For 2024, store your stuff in style with expert advice and some standout home-organization pieces

A brand new year is coming into view, and you have resolved to make 2024 the year you finally get your home organized. You’re determined to figure out how to sort and store all your stuff, to make your space feel calm and more inviting.

But where to begin? We went to two experts for advice: New Orleans designer Jill Dupré and professional organizer Anastasia Cymes.

Although it may be tempting to start by shopping for the perfect storage solution — cute containers or a new cabinet — Cymes knows better.

As owner of organizing company Clear the Clutter and author of a book by the same name, she advises her clients to take careful inventory of what they’ll be sorting and storing before buying an organizing product or container.

“For example, you may be ready to buy 200 matching hangers for a closet makeover because your wardrobe is out of control,” said Cymes. “But after a major clutter bust, you donate 50% of your clothing and find a pack of 100 hangers you bought last year and forgot about. True story.”

Once the sorting is done and you know what you have to store, then you can decide whether to buy something to help contain the clutter.

“When it comes to kids’ clutter, I consider items off the floor a win,” said Cymes, who favors toy chests and baskets for play areas and bedrooms. “If you're worried about messy bookshelves, a book basket is an easy way for even the youngest kids to tidy up after story time.”

She also pointed out that good storage furniture serves multiple purposes. “An upholstered ottoman in the living room can store your family's throw blanket collection and give you an extra seat or place to put up your feet,” explained Cymes, adding that it can also serve as a coffee table with soft edges that make it a good baby-proof solution.  

For homes that don’t have a garage or outside shed, Cymes recommends a weatherproof storage bin. “It’s a great place for outdoor toys, patio pillows or garden supplies,” she said, “and it can serve double duty as a work surface or bench seating.

“Less is more and always a door.” That, in a nutshell, is Dupré’s storage philosophy. Her instincts to keep things pared down and out of sight likely contribute to her knack for creating modern living spaces that are vibrant and fun without being fussy or cluttered.

Kartell’s modular Componibili storage units are among Dupré’s favorite storage solutions. “They’re classic, circular and stackable, and now they come in new great colors,” she said. “They go anywhere from a bathroom to a kid’s room, under a desk or in the kitchen.”

For storage in small spaces, Dupré looks high and low — from under-bed storage and over-the-door shelving to baskets hung on wall hooks. She is especially partial to the utility of peg hooks. Dupré says West Elm’s Sadie wall hooks are her go-to choice, but adds that a trip to the hardware store can equip you to try a DIY version with similar results.

“It’s easy to shop the aisles of Home Depot for a 1-inch-by-3-inch length of molding, a ½-inch dowel, some wood glue and a ½-inch drill bit,” explained Dupré. “Peg hooks can be added anywhere in the house to hang towels, jackets, artwork or anything with a ribbon attached. It’s my favorite way to display and hang much-needed items but in a very curated way. No experience necessary.”

“Good closet organization is a must,” added Dupré. “It’s worth the money and effort to really think it out. Or even better, hire someone. And closets can be used for many types of items. IKEA makes so many inexpensive types of wall storage.”

Another item on Dupré’s list of preferred storage products is a Craftsman tool chest. Available in red, white or black, they’re mobile and can work as a kitchen island, jewelry cabinet or a makeup and beauty cabinet.