44 brilliant organization ideas for around the house – all under $50

A simple shelving display to help arrange your spices

FunDisplay Kitchen Shelving Rack, $19.99, available at Wayfair

This step style kitchen shelving rack elevates your spice collection, so you can actually see what you own. It can be left on the countertop, but also fits well in most cabinets. If you don’t have many spices, this piece works well for holding vitamins and medicine as well.

A sleek way to store and show off your pencils and pens

HBlife Acrylic Pencil and Pen Holder, $8.99, available at Amazon

A pile of writing utensils on your desk is not only impractical, but messy. Keep your pens and pencils corralled with this acrylic container. It’s clear, so you know what you’re getting before you grab it and it goes with just about anything.

A mop and broom holder that keeps your useful tools accessible

Onmier Mop & Broom Holder, $13.99, available at Amazon

Don’t let bulky cleaning tools like mops and brooms make a mess in your space. This simple organizer can hold five larger tools and has six hooks to hang smaller cleaning supplies. The whole organizer can be easily mounted to the wall.

Little jars that are made for jam, but are the right size for holding various knick-knacks

Ball 4 oz. Jelly Jars, $8.39/12-pack, available at Target

These jars be used for a variety of purposes beyond storing jelly. You can use these in the kitchen to store spices or small foods like nuts and seeds, but they also function as great containers to corral small desk supplies such as pushpins and paper clips.

Bamboo trays to keep your cutlery cataloged

Bamboo Cutlery Tray, starting at $14.99, available at The Container Store

Keep your cutlery drawer free of clutter with this simple bamboo tray. Place this tray directly into a kitchen drawer to keep your flatware neat and visible. It has roomy storage slots that can fit a variety of sizes of knives, forks, and spoons. 

An over-the-door shoe organizer

Simple Houseware 24 Pocket Shoe Organizer, $8.87, available at Amazon

If you have a lot of shoes, it can be a mess trying to figure out where to store them. This basic organizer hangs over your door and has 24 pockets, which means it can hold plenty of your favorite pairs. It is a great way to save space and keep your shoes organized and clean.

A sleek and simple set so your bathroom essentials are always on hand

Capri Plastic Countertop Bathroom Set, starting at $6.99, available at The Container Store

Decrease clutter on your counter by giving all of your bathroom essentials their own place. You can purchase this soap dish, toothbrush holder, soap dispenser, and tumbler as a set or on their own. These are sturdy, easy to clean, and the clear plastic will look nice in any bathroom. 

An over-the-door rack for convenient hanging

Heavy Duty Over-the-Door Hook Rack, $14.99, available at Bed Bath & Beyond

A great way to stay organized is to turn dead space into additional storage. This rack adds at least eight hooks to your space, more if you get creative. It fits right over your door and is sturdy enough to hold heavier items like jackets. I use one of these racks to hang my towels and bathrobe, but I think this is also a great place to put bulkier items, like winter coats, that can take up a lot of precious closet space.

Photo boxes that make for a streamlined storage set

Bigso Photo Storage Box, $9.99, available at The Container Store

As someone who strives to be more organized, storage boxes are one of my favorite products. They seamlessly contain my messes and make my room look much more organized, even if it’s not. Maybe putting my random knick-knacks into a box isn’t being truly “organized,” but it gives all of my belongings a place to reside, which is a win for tidiness in my book.

These boxes are meant for photos and have six dividers inside to help you organize your pictures if you so choose. You can easily use these boxes to store recipes, any files, or other small goods, just add a label so you know what is where.

Cosmetic organizers that make a nice, neat display for your makeup

Luxe Acrylic Modular Makeup System, starting at $8.99, available at The Container Store

If you own any makeup, you know how unsightly these products make your surfaces; they topple over, they roll, sometimes they even spill. These cosmetic organizers are great for storing makeup because they have a range of storing spaces that accommodate your makeup brushes, products, and any other cosmetics. You can also use these to organize small office supplies.

Command hooks to add hanging space wherever you need it

Stainless Steel Command Hooks, $6.29, available at Target

I can’t say enough good things about command hooks. In college, I always kept some extra command hooks in my drawer just in case I needed to hang any more items. Command hooks are easy to apply, won’t rip the paint off of your wall, and allow you to conveniently hang things wherever you want. They come in a variety of sizes and colors, but I like these stainless steel ones because they look a little more sophisticated than average plastic.

A mesh basket organizer that makes under-sink storage accessible

2-Drawer Mesh Organizer, $26.99, available at The Container Store

Under the sink is a great place to store products you don’t use often, but it can easily become a mess, making it difficult to find that extra tube of toothpaste or roll of toilet paper. The drawers on this organizer slide out, so you don’t have to rifle through a mess of products to find what you need.

A bowl to remind you to eat your fruits and vegetables

2-Tier Fruit Basket, $29.95, available at Crate & Barrel

I love produce, but I hate (my current method of) keeping it in random bowls around the kitchen. It adds a lot of clutter and you end up forgetting what food you actually have on hand before it goes bad. With two tiers, this fruit basket gives you some vertical storage, removing the clutter from your countertop and keeping all of your produce visible, so hopefully you can waste less food. 

A streamlined storage system for your pantry

Royal Airtight Food Storage Container, $29.99 (set of 5), available at Walmart

Another great option for airtight food storage. These premium quality, matching containers allow you to rid your cabinets of irregular shaped cans and boxes in favor of a more streamlined storage system. They are an affordable solution to make your daily life more organized.

Wire organizers that look good on your desk or in a drawer

Design Ideas Rose Gold Wire Drawer Organizers, starting at $13.97, available at Walmart

Storage boxes, storage boxes, storage boxes. As someone who is not neat by their own merit, storage boxes are one of the things that I credit with helping me stay organized. Because they are not made to fit a specific item, you can put anything in these boxes. These ones are nice because they can fit in your drawers, but also will look good if you choose to leave them on your desk to organize paper goods and office supplies.

An organizer to keep your reusable plastic container lids tidy

Food Storage Lid Organizer for Kitchen Cabinet, $13.99, available at Amazon

If you have a lot of food storage containers, you know how easy it is to lose these lids. This organizer holds your lids so you don’t have to spend unnecessary time trying to figure out what lid goes with which container and vice versa.

A set of fridge bins that are made to store basic foods

Sorbus Fridge Bins (6-piece set), $35.99, available at Amazon

Give everything in your fridge, or freezer, a place with these simple plastic bins. This set comes with a few different sizes shaped to hold eggs, cans, and bigger items like condiments and produce.

A makeshift bookshelf for tidy wall storage

Wall-Mounted Double Bin with Shelf, $29.99, available at The Container Store

Without a bookshelf, I let my books pile up on my desk until the pile is unstable and then I must resort to moving this pile to the floor. This is a bleak set-up and adds an unnecessary mess. This little shelf is a great solution that turns any wall into a bookshelf. It’s a simple wooden plank, but the bookend structure on the sides mean your belongings will stay put.

A pretty tray to contain your jewelry or other trinkets

Stackers Medium Expandable Necklace Tray, $39.99, available at The Container Store

This expandable tray has a soft fabric design that adds a nice accent to a vanity or dresser. Other than looking nice, this is a very practical piece. The soft surface means it is gentle enough to hold more delicate jewelry, and it has long compartments to keep necklaces tangle free.

Drawer dividers that expand to fit any size drawer

Dream Drawer Organizers, starting at $15.99, available at The Container Store

These organizers can fit any drawer that’s about 4′ deep and they can expand from 12′ to 18′ long. Place these in your drawers to help separate and categorize your clothing. These will help everything stay folded, so you don’t end up with a giant messy pile when you open your T-shirt drawer.

A set of velvet hangers

AmazonBasics Velvet Suit Hangers (30-pack), $16.49, available at Amazon

Once you try velvet hangers, you will never want to go back to wire or plastic again. These are thin, so they take up less space in your closet and unlike cheap plastic, the velvet texture keeps your clothing from slipping off the hanger.

Shoe storage that is also great for accessories

Drop-Front Shoe Box, $7.49, available at The Container Store

I love that these drawers are clear because I can easily see what’s inside each box. The drop-front is also great because I can get what I need without the mess of unstacking boxes. Plus, these stack onto each other easily, so you can stack them up pretty high without worrying about stability. While these are made for shoes, I’ve found that they also work well for holding other accessories like bags and scarves. 

Packing cubes that keep you organized and add space to your luggage

Eagle Creek Translucent Pack-It Cubes, starting at $13.95, available at The Container Store

If you’re on the road, these packing cubes will help you maximize your space and minimize the mess. Pack your clothes into these cubes instead of straight into your suitcase; you will be surprised how much space it saves and how easy it is to get your things when you actually know where they are. While these are meant for travelling, you can utilize them when you’re home too to store clothing or other items you don’t wear or use often.

A hanger made specifically to hold your belts

EasyView Belt Hanger, $9.97, available at Amazon

This semi-circle hanger is meant to keep your belts handy. Since it is only one hanger, it won’t take up much space in your closet, but it can hold plenty of belts, probably more than you even own — unless you own a lot of belts, but in that case, you can get two of these.

A storage cup that suctions onto almost any surface

InterDesign Forma Suction Toothbrush and Razor Holder Cup, $14.95, available at Amazon

Don’t be the person that leaves their toothbrush laying on the bathroom counter. Instead, grab one of these easy toothbrush holders that suction right onto the wall or mirror. You can put this right next to the sink, so your toothbrush is ready available when you need it. It can also fit a tub of toothpaste and even a pack of floss, so you have everything you need to clean your teeth in one spot.

A utensil holder that keeps your kitchen tools tidy and accessible

Good Grips Stainless Steel Rotating Utensil Holder, $19.99, available at Bed Bath & Beyond

A variety of large kitchen tools usually is not compatible with shallow kitchen drawers. Put one of these on your kitchen counter to save drawer space and have all of your tools accessible while you cook. This one even rotates, making it even easier to locate your items.

Vacuum storage bags that save a ton of space

SpaceSaver Reusable Vacuum Storage Bags, $39.99 (jumbo 6-pack), available at Amazon

These simple bags are a major space-saving hack. They compress big piles of clothes into flat, easy-to-store bags. If you live in a dorm or a small apartment, these can do wonders for your space.

Airtight containers that keep your food fresh

Hermetic Glass Storage Jars, starting at $3.99, available at The Container Store

These simple jars are great for storing fresh foods and dry goods. They use bail and seal closures, so you never will misplace the top, but most importantly, this makes them airtight, so your food is safe from perishing. Beyond food, these jars are great for storing and displaying arts and crafts supplies.

A transportable organizer for your medicine cabinet

InterDesign Linus Catch-All Cabinet Organizer, $12.99, available at The Container Store

A medicine cabinet holds some of our most important items, but with so many boxes and bottles it can be hard to find these really important products when you need them. This simple cabinet organizer adds some order to keep your medicine cabinet clean. The side handles also make it easily transportable.

Little organizers that can fit in any drawer

InterDesign Linus Shallow Drawer Organizers, starting at $3.99, available at The Container Store

These plastic drawer organizers are shallow enough to fit in most drawers. They come in a variety of sizes to hold all different sorts of items. Whether you need organization in your kitchen, bathroom, office, or bedroom, this set will have the right sizes to fit in your drawer and keep it tidy.

A cart to store anything, anywhere

Iris 6-Drawer Storage Cart with Organizer Top, $39.99, available at Target

While not the most beautiful piece of furniture on this list, this cart is so practical. With six drawers, you can easily store a multitude of items and organize them by category, purpose, etc. At only one foot wide, this won’t take up much space horizontally, but it is over two feet tall so it gives you plenty of storage. Plus, the wheels allow you to easily move this cart whenever you need to. 

Soft and sturdy storage bins

Laguna Cotton Fabric Storage Bins, starting at $9.99, available at The Container Store

These storage bins are made of soft cotton, giving them a comfortable, homey look that will fit well anywhere in your home. While soft, they are sturdy and can hold anything from blankets to hard plastic toys. 

Metal shelf dividers

Lynk Tall Chrome Solid Shelf Dividers, $12.99, available at The Container Store

After spending time folding your clothing, there’s nothing worse than watching the perfect piles topple over and turn your closet into a mess. These metal dividers slip right onto any shelf and help make sure that your folded clothing stays folded.

A convenient corkboard to help keep track of important information

Quarter Cork Bulletin Board, $33.27, available at Amazon

Keep a corkboard in a visible area so you can post important files, memos, and anything else you don’t want to forget. You can also pin on photos and other mementos, so it looks like a nice display piece on your wall.

A set of simple plastic bins that organize and maximize pantry space

mDesign Stacking Organizer Bins, $34.99, available at Amazon

Compartmentalize all the items in your pantry with these small, clear bins. They stack right on top of each other to maximize pantry space and keep your dry goods from toppling over.

A simple shoe shelf to expand closet space

2-Shelf Shoe Stacker, $17.99, available at The Container Store

By the end of the week, I tend to have a pile of shoes accumulated near my front door. A simple shoe rack like this allows you to keep the shoes you wear often visible, accessible, and most importantly, organized. Having one of these around will also hopefully decrease that dreaded week-end shoe pile.

 

A convenient shower caddy

Simplex Shower Caddy, $29.99, available at The Container Store

It seems like there’s never a good place to keep your things in the shower. Even if you do have a ledge to put some belongings, it can get slippery and make everything fall. This caddy slips right over your showerhead for easy storage that will stay put.

A smart dish rack that keeps your countertops clean

Simplehuman Steel Dish Rack, $49.99, available at Amazon

A dish rack is a necessity for any kitchen, but it’s hard to find one that doesn’t leave a puddle on your countertop after leaving wet items out to air-dry. This dish rack has all the regular stuff —  room for dishes and utensils — but also has a swivel spout so you can funnel all that dirty water into the sink and not onto your kitchen counter.

A small drawer set that can fit wherever you need some extra storage

Sterilite 3 Drawer Mini Set, $9.48, available at Walmart

This small set of drawers can be used to store and tidy almost anything. Leave it on your desk to organize office supplies, in your medicine cabinet to organize toiletries or even in your pantry to hold extra kitchen supplies.

An ottoman that doubles as a storage bin

Seville Classics Foldable Storage Ottoman (2-pack), $44.99, available at Amazon

To keep any space looking tidy, go for multi-purpose furniture that functions as storage as well. These look like your average ottomans, but you can remove their seat to reveal a storage bin with a solid amount of space.

A place for all of your important papers

Clear Stackable Letter Holder, $19.99, available at The Container Store

Your desk can quickly become a messy pile of papers if you don’t have any file storage. This acrylic letter holder is an easy place to keep all of your papers. This model can be stacked on top of one another so you can maximize the desk space you have, all while providing more storage. 

Simple storage boxes that can hold anything

Water Hyacinth Storage Bins, starting at $8.99, available at The Container Store

These storage bins add easy organization anywhere you need it. They are sturdy enough to hold big items and the neutral color matches any interior. Put these on a shelf in your closet for easy access to accessories and linens.

A sleek and smart sink caddy

Simplehuman Sink Caddy, $16.99, available at Crate & Barrel and Amazon

Like most others, this sink caddy slips over the ledge of your sink and suctions to the side. It fits sponges, but it also has a silicone brush holder that pops out to accommodate larger scrubbers.

A bedside table with layers of storage

Furinno Bedroom Night Stand, $21.62, available at Amazon

A bedside table is a great place to keep books, devices, and other knick-knacks that never seem to have a place in your room. This nightstand has two surfaces to store items, as well as a storage box that is built-in, for items you would rather have hidden. While small, people rate this one well on Amazon for its affordability and convenience.