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Masters of illusion (that is, our own editors and experts) reveal the brilliant ways they make clutter disappear.
As much as we appreciate a good spring cleaning, we don’t love the idea of putting off a serious overhaul, light refresh, or even a personalized touch-up until the middle of the year. In fact, we like the idea of tackling all things home reorganization at the top of the year, and now that January is finally here, we’re in cleaning mode. Although everyone's approach to the daunting task of tidying their space is often different, the one connection every single person shares is clutter. Whether it’s a closet full of random stuff we can’t bring ourselves to toss, or it’s a drawer in your kitchen stocked with unassigned cords, we all have items we'd like to conceal. If you're on board with finding smart solutions to hiding "ugly stuff" around the home, we have plenty of ideas in this area.
Ahead, we chatted with interior designers and fellow House Beautiful editors for their tips on getting and staying organized. The group shared their personal secrets to hiding items, from kids toys to countertop appliances to off-season clothing (to name a few) around their own homes.
While some suggestions are on the obvious side, others take a totally unexpected approach. One editor, for example, utilizes the empty space between her bedroom wall and leaning mirror to keep her items hidden. Wondering what the rest of our panel of experts had to say? Keep reading for tips to help you organize in the new year, and if you're missing any key storage items, we provided editor-approved products to shop.
Interior designer Leah Alexander says, "I like to maximize vertical storage whenever possible in offices and kids's spaces to free up floor space and to keep headspace clear for creativity." Not to mention, if you're short on space, vertical storage is a more clever solution to clearing clutter than the more popular horizontal counterpart.
"My latest obsession—and a cool trick to keep my countertops clean and inject some flair into the kitchen—is those sneaky drawers that are basically secret hiding spots for your fruits and veggies," says designer Mikel Welch. "Vegetable storage drawers blend right into your cabinets, giving your kitchen a neat look while keeping your produce and bread tucked away. It's like magic for your kitchen!"
House Beautiful's Editorial Director Joanna Saltz explains, "I have a penchant for using antiques to hold everyday items. My grandmother's copper pot with a lid stores ugly computer and phone cords, an antique soda box holds votive candles, and vintage tea tins hide everything from loose coins to matchbooks." Not only do vintage pieces boast that coveted old timey charm, but choosing decades-old wares over new ones is a highly sustainable approach to design.
"One of my favorite ways to conceal items is in a beautiful armoire. In our beach home, we keep a lot of kids's toys in the living room, but we don’t want it to feel like a playroom. A sculptural armoire is a practical yet visually exciting solution," Chango & Co.'s Creative Director Susana Simonpietri says. Though some armoires come with glass doors, we recommend opaque ones if you're using the case piece to conceal unsightly goods, like toys.
Designer Peti Lau admits, "I love designing custom flip-top seating with storage, either in banquettes for a breakfast nook or dining space or under a window for extra seating and storage. A perch under the window invites you to have a seat and look out at the world." She's not alone. Plenty of people find it quite relaxing to take a seat and sit a spell on a bench beside a window during a rainstorm, sunrise, or anything in between. Though this flip-top bench isn't custom, it does come in two natural finishes that pair well with any decor style.
"I'm victim to a tiny New York City apartment bathroom, and my hair is too high-maintenance for just a medicine cabinet's worth of storage," Associate Shopping Editor Janae McKenzie notes. "Every day I thank the powers that be that I found my Latitude Run cabinet on Wayfair. It’s tall enough to have space for my roommate's things and mine, the shelf height is customizable, and it fits perfectly in that corner you thought could fit only the plunger." So if your bathroom doesn't have more than a few inches of floor space to spare, think slim storage.
"I use the Linkwood litter box enclosure to hide away my cat’s litter box and I have my TV sitting on it to save space in my bedroom. It looks like any TV stand—you’d never guess what’s inside. I love it, and so does my cat, Elio," says Assistant Editor Meghan Shouse. Litter boxes may be necessary, but they're not pretty, so feel free to let your furry friend do their business in style with this chic little hut.
Designer Carolyn Miller has a crafty way to stay organized. "I often remove the shelves inside consoles or cabinets and use stackable plastic drawer bins inside them, behind the doors," she says. "It gives me much more usable space for smalls, like lamp harps, socks, bathing suits, sunglasses—anything!"
"I have a huge floor mirror that I sneakily tuck things behind. Everyone is too busy admiring the mirror—or themselves in it—to notice those few things stashed away," says Assistant Market Editor Catherine DiPersico. If the mirror is heavy enough to stay upright without falling over, there's no need to anchor it to the wall. Feel free to stick as much clutter behind it as will fit.
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