweatpants, T-shirts, long sleeves, and sweaters could reside on shelves because they can hold their folded shape and stay flat. Small garments like tank tops and slippery things like workout clothes (shorts, leggings, tops, sports bras) had to go in a bin. I had a bin for swimsuits and cover-ups, extra socks and tights, and thin base layers like Heattech as well. I also used the bins to stash small purses and even a large straw hat. I gave a couple to my husband, who used them for his workout shirts and shorts. Where we once had chaos, we now have order thanks to these bins. And because they’re clear, they can be repurposed for just about anything — in any room.
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