DIY Organizers

Think like you're moving out. Chances are you don't use most of what's in your household. So get rid of it. Pretend that you're moving out of your home and trash or donate everything that you no longer need or use. This includes old clothing, toys, furniture and blankets. The rule for throwing items out: If you haven't used or worn it in six months, you never will. Keep items that you love or have sentimental value.

Put everything in its own place. Keep like items together in individual containers. Craft items should have their own drawer, whereas hair products should have a separate drawer. If you have two items that perform a similar function, keep the newer one and get rid of the other. Practice returning these items to their rightful place. Label brightly colored baskets or storage boxes for children who are also learning to organize. Keeping things organized also prevents you from purchasing duplicate products.

Repurpose old Items as extra storage. Use mesh laundry bags to hold sports equipment or outdoor supplies. Hang them in the garage, in a storage closet, in the hallway or even in the trunk of your car. This is a great way to keep and transport all of your balls and rackets together in one place. Use old ice cube trays for jewelry storage. You wont lose any earrings when you keep your studs in their own slot. Stack trays on top of each other for a multilevel jewelry box.

Mount a pegboard. A pegboard on your kitchen wall or on your closet door is an efficient, space-saving way to hang everyday items, such as jewelry, keys and even artwork. Hang a basket from the hooks to use as a mail sorter. Pegboards are ideal organizational aids in any workplace or home office.

Reuse bags and shoeboxes. You don't have to purchase pretty storage boxes when you have sturdy shoeboxes. Preserve photos, letters and trinkets in these boxes. Label them and stack them on your bookshelf or under the bed for easy access. For a more aesthetic look, glue on pretty fabric or paper to cover up any logos.

Reuse shopping bags and gift bags for everyday storage needs. It's nice to have extra bags handy for grocery shopping or dropping off a gift.

Tidy up the laundry room. Arrange all your cleaning detergents and laundry supplies on a shelf in the order that you use them. Regular-use items should be the most easily accessible. Store smaller supplies in bins or boxes. Install an ironing-board hanger on the wall as a space saver and put the ironing board away whenever it's not in use. Attach a rod or hook on the door so you can hang clothes while you iron. Separate whites, colors and delicate fabrics in individual rolling bins or carts.