Using vertical space -- whether that means hanging objects from walls or ceilings, stacking them vertically, or just standing them on end versus laying them flat -- is almost always a good idea. The smaller the horizontal footprint you create, the less cluttered the space will feel -- and be. In this piece, I'll explore not only the old favorites of stacking and hanging, but will also add what I hope are a few new tricks using this sometimes overlooked, but highly useful way to store things.
Store only what you need, use, and love
I hope that this goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway: Do a thorough job of purging before you make, beg, borrow, or buy any kind of storage apparatus because you don't have to store what you no longer own. Plus, how can you accurately judge the kind, size, and number of storage mechanisms you'll need if you don't know what you're storing? First things first: know what you're storing before you buy containers or storage infrastructure.
But you do have to store what you decide to keep, so...
...that makes the post-purge period the perfect time to re-evaluate where and how you store things. Keep in mind that storage spaces and products must be appropriate for their contents, as well as for the frequency of use of those contents. The four main kinds of storage are:
* temporary: for transient objects such as the mail, newspaper, and car keys
* everyday: for things you use a lot, such as dishes, socks, and shampoo
* seasonal: for items such as holiday decorations, winter coats, and beach toys
* deep: for things such as your tax returns from four years ago, and special heirlooms that you want to keep but don't want to display
Hang it, stand it, stack it, rack it
One of the most useful strategies that you'll ever take into the organizing battle is the goal of maximizing vertical space. "Going vertical" -- whether you hang things, stand them on end, stack them up in a pile, or use hooks or multi-hook racks -- is almost always a stellar idea because it takes things up and out of your way, and it allows you to eliminate some horizontal surfaces, which are clutter magnets. The higher you can go with your vertical organization (without creating dangerous, inconvenient, or unrealistic retrieval requirements, of course) -- and thus the more wall, ceiling, vertical shelf, and vertical cupboard space you can use -- the smaller the horizontal footprint you'll create. The result? More space, light, air, order, and breathing room.
Let's look at some of the many ways to implement this principle of using vertical space.
* Love my cubby: Cubby units and lockers are great examples of using vertical space because you can hang stuff inside, put it on top, and maybe even store things below them if they're on legs.
* Book 'em: Albums and three-ring-binder-type books that hold such items as recipes, schedules, photos, household information, carry-out menus, CDs, and owner's manuals can store a lot of information vertically.
* April showers: Caddies and organizers that hang either on the wall of the shower or over the showerhead can hold several bottles on their shelves, as well as bath puffs and shavers on their hooks.
* It's the curtains for you! Shower curtains, that is. Use one with pockets sewn on the outside (dry) side to create lots of spots to stash lightweight items such as combs, cotton balls, barrettes, and hair ribbons.
* Can you feel the tension? A tension rod -- a long pole that runs floor to ceiling and is held in place by tension -- outfitted with horizontal "arms" and posted near the shower offers places from which to hang brushes, sponges, and towels, as well as buckets or baskets that, in turn, can hold smaller things such as soap and shavers. A pole like this can also hold plants, plus heavy-duty garage versions can even support bicycles.
* It's a shoe-in: Clear-plastic shoe organizers with a dozen or more pouches are great for bundles of socks, pantyhose, rolled-up belts, folded scarves, large pieces of jewelry, small toys, puppets, mittens, hairbrushes, and on and on. They hang nicely on either side of a door -- vertical space that's often overlooked.
* Shoe-in, too: Another variety of shoe (or sweater) organizer is the fabric kind with rectangular cubby holes -- in either narrow or wide styles -- that hangs from a closet rod. It can hold shoes, naturally, but it can also corral entire outfits for kids, shirts, pants, small games, mittens, hats, and myriad other things. When placed in a mudroom or at the door you use most, it can hold incoming or outgoing gear. The best part is, with its wide openings and no lids, doors, or other obstacles, even the most organizationally challenged folks ought to be able to put a few things away in this organizer's big, wide-open slots. If your household members are a little more disciplined, such an organizer can be outfitted with fabric drawers.
* Tie one on: Tie and belt racks consume zero floor space and can hold plenty of ties, belts, scarves, necklaces, bracelets, and lint brushes.
* The best little hook: Cup hooks rule! Besides hanging mugs from them inside or under a cupboard, hang a hair dryer from one inside the bathroom vanity, or hang your keys on the wall by the door you use most.
* Up and under: Suspend your wine glasses by their bases on tracks, either inside or under a cupboard, and mount small appliances under cupboards to free up counter space as well. Plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and boxes of zip-top bags can reside inside a door with the help of a special holder designed to hold long, lean boxes.
* Up and over: Over-the-door hooks and racks are super for bathrobes, coats, towels, clothes you plan to wear again, and fresh laundry on hangers. Some of these have a fold-down drying rack attached, which can hold damp dish towels, wet mittens, and other things that need air-drying.
* Chain gang: If you hang a length of chain (or a set of shower-curtain rings linked together) from the ceiling or over a closet clothes rod, and then hang 'S' hooks or clothespins on it, you've got a winning vertical storage idea for purses, hats, scarves, belts, and lightweight stuffed animals with collars.
* Clothesline the guy: String a clothesline, rope, or ribbon along a child's bedroom wall and hang art pieces from it with clothespins. Or, add one to a kitchen wall to hold photos, messages, invitations, and greeting cards.
* Those lazy days of summer? If you don't seem to be making much use of that summer hammock out in the yard, use it inside the garage. Suspend it from two walls in a corner, sort of near the ceiling, and use it to corral sports balls, cushions, canoe paddles, sleeping bags, swim noodles, or other light-but-bulky items. A smaller version in a child's room can hold stuffed animals, pillows, and large-but-lightweight toys.
* Double the pleasure: Suspend a second clothes rod from the existing one in a closet using two cords or lengths of chain to double your storage capacity for shorter clothes such as shirts. If you need to store longer items such as dresses and robes as well, suspend the second rod from only part of the existing rod and hang the longer items from the original rod.
* Shed no tiers: Tiered, hanging baskets -- typically three wire-mesh ones in graduated sizes that hang from a chain -- can hold fruit and vegetables in the kitchen, cotton balls and wash cloths in the bathroom, and/or socks and small treasures in kids' rooms. Tiered skirt hangers are also cool because you can hang many skirts -- on both sides of it -- in not much more width than it would normally take to hang one.
* Shelve it: Plastic or plastic-coated-wire shelf inserts can be real boons for your cupboards and closets. Just set one in a spot where you have a lot of vertical space but not much horizontal surface area -- on the shelf in a high-ceilinged closet, in a tall cupboard with no shelves, or on a standard-size shelf that could be better utilized if there were a "mezzanine" added. Imagine the precarious towers of objects that you'll eliminate.
* Straighten up: Another shelf savior is the vertical divider. Whether made of wood, metal, or plastic-covered wire, these make things that tend to topple -- sweaters, purses, and blankets -- stand at attention.
Go vertical by hanging, standing, stacking, racking, and embrace that vertical space.
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