The 16 products that will help organise your life – easily

Christmas is over, and the house is full of clutter. Those presents need to go somewhere, and you may need to have a clear out before you even consider finding new homes for them. If you feel an overwhelming desire to sort your space out and get some composure back after the chaos, you’re not alone.

If you’re new to home organisation, the amount of information online and products on offer is vast, but don’t worry, help is at hand. We’ve spoken to professional organisers and interior experts who shared their must-have organisation products, which they not only recommend to clients but also have in their own homes.

Ebern Designs Bed Sheet Organiser (4 Pack), £56.99, Wayfair

Kath Holmes, a professional organiser who trained with Dilly Carter from BBC’s Sort Your Life Out says bedding organisers are a gamechanger. “You can keep a whole bedding set (duvet cover, pillowcases and sheet) in one container, making it easy to just pull out what you need when you come to change the bed,” she explains.

Joseph Joseph Compact Cutlery Organiser, £12.18, Amazon

Poppy Duffree, an award-winning professional organiser and founder of Organised Interiors, says an organiser like this, which uses a clever, stacked design, drastically reduces the footprint needed for cutlery, freeing up valuable space for utensils. “I’ve used mine for years and would never go back. It’s a simple switch with a big impact: more space, better visibility and a drawer that stays organised with far less effort.”

Mantaraj Extendable Four-Tier Spice Rack, £16.95, B&Q

Home organiser and author Kathryn Lord recommends spice racks for kitchen cupboards. An extendable wooden rack can fit large and small cupboards. Lord advises putting the older spices at the front, putting duplicates or longer-lasting items on the top step and then rotating as you buy more.

HOOBRO Over Toilet Storage Unit, £51.18, Amazon

This over-the-toilet storage shelf has three tiers and ultra-large capacity, allowing you to make the most of your bathroom space. “The unit looks chic and minimal,” says professional organiser Andrea Lewis, “while providing plenty of space for toiletries, towels and decor.”

Set of 4 Grey Pan Lid Holders, £13, Joseph Joseph

If you’re sick of pot lids rattling about in cupboards and drawers, interior designer Miriam Prada recommends pan lid holders that attach onto the inside of cupboard doors. Prada says, “These free up a surprising amount of cabinet space and end the noisy lid jumble.”

Homiu Expandable Pan Rack, £14.99, B&Q

Prada adds that this type of organiser allows you to store a variety of pots, pans and lids in one adjustable, easy-access unit. As Prada says, is also great for renters because “it stays in place without drilling”.

Habitat Pack of 2 Seagrass Wave Storage Basket, £18, Argos

Janine McDonald, professional organiser and author keeps toiletries in these tubs on a shelf in her bathroom cabinets. She has a trick for making sure things get used in the correct order, too. “I store the contents by size so that I use the smaller ones first or ones which are part used,” McDonald says. “Everything is categorised, so I know exactly what I have and what needs replacing. Another advantage is that, should anything leak, it’s a lot easier to clean up.”

Hayden Storage Coffee Table, £299, Next

Photo: Nicolas Laborie

Interior designer Nicola Fraser says if you’re short on space in the living room, a table with hidden storage may be an idea. “Under the flip top lid you can keep blankets, magazines, children’s toys, or remote controls out of sight but within easy reach, which is a fantastic way to keep everything tidy without losing any style.”

SKUBB set of 6 drawer dividers, £6, IKEA

Prada and McDonald both recommend these lightweight, inexpensive drawer boxes from IKEA, which are great for preventing “drawer drift”. They create instant categories, which is the quickest way to maintain order without thinking.

OXO 5-Piece POP Container Set, £54.99, Lakeland

“These have been my kitchen staple for a decade,” says Lewis. “These canisters not only keep our items fresher for longer, but allow me to see what I have easily while storing multiple product packages in one canister to save me space.”

Under Sink Slide-out Organiser, £23.62, Amazon

The cupboard under the sink can be a haven for clutter, but by using an organiser for cleaning supplies, you can restore order. Lewis rates the Amazon storage rack because “the bottom pull-out drawer means you won’t have to take everything out of the cupboard every time you need to access something from the back”.

BIGSO Sweden Hanging Box File, £35.27, Amazon

Duffree says paperwork is the number one source of household clutter, usually because there’s no structure for the documents you actually need to keep. “This file has built-in hanging folders you can allocate to categories such as medical, finance, car and household—instantly creating order.

“I love that my BIGSO box looks beautiful on a shelf, far more elegant than bulky ring binders. And because it’s so quick to file items away, you’re far more likely to stay on top of paperwork, rather than letting piles build. It’s functional, stylish and genuinely changes how people manage their admin.”

D-Line Cable Tidy Unit, £10.99, The Range

Photo: Mushroom Imaging

McDonald says this cable tidy unit keeps wires at bay by keeping extension leads neat and untangled. It’s compact and will work in any room. Lewis also recommends cable storers, which allow you to organise cables and plugs into neat boxes.

Oak Trinket Shelf, from £12, Futon Company

“If you find you have a lot of ornaments or trinkets cluttering up your living room, invest in a wall-mounted display cabinet,” Fraser advises. “Not only will this avoid potential accidents with children or pets knocking them over, if you get a glass-fronted case, it will save you having to dust them regularly too.”

Simple Houseware Adjustable Closet Hanging Rod, £22.34, Amazon

Wardrobe feeling a bit cramped? Lewis says you can double the available hanging space with a rail extender. “These hook over the original rail to create space for trousers on the lower level and shirts and short dresses on top. They don’t usually stretch across the whole length of the wardrobe either, so there should still be space for long coats and maxi dresses at the end.” Or, if you’re a bit of a clothes hoarder, getting a double rail means you can clearly see each outfit, as opposed to breaking single hangers with the weight of multiple items.

Lidded Storage Basket, £36, John Lewis

Duffree says these baskets are the perfect depth for most wardrobe shelves —particularly the top shelf, which is so often underused or filled with forgotten items pushed to the back. “I use these in my clients’ homes as well as my own because they contain items neatly, maximise the full height and depth of the shelf, and make it easy to lift things down when needed.”