1. Sports Equipment
The Problem: Sports come with a lot of oddly shaped things.
The Excuse: “My lacrosse stick won’t fit in one of your bins, mom! Where else am I supposed to put it other than the floor?!"
The Solution: Fair point, kid. The easiest course of action is vertical storage, such as a repurposed broom holder or wall storage rack.
Bonus tip:Store balls, gloves, and smaller equipment in clear containers that are tall and deep enough to avoid any spillover. Theseclear stackable binsfrom The Container Store come in a variety of size options, and include removable dividers for containing items within a larger category.
2. Beauty and Grooming Products
The Problem: It always looks like a tornado ran through their bathroom.
The Excuse: “I don’t have time in the morning to put all my stuff back in drawers!”
The Solution: We always say there are two types of people in this world: Drawer people and counter people. Most teens are counter people. This means that if they can’t see it, it doesn’t exist. And if it takes an extra step to put things away? Game over. Use clear stackable drawers and small bins with inserts to keep items contained within their category is key.
3. Desk Supplies
The Problem: You can never find your pens because your teen is constantly snatching them.
The Excuse: “I lost mine!"
The Solution: This 4-Piece Desktop Edit will not only keep you from policing your pen stash, but will also help your teen keep their desk neat and their supplies easy to access. The small bins are modular so the system can be customized.
4. Shoes
The Problem: Shoes are in the entryway and all over their bedroom floor.
The Excuse: “Why put my shoes away if I’m just going to put them back on?”
The Solution: This one may seem a little extra but bear with us. Nothing is cooler than this spinning shoe shelf, and we're sure your teen will agree. Just place in the corner of their room and watch them take pride in their collection.
5. School Papers
The Problem: Important documents (homework, college admission forms, etc.) get thrown haphazardly on the kitchen counter and end up in the recycling bin.
The Excuse: "I put it there so I remember."
The Solution: This hack comes to you straight from our new book, Stay Organized. The client above was having a similar issue, so we gave each family member their own "mailbox" right in the entryway. The result? Less mess, less stress, we digress.
6. Electronics
The Problem: Chargers get lost and devices get damaged.
The Excuse: They don't have one.
The Solution: Designate a rolling cart as the new home base for every device in the house — chargers, laptops, headphones, controllers, etc. Use small bin inserts to contain by category, and an acrylic file sorter to keep laptops and tablets upright. Place it by an outlet with a large USB port so you can store and charge up at the same time.
7. Snacks
The Problem: Chip bags are left open, food goes stale, and the pantry is littered with empty boxes.
The Excuse: “Sorry, I forgot."
The Solution: Remove food from its original, often bulky and nonsensical, packaging and pour into clear canisters. Now, instead of your teen having to contend with a box that doesn't quite close correctly, they'll just open the airtight lid and close it. Canisters also provide more visibility so you always know when you are running low.
Still have younger kids at home? Here are our top ten playroom organization tips to help you tackle your toy troubles in the meantime.
