The Container Cure: Taming Clutter to Restore Peace

The best way to organize your home with storage containers is to sort your belongings first, measure the available space and choose containers that fit a specific category. Clear bins, baskets, drawer dividers and turntables can make items easier to see, reach and return to their designated places.

Containers can create useful boundaries, but they cannot solve overcrowding on their own. If every bin is overflowing, it may be time to declutter, relocate or reconsider some of the belongings in that space.

Storage Containers at a Glance

Should You Declutter Before Buying Containers?

Yes. Sort and review your belongings before purchasing containers. Buying bins first can leave you with products that are the wrong size, do not fit the available shelves or simply provide another place to stash items you no longer need.

Start with one contained area, such as a closet shelf, pantry section or entryway table.

Remove the items and group them into categories:

• Keep in this space
• Move to another room
• Donate
• Recycle or discard
• Review later

Use a temporary box for belongings that require another decision, but give yourself a date for reviewing it. An indefinite “maybe” container can quickly become permanent clutter.

Once you know what will remain, measure the width, height and depth of the space. Account for shelf supports, hinges, doors and other features that may affect how a container fits.

How Do You Choose the Right Storage Container?

Choose a container based on where it will go, what it will hold and how often you need to reach the contents.

Clear Bins

Clear bins make contents easier to identify without opening the container. They work well on closet shelves, in utility areas and in storage spaces where visibility matters more than appearance.

Opaque Bins and Decorative Baskets

Opaque containers can create a more consistent appearance in open living areas. Use labels so you do not have to open several baskets to find one item.

Open Baskets

Open baskets work well for items used frequently, such as blankets, toys or everyday accessories. They make cleanup quick but may not provide much protection from dust.

Lidded Containers

Bins with fitted lids can help keep contents contained and reduce dust exposure. They may be useful for seasonal décor, clothing and household supplies.

Drawer Dividers

Drawer dividers create boundaries for smaller categories without requiring individual boxes. They can help organize socks, accessories, office supplies and utensils.

Turntables and Shelf Risers

Turntables make bottles and jars toward the back of a shelf easier to reach. Shelf risers add another visible level for cans, spices and other small items.

The container should make the category easier to manage. If it adds extra steps or makes items harder to reach, it may not be the right solution.

How Can You Use Containers to Organize a Closet?

Closets often have unused space above hanging rods, beneath shorter garments or on high shelves. The right containers can help you use those areas without making the closet difficult to navigate.

Use Clear Bins on High Shelves

Clear, stackable bins can hold clean, dry seasonal clothing, accessories or items used occasionally. Choose bins that fit the shelf without extending over the edge.

Avoid packing clothing so tightly that fabrics remain heavily compressed. Label each bin with a specific category, such as “Winter Accessories” or “Summer Clothing,” rather than a general label like “Miscellaneous.”

Add Drawer Dividers

Fabric boxes or adjustable dividers can separate socks, undergarments, scarves and other small items. Assign one category to each section so everything has a defined place.

Use Hanging Organizers

A hanging organizer can make use of the back of a door or unused hanging space. Pockets may hold belts, scarves, hats, gloves or small accessories.

Confirm that the organizer does not interfere with the door, hinges or surrounding shelving.

Keep Frequently Used Items Accessible

Store everyday clothing and accessories where they are easy to reach. Place seasonal or occasional items higher or farther back.

A container system is more likely to last when returning an item takes only a few seconds.

How Can Containers Organize a Pantry?

Pantry containers can group packages, improve visibility and make deep shelves easier to use. Matching containers are optional; function matters more than uniformity.

Use Airtight Containers Selectively

Food-storage containers may be useful for flour, sugar, cereal, pasta and other appropriate dry goods. Choose containers intended for food contact and make sure they are clean and completely dry.

If food is removed from its original packaging, label the new container with the product name and any information you may need later. Depending on the food, that may include:

• A best-by or use-by date
• Allergen information
• Cooking directions
• Lot or batch information
• The date the package was opened

Consider keeping the original label or photographing it before discarding the package.

Add Turntables to Deep Shelves

Turntables can keep oils, sauces, spices and jars from disappearing in the back of a deep cabinet. Avoid overloading them or placing containers on the edge where they may fall when turned.

Use Shelf Risers for Cans and Jars

A riser creates an additional level so shorter items remain visible behind the front row. Measure the vertical clearance before adding one.

Group Packaged Foods in Baskets

Baskets can group snacks, breakfast foods, tea or baking supplies. Clear labels make it easier for household members to return items to the right zone.

Keep food-storage containers and pantry supplies at home. Food, beverages and liquids cannot be stored in a Public Storage unit.

How Can You Organize an Entryway?

An entryway container should support what happens when people enter or leave the home.

A small tray or divided organizer can provide a designated place for everyday items. Hooks can hold appropriate lightweight belongings, while a basket may collect hats, gloves or reusable shopping bags.

Keep each container limited to a specific purpose. If the entryway tray becomes a landing place for receipts, mail and unrelated objects, review it regularly rather than adding a larger tray.

A container boundary works only when you respond to overflow. When a basket is full, sort its contents before placing more items inside.

What Containers Work in a Living Room?

In an open living area, containers can be both practical and visually consistent with the room.

Useful options include:

• Large baskets for blankets
• Smaller baskets for toys or hobby supplies
• Lidded boxes for occasional-use items
• Trays for remote controls
• Magazine holders for reading materials
• Furniture with built-in storage

Avoid placing too many containers throughout the room. Several unlabeled baskets can make belongings harder to locate rather than easier.

Choose categories based on how the room is used. If the family frequently plays games, for example, one accessible game container may be more useful than separating every game component into multiple decorative boxes.

How Can Containers Organize a Home Office?

Use trays, file organizers and small boxes to separate active work from reference materials and supplies.

Possible categories include:

• Items requiring action
• Materials to file
• Frequently used office supplies
• Charging cables and adapters
• Mailing supplies
• Archived materials

Label cords or place related accessories together in a pouch. Follow applicable privacy and retention requirements when organizing records or documents.

Do not use a container as a substitute for completing an action. A tray labeled “To Do” still needs to be reviewed regularly.

How Should You Label Storage Containers?

A useful label should tell you what is inside without requiring you to open the container.

Depending on the contents, a label might include:

• The category
• The room
• The season
• The household member
• Basic handling instructions
• A container number that corresponds with an inventory

Use removable labels when categories are likely to change. For long-term storage, place labels on more than one visible side so the container can be identified from different directions.

Avoid using overly broad labels such as “Stuff,” “Miscellaneous” or “Random.” If the contents do not share a clear category, sort them again.

What Should You Do When Containers Overflow?

An overflowing container is a signal that the category, quantity or available space needs attention.

Before buying a larger bin, ask:

1. Do all these items belong in the same category?
2. Are they used in this room?
3. Are there duplicates?
4. Does anything need to be donated, recycled or discarded?
5. Would some items be more useful in another part of the home?
6. Are there eligible belongings worth keeping elsewhere?

A larger container may be appropriate if the contents are necessary and the space can accommodate it. If not, increasing container size may only postpone another round of decluttering.

Can Storage Containers Go Into a Storage Unit?

Sturdy containers can help organize eligible household belongings in a storage unit. Use fitted lids, clear labels and manageable container sizes.

Items that may be appropriate include:

• Seasonal décor
• Sporting equipment
• Clean, dry clothing
• Extra household supplies
• Toys and hobby materials
• Infrequently used kitchenware

Review the complete Public Storage storage policies before packing. Food, beverages, liquids and other prohibited items cannot be stored.

When organizing containers inside a unit:

• Place heavier containers at the bottom.
• Avoid making boxes or bins too heavy to move.
• Keep frequently used belongings accessible.
• Leave a path to items stored toward the back.
• Avoid stacking containers beyond their intended capacity.
• Maintain a basic inventory of the contents.

Use the Public Storage size guide to compare unit sizes before choosing a space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do storage containers help reduce clutter?

Containers can help organize belongings by category and give them designated places. They work best after you have reviewed what you own and removed items that do not need to remain in the space.

Should you buy containers before decluttering?

No. Sort the belongings and measure the space first. This helps you avoid buying containers that are too large, too small or unnecessary.

Are clear or opaque storage bins better?

Clear bins make contents easier to see, while opaque bins may look more consistent in open living areas. The best choice depends on where the container will be used and how often you need its contents.

Does every item need a container?

No. Containers are most useful for small, loose or related belongings. Large items and frequently used objects may be easier to manage on shelves, hooks or other designated surfaces.

How full should a storage container be?

A container should hold its category without becoming difficult to close, lift or use. Avoid forcing lids into place or creating bins that are too heavy to move.

What size container should you buy?

Measure the available space and estimate the volume of the sorted belongings. Account for handles, lids and any clearance required to remove the container from a shelf.

Can pantry containers go into a storage unit?

Empty, clean and dry household containers may be eligible for storage. Food, beverages, liquids and perishable items cannot be stored in a Public Storage unit.

What are the best containers for a storage unit?

Look for sturdy containers with fitted lids that can be labeled and stacked according to the manufacturer’s directions. Choose sizes that remain manageable when filled.

Create a Container System That Works

The goal is not to place everything you own inside a matching bin. It is to create clear categories, make belongings easier to find and establish limits for what fits in each space.

When eligible seasonal or occasional-use belongings no longer fit comfortably at home, find Public Storage near you and compare available unit sizes and property features.