English Lessons: Organize With Attention to Detail

Map It Out

Help transition your workspace into vacation mode with colorful reminders of future travels and adventures. The inflatable globe, framed map, and use of primary colors add a playful touch to a business-as-usual desk.

Shop this look:
27-inch Inflatable Globe
$26
Available at The Globe Corner Bookstores

Magazine Files
$10
Available at The Container Store

Docking Station

Tidy away wires, keep gadgets charged, and ensure daily essentials are close at hand. Great for an entry table or kitchen counter, a central location for storing all your technological toys and keys will help you keep tabs on your stuff and get out the door quickly.

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Bento Smart Technology Storage
$99 on sale for $39
Available at Pottery Barn

Bathroom Caddy

Window sills can be functional and chic. Opt for clever vessels to store and display your bathroom basics from toothbrushes to cotton swabs.

Hallway Storage

No closet space? No problem. The perfect mix of hooks and shelving (painted in bright blue) can keep items from cluttering up your entry. Jackets and bags can perch on the wall via hooks, and shoes and recycling can nest in or under shelves to be easily accessible but almost out of site.

Shop this look:
Bookcase
$130
Available at Ikea

Accounting in Style

Keep afloat during trying economic times with an orderly and pretty financial headquarters. Visibly post bills at eye level with a magnetic board, and make sure to have a spot to collect spare change. Simply empty your pockets of change every night, and before long you’ll have enough funds for a shopping excursion.

Shop this look:
Save Key Bank
$10
Available at Uncommon Goods

Red Magnetic Board
$35
Available at Fridgedoor

Condemn Kid’s Clutter

If your children have taken over your home by pulling every book of the shelf and torn apart every puzzle, designate one bin (or skip) for all their toys. Personalize it with their name, so they’ll know just whose stuff is supposed to be put there every night.

British word to know: skip. A skip is trash can or dumpster.

Snack Time

Entertaining friends or just a private feast for one, keep crumbs at bay by using a lazy Susan as a serving platter. Not only does it keep everything within reach but corrals the mess allowing for easy clean up.

Music Library

Long gone are the days of massive wall unit stereos. Instead, we organize our music in playlists on our MP3 players. But you can still enjoy the music and give a style nod to the past of vinyl with record collection stickers.

Panic Room

You don’t need a secret room for retreat in case of catastrophic events; just designate a spot (or cabinet) to hold all the solutions to life’s emergencies: first aid kit, chocolate, matches, and mini bottles of alcohol.

Family Albums

Rather than cover the fridge with snapshots and clutter the mantel with framed photos, opt for creating your own signature wall covering with decorative (and magnetic) frames.

Shop this look:
Sticker Frames
$20/set of 8
Available at Uncommon Goods

Display Your Baubles

If your jewelry box looks more like a nest of chains and beads, it may be time to rethink your storing habits. Instead of burying your treasure, put it out on display.

Shop this look:
Little Birch Jewelry Stand
$24
Available at Urban Outfitters

Hidden Potential

Pretty packing makes for stylish stacking. Make the inside of your closet as colorful and decorative as your wardrobe itself. Even if you dress mostly in all black and gray, add a pop of color and pattern to your organizing just for fun.

Shop this look:
Hemnes Wardrobe
$399
Available at Ikea

From Living, Etc.