Are you a feeling a bit disorganized at home? Can you never seem to find a pair of scissors, your smartphone charger, or perhaps a roll of gift wrap when you need it?
Creating organizing stations at home helps corral and contain commonly used household items. You’ll always have what you need at your fingertips and you’ll know exactly where to look for items when you need them.
Read on for a couple of organizing station basics as well as a list of 11 common and helpful household stations:
Station Building Basics
- Think location and containment.
Your organizing stations should be located in a room or area of the house where they will be most needed or used. Contain your supplies using baskets, boxes, plastic bins, tubs and the like. Depending on how much space you have, a cleared off shelf in a bookcase, nook, closet or pantry, or even a small mounted shelf on the wall might just do the trick to store your station supplies. - It’s not about size.
You might have a small or a large amount of space to use for your stations, but remember it’s not about size; it’s about having the necessary materials readily at hand for your needs. A scaled-back or smaller version of one of the stations below can still be extremely helpful. - Mix and match stations as needed.
The below stations are only a general suggestion; feel free to incorporate items from different stations to create your own unique multi-task station.
The 11 Organizing Stations You Need In Your Home
- Mailing/Correspondence/Bill Paying Station
This is for all those random paper and correspondence items that pass through your home. You could create an area on a desk, on your kitchen counter, or on a side table near the front door. Items you might want to include in this station: notepads, envelopes, pens, pencils, stationery, scrap paper, stamps, paper clips, scissors, stapler, bubble mailers, flat Manila envelopes, packing tape, clear cellophane tape, measuring tape, checkbook and calculator. - Wardrobe Station
Clothing scrapes and mishaps are bound to happen. Be ready for any wardrobe malfunction so you can look your best. Items you might want to include in this station: safety pins of all sizes, straight pins, lint roller, fashion tape, various threads and needles, buttons, small pair of scissors, clear nail polish (a quick-fix for hosiery runs), nail file, small mirror, shoe polish, shoe brushes and old rags. - Fix-It Station
Ever have to tighten a bolt or hammer a nail in your home? Keep things in ship-shape order with this station. Items you might want to include in this station: scissors, duct tape, masking tape, paper and wood glue, scratch eraser, heavy-duty permanent glue, permanent marker, laundry marker, hammer, wrench, screwdrivers, twine, thin ribbon or string, twisty ties, thumbtacks, ruled or measuring tape, level, pins, batteries, garbage bags and wax. - Cleaning House Station
Light dusting and house upkeep was never easier with this helpful station. Items you might want to include in this station: heavy-duty cleaning wipes, paper towels, old rags, dusters, gloves, cleaning sprays gels, cleaning brushes/scrubber, apron or old shirt, covering for your hair, masks and garbage bags. - Gift Wrap Station
Birthday, anniversaries, or impromptu parties, you’ll be ready to wrap and roll out the door in no time! Items you might want to include in this station: wrapping paper, tissue paper, ribbon, bows, silk flowers, gift bags, tape, scissors, cards, envelopes, twine or string, glue, labels, gift cards in different denominations from various stores, pens and markers. - Charging Station
The digital age requires a place for you to effectively charge your devices and be prepared for emergencies. Items you might want to include in this station: extension cords, power strip, batteries of all sorts for your different devices, chargers for various devices at home, flashlights, instruction manuals, candles, matches, travel adapters and headphones/earbuds. - Bag Drop Station
A bag drop is a great a place to temporarily store your personal belongings when you’re in transit. Items you might want to include or keep at this station: purse or wallet holder, house keys, car keys, sunglasses, cell phone, cell phone charger. - Child’s School Station
Make sure your children have a place to put their belongings after school and on weekends. Items you might want to include in this station: backpacks, lunchboxes, schoolbooks and notes, surplus school supplies (notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, calculators, paper, etc.) sports and music equipment. - Recycling Station
It’s easy to reduce, reuse and recycle with this handy station. Items you might want to include in this station: different bins for recycling glass, metal and paper, paper shredder, clear and black garbage bags, scissors, twine, twisty ties, tape measure. - Car/Travel Station
A great station or area for those impromptu road trips. Items you might want to include in this station: tissues, paper towels, wipes, chargers and adapters for your devices, paper maps, non-perishable snacks, water bottles, plastic utensils and straws, zippered plastic bags, small garbage bags, car manual and copies of insurance and registration. - Health/Wellness Station
A collection of items for your comfort when you are out and about in the great big world! Items you might want to include in this station: hand lotion or salve, contact lens solution, eye drops, tissues, baby wipes, antibacterial gel, sunblock, lip balm, cough drops or throat lozenges, bobby pins, hair elastics, pain reliever of your choice, antacid, back up medication dosages, small water bottle.
What other stations might you set up in your home so you can find what you need in a pinch?
