Thoughtful Home Organization Gift Ideas

Thoughtful Home Organization Gift Ideas

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Gifts That Will Get Every Home Organized

Label makers car trunk organizers and acrylic bins can make items easy to find

Kostikova/Getty Images The average American spends 2 ½ days every year looking for misplaced items — and we collectively spend $2.7 billion each year replacing those items.
Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. This holiday season, why not give your friends and family — from the slightly disheveled to the bona fide slob — a bit of time and money in the form of an organizing solution? “Everybody loves to be more organized,” says Ellen Delap, 63, a certified professional organizer who served two years as president of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals. “It makes people feel more confident and more in control, especially in uncertain times. We want to know what we have and make it all easy to find. It’s universal.” Know what else seems to be universal? Praise for the label maker as a thoughtful present. On spice jars, storage bins and countless other places, labels can reflect a personality. Label maker tape comes in different colors and sizes and can be simple or fancy, and many of the handheld devices can print borders. (Adding metallic or calligraphy pens to the gift is a nice touch.) Labels may be particularly helpful for those with memory challenges, says professional organizer Linda Birkinbine, 59, owner of Keep It Organized in Amherst, New York. On shelves and inside drawers, they can alleviate confusion. “That’s what’s so important about labeling — not only does it help you identify what you have, it also helps you identify ,” she says. If you’re concerned that giving someone an organizational gift might come across as offensive, think about the continuing popularity of Marie Kondo and shows like The Home Edit. Containing clutter is hip. And the range of products on the market shows that such gifts don’t insinuate judgment.

Kitchen

Olga Shumytskaya/Getty Images Someone who spends a lot of time in this room may appreciate clear glass jars with pop-off lids that keep flour, sugar, nuts and other essentials fresh — and to what can feel like an overwhelmed counter. But don't forget about what's behind closed doors. Acrylic bins — clear, so it’s easy to see what’s inside — are good for storing packaged snacks, rice and other kitchen staples, as well as medicine, says Delap, who is based in Houston. They’re usually sold in sets of four and come in various shapes and sizes. “These help organize the pantry so it looks like Pinterest,” Delap says. Entertainment 30% off a 1-year subscription See more Entertainment offers > A hanging closet jewelry organizer with clear pouches for rings, slots for earrings, and velcro straps for necklaces keeps inventory front and center. “And because the jewelry is hanging in with the clothes, it gets used more frequently,” Delap says. Also , matching hangers are aesthetically pleasing. “A mishmosh of hangers can be difficult to move around because they don't have the same type of hook that goes over the rod,” Birkinbine says. She adds that closet rod dividers — those plastic discs often used in clothing stores — can help easily identify garments by size or color. (Another chance to put that label maker to good use!)

Bathroom

Kostikova/Getty Images Know someone whose cosmetics are in chaos? Birkinbine recommends a tall, vertical, modular, acrylic makeup storage system if someone is short on space. For those who like to have their items out, and if space is not an issue, “there are a lot of carousel, double-decker makeup organizers out right now that alleviate counter clutter” and make it easier to get ready in the morning, Delap says.

Car br

Seen too much junk in the trunk? Help out with a trunk organizer. Be sure it has straight sides, is sturdy and doesn’t taper at the bottom, Birkinbine says. Although they don’t typically go in the washing machine, trunk organizers should be washable by hand with a damp cloth to remove dirt and debris.

Garage

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